Sylvia Portillo:  

Life Hi all, I've been living in Seattle, WA since 1969. I love the rain, fog, and snow all of which we seem to be getting less of each year. I moved up here when I married the first time. I call it my practice marrige; it lasted 6 years. In 1983, I remarried to a wonderful man, Patrick Klopich, who knows how to make me laugh and rein me in when I need it. I retired in April 2001, after 32.5 years with the same company only the names changed (Pacific Northwest Bell, then US WEST, and finally Qwest). I loved my job as a technical writer, business/functional analyst, software tester and project manager, but saw the writing on the wall when Qwest bought out US WEST. My department made me a good deal so I left. During my years in Seattle I've spent lots of time finding myself. I've catered parties to see if I wanted to do that kind of work and have gotten involved in all sorts of arts and crafts from glass blowing to American indian basket weaving where we used our teeth to break down and separate cedar roots. I have finally decided to focus on drawing and painting, my first love, but don't mind getting sidetracked. An opportunity to illustrate a book came up, so, what the heck? Poets' Corner in Westminster Abby, by Joel W. Athey, was published 1996. My sister, Yolanda, introduced me to Joel who is a Prof. of English Lit. at CSUN. I've also won a couple of art competitions and had my art published on a US WEST pre-paid telephone calling card in 1997 and in an art book club magazine in 2003. Life is grand! My husband and I just finished a second remodel t...Expand for more