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NNadir

(37,032 posts)
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 01:21 PM 7 hrs ago

I'm taking a brief vacation and am reading my son's thesis proposal for his Ph.D.

The proposal actually reads better than some of the final theses I've read; I read a lot of them too.

It's a nuclear materials science research document.

What is interesting is my realization that the little brat is a damned good writer besides being a pretty good scientist as well. I actually didn't realize that, but should have, since he won some awards in high school for writing.

I previously looked at his power point slides, and thought that they were way over my head, but in reading the proposal, I now understand what he's doing. (We have discussed some points during his weekly calls.)

I have told him that I plan to attend his defense when it comes. (He knows I'll ask loaded questions, and the preview will lead me to be locked and loaded.)

He's been advised by his committee to narrow his focus, and also to publish some of his data. I told him to keep the parts he cuts in his head, but of course, it won't get out of his head.

I'm a pretty proud old man.

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I'm taking a brief vacation and am reading my son's thesis proposal for his Ph.D. (Original Post) NNadir 7 hrs ago OP
Enjoy, proud parent! SheltieLover 7 hrs ago #1
What an amazing young man.. Permanut 7 hrs ago #2
I have two bottles of 1982 Cos D'Estournel, which may or may not have gone bad. NNadir 6 hrs ago #3
Hey, there's no way you're gonna check out before that wine is gone.. Permanut 6 hrs ago #5
Wonderful! Grim Chieftain 6 hrs ago #4

Permanut

(7,832 posts)
2. What an amazing young man..
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 02:05 PM
7 hrs ago

You have bragging rights, but he's going to owe you a steak dinner after this.

NNadir

(37,032 posts)
3. I have two bottles of 1982 Cos D'Estournel, which may or may not have gone bad.
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 02:31 PM
6 hrs ago

They're the last bottles left of a case I bought with futures in that year, and were delivered around the time I was chasing my future wife.

I drank the other ten on special occasions, on getting married to her, changing jobs both with the old boss and the new boss, the birth of each of my sons, and - this one's a little strange - when the elevated radiation levels in my thyroid from working with radioactive 125I decayed to background, stuff like that.

I have promised him that when he successfully defends his thesis, and receives his Ph.D., we'll open one of the bottles up.

He's taken pictures of the bottles to discuss with his friend a connoisseur, who was very, very, very impressed that we had them.

The other we'll save for when and if his brother decides to get an advanced degree, something he's considering.

If it's gone bad, I'll pull out a bottle of something else, something real, real nice that I'll keep in reserve, should the Cos D'Estournel have gone bad.

I actually hoped to have an occasion to drink one of those bottles with people I love before I died. Now I have to commit to living another year at least. I'll try to do so.

Permanut

(7,832 posts)
5. Hey, there's no way you're gonna check out before that wine is gone..
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 02:55 PM
6 hrs ago

unless you can take it with you.

What a great story. And as far as drinkability is concerned, reports online say it should still be good, and it is still actually available.

Grim Chieftain

(1,027 posts)
4. Wonderful!
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 02:43 PM
6 hrs ago

You must be so proud, as well you should be.

Your son is lucky to have your support. Best wishes to you both!



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