It all started in the middle 60's... too much info? Well, then let me introduce myself. I am Jen, also known as Finns and mother of TheBoy. My introduction to computers was rather prosaic and hardly earth shattering. My folks had bought an Apple II Plus (remember those?) and at the time it came with a subscription to an Apple programming magazine. I spent hours piecing together bits and bobs of code gleaned from its mystical pages.
But, way back then (1980's) "computers are just a fad" .. "computers are but a toy" .. "they will never amount to anything" and my favorite: "get a real occupation".
Then came the internet! We had a 9600 baud modem and wracked up HUGE long distance bills connecting with my brother's computer to trade games and play text based interactive games. The first websites were plain janes, weren't they? Now they blink and flash and play midi music through our speakers! But like anything else, there can be too much of a good thing. Sometimes, you can hardly find the info for all the glitz and glam.
Fast forward to 1996. After the divorce, I took a beginners HTML course, which eventually led to the creation of this site (when we still had case sensitive addresses (TheTropics/Cabana/5719, btw)). Then I took a Windows course (95 and had 3.11 at home). It only served to further pique my curiosity. So like any other curious person, I enrolled in Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Superior, Wisconsin and became a "degreed" Computer Information Systems Programmer Analyst.
Not content to rest on my laurels, I worked for a couple of years, then went back to college, this time at Saint Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota and got a bachelor's in Computer Sciences.
After attaining my degree, I moved with it to Iowa and became a mid-range mainframe programmer. I still tinker in web programming simply because it is more fun sometimes than staring at a black and green screen wondering why the program won't work.
Now... about TheBoy aka Rat (there is a special name I call him that I am NOT allowed to use in public. So he settled on me calling him Rat in front of his friends). You mothers out there with sons understand completely, I am sure. After all, what teenaged boy wants his MOM calling him things like Pooky Wooky or Snuggle Buggle (just in case he reads this: These are NOT the names I call him) where other people can hear?!?
He is into cars. He wakes up nearly every morning telling me about some awesome car (right down to the paint job) he dreamed about having. I spose nearly being able to have a driver's license (we are on a month countdown, soon to be weeks, then days) might have something to do with it. If you want an opinion on ANY make or model, foreign or domestic, just ask.
Let's see, he is a Sophomore in high school and currently taking a Computer Drafting course and Industrial Arts. He really enjoys working with hs hands and teachers. He sings tenor in the choir, plays the baritone and alto saxes in concert band and Jazz bands. Oh! And let us not forget, he is consistently onthe B Honor Roll!
He still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up and that is fine with me. I just hope he settles on something. He has perused a few collegiate websites and he thinks being a lawyer might be interesting (as much as he argues with me over taking out the garbage...).
Well, that is pretty much a brief introduction to us...check back from time to time. When he decides on a career, I will surely be bragging about it. :o)
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