Joyce's first columns covered a primarily non-click environment: the world of DOS. Each month I would actually learn something concrete— something factual and reproducible on my own old 8088 while, at the same time, getting bits of the underlying concepts of operating systems and software applications. I guess it was the thrill of the eureka experience that kept me reading from one month to the next, as we progressed through Windows 3.x and onwards to Windows 95-98.

We're now apparently entering a multitasking era with the column: Joyce is again playing consumer curmudgeon, taking software manufacturers to task for releasing bloated, buggy, non-user friendly software and documentation, while tackling the issue of home computer networks. I fully expect these seemingly disparate tasks to coalesce (in perhaps a variant of cold fusion technology) within the next couple of issues of PC Alamode!

Joyce has made education, in the broadest, multitasking sense of the term, her life's work. Sometimes back she was taking the obligatory foreign language course while working toward a degree in Biology and Chemistry; getting a grade of D in organic chemistry and an A in Russian changed her goals and she ultimately took a BA in Russian Language. Later, she had her own eureka experience and discovered computers; she took CIS classes through the Alamo Community College District (and strongly recommends this for anyone who wants real grounding in computer applications!), attending Southwest Texas State University and UTSA, and received an MA in Educational Psychology.  She was fortunate to have as cheerleader the late beloved Bob Lindbergh, known by many simply as Dr. Bob, San Antonio's Premier Psychologist. Joyce has taught in the private school system, was Executive Director for a motivational seminar planning association, writes documentation for hardware, software and networking. She is currently a contract technical writer.

Not only does Joyce have a collection of seven computers — from 8088 through three Pentiums — she has six sewing machines. Her retirement goal: network ‘em! The ultimate eureka experience!”