Professional Lifestyle

I only half-jokingly laugh I have more lives than can be lived by one person! It seems like I recently made life harder by accepting a position with a company in another city, 45 minutes away from home. Although the travel time isn't all that much more than one could reasonably expect to commute in a large city, the fact that calls are long distance via Ma Bell, and my cell phone company considers it "roaming" makes many aspects of my life harder to "dovetail" than had been before. Not to mention that my dentist, vet, and gym are 20 minutes away from home in the other direction! But the pay was good; I knew most of the people who worked there already, and I felt like it would be a good place to "settle down." Why do we middle-aged computer professionals keep thinking in the old style of "find a company with which to retire?" I keep telling myself that mode of thinking went out with all the downsizings of the '80's! Old thought patterns are hard to shake, though.

Just prior to this job, though, I had the inordinate pleasure to work with a Director of Information Technology who was also Pagan. Though our paths started out somewhat different, we found much in common between them, and now blend them in our own Circles each turn of the Wheel, even though neither of us work at the same institution any longer. It's my dream to someday, once again, work with such like-minded people. It made the routine of getting up and going to work something to look forward to each day, and the day, itself, went a little brighter and less stressful when one look could pass between, and you immediately felt the stress-busting energies directed towards you!

And what stress! As anyone in this field can tell you, it's the one career where you're "damned if you do, and damned if you don't." We have users who are itching for the latest upgrade yesterday, as well as users still terrified to press the "on" button. We have to reconcile our own beliefs in freedom of speech, expression, and information with a corporate's perceived need to know what their employees are doing every minute of every day. Technology supposedly has all the answers to every ill, according to the uninitiated in this field, and don't even try to tell them otherwise. And if the network goes down, you get it from all camps at the same time!

This is the field I chose... or did it choose me? I'm not really sure, anymore!

But here I am, nonetheless. So far, I've worked my way up from word processor to lowly bench tech to lead PC Tech to Network Administrator. I've administered Novell 3.x, and 4.x systems, and am preparing for a Novell 5.x server. I've built and administered Microsoft IIS servers, NT file servers, and Exchange servers. Athough I've earned CNA status in Novell 3.x and, most recently, 5.x, my personal preference is towards the Microsoft camp, though I've no great love for Gates, his attitude or his tactics.

Technology even encompasses my hobbies. I ran an internationally-connected computer Bulletin Board System (Tapestry BBS) for nearly 15 years before the rising popularity of the Internet began spelling doom for our systems. I was one of the first female sysops (system operators) in the Kansas City area who had created and written the system without experienced, male assistance. I was also one of the first female sysops in this area to belong to FidoNet, an international network of BBS's, and worked tirelessly to draw more women into the computer field. Through the years, I hosted several international networks in addition to FidoNet, and carried the title and responsibilities of Midwest Regional Coordinator for one. I was also president of the Greater Kansas City Sysops' Association, and was active in all gatherings, workshops, and seminars.

I run a three-node home network, linking computers on all floors of my house. Originally, I built the server with NT3.51, but upgraded to NT 4.0 after a hard drive crash necessitated a rebuild. The two clients run Windows 95. Most recently, we added the Roadrunner Cable Modem service, which basically demanded a complete reconfiguration of our network. Since connection to Roadrunner is made through TCP/IP protocols, I had to change our network setups to run via NetBeui, and built in as much security as I could without having to resort to expensive firewall software. And I'm now preparing to add to more systems here at the house - a Novell 5.0 system, and a Linux box.

In addition to my computer hobbies here at home, I also volunteer as a technical consultant/technician to a local parish elementary school. Starting approximately seven years ago, I built a computer lab for the students out of cast-off computers that I would then rebuild and upgrade. This, while my sister, teacher and Assistant Principal, worked to solicit support from the business community. The efforts resulted in one of the first computer labs in the KC area for elementary-age children that also boasted Internet access. My most recent project with the school was upgrading their systems and software for Y2k compliancy.

But beyond technology and even the Craft, there are many other things I love to do. Playing with my animals ranks up there very high, as well as trying to get together with friends we can coordinate schedules. I love to read... anything!... but especially novels by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, and Umberto Eco. I'm also read every book in the "First American" series or Sarabande, as well as the Gears' "People of..." series. Both authors are serious students of archeology and anthropology, and endeavor to re-create life from the earliest nomadic tribes into the Americas. I've found -lots- of wonderful Shamanistic lore and ceremonies that I've adopted into my own Circles from time to time.

I love all types of music, but especially late 60's and early 70's rock and roll. I'm also very much into the Celtic stylings of Loreena McKinnett and other great female artists, as well as some Alternative "Goth" musicians, such as the "Dead Can Dance." Last, but certainly not least, I revel in the music created by people of our own spiritual path; artists such as Lisa Thiel.

Over the last year I began a fitness program consisting of alternating aerobic and weight training in a single 30 minute session. It has been absolutely wonderful! I went from a size 20 to a size 6 this year, and most of that was due to the workouts. Unfortunately, with the gym so far from where I presently work, and my workdays often not ending at an early enough hour, I've found my time at the gym severely limited of late, much to my disappointment and chagrin. Not to be dissuaded, however, I've turned half of the upstairs level of my house into my own personal gym, complete with new fancy treadmill, personal workout gym, weights, and a few other machines. It means getting up at 4am to tend to the animals and get upstairs by 4:30 for an hour's workout, but it must be working; I'm down now to a size 4! Thanks to Christine and Mike at the Ladies Workout Express in Lenexa, KS, I've gotten thoroughly addicted to this workout stuff!