I began programming in 1980, using Basic on a TRS-80 Model III. In the time since, I have programmed on more computers than I can count, in Basic, Pascal, Visual Basic, and HTML. I greatly prefer the WYSIWYG and object oriented approach of Visual Basic and HTML, and look forward to expanding into Java as soon as time affords.
I began working with page layout and design in 1982. My work as an editorial assistant entailed everything from word processing in Wordstar (a precursor to HTML) to graphic selection, page design, layout, and paste-up. Of course, in those days, I was working with a waxer and hardcopies that had to be taken to a printer before the final product could be fully appreciated! (And of course streaming audio and video were simply out of the question...)
In 1990 I discovered the wealth of opportunities created by the wonderful world of desktop publishing and began exploring its possibilities. I have worked on everything from the layout and design of album covers for Green Man Music, to newsletters, brochures, and mailings for volunteer and activist groups.
With the birth of my daughter in 1997, I began looking for a way to use this background in a home-based business opportunity that would allow me to be intellectually active, exercise the creativity of design work, and still be available for my child. I found it in web page design, and began creating web pages for members of my community. I particularly enjoy the opportunity to contribute to the usefulness of the World Wide Web as a resource for information and business transactions - a lifesaver to the harried new parent, and many others who need to find products or information from home or at 2 o'clock in the morning.