Dorothy's Friend's Bio

         I began working with computers around 1980 in my job.  My interest grew and when I got my first machine,  a Commodore Plus 4,  I started learning to program.  A friend got me into BBSs in late 1986,  and I quickly got involved as more than a casual user.

           My Nickname,  Dorothy's Friends,  comes from the phrase "A Friend of Dorothy's" - Referred to as being gay.  This term takes it's roots from Dorothy Gail,  played by Judy Garland,  whose musical ability and tragic life story were so popular with gay audiences and of course from, "The Wizard of Oz", the classic musical.  The term was used widely in the years back before one could "COME OUT" without being arrested as a sexual deviate,  as a way to identify ourselves to others,  sort of a code word like "Family" was just a few years back,  and still is today.

           I started my own BBS,  Somewhere Over the Rainbow in Jan.  1990.  I brought it up after several years of helping other Commodore SysOps run and modify boards.  When I got my first XT I started getting involved in WWIV BBS systems and did much the same things with them as I did with the Commodore systems.  I named my board because of my handle Dorothy's Friend and love of the movie The Wizard of Oz.

           I moved to Central Texas in March of 1995 when the company I work for opened a new office here.  Here in Texas is where I got involved in the Web and decided to put these pages up as a way to connect with more people and to let the world know about my board and the WWIV based networks it connects to..

           I September of 1996 I took a new position witha firm based in Richardson,  Texas,  a bedroom community of Dallas.  I moved there and have continued the board and the web site. I am helping my best friend bring his board and web site up here as well and learning more and more each day.

           Due to a serious lack of activity in July 1997, after a 7 and a half year run, I took the BBS down and disbanded GayNet . I now spend all my computer time and energy on the internet and specifically helping manage 3 IRC channels on the Undernet. You can usually find me hanging out in them most any night of the week. I am the Channel Manager of #GayTexas and a Senior operator on both #GayBigD(as in Dallas) and #GayBoots, a new channel started by my good friend Boot-11 aka Sean, from Schenectady, NY.

           Please take the time to look around and feel free to drop me your comments or suggestions.