24-April-2007
I've been receiving postcards from around the world! You can view the postcards on my Flickr account. (Both links open in new windows).
Welcome to my cyberspace home.
I have a severe allergy to (achoo!) housework, so if you've been surfing the Net and just found yourself on this page, kindly grab a towel, (in the cupboard to your right), stay awhile, and don't drip all over my nice neat lines here, all right? :-)
My name is Gaelyne R. Gasson. (Gaelyne is pronounced as "Gay-LINN"). My husband and I run a VCSWEB, a small Web Hosting business in Reynella, South Australia.
My husband Rod is the main Internet tech person. I'm the Web Admin / Designer and the sexy voice on the phone.
I'm the author of The Internet for Commodore C64/128 Users, the only reference manual of it's type for the Commodore C64/128.
I've also written for Linux Journal, Commodore World magazine, and a few years ago, had a regular column in BBS Magazine, Commodore World and GO64!.
I met Rod via Fidonet when he was programming QWKRR128 (an offline mail reader), and our mutual interests brought us together even though we were worlds apart physically. I'm originally from Saginaw, Michigan USA but now am proud to call Australia my home. I particularly enjoy being Rod's trouble-and-strife.* :-)
*Oz slang for "wife".
This web site originally started out (in 1995) as an experiment to show how the Web could be used to support Commodore computing. Since then, the Web has grown and the Commodore support web pages I had intermingled with other Commodore web pages we as VideoCam Services had available. These Commodore support pages now have a site of their own: C= Homestead.
I do use more than one brand of computer and operating system, but I really love my Commodore. C= owners are some of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet.
Oh, and if you think the Commodore is ancient, check this PDP-11 site out. It was the first computer I ever used, and even it has support pages on the Web!
If you're interested in the history of personal computers, this is a really good read: presentation notes by Jim Butterfield on the history of personal computers from his perspective.
In working with our Internet server, I've discovered Linux and Open Source. Linux is a terrific Unix-like operating system and Open Source allows us to use and modify if need be many high quality programs that make computer using enjoyable and our services possible. I was very familiar with UNIX as most of my book is about using shell accounts online, so it didn't take very long at all to get very comfortable with our Linux system.
The Index
- Personal Stuff
The usual bits of personal info that you may or may not be interested in.
- Back in Oz
My saga of Immigrating to Australia.
- Gallery
This is a subsection of my web site with photos of great moments (such as our wedding and when Rod and I became Aussie citizens), plus other photos I'd like to share with friends and family.
- WebCam (View us at work)
We have four different WebCams now - my personal webcam, one of our office, one looking out on our driveway and one over looking our back yard. The link above is to a frames page so that all four pictures are refreshed every 15 seconds, and information about the cameras are below the camera section.
Now that there's a JPEG viewer for the C64, anyone can view the images. Neat, huh? - House Work Avoidance Tips
Since search engines find my index page when you do a search on the subject of housework (why would anyone search for housework?), I thought I may as well give people something constructive (?) to read. :-)
To my amazement, my housework page appears as a link from the Australian tv show 'A Current Affair' web site. It's listed as a related Internet link for a survey they had on couples and housework. - Breast Cancer
In August 2001, I found a lump in my right breast which turned out to be breast cancer. Naturally this aspect of my life has been added into my website.
- Glucose Levels
In September 2006, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I've added a new area on my website so that I can use my site for keeping stats on how my glucose levels are doing.
- Oztion Sales (Opens in New Window)
I love selling on online auction! I'd been selling on Ebay since April 2003, and enjoyed it until they raised their prices and gave sellers less options. So I voted with my feet and have been slowly moving over to Oztion. Be sure to add our shop to your favourites as we have a wide variety of items for sale and always have something new or different listed.
- VCSWEB Online Store (Opens in New Window)
When we gave up selling on eBay, we decided to merge a couple of our other online stores together and have created a great little store. Rod also re-developed the Australian shipping for the software we use and a number of other Australian online shops are now using his shipping module.
- Old Journal News
Once upon a time, this site had news stories on the front page. The problem with that is if I didn't add news stories very often (which I didn't), it would make the site look more dated than it should. If I have anything of interest to note, I'll do so at the top of this page from now on and delete it after it's served its purpose.
- DA Journal (Opens in New Window)
My three kids use Deviant Art for their artwork, poetry and journals, and I do too. So instead of having news on my own site and duplicated at DevArt, I just use DevArt. That way the kids know what's on my mind, and you can too if you want.
- Random Experiments (Opens in New Window)
I started using this blog for keeping track of the various experiments I do with my diabetes - what helps keep my glucose levels down, and what doesn't. It's sort of grown since then as I feel quite comfortable with it. Probably because I know my sisters read it.
MySpace (Opens in New Window) - Communication Centre
This page allows you to contact me.
- Amazon Wish List (Opens in New Window)
This hasn't been updated in yonks, but everyone should have a wish list, I reckon.
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Linux Journal Article (Opens in New Window)
This article is about using Analog to analyze web sites. I wrote it a few years ago and I'm pleased it's still online.
- Web Links
This is the area I use for work and jumping off to other places during the day as I work and even when I get the rare chance to play.
I don't journal a lot on this site, but I do like to see what my kids and friends are up to. I've run into old high school friends here, which is another reason I visit the site.
Design Comments
21 March 2006. I've spent the last several days updating the website. Mainly, I've changed over the layout format from using tables to using a cascading style sheet. This had the effect of making the site nicer for text browsers, with the content at the top of the page and the side menu appearing on the bottom. It also has made it a bit faster to render on graphic browsers. I've also removed a few galleries that were a bit old or outdated. The Webcam pages have had a complete change and no longer use frames and I hope it's easier to view.
The cross stitch in my logo above not only suits the name I gave my personal site many years ago, it also represents a time in my life when I spent more time stitching than I did on the computer. I really enjoyed cross stitch and needlepoint, but have given it up as I had problems with arthritis and holding the needle became too painful for any length of time.
I love butterflies and my monitor is surrounded with them, so I included just a few on my web site. I didn't want to get carried away with them or have them distract from the site. There's also a butterfly quote that I really like... Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.
I tried to keep the site light but easy to navigate. I hope you enjoy your visit.
Please sign my Guest Book... I'm very curious about the people who visit my web site and this gives me the chance to find out about you.
This Page Last Updated: 17-Nov-2007
