Welcome
Hello, I’m Catherine Gacad. I’m so happy to meet you!
I’m a San Francisco Bay Area native: born in Oakland, raised in Alameda, educated in Berkeley (Go Bears!), and residing in the city of San Francisco. While my career is in financial services, I dream of a writer’s life filled with books, literature, and now in this digital age—blog posts. I’m proud to have written for Chicago Business newspaper, KQED, SOMA magazine, and the3six5.
I’m a late-bloomer in almost all aspects. I got my period late. I lost my virginity in my mid-twenties. I married in my mid-thirties. And now that I’m in my late-thirties, I’m praying for a child with my wonderful mutt of a husband. My dad is looking forward to having an FBI grandchild one day: Filipino (my heritage), British and Italian (my husband Dean’s heritage). This 2013 year, I miscarried two angel babies and have been grieving openly here on my blog. Here is a post that gives a glimpse into my heartache. You can also find Miscarriage as one of the categories in my side bar to read more.
I love to travel (35+ countries and counting). But even when I’m not taking a plane to some exotic location, I’m planning our next staycation (loving Point Reyes, Half Moon Bay, Carmel Valley, Healdsburg) or booking an AirBnB rental so we can explore living in different SF neighborhoods (Potrero Hill is my fave).
Vixen, the Nickname
During my first year of getting my MBA at the University of Chicago, my mentor wrote a tongue-in-cheek article on the incoming class and gave me the title Vixen. The nickname stuck. At the end of the year, I was selected to be the newspaper advice columnist and aptly named my column Ask Vixen. After graduating with MBA in tow, I embarked on a corporate career, but received emails from friends and former classmates who said they missed my column. Hence in 2005, a blog was born!
Dear Vixen the Blog
Dear Vixen is an online advice column centered around me, my life in San Francisco, and my world-wide escapades.
I dole out opinionated advice on current events, politics, faith, travel, real estate, and finances, with a retirement goal of age 55. Feel free to use the categories on my side bar to explore topics.
The best thing about writing a blog is the feedback, knowing that some of my experiences are resonating with readers. I appreciate any and all comments because that means people are reading and thinking; and we are interacting together. Feel free to comment or email. I always respond.
My Favorite Posts
- My post for the Webby-nominated The3six5 project.
- Best Ever Day Trip from San Francisco
- Fighting with my husband and ironically summoning the essence of Jesus in Loaves & Fishes Jesus
- Living a dog’s life in NYC in Dogsitting