Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Don't Ask Rambi -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rambi who wrote (15978)	12/30/1998 3:19:00 PM
From: DScottD	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 71178

Before 1998 is history I think it appropriate to reflect on what has been a most incredible year. For me and mine, at least. The year started with the stunning announcement that the company I was working for was "exploring strategic options", which is a kind way of saying that it had put itself on the selling block. As there were no selling scenarios that would result in my continued employment with a buyer, I realized that I had at most 9 months to find a new job. So I dusted off my resume and started the painstaking process of trying to find a new job. Meanwhile, the second weekend of the new year found our President having his deposition taken in the Paula Jones case. Three days later, we heard the name Monica Lewinsky for the first time, and a new thread on SI was immediately started, lovingly referred to as plainly "Boink". While surfing the net around this time, I came across a link to the Boink thread and, being the curious person I am, I clicked to see what it was all about. Which is how I stumbled across Silicon Investor and the wonderful characters lurking thereabouts. After a few weeks of lurking myself, I decided to plunk down the $125 for a membership. While I haven't earned a dime trading high tech stocks, I still consider the money well spent for the entertainment value and the chance to share experiences with those who hang out here. Anyway, by the middle of May I was faced with the decision of whether to uproot my family and move away from our beloved St. Louis to take a new position (both for me and my new employer) with a company 200 miles away. Realizing that this was a once in a career opportunity, plus the 25% increase in compensation and the other benefits offered, we decided to take the new job. Then we bought a dream house in our new community and spent the last 6 months of the year in a state of disbelief at our good fortune. There were some setbacks -- the toilet flooding our second weekend in our new home and the mole infestation in our big backyard are two that immediately come to mind -- but for the most part our move has been one big success story. There was some bad news. My wife's 100 year old grandmother passed away in June, the same week I started my new job. Some close family friends became seriously ill. The President was impeached. We bombed Iraq. The weather wreaked havoc on much of the nation, especially punishing the home state of our dear and fearless rock-climbing, sprinkler fighting, mammoth corsage making thread founder and decorum enforcer. Frank Sinatra, Harry Caray and Phil Hartman died. Conflict still terrorizes Kosovo, the Middle East and Africa. 1998 was a year marked by new beginnings, Mark McGwire's attack on the home run record, debate over the meaning of "sexual relations", an infamous blue dress, and a roller coaster market. And the small personal wonders like watching our baby son learn to walk; our 5 year old growing up way too fast; "Mommy, Daddy, Santa Claus came!"; and so many other profound moments that make us realize how fortunate we are to be parents, spouses, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, friends. I hope you all have a safe, happy and prosperous 1999, and may you be Y2K compliant in time for the 3rd millennium.