Update: Just kidding. Article about the perceived "patient zero" found here.Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Bike to Work Month
May is Bike to Work month and my company has started a team to be part of in the Cascade Bicycle Club (which I am a member of).
There has to be at least 4 team members and each member has to bike to work at least 5 times in a month. Piece of cake!
Good for your body, good for the environment.
There has to be at least 4 team members and each member has to bike to work at least 5 times in a month. Piece of cake!
Good for your body, good for the environment.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Kiva - Loans that Change Lives
This is a great way to do your part in improving the world. My company has recently become involved in this foundation and I think it is a great program. Here is a little blurb from their site:
"Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.
The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.
Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Child sponsorship has always been a high overhead business. Kiva creates a similar interpersonal connection at much lower costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a loan and are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money."
I understand that money is tight these days but think of the little things of excess (Starbucks, a movie, bringing lunch instead of buying it) that can make a huge difference to a woman who is helping someone else (like supporting her family or helping victims). This is a great foundation, please take some time and take a look. Just $25 can make the biggest difference. And the best part, it is a loan so you will get it back.
"Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.
The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.
Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Child sponsorship has always been a high overhead business. Kiva creates a similar interpersonal connection at much lower costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a loan and are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money."
I understand that money is tight these days but think of the little things of excess (Starbucks, a movie, bringing lunch instead of buying it) that can make a huge difference to a woman who is helping someone else (like supporting her family or helping victims). This is a great foundation, please take some time and take a look. Just $25 can make the biggest difference. And the best part, it is a loan so you will get it back.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Challenging Nature
I never used to be very clutzy but something happened to me in my 20's where my reflexes and coordination have been thrown off. A few years ago, I decided to challenge a log via a rope swing and lost. Badly. I will forever have the injury I sustained that warm summer day. This past weekend, I decided to battle an even larger natural element, a mountain. Mt. Si to be exact. About a 1/2 mile to the bottom, on fairly flat terrain, the mountain tripped me and I went head over heels. A badly sprained ankle, bruised knees and roadrash found me on the ground. Wiping the dirt off I assured my friend and myself that I was fine. I hobbled down to the end and drove home in an immense amount of pain. Taking my hiking shoes off at home, I found my ankle had swollen to about the size of a tennis ball. Ugly and painful I strapped on some ice, took some anti-inflammatories and layed on the ground with the kitties with my leg up on the chair for the rest of the evening.
The next day I went to physical therapy where I got the silent but disappointed look from my therapist. At this point, the swelling was the same but the bruising had started to set it. Now it is purple all over with green and darker (black?) blobs melting in. I am one sexy lady.
Congrats to me. I don't know what else I can challenge that is larger than a mountain, but at the rate I seem to be going, I am sure it will not be without pain.
The next day I went to physical therapy where I got the silent but disappointed look from my therapist. At this point, the swelling was the same but the bruising had started to set it. Now it is purple all over with green and darker (black?) blobs melting in. I am one sexy lady.
Congrats to me. I don't know what else I can challenge that is larger than a mountain, but at the rate I seem to be going, I am sure it will not be without pain.
Monday, April 6, 2009
First Spring Weekend
Spring has FINALLY come! At least for a few days. My friends and I took total advantage and walked along the waterfront, had lunch at a beautiful marina, went boating and went hiking!
View from lunch at Carillon Point
As we were crusing the shoreline picking out our ideal houses we watched this helicopter land on a dock! Impressive flying skills!
Only in Seattle can you drive 30 minutes out of the city (where it is warm and in the 60s) and go hiking in the mountains covered in snow! We were unable to make it to the top becuase this is what the trail looked like!
Babes on the back of the boat
View from lunch at Carillon Point
As we were crusing the shoreline picking out our ideal houses we watched this helicopter land on a dock! Impressive flying skills!
Only in Seattle can you drive 30 minutes out of the city (where it is warm and in the 60s) and go hiking in the mountains covered in snow! We were unable to make it to the top becuase this is what the trail looked like!
Babes on the back of the boatTaking A Walk
Liz and I have just signed up to walk the first ever Seattle Rock N Roll Marathon with Kristen! (We are going to walk the half)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Cherry Blossoms!
Cherry blossoms have started blooming all over the Seattle area and they are beautiful! Well, at least they would be if this horrendous weather ever ended. It snowed today. Again.
However, I pulled these gorgeous pictures off of MSNBC of the blossoms in Washington DC for your enjoyment!
However, I pulled these gorgeous pictures off of MSNBC of the blossoms in Washington DC for your enjoyment!
Celebrity Sighting on the Eastside
Yesterday, while waiting in the lobby of my doctor, the Bachelor Jason walks in!! His son, Ty and his ex-wife follow shortly.
Jason caught my eye and I gave him a knowing smile that I knew who he was and he grinned back. The ex-wife is gorgeous, Ty is adorable and Jason is super tan. It definately perked up my afternoon!
Jason caught my eye and I gave him a knowing smile that I knew who he was and he grinned back. The ex-wife is gorgeous, Ty is adorable and Jason is super tan. It definately perked up my afternoon!
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