GirlGeek of the Week
October 2000

C.J. Curtis

My history with using computers began back in 1985, when I was actively involved with running a semi-professional men's Soccer League as well as holding the high honor of being the first lady to be selected as the coach for the California Soccer Association-South Olympic Development Team for District 8 Men. Due to the high volume of paperwork, MCSA literally dropped a "portable" computer onto my desk at work, with one Leading Edge OS manual and said, "there ya go...."

My cute, light as air, 23-pound Compaq Portable XT with 10 meg HD "lugger" directly glared at me from its huge three by five inch monochrome monitor for three months before I could even get that expensive puppy to "do one thing." In those days, I was a professionally trained and licensed soccer coach...with no computer knowledge or experience at all. My coaching life continued using a pencil and a notebook...as the curser blinked at me.

One day the CYSA administrative controller wanted to send me updates for the next playing season via modem. My goose was cooked--as my backside exposed--because I had no idea what a modem was. Things have changed a great deal since those days of old--in many ways. I can honestly say, not only do I know what a modem is, my livelihood revolves around them.

Currently besides administrating over Jungle II, I am also the Guild Wiggle of the largest The Fourth Coming Guild in the world with 340 strong. Assisting in game development for online games in many forms, I write "gaming review columns" for T4C on three different websites/systems and use the Web to do all my grocery shopping. (You know, the Peach Truck People.)

When did you first discover your love and/or obsession with computers and technology?

My love for computers should be closely compared to "being dragged kicking and screaming towards one--as I was being force fed today's technology simply because soccer coaches wait until the last minute to update anything. Express mail, couriers, facsimile machines and overnight mail were considered just part of the normal fiscal running budget for any professional soccer administrator. Most of these services are listed at the start of any administrative training book as necessary evils before 1995. After that date, computers became standard tools used by all soccer leagues and officials...

Let me just say--it was not love at first sight. Handcuffs were required.

How do you earn a living?

My life changed directional paths after soccer. When I retired from coaching I began to concentrate on a new interest, computers and online systems. I am currently a systems administrator for a "micro" ISP, Jungle II Online, jungleii and I have become involved with RPG game design. I am also the guild mistress of the largest The 4th Coming Guild in the world, All With Honor. So, officially I play games for a living, just not on a pitch of green.

Do you consider yourself a Geek?

Hmmmmmmmmm. Perhaps on some levels, yes, I am a Geek. However, I consider myself as an interactive geek with social skills, with the need to keep researching and learning. Technology has shown no mercy for those who believe MSDOS is a dead language, Linux is a new OS and all your software is up-to-date on your HD.

What is your favorite Website?

Zdnet for practical purposes, jungleii for my job reality. And playervault for All With Honor.

What do you do when you are not working?

Is that a fair question? Do you want me to lie to you? Oh wait...I know, fundraising for Madras, JII's Online's Siberian Tiger, sharing the Secret Of Life, which is: "You can order or bake a birthday cake, fully decorated in any style, flavor or theme, ANY day of the week, as many times as you want to every month--just to enjoy it. The baker NEVER asks for proper ID!

What's your motto?

"Some people dream of dancing upon the water in great flashes of sparkling light, others live to rule the shoreline's tide--gently lapping on the beach or smashing in robust syncopated rhythms against the cliffs rocks. I wish to be none of these--I am happy simply being the water."-CJ Curtis

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Ahhhhhhh... Any blue and furry muppet--or Sally Field if Grover was already booked.

What would be the title of your autobiography?

My Life as a Wigglesnort.

Who is the person you most admire?

Any person who gets up in the morning and faces the day with an honest smile in their heart. OR the person who asks you to turn up the car radio, takes you in their arms then begins to dance along the roadside...after they discover their car tires have gone flat, the jack is missing and the nearest gas station is five miles away. Everybody Lambada! These are the true heroes of our world.

When and where were you the happiest?

Within Jungle II's darkened offices at three A.M with Grumpus Toupee (JII office hedgehog) quietly running in his exercise wheel. While I am at the keyboard busily writing All With Honor's weekly newsletter "And So It Goes."

If you could have one super power what would it be?

Super Powers? Hmmmm... Oh I know, to vaporize endless lines at the DMV! I got the POW-ER!