Getting to know the Boneyard members at bit

[huskymaniac119]

I worked in public safety for the state of Connecticut for 28+ years. I have many ‘first black female to…’ after my name.

 

[Skeets]

Well, during a three game set I once bowled 25 strikes in a row.

I had 13 strikes in a row, alas spread out over 2 games. I got a hole in 1 on the 13th hole at Oxford Greens, but truth in advertising, all hole in 1s need a heck of a lot of luck. I'm happy to just hit the green on a par 3.

What I am proud of was being accepted into the Coast Guard Academy in 1973. This was wildly difficult at the tail end of the Vietnam war. But wouldcha know, I flunked the physical because of a high frequency hearing loss. Things worked out OK, I spent my entire career at IBM which is unheard of nowadays.

 

[CL82]

Well, during a three game set I once bowled 25 strikes in a row.

Geesh! That's impressive. I imagine the hardest part is keeping the streak out of your head so you don't get the yips and put one in the gutter.

 

[Jim]

I had 13 strikes in a row, alas spread out over 2 games. I got a hole in 1 on the 13th hole at Oxford Greens, but truth in advertising, all hole in 1s need a heck of a lot of luck. I'm happy to just hit the green on a par 3.

What I am proud of was being accepted into the Coast Guard Academy in 1973. This was wildly difficult at the tail end of the Vietnam war. But wouldcha know, I flunked the physical because of a high frequency hearing loss. Things worked out OK, I spent my entire career at IBM which is unheard of nowadays.

There was a time when I would bowl and golf regularly, but my games were vastly different. At the end of a night I would remember the few (2 or 3) bad shots I bowled but after a round of golf I would remember the few (2 or 3) good shots I had. But those 2 or 3 good ones kept me coming back for more...

 

[Jim]

Geesh! That's impressive. I imagine the hardest part is keeping the streak out of your head so you don't get the yips and put one in the gutter.

The hardest is rolling the 10th frame of 300 games as everyone stops to watch you finish the game.

 

[uconnfan68]

Well, during a three game set I once bowled 25 strikes in a row.

Had to have a 300 in there... what were the scores?

 

[Jim]

Had to have a 300 in there... what were the scores?

I finished the first game with 8 in a row for a 259, all twelve in the second for 300, then the first five in the third game for 258. 817 series.

 

[Rixxx]

I am impressed by all the momentous moments/experiences posted above. My momentous moment occurred when I was a kid. In 1957, Sputnik traveled overhead and I knew life as I had known it was about to change.

 

[PacoSwede]

I was wandering around campus when I was in college -- it was in the era of upheaval, the late '60s and early '70s -- and I was trying to figure things out. It was getting dark on the hillside beside the library when I took notice of a tree. Just an ordinary tree. And I recall thinking:

What's it like to be that tree?

This intrigued me. I thought about it some, and after a while I decided to imagine being that tree.

Think I was on drugs?

It was about 1970, after all, and my college was awash in drugs. I remember stepping out of my dorm room on a Friday night and I couldn't see but a few yards down the hall because of the marijuana fog, with accompanying scent. I guess such a scene was not unusual in those days; maybe it sparks some of your own memories. But for me, while surrounded by it, that scene wasn't for me. So, no drugs were not involved. I was just unusual, it seems.

What is it like to be that tree? I meditated. I tried to feel like that tree. I projected myself into that tree.

It worked. I got beyond myself. I realized that the tree was wonderful, that the world was wonderful -- and that I was irrelevant to it all. Ego, while still there, was an impediment to any understanding.

It changed my life.

For awhile, I investigated further. I tried to project into other things, and occasionally succeeded, feeling at one with other objects I meditated on. It didn't always happen, but getting outside of myself, beating ego, was a real high. I wondered if I could develop this; to reach this state consistently; to learn a 'trick' that could bring on this feeling at any time. I wondered how to interpret this; was this what those eastern religions were talking about; could it be nirvana, whatever that was; was mysticism at play?

I was aware of some progress. But you can't subvert ego and also get along in this world. There are things that need to be done, practically, and to do them you need ego. I understood this.

My solution: awareness of the divided aspects of reality, the practical world that we live in, which needs answers, actions, and your ego, and the other, spiritual world, that doesn't. You can adjust perspective to accomodate both.

The one with ego involved is finite. It has problems and solutions, triumphs and loses, elation and sadness, boredom, death.

The one that excludes ego has none of this. It has unity, oneness. Answers to the 'great questions' are irrelevant. The meaning of life? Where does love come from? What's the value of art, creativity? Why are we here? Is there a god? What is time and how does it work? Maybe there are answers. If there are, so what? If ego is eliminated, the answers don't matter. It's even bizarre to have the questions, from this perspective. Just accept, don't try to figure it out.

But, we must make a go at life with ego as companion. We also can have an understanding that there is another way, beyond ourselves and our egos. It's liberating. It's fine.

I realized this because of my encounter with that tree. The exploration ended when I was admiring the night sky and my focus, I ventured, should be on projecting myself into all the universe from the library roof -- or was it a certain star? I don't remember -- and attempted my meditation trick, which was not perfected though at times rewarding. As I did, a bolt out of the blue flashed -- extremely briefly -- and the universe engulfed me. Everything was one. All was one ... including insignificant me.

It was brief but it was complete joy. For a while, I tried to imagine a way to express it. Eventually, I concluded this was impossible. There were no words for it. No way to share it. One simply had to experience it, as mystics apparently have.

I came to know it was simply an incredible gift bestowed on me. By the universe? Why? I have no idea. There are no reasons, at least that I could understand. And it's not important to understand. What is important: I'm grateful.

 

[CL82]

I am impressed by all the momentous moments/experiences posted above. My momentous moment occurred when I was a kid. In 1957, Sputnik traveled overhead and I knew life as I had known it was about to change.

Did it?

 

[Bigboote]

Geez, taking the wife and kid out of the equation makes it tough.

As many others have said, one thing doesn't stick out, it's really a series of small things. PhD defense, first paper published, first paid gig (of two, on the mountain dulcimer), discovering Jane Austen (and Sinclair Lewis), learning to make momos (Nepalese dumplings, taught by a Nepalese friend). . .

Proudest moment is clear. In 2018, the first chips were produced with a technology I'd been helping develop for 25 years, appearing in the iPhone. I was on the periphery of the development, but very much involved. There's nothing like the vindication I felt. I went from being laughed at (the technology of the future and always will be) to being a visionary.

 

[Bone Dog]

I was wandering around campus when I was in college -- it was in the era of upheaval, the late '60s and early '70s -- and I was trying to figure things out. It was getting dark on the hillside beside the library when I took notice of a tree. Just an ordinary tree. And I recall thinking:

What's it like to be that tree?

This intrigued me. I thought about it some, and after a while I decided to imagine being that tree.

Think I was on drugs?

It was about 1970, after all, and my college was awash in drugs. I remember stepping out of my dorm room on a Friday night and I couldn't see but a few yards down the hall because of the marijuana fog, with accompanying scent. I guess such a scene was not unusual in those days; maybe it sparks some of your own memories. But for me, while surrounded by it, that scene wasn't for me. So, no drugs were not involved. I was just unusual, it seems.

What is it like to be that tree? I meditated. I tried to feel like that tree. I projected myself into that tree.

It worked. I got beyond myself. I realized that the tree was wonderful, that the world was wonderful -- and that I was irrelevant to it all. Ego, while still there, was an impediment to any understanding.

It changed my life.

For awhile, I investigated further. I tried to project into other things, and occasionally succeeded, feeling at one with other objects I meditated on. It didn't always happen, but getting outside of myself, beating ego, was a real high. I wondered if I could develop this; to reach this state consistently; to learn a 'trick' that could bring on this feeling at any time. I wondered how to interpret this; was this what those eastern religions were talking about; could it be nirvana, whatever that was; was mysticism at play?

I was aware of some progress. But you can't subvert ego and also get along in this world. There are things that need to be done, practically, and to do them you need ego. I understood this.

My solution: awareness of the divided aspects of reality, the practical world that we live in, which needs answers, actions, and your ego, and the other, spiritual world, that doesn't. You can adjust perspective to accomodate both.

The one with ego involved is finite. It has problems and solutions, triumphs and loses, elation and sadness, boredom, death.

The one that excludes ego has none of this. It has unity, oneness. Answers to the 'great questions' are irrelevant. The meaning of life? Where does love come from? What's the value of art, creativity? Why are we here? Is there a god? What is time and how does it work? Maybe there are answers. If there are, so what? If ego is eliminated, the answers don't matter. It's even bizarre to have the questions, from this perspective. Just accept, don't try to figure it out.

But, we must make a go at life with ego as companion. We also can have an understanding that there is another way, beyond ourselves and our egos. It's liberating. It's fine.

I realized this because of my encounter with that tree. The exploration ended when I was admiring the night sky and my focus, I ventured, should be on projecting myself into all the universe from the library roof -- or was it a certain star? I don't remember -- and attempted my meditation trick, which was not perfected though at times rewarding. As I did, a bolt out of the blue flashed -- extremely briefly -- and the universe engulfed me. Everything was one. All was one ... including insignificant me.

It was brief but it was complete joy. For a while, I tried to imagine a way to express it. Eventually, I concluded this was impossible. There were no words for it. No way to share it. One simply had to experience it, as mystics apparently have.

I came to know it was simply an incredible gift bestowed on me. By the universe? Why? I have no idea. There are no reasons, at least that I could understand. And it's not important to understand. What is important: I'm grateful.

I occasionally teach a class on early Buddhist texts for grad students and often find myself thinking along these same lines. But I've never had an ultimate experience like what you describe. I'll keep looking.

 

[and one]

One 2 minute incident stands out. 1968 and I was 19, in the Air Force, just out of Tech School for Air Craft Instrument Repair. A one stripper, meaning I basically knew nothing. I was at my first assignment at Ton Son Nhut AFB in Saigon. I was out on the flight line working on an airplane when one of our RF-4Cs taxied by. The RF-4C is a large fighter, in this case configured for reconnaissance, with two huge J-79 engines. If it is nearby and running an airplane that definitely gets your attention.

So I'm watching this airplane go by when it suddenly brakes to a stop in front of me, it's crew chief running down the tarmac with a headset in his hands. He motions for me to come over to the airplane. Who, me? So I go over and he jambs the headset on me and plugs into the airplane. Next thing I hear is the front seat pilot asking if I was Instruments. Yes sir. Next a string of instrument readings. And then, is this an engine problem or an instrument problem? And by George I knew the answer! Good to go Sir - have a safe flight. And away he went.

 

[UconnMark]

Starting a Ph.D. program at UConn in the late 80s. I was used to consulting those 50 pound Reader's Guide hardcovers when I discovered the CD-ROMs in the library. It really helped my research. When I looked near the bottom, it said "compliments of the UConn Women's Basketball Team!" I have been a fan ever since.

My non-sports daughter story. One day when she was about 18 and working at the Old Lyme Inn, a guy came in and the staff couldn't do enough for him. My daughter came home and asked "Dad, have you ever heard of some important guy named LARRY BIRD!" Yep, I believe I have, I said.

 

[CL82]

I have to say when I first saw the title of the thread I thought that it would be an exercise in humble bragging. Instead, I found out some interesting things about posters on the board, even posters on the board for whom I was already familiar with their story. It's been a good read.

 

[meyers7]

I was wandering around campus when I was in college -- it was in the era of upheaval, the late '60s and early '70s -- and I was trying to figure things out. It was getting dark on the hillside beside the library when I took notice of a tree. Just an ordinary tree. And I recall thinking:

What's it like to be that tree?

This intrigued me. I thought about it some, and after a while I decided to imagine being that tree.

Think I was on drugs?

It was about 1970, after all, and my college was awash in drugs. I remember stepping out of my dorm room on a Friday night and I couldn't see but a few yards down the hall because of the marijuana fog, with accompanying scent. I guess such a scene was not unusual in those days; maybe it sparks some of your own memories. But for me, while surrounded by it, that scene wasn't for me. So, no drugs were not involved. I was just unusual, it seems.

What is it like to be that tree? I meditated. I tried to feel like that tree. I projected myself into that tree.

It worked. I got beyond myself. I realized that the tree was wonderful, that the world was wonderful -- and that I was irrelevant to it all. Ego, while still there, was an impediment to any understanding.

It changed my life.

For awhile, I investigated further. I tried to project into other things, and occasionally succeeded, feeling at one with other objects I meditated on. It didn't always happen, but getting outside of myself, beating ego, was a real high. I wondered if I could develop this; to reach this state consistently; to learn a 'trick' that could bring on this feeling at any time. I wondered how to interpret this; was this what those eastern religions were talking about; could it be nirvana, whatever that was; was mysticism at play?

I was aware of some progress. But you can't subvert ego and also get along in this world. There are things that need to be done, practically, and to do them you need ego. I understood this.

My solution: awareness of the divided aspects of reality, the practical world that we live in, which needs answers, actions, and your ego, and the other, spiritual world, that doesn't. You can adjust perspective to accomodate both.

The one with ego involved is finite. It has problems and solutions, triumphs and loses, elation and sadness, boredom, death.

The one that excludes ego has none of this. It has unity, oneness. Answers to the 'great questions' are irrelevant. The meaning of life? Where does love come from? What's the value of art, creativity? Why are we here? Is there a god? What is time and how does it work? Maybe there are answers. If there are, so what? If ego is eliminated, the answers don't matter. It's even bizarre to have the questions, from this perspective. Just accept, don't try to figure it out.

But, we must make a go at life with ego as companion. We also can have an understanding that there is another way, beyond ourselves and our egos. It's liberating. It's fine.

I realized this because of my encounter with that tree. The exploration ended when I was admiring the night sky and my focus, I ventured, should be on projecting myself into all the universe from the library roof -- or was it a certain star? I don't remember -- and attempted my meditation trick, which was not perfected though at times rewarding. As I did, a bolt out of the blue flashed -- extremely briefly -- and the universe engulfed me. Everything was one. All was one ... including insignificant me.

It was brief but it was complete joy. For a while, I tried to imagine a way to express it. Eventually, I concluded this was impossible. There were no words for it. No way to share it. One simply had to experience it, as mystics apparently have.

I came to know it was simply an incredible gift bestowed on me. By the universe? Why? I have no idea. There are no reasons, at least that I could understand. And it's not important to understand. What is important: I'm grateful.

You and my stepson would probably get along pretty well. At least have some interesting things to talk about.

The other day he was telling us how sometimes when he's asleep and dreams, he can realize he's dreaming. And at this point he can control his dream.... decide what he wants to dream and where he wants the dream to go. He then looks at his mom and me and asks, don't you guys do that sometimes? Eh, no. My dreams go wherever the hell they want to go. And usually not where I want them to (e.g. make some sense). And I never realize I'm dreaming until I wake up and go, geez, thank god that was only a dream.

 

[Blond D.]

I was 10 when I first started watching UCONN womens basketball. It was Sue Bird who really got me hooked on basketball. She was my hero and I tried to play like her.
8 years later my high school team was playing in the state championship. I was a starter and when they announced each of us starters I thought my heart was gonna blow outa my chest. The crowd was huge and everyone was standing and cheering. What a feeling!!
Even with that moment in my life I can't even imagine how the UCONN girls must feel each and every game. That must be the greatest thing in the world to play for UCONN!

 

[Bigboote]

I was 10 when I first started watching UCONN womens basketball. It was Sue Bird who really got me hooked on basketball. She was my hero and I tried to play like her.
8 years later my high school team was playing in the state championship. I was a starter and when they announced each of us starters I thought my heart was gonna blow outa my chest. The crowd was huge and everyone was standing and cheering. What a feeling!!
Even with that moment in my life I can't even imagine how the UCONN girls must feel each and every game. That must be the greatest thing in the world to play for UCONN!

Winning the state championship in track was one highlight I forgot. What made it amazing is that we scored only one point the previous year, so it came out of nowhere.

 

[OviedoFLHusky]

I'd say that the most important time in my professional life as an Instructional Systems Designer (ISD) was when I, along with a team of teachers and counselors, put together a course about child abuse: how to recognize possible signs, what the law says, the official reporting procedures, etc. This course was put online as a requirement for all teachers in my county to take. If that course helped even just one little kid, it was completely worth doing.

 

[zymurg]

Winning the state championship in track was one highlight I forgot. What made it amazing is that we scored only one point the previous year, so it came out of nowhere.

many years ago when I was in college at Vanderbilt when I was attending an event held at a major hotel; I snuck into an even bigger event. The Country Music Hall of Fame was taking place that night. On a dare I went to the registration desk; it was unattended. I picked up an I.D tag for Governor Jimmy Davis. He was a former governor of La. He is the author of "You Are My Sunshine.". I escaped detection amid the crowd and exited quickly from the reception.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Meeting Mohammed Ali at the Pittsburgh airport and got his autograph on the back of a seat ticket sleeve, maybe ‘72 or ‘73. My brother was a tow truck operator in the early 70’s and he also met Ali, as his RV broke down on the NE Extension of the PA Turnpike on their way to Deer Lake. A real gentleman.

 

[Dogdude]

My most memorable moment was performing on guitar along with an orchestra at the premiere of a symphony I composed to document the 5,000 mile walk across the country with my wife. The journey was to reboot our lives and Cindy’s brain health after she had been let go from work due to cognitive decline. The movements of the symphony correspond to five themes of discovery while walking across America, synchronized with photos in a slideshow. Cindy improved during the journey but regressed again after it was over. At the time of the premiere I had been her full time caregiver for over a decade, and still continue in that role.

You can view the slideshows here: American Discovery Symphony

I'm giving that a listen, might be fun for our symphony to play!

 

[CL82]

many years ago when I was in college at Vanderbilt when I was attending an event held at a major hotel; I snuck into an even bigger event. The Country Music Hall of Fame was taking place that night. On a dare I went to the registration desk; it was unattended. I picked up an I.D tag for Governor Jimmy Davis. He was a former governor of La. He is the author of "You Are My Sunshine.". I escaped detection amid the crowd and exited quickly from the reception.

 

[diggerfoot]

I'm giving that a listen, might be fun for our symphony to play!

I would be honored if you do. Three of the movements have vocal parts that are not included in the synthesized music for the online slideshows.

Here are testimonials from the premiere.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

After retirement, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I went to the park one day, and watched a Dog Agility Trial going on. I had just got a dog for companionship, and thought this looked like fun. It took a long time to learn how to train my dogs, but they were very smart and cooperative.

I ended up doing this for 14 years, until I finally had to "retire" again at age 75. I ran three different English Cocker Spaniels, and they all earned many Agility Titles.

For those unfamiliar, they give you a course map, with the sequence of obstacles. (Shown at the beginning of the video). You then get to walk the course for about ten minutes, without your dog, while you plan your handling strategy. Here is a representative run. ( I was age 70) Hope you enjoy watching.

Now I'm tired.

 

[PacoSwede]

I occasionally teach a class on early Buddhist texts for grad students and often find myself thinking along these same lines. But I've never had an ultimate experience like what you describe. I'll keep looking.

great!

this is not uconn bb related, but since you're familiar with buddhism, perhaps you (or anyone) have some ideas about my puzzlement.

i of course have been interested in buddhists beliefs. i immediately saw the parallels to my own 'enlightenment' and imagined that i could find plenty of buddhists and get insights from them. it has been more than 50 years now and even with access to many resources via the internet these days, it's really tough to find to others who share my insights.

sure, the concept of oneness and the problem of overcoming the ego are mentioned often. the mystics are fascinating and have a long history -- and not only in buddhism. i read about such stuff and think "yes, yes. they get it. finally!" but then they don't. it seems at the last minute they can't get beyond their egos. they have accepted that it presents a roadblock, talk about overcoming it, but repeatedly fall in the trap. everything always comes down to them.

do only the truly enlightened defeat this? is it that difficult and rare? or do those who in the end do overcome simply have no need, or ability, to speak of it?

a puzzlement i have yet to solve. ... not that it matters, ha ha.

 

[Skeets]

There was a time when I would bowl and golf regularly, but my games were vastly different. At the end of a night I would remember the few (2 or 3) bad shots I bowled but after a round of golf I would remember the few (2 or 3) good shots I had. But those 2 or 3 good ones kept me coming back for more...

Sometimes my scores are the same

 

[cuzinvinny]

retired almost a couple years now was a computer programmer for a hospital system, been a UCONN Women's Season Ticket holder for over 25 years been to three Final Fours 2000 2001 2004, I ride a trike see picture, I'm into photography, live by Long Island Sound, I mow my lawn with an electric mower...

 

[HuskyNan]

I haven't gone insane after almost 30 years on the Boneyard.

 

[Pharos]

Met my wife in Spring '74. Our friendship grew over the next 18 months. At the same time her mom was dying of cancer. At Thanksgiving '75 I was visiting her home, and someone came to tell us that "Mom wants you in her bedroom." We went. Her mom was in terrible shape.
She said, "I have two things to talk with you about before I go. First, are you two going to get married?" We said yes, and a few minutes later we were engaged. Then her mom said, "Second, I want the two of you to promise me to read the Gospel of John." That seemed strange, but we promised. Her mom died a week later.
We didn't get to it right away, but God kept prompting. That moment changed our lives in many, many dramatic ways. Can't wait to see my mother-in-law again.