Pemco in the Northwest

Love 'em or leave 'em: that was the question at the 5th annual Valentine's Day Dash around Green Lake this weekend.  Peter, Steven and I arrived early Saturday morning to mingle with the hundreds of runners sporting everything from matching pink outfits to huge heart-shaped suits.  The idea behind the 5K race is to dress exactly like your Valentine's Day sweetheart, with prizes awarded for exceptional costumes.  Once the race begins, you have the choice to stay with your running partner or "leave 'em" behind.    

We spent the morning surrounded by energetic runners and cute couples who stopped to get their picture snapped and share their Valentine's story.  Many of the runners seemed eager to set personal-best times, while the couples seemed to be more fixated on finishing the race hand-in-hand with each other.  



While it wasn't quite the dog days of summer at Green Lake, we did meet some excited canines and their human companions.  Mo brought her pack of pooches, Walter, Shasta and Betty to join in on the fun.  They all raced across the finish line with impressive times, but more importantly, they finished in impressive fashion - The dogs donned matching pink bandanas in celebration of Valentine's Day.  

Our day wasn't truly complete until we spotted a pair of "Green Lake Power Walkers."  Admitting that they did indeed fit the bill, Ty and Britt proudly showed off their Northwest Profile T-shirts during the run.  Unfortunately, we noticed that Britt left Ty during the race as she cruised to the finish line in under 33 minutes.  Ty showed up about 10 minutes later, and they happily reunited.  Though they may have opted for the "leave 'em" route, Ty and Britt blissfully left Green Lake together to enjoy the rest of their Valentine's Day weekend.

Though we've experienced our fair share of Northwest runs, this one was by far the sweetest. If you were at the race, drop us a note in the comments section and tell us about your favorite Valentine's Day Dash moment.  Until next time, be sure to stay on the lookout for Peter, Steven and me coming soon to a neighborhood near you!

The Seahawks season may not have gone according to plan, but we enjoyed our incredible year with the 12th Man!  As the season came to a close, Peter, Steven and I eagerly greeted Seattle's faithful for one last hurrah.  Our photo program proved once and for all that Seahawks fans are the NFL's finest.

Game-day is always a special occasion at Qwest Field, but the Seahawks took it a step further on Sunday.  The team hosted its annual Fan Appreciation Day to finish the year on a high note.  Our PBA Team let the loyal fans know how much we appreciated their presence all season long, and everything came full circle when the first "Supercharged Seahawks" photo contest winner of the year paid us a final visit. 

Mark, a season ticket holder for 15 years, has really earned his stripes.  He had one ultimate goal to cap off the 2009-2010 season – he vowed that he would make it onto Hawk Vision during Sunday's game!  We were confident that he would make that goal a reality, considering he was decked out in a green and blue dreaded cap and referee uniform emblazoned with "Official Seahawks Fan." 


We have grown accustomed to mingling with "Supercharged Seahawks Fans" every Sunday, and we will certainly miss our experience as we head into the off-season.

Here's what we'll miss the most:

- The pre-game soundtrack of 'Hawk jams

- Seahawks superhero costumes (including Hawk Daddy, Mr. Mohawk, Mama Blue, and Sea Rooster)

- Children attending their first Seahawks game and getting a souvenir photo to prove it

- Proving that, like all of us in the Northwest, Seahawks fans are proud to say "We're a little different!"

Thank you to everyone who visited our booth throughout the season.  You made every Sunday special.  Until next time…Go Seahawks!

The weather outside may have been frightful, but the atmosphere at Westlake Center was oh-so delightful this weekend. Peter, Steven and I made a visit to the bustling mall on Friday night to celebrate the start of the holiday season and we spent all day on Saturday greeting festive shoppers as they got a jump start on their holiday shopping.

 

The holiday spirit is in full swing now, and we couldn't be more excited to share the season with all of you!  We'll make our next appearance at the Seahawks vs. 49ers game on Sunday, Dec. 6 and we hope to see you there.  All we want for Christmas is another chance to hang out with the 12th Man -- Oh, and a Seahawks win would be nice, too!

People always say that good things come to those who wait.  Well, that adage took on a whole new meaning this Saturday at the annual Goodwill Glitter Sale.  Anxious shoppers seeking stellar fashion finds camped out at the Dearborn Seattle Goodwill store as early as 4 a.m.!  Peter, Steven and I were on-hand with coffee and doughnuts to reward them for their dedication to shopping for a great cause.

We could hardly believe our eyes when we first showed up.  Hundreds of Glitter Sale shoppers gladly braved the elements to get their hands on the finest in Northwest fashion.  The line extended all the way around the store with excited shoppers trying their best to stay warm.  

At the very front of the line sat Natasha and Polina, a bundled-up mother-daughter duo from Redmond.  They've made the Glitter Sale an annual event to kick-off the holiday season in style.  Natasha boldly claimed that the weather would not prevent her from adding a little pizzazz to her wardrobe, and Polina agreed, saying, "I can't wait to get in there and find some vintage or designer clothes!"

Those two weren't the only Glitter Sale veterans in attendance.  Courtney, a California native, has made the Glitter Sale a part of her holiday shopping for four years now.  She plans her trips to the Northwest to coincide with the Glitter Sale because there's no other event that combines shopping and giving in such a fun and stylish way.  Courtney was in search of some jewelry and accessories to complement the mink fur coat she found at last year's sale.

Goodwill's early estimates suggest that this was the event's most successful year.  Because of the Northwest's love of fashion and support of the Glitter Sale, Goodwill has been able to offer job training programs to help low-income people become self-sufficient through job training and educational programs.

This event proved to us that the Northwest certainly has a style of its own.  From the sequined dresses to the personalized leather jackets, we saw it all at the Goodwill Glitter Sale.  Take a look at some of the best finds of the day:



Now Peter, Steven and I can't wait for next year!

We are also looking forward to our next festive event, the Spokane Jingle Bell Run taking place this coming Saturday.  We can't wait to see all of the great "NW Male and Female Action Figures" on the run!

On Saturday, Peter, Steven and I had the chance to work at the Sounders' final regular season game, and it was a match to remember - not just on the field, but off it as well. The match was not only a celebration of the players and their outstanding inaugural season, but also "thank you" to the hoards of dedicated fans who've passionately supported their team in the past year. The evening's Sounders vs. FC Dallas match was dubbed "Fan Appreciation Night," and it gave the Sounders a chance to recognize the fans who have cheered faithfully from the beginning.

Similar to weekends past, we snapped photos of hundreds of Sounders faithful and printed out "'I Know I Am, I'm Sure I Am' Sounders FC Fan" souvenir pictures.  The sights and sounds in front of our booth were spectacular.  From Sounders cowbells to vuvuzelas (stadium horns) to the Sound Wave Band, our ears were buzzing with excitement right up to kickoff.  

We were also treated to a magnificent display of talent by a young soccer extraordinaire. Nineteen-year-old Khoa Nguyen juggled for hours, performing moves we've never seen - even on a soccer field.  Don't believe us?  Take a look for yourself. We might have a future Sounders player on our hands!



To show appreciation to the best fans in MLS, the Sounders unveiled a larger-than-life scarf with every inaugural season ticket holder's name forever ingrained.  This was a very special moment, one that Sounders fans will never forget. Take a look at the unveiling below:



Though this was the final home match of the regular season, the Sounders aren't finished.  The postseason awaits, and the fairy-tale season will continue.  The Sounders first playoff match is this Thursday, Oct. 29, and you can bet we'll be there to capture the enthusiasm. Come find us in the North Lot of Qwest Field before the game - we'll see you there!

Matt Hasselbeck throws, Julius Jones runs, Lofa Tatupu tackles (or did), and you cheer!  Isn't it about time you were recognized for your talents?  We feel the same way, so we're searching far and wide for the most passionate "Supercharged Seahawks Fans."

If you have a pseudonym like "Mr. Mohawk" or "Sea Rooster," we want to meet your alter ego and hear why you are the perfect representative of Hawk Nation.  To enter the PEMCO "Supercharged Seahawk Fan" photo contest, stop by the PEMCO booth before every Seahawks home game and get your picture snapped at Touchdown City. Bring your "Sea-Fense" signs, wear your throwback Steve Largent jerseys, paint your faces and wave your 12th Man flags for the camera!  

Each week, five super fan photos are posted here, and then it is up to Seahawk fans everywhere to vote for the most spirited, supercharged photo of the week.

For every vote cast online, PEMCO will donate $1 to Seattle Children's Hospital up to $10,000. Your fandom always supports the Seahawks, but now it can help children in need! The weekly winner not only wins the title of "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" but also gets their photo displayed on the HawkVision screen at the next home game.

Ready to check out this week's top five fan photos?  Take a look at these super-fans from Sunday's game at www.werealotlikeyou.com.  Then, vote for who you think deserves to be in the spotlight at next week's home game.  So start voting, Hawk Nation, because this week's "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" winner is up to you!

                                   Mr. Mohawk and Mohawk Jr.                                                       The Rooster

Rainfall may have dampened the Northwest on Friday, but it couldn't soak our spirits at the PCC Natural Market in Redmond.  Steven and I spent the afternoon fitting bike helmets at the local market, and we met children of all ages eager for the chance to strap on their helmets and take their bikes out for a wet ride around the parking lot.

In partnership with PEMCO, Children's Hospital offers discounted bike helmets and free helmet fittings to ensure that young "NW Male and Female Action Figures" stay safe on the roads.  We witnessed some special moments as many youngsters tried on their very first bike helmets.

Kendra stopped by with her sons, Daniel and Paul.  Daniel and Paul have been riding tricycles up and down the hill by their house for years, but now they're ready for their first bikes.  After waiting patiently for their fitting, the two boys rushed off, excited to show off their new helmets. Daniel exclaimed, "I'm going to wear mine all day!"


Another young family stopped by later in the day with the same wide-eyed excitement.  Alice visited the booth with her daughters, Madeleine and Sanne, and the little girls beamed with anticipation for their new helmets.  Once they were fitted, the sisters clutched their brand new helmets closely and proudly showed off their Children's Hospital temporary tattoos.  


Steven and I even had a chance to get our own helmets fitted!  


The rain never seemed to die down at the event, but neither did the children's enthusiasm for new bike helmets.  It was a treat for us to take part in such a great cause.  

If you missed us in Redmond, you can catch us again this Saturday, Oct. 24 as the playoff-bound Sounders take on FC Dallas.  Why not hop on your bike and ride over to Qwest Field?  Just don't forget your helmet!   

Face it, Seahawks fans are one-of-a-kind! On a day when the Seahawks unveiled their new, shockingly lime green jerseys, Hawk Nation fans were even more colorful. The PBA team – this week made up of  Alyssa, Kristi and I – hunkered down in Touchdown City before kickoff and snapped photos of excited 'Hawk fans. With the Chicago Bears in town, the crowd was extra boisterous in cheering on their beloved Seahawks.  

There isn't much that can surprise us at the PEMCO booth anymore, but this week proved that Seahawks fans are always out-doing themselves when it comes to fan-wear. Fans flashed their blue and green pride at the photo booth, wearing everything from Seahawks sneakers to gleaming green facepaint. We all agreed, Qwest Field has never looked better!

Here are our favorite snapshots of the day:

 
Chime in and let us know which pictures show the most passionate and animated Seahawks fans. If you spot yourself, take pride in being one of the Seahawks' premier enthusiasts. You can also check out www.werealotlikeyou.com to vote for the "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" of the week. The winner gets their picture broadcast on HawkVision at the next home game. 

Could you be next?

The WALLY1 van will be back at Touchdown City on Oct. 11 when the Seahawks take on the Jaguars, so start practicing your best game day pose.  

In other non-football news, the PBA team and WALLY1 will be at this weekend's Issaquah Salmon Days, and we can't wait to catch the Grande Parade, sample the delicious Foods of the World and enjoy the live entertainment – see you there!

And away we go!  Football season is finally under way in the Emerald City, and it's time to dust off those blue wigs and fly those 12th Man flags proudly. This weekend, the Seahawks kicked off the 2009 season with a 28-0 blowout victory over the St. Louis Rams, and the PEMCO Brand Ambassador team of Peter, Steven and I joined the fans in giving the Hawks a mighty "welcome back."

At the PEMCO photo booth, fans may come and go, but some leave a lasting impression.  This week we had the chance to capture three memorable moments at the PEMCO booth, all before kick-off!

First we met a group of enthusiastic ladies who dropped by to share their "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" story.  Clad in matching Seahawks T-shirts, Jacqueline, Brielle, Tawny and Haley belted out, "Hawkaaw, Hawkaaw!" and explained how the chant is a tribute to their late friend Gordy Hawkes who used the chant as a pump-up rally cry before every Seahawks game. 

That catchy chorus wasn't the only memorable line we heard in Touchdown City. We witnessed a marriage proposal as Aaron from Olympia dropped to one knee and popped the question to his girlfriend Danielle. Aaron said he knows how much Danielle loves the Seahawks, and so he planned out every detail of the surprise proposal – from the question outside Qwest Field to their stop by the PEMCO booth for a photo to commemorate the day. Danielle's heartfelt "I do" made the moment unforgettable. Aaron professed that he is the luckiest man (and fan) alive!


It must have been our lucky day too.  The PBA team got a magical surprise as Ralph, a renowned magician, astonished and dazzled the Seahawks faithful during the pre-game festivities.  He amazed us with some simple - although head-scratching - card tricks.  I still don't know how Ralph managed to deceive us, but he certainly convinced us that there is magic in the air at Qwest Field on Seahawk game day!


All in all, I can't think of a better way to spend my Sunday morning than with Hawk Nation.  We're ready to do it all over again in two weeks when the Seahawks host the Chicago Bears on Sept. 27.  As for WALLY1, he'll make his next appearance this weekend in Wenatchee for the Taste of the Harvest.

They say the early bird gets the worm, but in Touchdown City, early Seahawks fans get something much better - a "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" photo and a chance to check out PEMCO's WALLY1 van.  

Yesterday evening, Peter, Steven and I headed over to the Qwest Field Event Center to capture fan photos during the much-anticipated pre-game festivities.  The Seahawks took on the Oakland Raiders, and there's no doubt about it – we Seattleites take our football seriously!  We were blown away by the fan's raucous energy, despite the fact the game was a pre-season chance for some friendly competition.  Before the game, we spotted fans adorned with face paint, sporting colored wigs and wearing customized jerseys to showcase their "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" personalities.  

The most memorable fan of the night was a man who dubbed himself the "Sea Rooster" – complete with a personalized jersey, beak, and feathers galore.

    

We thought we had seen it all until a young lady by the name of Tabitha paid us a visit.  She caught our eye with a gregarious grin of green and blue braces that she proudly showed off with each smile.  Tabitha, a native of Redmond, has been a "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" for years and decided to show her Hawk spirit in a very unique way!  


Manning the PEMCO booth is always entertaining, and Thursday's game was no exception.  We kept our ears open all night and captured our top three fan quotes from the pre-game celebration:

• "What the heck is a Raider?"  – We heard quite a few hecklers chime in with this question as we snapped photos of diehard Raiders fans who had road-tripped all the way up to Seattle from Southern California for the game.

• "Oh, they're priceless"  - One dedicated Seahawks fan told everyone in line at the PEMCO booth that his collection of "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" photos are priceless mementos of a great time.  "I get my picture taken at every game," he said.  "They're the best!  I pin them up in my office at work and all of my coworkers are jealous!" 
  

• "This is why I'm the better half." - A Seahawks fan gave this excuse as she apologized for her husband, a decked-out Raiders fan, who was adorned with a spray painted wig, Raiders jersey and face paint in his team's colors.

As the new trio of PBAs, we relished the opportunity to meet the legions of "Supercharged Seahawks Fans" – and some Raiders fans too! - and we look forward to the Hawk's season opener on Sept. 13 against the St. Louis Rams. 

Peter, Steven and I are making our next appearance in Walla Walla this Saturday for the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days.  We've heard Walla Walla is so nice that you have to say it twice, so with that in mind: "See you there" and "See you there!"