After reading the age thread it made me think about how long I've been here. Started posting about 10 years ago, life has changed so much since then... thought it would be interesting to compare life situations. Then and now - 1998 High School still, no responsibilities! Living in San Jose, Costa Rica (after having been in Houston for a few years) CF.net was still Clutch City, we still had Clyde, Dream and Charles. Had my own site called clutchtown, 2008 25 years old Studying Ancient History at Edinburgh University Still love the Rockets, but my main love has always been football (soccer) and it has grown now I can watch it all the time Also working part-time for a graphic design agency (doing web stuff) What about you guys?
I first stumbled across the site at the beginning of my freshman year in high school, when I was looking into the rumors of the Rockets possibly acquiring Charles Barkley from Phoenix (so yes, this was 1996). Although the site was called "Clutch City '97" the domain hadn't yet come into existence, as it was being hosted by Clutch's school at the time (in Boston of all places). Seeing as how this was twelve years ago, one can probably imagine the amount of change one experiences in that time frame. As far as life events since I've been on the site (and it's various incarnations), I've attended high school, was Clyde retire, saw the trade for Pippen, remember Barkley's injury (& retirement), graduated high school, witnessed the trade for Stevie, moved to Austin, attended college, watched Dream retire, saw Yao get drafted, graduated college, witnessed the trade for T-Mac, got married, watched us get Artest, and worked several jobs in between. I was 15 then and now I'm 27 and fortunately, my love for the Rockets has not diminished a bit! -Turbo
Before I started posting here I was a child, in love with the Rockets, and didn't know anything about males, sex or mIRC. Then my mind was corrupted by the people in #houstonrockets, it was like a brave new world! I started dating one of them, I transferred to University of Houston, changed my major to something I'm really passionate about, spend all my time with a handful of posters from this site, got engaged to a poster, got an internship through a poster, and went to a crapload of Rockets games. My life has definitely changed, mostly BECAUSE of this site. It's pretty cool.
Both my Father and Mother have died I've had my third and fourth children I've buried five pets I've acquired three cats and a dog I've moved once
Then and now... Then - 1997 - living in Santa Monica in a 1 room rent controlled walk-up, working for a non-profit, playing punky alt-country at bars all over LA and the Valley, driving a beat-up Toyota, empty wallet Now - 2008 - living in Houston 4 blocks from where I grew up, in a 3BR house I own, working as a consultant, playing blues and alt-country in bars all over Houston, driving a Lexus, fat (but always could be fatter) wallet Life is good.
I'll celebrate 10 years on this site in October... Then: Married with 3 kids Working shift work in a refinery Union man Now: Married with 3 kids Working straight days in a refinery Management Other than that, not much has changed.
Wow, great thread for us old schoolers. I know I also followed it back in '96 right before it got its own domain name, didn't post much but started that in early '97 I think. 1997: 21/22 years old, living by myself in an apartment in Houston, dating an older guy. Working at Baylor College of Medicine doing experiments on mice and such. I had some good friends in town, a low but manageable budget, and was trying to figure out my future. 2008: 33 years old, living with my younger fiance in an apartment in a small town in Alabama. Going back to school for a second bachelor's in music education. Just now getting established here, still on a low budget because I don't have much time to work, but I feel that things will go well. Overall, not that much different from 1997 except a lot wiser perspective on things... what all happened in between is what's crazy. Lived in Austin, and a small town in Texas I referred to as "Podunk", and San Antonio. Married and divorced the older guy. Got my Ph.D. in biochemistry, actually worked as a full-time college professor for a few years and a community college instructor after that (which I still do at times). Played music with several concert bands and orchestras, learned to do choir, got my piano skills back. It's cool to have been on the same bbs all this time.
I've learned to use smilies more efficiently . I don't think it has changed TOO much... I think I've met quite a few strangers and quite a few peeps who weren't scared enough to meet me in person, and others whom I've helped on many an occasion. I was turned to this site and lurked since I was 24 and married with no children, got an account at 26 with 1 daughter. And now... I'm married... with children. Sincerely, Spoiler
