Localism: Kirkland, WA

Christmas Ship Festival

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:04:19 -0600

It's a sure sign of the Holidays. The 2008 Christmas Ship Festival has begun on the waterways of Puget Sound. This year the lighted up ships will sail past 45 water front communities.

This is the 59th year for the Christmas Ship Festival.

The Argosy Christmas Ship™ festival is a holiday celebration that has been a Northwest tradition for 59 years. Its main purpose is to bring communities together to celebrate the holiday season. From our flotilla of ships to the crowds of people who gather onshore, this celebration is one of the gems of the holiday season.

Each night, from Saturday November 29 through December 23rd, the Argosy Christmas Ship™ sails to different Puget Sound waterfront communities, over 45 in total. Choirs onboard sing 20-minute performances to these communities, all broadcast via state-of-the-art speaker system. This year, the program begins on Saturday night, November 29 to help commemorate the new South Lake Union Park.

On shore, thousands of people gather around roaring bonfires anticipating the arrival of the Christmas Ship™. Join with friends and neighbors to gather together for your own caroling tradition. If you own your own boat, feel welcome to join in the festival and help form the largest holiday floating parade in the world. To make a reservation on the Christmas ship or follow boat please call 206.623.1445.

Private Time - RAK

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:20:17 -0600

Here it is just a few days before the end of November and hours until Thanksgiving. My words of Gratitude and Thanks are shallow compared to what others have written.

We all have things that we are Thankful for. For most of us it is Family, Health, Security and normal everyday Joys. Each of us have things that we should be Thankful for, but don't fully realize it or understand what it is we have. Things like Schools, Due Process, Our Constitutional Rights and the ability to be whoever or whatever we want in life.

It may be best to sit alone quietly for a few minutes tomorrow and reflect back on all the good that has touch our lives in the past year and to look forward to all the good that we will be able to carry to others in the coming year. Giving Thanks should be a private personal process.

This time of year more people are willing to spread the Joy, Help Others and be Charitable. Wouldn't our lives be richer if we Every Day we did a little Random Act of Kindness? Giving Thanks for the chance we have to impact some else's life is one of the best ways to celebrate all that we have.

Turkey Trot for HopeLink -- Along the Lake in Kirkland

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:01:58 -0600

Sunday November 16th 2008 beginning at The Marina Pavilion at Marina Park (25 Lakeshore Plaza Kirkland WA) will take place to raise money for HopeLink, a local charity.

This is a family friendly 5k (3 mile) walk that goes along Lake Washington from Marina Park and ending at Carillon Point. There will be Live Music, Food and Beverages prior to the walk.

For more information and to register go to Hopelink's Firstgiving page

Event Details

Walk-up registration begins at 12:00pm.
The Turkey Trot begins at 1:00pm.
The route is along the waterfront from Marina Park to Carillon Point
Date: Sunday, November 16.
Live music and food and beverages before the walk!
$20 per person. Families or teams of four or more can walk at a discounted rate of $15 per person. Strollers and anything on four legs is free! Participants are also encouraged to collect pledges; for every $100 in pledges an individual raises they are eligible for a special prize drawing.

For questions, please contact Lil Klein at
lilk@hope-link.org or call 425-869-6005.

Turkey Trot Raffle Prizes

"A Day At The Races" from Emerald Downs
$50 gift certificate to Daly's Paint and Decorating
$50 gift certificate to Ivar's & Kidd Valley Restaurants
2 hours free rowing & a 1 year family membership to The Center for Wooden Boats
2 hours of kayaking for 2 from Northwest Outdoor Center
2 tickets to a 2009 University of Washington Home Football Game
2 tickets to any Village Theatre production
2 tickets to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the 5th Avenue Theatre
3 hours of financial consultation for Trusts from Timothy R. Knapp / Asset Management Strategies
3 hours of financial planning consultation from Timothy R. Knapp / Asset Management Strategies
4 admission passes to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
4 admission passes to Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort pools
4 admission passes to The Children's Museum
4 admission passes to The Museum of Flight
4 admission passes to The Museum of Glass
4 admission passes to the Wing Luke Asian Museum
70" bamboo pattern table runner from Martha Harris Flowers and Gifts
Admission and dinner for two at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
Admission for 2 adults and 2 children to Woodland Park Zoo
Admission for 2 to the Seattle Art Museum
Basket with a variety of whole wheat breads, muffins, cookies and scones
Elliott Bay Harbor Cruise for 4 from Argosy Cruises
Gift basket filled with delicious baking, dessert & drink mixes and Fisher scones
Introductory flight lesson in a Cessna 172 from Wings Aloft
Lunch for two at the Purple Cafe & Wine Bar
One month of karate lessons and official karate uniform from Karate West
One professional portrait session from Michael Rosenberg Photography
One weekend night's stay at Embassy Suites and dinner for two at Cascades Grille
One year Henry Art Gallery family membership
Dinner for four at Anthony's HomePort
$50 gift certificate to AA Party Rentals
French press and two coffee mugs from Starbucks
Miniature golf for four people and one large pizza at the Family Fun Center
Admission for 2 to Silverwood Theme Park
Family membership to the Washington State Historical Society

Many thanks to all of the generous organizations who provided these gifts!

"Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius his a target no one else can see."

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:47:05 -0600

Henry Ford and Benjamin Franklin were both considered geniuses. What did they listen to the most? Their imagination! Only when you learn to listen to your imagination can you find the things no one else can see. I'm reading a book right now that talks about making mental maps of what your thoughts are, and using them to help you achieve the impossible. When you build mental maps, you can change them anyway you want in your mind until you have the outcome you desire. Great imaginations equate to ingenious solutions.

My 8x8 Expired Campaign

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:03:36 -0500

I am getting agressive about expired and canceled listings. I want to get them to re-list with me. In order to do that I have a 8x8 Campaign that I have just started to do. I will track the results and post them here at the end of each week for the next 6 weeks.

Here is my 8x8 Plan

Day 1 -- Phone call to introduce myself. Also mail a Letter. Include a TrendGraphix Report for their Zip Code

Day 2 -- Phone call to ask for an appointment. Also mail a letter

Day 3 -- Phone call to check the received my letter and ask for the lsiting

Day 4 -- Letter Only

Day 5 -- Phone call to ask for their business

Day 6 -- Letter Only

Day 7 -- Phone call to ask for their business

Day 8 -- Phone call to ask for their business, referrals and let them know you will put them on your 33 Touch Campaign.

Look for my 1st Weeks Results to be posted this coming weekend.