What's the meaning beind your board name?

[Mike 03]

29. Fun. I'd love to learn the meaning behind some of the names.

So, I actually joined DU in 2003, despite my profile saying I joined in 2008. I think I had a name very close to what I have now, but with no space between the MIKE and the 03, or maybe a hyphen, or something. It was basically the same but with one small difference. (I've been a little scared to look at my very early posts here).

I remember at some point either worrying that I was spending too much time here and needed to stop, or I may have had some conflict or embarrassed myself badly enough that I sort of sabotaged my own account by creating a new password that was so random (I think I tried not to even watch my fingers make the new password) that I could never remember it--this was back in the days before Chrome or Windows would save and remember your password for you. I do remember that I was spending so much time here while trying to do some other things and at one point even programming into my computer to not allow me to come onto DU, but it was easy to circumvent and I usually found my way onto DU every day.

So I left, either for that reason or some kid of embarrassing spectacle.

I'm guessing it wasn't long before I came back to DU, tail between my legs, and tried to get my account back--but those first few years were gone. So I opened a new account, keeping the Mike and the 03 but doing something different---adding a space or maybe eliminating some kid of symbol (if symbols are/were allowed).

I really don't want to know for sure why I left, because it was probably something I'd still be embarrassed and ashamed about, but I was still proud of having joined DU fairly early on and didn't want to lose that aspect of being here, so I kept the 03 even though I was rejoining in 08.

The reason I joined is that I think I was beside myself over W. Bush and the political climate in this country. I would do anything to remember the exact logistics by which I found DU. I can't remember whether maybe someone on another chat or board recommended it, or whether it could have come up in a search?

But I was SO GRATEFUL to find DU, and I still am SO GRATEFUL for DU and everyone on it.

.