4000 Posts! Thanks Guys!!

So what do you write about on your 4000th post?  I have been thinking about it for some time.  
I could post a review of the state of my collection but that seems sort of mundane at this point.  There are all kinds of technical issues to discuss but I am sure I will get to those in due course.

No....I think after 3,999 posts this has got to be about the Forum and the people who make up the day to day enjoyment of signing in and turning on. And the best way to approach this is to  briefly mention those I have personally met (and where) and come to know over the years.  There are others but if we have not met up recently  I  hope to write about you in the future. 
I also threw in some pictures which were lurking in Photobucket.
So here goes:

MF:  a good friend and watch mentor. The structural backbone to this great forum.  MF Knows all the best restaurants.  And a pocket watch knowledge and collection not equally rivaled. And less well known...a fine photographer.
( I have met him in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Geneva and Schaffhaussen.)

Bill Barker:  my like minded friend and photographic consultant par excellence.  And no one knows more about reflective coatings, lol. (Philadelphia, New York, Geneva, Schaffhausen)

Kevin Devine:  I think I could sit down with this guy and we would never stop talking.  He tests my resolve regularly.  Great enabler. Great friend.
(Philadelphia, New York and Geneva)

Shing: a true watch enthusiast.  Who else could amass such a collection and wealth of knowledge in so short of time.  Next time I am in Hong Kong I am going to find that Shing Wing of the boutique.
(Geneva)

Argiris:  a great guy and friend. I hope the politics will allow him to relax in the near future. Truly a wonderful person.
(Geneva)

Roberto: a Cubs fan in Rome? Well, yes. But his passion for watches and for the details inspires me to think differently about everything watch related.
(Rome, Geneva, Schaffhausen )

SC:  I just want to see all his watches in one place at one time. And then go with him to one of those fabulous dinners in Hong Kong.
(Geneva)

KS:  quite a transition from a guy freezing his a** off in Geneva in 2011 to the present.  I gotta get to Singapore someday. Soon to be married to a great woman.
(Geneva)

Nad:  what can I say....the best travelogues and the father of the Nad shot. What better ambassador for IWC (and Panerai)? And just a good guy. Anyone still smiling after 4 daughters must be doing something right.
(New York, Geneva)

Mark : from the diners of Mt. Joy to the halls of SIHH this guy is a true friend and collector.  He always has something planned and brilliantly attends to the details.  Chalk one up for the Netherlands.
(Mt. Joy Pennsylvania, NewYork, Geneva)

Nelson: another font of IWC knowledge.  I have to see your collection. It is spoken about with reverence.
(New York, Geneva)

Tracy: one of these days that Hawaiian boutique will get its special edition. In the meantime, keep collecting those Big Pilots.  
(Honolulu, Geneva)

Andrew:  you can't think about Andrew without thinking about a bicycle, or Laureus.  An interesting guy and another fine ambassador for our Forum. 
( New York, Geneva, Schaffhausen)

Tony: this is the one collector who is essentially my bizarro double( for those who recognize the Superman reference).  We basically disagree on just about every watch related topic but do it with good humor. Every time I look at any white dial watch I think of Tony and just smile.
(Geneva)

Jim:  everything is big and crazy in Texas but Jim bucks all the trends and brings sanity to the Southwest.  A fun guy and Forum member.
(Philadelphia)

Rave: newly retired,  but before doing so gave Nad a serious challenge in air miles travelled. Always a pleasure to hear the King's English properly spoken and a fun guy to spend time with talking about watches and everything else.
(New York, Chicago, Geneva, Schaffhausen)

Dick L: calm, cool and collected.  I like his take on all things watch related. A measured perspective. Even if he did abandon Chicago for Columbus!
(Philadelphia, New York, Geneva)

Larry: all I can say is this... What other guy is posting pictures of himself and his watch while in the emergency room pending a heart related issue? And thanks for the advice on the DFB Doppel.
(Geneva)

Tonny: another great collector with a special and creative sense of humor. Hope to see you again soon.
(Geneva, Schaffhausen)

Skule: a guy from one of my favorite countries. It was great to meet you at SIHH. Hope to see you again soon.
(Geneva)

Oliver:  one of my favorite people at IWC.  I know he lurks on the Forum even though not under his individual name.  What better person to connect with as a friend and representative of our favorite watch brand? 
(New York, Geneva, Schaffhausen)

There are others on the Forum I have met but have not seen recently and I apologize if I missed somebody.  It certainly was not intentional.

Thanks to all those who make the Forum a daily routine of fun and watches and people. Now my goal is to get to 5,000 posts before Shing!  LOL

Certainly one of the great common threads here, and in those wonderful meeting places like Geneve or NY or? is you Alan! Congrats on your 4000th post.

Nelson

Alan, congratulations on your achievement,a great profile of the people who make this the best watch forum on the web. Happy to call you my friend and thank you for your collecting advice, you haven't lead me wrong.
If you expect to beat Shing to 4000 you better be prepared to write 24/7 the next few months. LOL
Looking forward to your next post.

Regards,
Kevin

Alan,

What an exhaustive and wonderful compilation of life here on the forum. It is a second home to many and the center of a non-famial family to all. I remember our first meeting in Philadelphia where we discovered we are both alums of the same University. We share many common causes and likes and I relied on your professional audio-visual expertise to fashion my small man cave.

We all have made many, many friends from all over the world as a result of participating in the IWC Forum so graciously hosted by MF with the constant and required support of all the people in IWC management. It goes without saying we all share a common passion in collecting IWC watches and horology in general. This is the greatest place to learn and share.

It is and has been a pleasure to be your friend an occasional photo mentor. Congratulations on reaching the 4,000 milepost.

Thank you, Alan.

A remarkable milestone from a great contributor to the Forum. It has been a pleasure meeting up with you in several locations. Keep on keeping on.

Alan, a fantastic milestone and wonderful post to read - and indeed you have captured wonderfully the essence of friendship, comaradie, watch passion and watch knowledge (pocket watch, vintage or contemporary)shared amongst so many forumers here - and all facilitated by IWC and MF unwavering dedication to keeping this the best watch forum on the web.

I look forward to your 5000th post, and motivating the first true divers AT on your wrist.

What a great post, Alan. You have truly given appropriate honor to what makes this Forum the wonderful place that it is.

Hope to see you again soon!

Alan, congratulations on your milestone, and it was great meeting you for those few days in SIHH in Geneva. 4000 posts on a forum is a milestone, and your pictorial journey speaks volumes of that boundless journey - what, where, and who - those 4000 posts have taken you. the watches are fantastic, the people and friendships - timeless and reinvigorated time and time again through forum participation and engagement. looking forward to the next 4000 from u !

Congratulations Alan - reaching 4000 is indeed a milestone, and what a great way to celebrate that milestone. I am honored to be mentioned in your 4th millenium post, and I can only say thank you my friend!
Thank you for the 4000 interesting posts, but mostly thank you for the warm welcome into the IWC Forum family that this semi-lost Norwegian received from you and many of our other friends at SIHH this year.
Your post is so true - it is the people and the friendship on the forum that makes me come here for several visits daily. Looking forwrad to all your future posts!

Alan my friend, what can I say? 4000 posts is indeed a fantastic milestone. I haven't even reached 1000 yet..lol. It has been a pleasure meeting you, interacting with you and thanks for your help last year (you know what I am referring to).

Mathematically, it's possible to achieve your next 1000 posts within 6 months. All you need is 166.6 or 167 post per month which is an average of 5 posts per day! That should be achievable!

I look forward to renewing our friendship whether in Geneva or NYC at some stage in the near future.

Hi Alan,

Thanks for a great post and congratulations, 4000 posts is A LOT!

Its wonderful to look at your photos and see all the camaraderie and the dedication to this great brand.

Congratulations also to all of those who make this Forum such a nice place to be!

Well done, Alan!

Warm regards from the Southeast of Africa,

Jerónimo

Congratulations Alan on your 4000 posts. You hit the nail on the head with your post about the people that make this place so special and for many of us the Forum is as addictive as the IWC Uhren-virus!

Kind regards,

Clemens

Wow! 4,000 posts in 3,347 days. This is an average 1.19510009 posts per day. Is this a record?
This is some obsession; and I thought I had a problem. :-)
This, added to your fondness for white dial, non-amagnetic, very large, Ingenieurs and BPs, amounts to a serious problem. :-)
It is great fun being your nemesis. :-)

Alan, Congratulations on your 4000th post and muchísimas gracias mi hermano from deep in my heart of Texas for your friendship. When I proffered my initial post on Jan. 8, 2009, the first response and welcome I received was from you. You are exactly right...the folks who participate in this forum are some of the best anywhere. Here's to another 4000 posts and more opportunities to meet again! Salud!!!

Congratulations on your milestone but you seriously need to up the pace to stay ahead of Shing to hit 5k first! Best of luck!

Dear Alan my compliments on your goal and faith to IWC.
Thank you for your kind words and polite approach to what is happening here in Greece. I consider you a close friend and miss your company throughout the year, hope to meet again real soon. Take care.

Congratulation Alan. A great milestone indeed. Thanks you for your great an inspiring participation is this forum and I sure hope to read many more contributions from your hand in the future.

regards
Norbert

Thanks for a great post(s) and congratulations on your 4000 posts!

Its wonderful to look at your photos and see all the camaraderie and the dedication to this great brand.
Cheers
Bas dekkers