Isa Graduates
On June 16, 1996, Isa graduated from University of California in Santa Cruz. She has a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has been living with us since September when she decided to move back to the Bay Area from Santa Cruz. Since we have returned from the Philippines, she is actively pursuing a career in education. She has recently gotten a job as a pre-school teacher in Oakland. She's hoping to gain experience with pre-school age children to start. She and her friends Rich and Cara are looking for a home to rent in Oakland. (As of today, February 17, 1997, no luck yet-renting in the East Bay is a very competitive venture) After Patricia (who graduated from San Diego State with a degree in Marketing & Communications), Isa is the second to graduate in her generation. I am very proud of her!
The State of Grace on the Web
Over the last two years, I have been attending courses at San Francisco State University towards graduate credentials in Multimedia studies. In the last year, I have been focusing on the internet and the world wide web. In July, 1996, I launched my first web site, "The State of Grace."
This was one of the most enjoyable projects I have undertaken in a while. The internet and the web fascinates and excites me. It is a true breeding ground for my creativity and my new medium. I have also been pursuing a change of direction and focus in my career at Autodesk. Luckily, Autodesk sees that this is a growth area, very fitting for me, and a path to my professional development. Since I launched my own site, I have developed several others. If you have access to the web, please make sure to visit my site. I try to keep it updated as time permits.
This holiday issue of The State of Grace is the first State of Grace newsletter. I probably may have future issues up here on the web faster than I can print or mail. Of course it will go snail mail to those not fortunate enough to be up on the web. (I get to save trees and money this way)
Turning 50 in '97
Yup, It happens this year. I'm planning to have an all-female pow-wow and my wish is that a large percentage of the time is spent out-doors. So on the weekend of the big 50, about 20-30 of my dearest girlfriends and family will be chanting up the spirit of the crones in the hinterlands of Lake Tahoe. Funny how time flies! I am excited, however, about turning 50 and the prospect of being a recipient of the AARP newsletter! With the exception of being forgetful and a bit overweight, I'm just as good and fit as an average 30 year old!
Enough About Me
I hope you all are well and have wonderful prospects for your new year. I will be excited to hear from, or visit with, you in the near future. I thank and appreciate you, my friends, just for being who you are, wonderful, supportive and loving. Also, there is really no way to adequately thank my sister Chelong, her husband, Joseton (and their family) for their hospitality and all the things they did to make Lucia, Isa and me so welcome and well taken care of when we were in the Philippines. Best wishes to all for an unforgettable 1997. May Santo Nino bless you!
This was quite comical. Santo Nino dressed appropriately for a beach town. Filipinos are very religious and often have little altars in their homes. They say that the Santo Nino will bless your business, therefore they often have altars in their place of business (especially retail). A sari-sari store is a "variety" store-they are usually very small and crowded with goods. Many families set one up as a side business usually in the front of their house.