Leslie Bloss, Bellevue Real Estate Professional

It seems every year I charge ahead into something new. Well, this summer it is the “Team in Training” for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Team in Training has marathons and hiking also.

In November I will be riding my new bicycle for 100 miles in Tucson. Until three weeks ago I hadn’t ridden a bicycle in years (and never very well). I have now ridden 17 miles at one time—and am thoroughly enjoying this activity. With the “heat wave” Seattle has been having this summer I find the breeze that comes with biking helps to cool me off--something that I never got when running. This is an activity that I intend to stay with as a future goal is to take bicycling vacations. I will write more on that at another time.

This morning was our first training meeting and I found some helpful tips from the mentors: 1. Gregg’s bicycle shop has a machine you sit on to get fitted for the correct seat. 2. Bicycle shoes with cleats and the corresponding pedals greatly improve your riding because it gets you using the back of your thigh muscle. 3. The cleat releases your shoe when you twist your foot a little. I had envisioned not being able to get my foot off the pedal while I falling over (yes I do that).

I will keep you posted (that is a pun) on how the ride are going and when I come up with new tips.

Now for the most important part—this is a fund raiser for Leukemia. Did you know?

Blood cancers such as leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes are cancers that originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissues. They are considered to be related cancers because they involve the uncontrolled growth of cells with similar functions and origins. The diseases result from an acquired genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell, which becomes abnormal (malignant) and multiplies continuously. The accumulation of malignant cells interferes with the body's production of healthy blood cells.

40 years ago the survival rate for children with leukemia was 4%--today it is right around 90%. Leukemia affects 10 times as many adults and survival is significantly less. More than six people every hour die from a blood cancer?

How can you help? You can go to my fundraising website and make a donation, join a team or refer me to folks as a real estate agent so I can contribute more (any or all of the above is welcome!)

I use GreatSchools.net often to look at the ratings of schools in different areas and suggest that my clients also go to the website. It is a good site to find what each school offers. While on the website today I noticed something I hadn't paid attention to before. There are articles for each level of school.

For instance, under preschool they have several topics:

Preschool 10 Signs of a Great Preschool The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests signs of a great preschool. NAEYC

What to Expect at Preschool: Science Preschool teachers share science by taking advantage of children's innate curiosity about the world. Scholastic

What to Expect at Preschool: Art Hands-on craft projects in preschool build a surprising set of skills.

Scholastic What to Expect at Preschool: Math. Math is an everyday experience for your child. The best teachers know how to capitalize on it.

Scholastic What to Expect at Preschool: Literacy Time-tested classroom strategies will help your preschooler develop early reading skills. Scholastic How Academic Should a Preschool Be? A good preschool will help your child build academic skills while also allowing time to learn through play.

Under each topic they also give suggestions as to what can be done at home. In the science section they talk about watching nature programs on television. They suggest going on nature walks and noticing rocks, leaves, clouds etc. and talking about them. They also mention involving preschoolers in sorting the laundry--what a concept!

Some of the things my three year old grandson loves doing that is science related is playing with flashlights, cooking, going to the Children's Museum (at the Seattle Center), going to the zoo, the aquarium, and the many city parks.

There are enough activities suggested under each topic to keep you all well occupied.

If you know of a school you especially like, you can go onto the website and write a review.

LuvSeattle for property searches and real estate information Seattle, Eastside, King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Just click on the "Realty Watcher" button on the home page.

I received an email from one of my brother-in-laws and it was so helpful. It is from the website called "familyhack.com." Family hack says on their website "We are a family with three small kids figuring out how to travel the world, work from anywhere while home schooling our kids. We also blather on about life hacks, saving money and cool stuff we love." The website is great, some sample categories they have are: Age 2-4, Age 5-7, Books, Maintenance & Repairs and Work.

This particular feature is on how to get something out of a drain without calling a plumber. You do need a wet and dry vac! View the link if you have time--it could save you lots of time and money! Here

Hope this comes in handy for you!

LuvSeattle for property searches and real estate information Seattle, Eastside, King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Just click on Realty Watches on the home page.

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

My Mother's Day will begin at 5:00 this evening with dinner with my daughter's family in Wallingford. I should walk around Green Lake after that!

Anyway, I was looking at my list of folks I should call (old friends, past clients, people I am working with and potential clients)and debating if I should make that call! Yes, it is Mother's Day--are people going to feel interrupted?

I have decided I am going to call the "old friends and relatives" the ones that I have not kept in touch with--not because I did it intentionally, but because it is so easy to not keep balance in my life. A perfect balance, would be to see those folks at least once a quarter--because we enjoy each other's company.

Maybe that should be the tradition--call friends and relatives on the holidays--that would do it!!

Enjoy the Day!

P.S. If you don't know how the "Mother's Day" Tradition started click on the "Google" logo today.

www.LuvSeattle.com for full service real estate consultant assistance in Greater Seattle, Eastside and Kent. Ask me for a copy of my Market Watch for your area.

This is a reminder that the Friends of the Seattle Public Library is soon having it's Magnuson Park Book Sale. It will be Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday April 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Magnuson Park is located at 7400 Sand Point Way N..E. Hangar 30, in Seattle

They would like you to please bring your own boxes. I would recommend that you bring your book lists with you. This is a very popular event so you may want to arrive early.

LuvSeattle.com for full service real estate consultant in Greater Seattle, Eastside and Kent. Ask me for a copy of my Market Watch for your area.