Pemco in the Northwest

Harness, ropes and carabiners? Check.

Shoes, chalk bags and all things Gore-Tex? Check, check and check.

Oh, and let's not forget that Nalgene-filled with water. With supplies like these, you know you're in for a uniquely Northwest adventure.

On Tuesday Brad, Steven and I trekked out to Magnuson Park in Seattle to mingle with more of our NW neighbors. While there, we spotted several NW types, including:



At the park's Mountaineers Climbing Wall we met John, Sako and Graham - three adventurous Seattleites with a love for climbing and all things outdoors.

Sako, a recent graduate of UW and current nursing student, took a break from climbing to chat with us. "This is my first time here at the park, but it's a great place to train," she said.

Graham was also enjoying his first visit to the park in preparation for his latest climbing adventure. "I usually climb in California at Yellowstone, but in a few weeks I'm heading north to climb in Alaska just south of Denali," he told us.

We had a great time at Magnuson Park watching our NW Action Figure friends scale the wall, but for now we think we'll keep our feet on the ground! If you missed us on Tuesday, be sure to catch us tomorrow as we check out the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square. Take in the art, enjoy the downtown atmosphere and be sure to stop by and say hello.

A warm day in February may be a Northwest rarity, but when the sun finally peeks out from the clouds, what better way to spend the afternoon than with a gaggle of your favorite canine playmates? On Thursday Brad, Steven and I took advantage of the sunny Seattle weather and headed out east to Marymoor Park in Redmond to mingle with NW Profile #23, the Marymoor Off-Leash Dog Lady.

Armed with dog treats, water bottles and a sense of adventure, we set off to strike another notch into our NW Road Trip belts (or leash in this case) and to meet some of our furriest Northwest neighbors. From big to small, groomed to shaggy, we caught up with some great canine companions as they enjoyed a sunny romp in the park with their owners.

Here are some of our favorite shots of the day:



One of our favorite dogs of the day was Hokulani, whose name means "Shining Star" in Hawaiian. Hokulani and her owner, Tim, met in Hawaii 10 years ago when Tim had just started work as a teacher in a school for children with special needs. Hokulani was a rescue pup from the local shelter and Tim brought the dog with him to school everyday, where she would curl up with the students as they completed their reading lessons.

According to Tim, "Hoku is the reason so many of those kids got better at reading. After a while it was like I wasn't even there. It was just them and Hoku."

One look at Hokulani and it's easy to see how such an adorable pup could make such a positive impact:

If you and your four-legged friend missed us at the park this time, don't worry. Just look for us on the next beautiful day in Marymoor - It'll be a barkin' good time!

Last weekend Brad, Steven and I trekked over a snow-covered Snoqualmie pass to Spokane for the ninth annual Jingle Bell Run. The run benefits the Arthritis Foundation, which is the leading health organization in the United States for arthritis. Roughly 46 million people in America live with this painful condition, and it's the hope that through charitable events such as this, the foundation can help those living with Arthritis lead healthy and full lives.

The run encourages participants to kick-off the holiday season in style with a wide range of creative holiday costumes. We spotted Rudolph-red noses, Santa's elves, Christmas trees -- even a turkey baster in honor of Thanksgiving! These runners sure know how to bring the holiday spirit to Spokane. Check out some of the best costumes of the day:

It was truly inspiring to see so many people brave the early morning cold for such a worthy cause, and we had a great time being a part of it. Be sure to catch us this coming Saturday, Nov. 28 for another memorable holiday tradition, the Westlake Center Tree Lighting!

After working seven Seahawks games, it's become increasingly apparent that the Hawks wouldn't be the team they are without their legions of dedicated fans. After all, we know how easy it is to be a sports fan in the good times, when your team is on top -- but it's in the hard times that fans show their true colors to rally around their team. This couldn't be truer than with Seahawks fans, who, despite their team's miscues, missteps and misfortunes this season, are not only still cheering for their team, but seem to be getting louder.  

Last weekend Brad, Steven and I were blown away by all the Supercharged Seahawks fans we met as we snapped fan photos in Touchdown City before the Seahawks took on the Detroit Lions.

Somewhere between the two-tone hair, body glitter and sea of blue jerseys it became clear that Hawk fans are as eager as ever to don their best rave green and blue Seahawk colors and cheer on their team. We caught up with one Supercharged Seahawks fan who, with the help of his wife, takes Hawk spirit to a new level. Meet Seattle's self-proclaimed "Hawk Daddy" and his pint-sized twin, "Mini Hawk."


"We love coming to the games, there's nothing quite like it," said "Hawk Daddy."

"Hawk Daddy" and his trusty sidekick "Mini Hawk" have been ticket holders for the past five seasons and have nine different matching game-day outfits. But if you're thinking of bringing your own "Mini Hawk" to the next game, you better get sewing -- everything "Mini Hawk" and "Hawk Daddy" wear is homemade. No doubt about it -- We think they're the best-dressed Seahawks fans around!  For more on "Hawk Daddy" you can visit his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/seattlehawkdaddy.

Ready to see more "Supercharged Seahawks Fans"?  Be sure to visit www.werealotlikeyou.com to vote for the craziest, most rabid Hawks fan and to see this week's winner of the "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" photo contest.  Be sure to catch us next week at the Glitter Gala at Value Village and on Dec. 6 as the Seahawks take on division rivals the 49ers at Qwest Field.

Whoever said, "You can never go home again" has never met an Issaquah salmon!  Every year, nearly 20,000 salmon swim home to the Issaquah Creek and Salmon Hatchery to visit the lakes, streams and hatcheries they were born.

Issaquah Salmon Days, hosted by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, is a celebration of the annual Northwest salmon migration, and this weekend Brad, Steven and I attended the festival to celebrate with our fellow fish-loving friends. The festival attracts nearly 150,000 people over its two days and offers a wide variety of activities for attendees including food, arts and crafts, the salmon hatchery, music and more.


Over the course of the weekend we rocked out to the jazz tunes of the Rainy City Riff Raff, cheered on the pool-diving Puget Sound Dock Dogs, and of course, munched on the best grilled Salmon around from Kiwanis BBQ. 


As we snapped souvenir photos of our fellow festival-goers, we came to realize that like the salmon, people of the Northwest return to Issaquah Salmon Days each year from hundreds of miles around.  In fact, for many this festival has become a part of their yearly family traditions. We met salmon-lover Christine, a native Seattleite who has relocated to California but never fails to miss Salmon Days.

"We grew up here in the Seattle area and we always attended Salmon Days. A lot has changed since we moved south to California but it gets bigger and better every year!  My favorite thing about this event is the salmon. My husband's brother always smokes a king salmon, and I have to say, there's nothing quite like a Northwest salmon--it's simply the best," Christine said.

The salmon will be returning to the Issaquah Creek and Salmon Hatchery all the way into December, so it's not too late to catch a glimpse of these truly remarkable fish if you missed out this weekend.


Speaking of "catching" – Don't forget to catch us this Sunday at Qwest field when the Seahawks take on the Jaguars and we continue our search for the most "Supercharged Seahawks Fan" at the PEMCO photo booth.

Have you ever been told to "hurry up and wait"? This weekend, the phrase took on a whole new meaning for Brad and I as we headed to Wenatchee for the annual A Taste of the Harvest festival.

Each year, the city of Wenatchee hosts a festival in honor of the the previous year's bountiful harvest. Farmers bring colorful, delicious produce from all over the region in celebration of the land's richness and event attendees have a fabulous time sampling the local produce.

While working at the PEMCO booth, Brad and I had a chance to cheer on a group of eager waiters and waitresses as they competed in the unique "Hurry up and Wait: A Waiters Race," which was modeled after Paris's traditional Bastille Day races. Contestants were each given a tray with a glass of cranberry juice and had to run the length of two full city blocks without spilling a drop. The contestant who spilled the least and crossed the finish line first was crowned the winner and took home a prize of $250!

Watch as the contestants bolt from the starting line:



We caught up with one of the contestants after her race.  She explained, "That was way more difficult than I thought it would be!  I even spilled some of the juice on my shirt, but luckily it should dry right off in this beautiful weather!"

 

All in all, Wenatchee's A Taste of the Harvest festival offered a yummy way to say goodbye to summer and to welcome in the fall.

Up next for the PBAs: You can find us in Port Gamble for Old Mill Days, and next Sunday at Qwest Field as the Seahawks take on the Bears.

Attention Sounders fans!  Ready to show our U.S. Open Cup Trophy champs some Emerald City love? 

As part of PEMCO's "Do You Have Chanting Chops" Sounders chant contest, we're bringing you the winning fan chant that's about to sweep Qwest Field on Sept. 19 at the Sounders vs. Chivas game at 12 p.m. 

Thanks to David Glenn Taylor for submitting his winning chant at www.werealotlikeyou.com.  It was selected out of more than 50 entries to be chanted on Saturday when the Sounders take on the Chivas.   Now, PEMCO is unveiling the chant in preparation for Saturday's match, so get out your scarves and warm up your vocal chords, because it's time for you to show us your true Sounders spirit!

Leaders: We march to Battle!
Crowd: Sounders Pride!
Leaders: We stand as One!
Crowd: Arms out wide!
Leaders: We live our colors!
Crowd: Green and Blue!
Everyone: WE ARE THE SOUNDERS!! FOREVER TRUE!!

Look for the chant to appear on Sounder Vision between the fifth and tenth minute of the first half, and get ready to chant along.  Be sure to stop by the PEMCO booth in the North Lot of Qwest Field before the game to get your souvenir "'I Know I Am, I'm Sure I Am' Sounders FC Fan" photo, too – which will include the new Sounders chant so you can sing it out loud and proud!

Not sure if you're ready to belt?  Check out our chanting chops as Brad, Steven and I demonstrate the winning sound of the Sounders:

Live music, mouth-watering food, and the company of good friends and family – just add a sunny day to the mix and you've got the perfect recipe for the annual South Lake Union Block Party in Seattle.


On Friday, Anna, Suz and I spent the day at the PEMCO booth talking with families, neighbors and fans of the South Lake Union neighborhood. The block party brings people together to sample food from local restaurants, groove to live bands and even participate in watermelon eating contests, all for a good cause. 

The community selected a local South Lake Union nonprofit, Immanuel Community Services (ICS), to benefit from this year's block party.  ICS has been providing assistance to people in the community for over 35 years through the operation of a local food bank, community luncheon program, hygiene program and residential recovery program.

Not many people know about the ICS programs, though they assist 400-500 families annually in the Cascade and South Lake Union neighborhoods as well as the greater Seattle area.  We learned that the Hygiene Center alone provides showers and clean clothes for 100 people every week, allowing them to live and work in the community with dignity.  Visitors are given toiletries like razors, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and soap, often made possible by the donations of local community members.  In addition, ICS coordinates a community lunch that takes place on the last Sunday of every month.  The free lunch is open to anyone who wishes to come, and more than 200 people are served each Sunday.

We had a great time at this year's block party and feel lucky to have been a part of something that supports such a good cause in the community. 

Look for us in the coming weeks as we take our PEMCO show on the road!  You can find us next at A Taste of Edmonds on Aug.14-16.
 

Last night’s Sounders match was unlike anything Seattle soccer fans have seen.  More than 66,000 people packed the stadium (the largest crowd ever in Sounders FC history) as our hometown team took on the defending European club and Spanish league champion, FC Barcelona.   

Though Anna, Suz and I have spent many Sounders games stationed with WALLY1 (the PEMCO van) outside the north entrance of Qwest Field, never before have we seen a more passionate crowd – most decked out in blue and green jerseys (along with some Barcelona pinkish-orange dotting the crowd).  

Sounders and Barcelona fans alike lined up to show support for their favorite team as we snapped their "'I Know I Am, I'm Sure I Am' Sounders FC Fan" photos. This was by far the busiest Sounders game yet at the PEMCO booth, and the line for pictures stretched all the way into the street for four straight hours.

As native Seattleites, all three of us have always firmly believed that Sounders fans are the most loyal, enthusiastic, and passionate fans in the world.  That, of course, was before we met the Barcelona, or ‘Barca,’ fans.  Barca’s motto is “El Barca es mes que un club” or “Barca is more than a club” – and how true this is.  

To the fans we met, soccer is not just a game, but a way of life.  Many had followed their team all the way from Spain, and when they all joined together to sing the Himno, or ‘the stirring,’ as the match began, we couldn’t help but wish we could join in, if only for a moment.

Though the Sounders brought their best spirit, in the end it wasn’t enough to beat Barcelona on the field. Barcelona jumped out to an early lead, and was up by 2 at the end of the first half. Heading into the second half Barcelona continued to dominate and eventually put two more into the net, shutting out the Sounders with a final score of 4-0.

The Sounders are currently second place in the Western Conference standings, trailing first place team Houston Dynamo by only six points.

Despite the loss, Sounder spirit is still strong in the Emerald City, so be sure to catch us at the next home match Aug. 20 when the Sounders take on the New England Revolution. Go Sounders!

On Day 2 of the Tri-City Water Follies, Anna, Suz and I had front row seats for all the best hydro action at the PEMCO booth. But we quickly learned that despite the name, Water Follies is not just about the hydro racing action on the Columbia River – it includes an exciting air show as well!

Here are two of our favorite shows in the sky and some fun facts we learned:

• HAPO Over the River Air Show: The HAPO Air Show is the second-most attended event at the Tri-City Water Follies. Its exciting line-up includes famous planes like the North American B-25 Pacific Prowler. These types of planes were made famous during the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, which took place four months after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

If you missed the air shows today, do not despair! Here's the schedule for tomorrow's events:

Sunday, July 26

10 a.m. — Opening ceremonies

11:40 a.m. — PEMCO Insurance unlimited heat 2A

12:10 p.m. — PEMCO Insurance unlimited heat 2B

12:30 p.m. — HAPO Community Credit Union Over the River Air Show

1:30 p.m. — Vintage hydros

1:55 p.m. — Conover Insurance unlimited heat 3A

2:25 p.m. — Conover Insurance unlimited heat 3B

2:50 p.m. — Unlimited lights B-Main

3:10 p.m. — Buffalo Brothers unlimited provisional

3:30 p.m. — Coast Guard helicopter rescue demonstration

4 p.m. — HAPO Community Credit Union Over the River Air Show

4:40 p.m. — ULHRA Thunder Cup for unlimited light hydroplanes

5:05 p.m. — Lamb Weston Columbia Cup for unlimited hydroplanes

Standing in the shadows of Qwest Field, Anna and I found ourselves surrounded in a sea of green and blue as people of the Northwest came together to cheer on their newest team, the Seattle Sounders FC. We could hear the "Sound Wave" band before they came into view, rounding the corner on Occidental Ave., marching in unison to the tune of familiar pop songs – tunes from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beyonce were of particular note. Fans were bobbing heads and clapping to the music and the entrance to the stadium was abuzz with heart-felt anticipation for a win against the San Jose Earthquakes. And fans weren't disappointed when the Sounders came away with a 2-1 victory over the 'Quakes.

Our spot for the green PEMCO van is right next to the Northwest entrance to the stadium and it gives us a chance to chat with folks as they enter the game. We hear from the familiar season-ticket holders, visitors to the Northwest and local rookie-attendees who are about to cheer on the Sounders for the first time. Soccer lovers of all ages sport Sounders gear with pride, though what's probably most noticeable, aside from the neon green hue of a Freddy Ljungberg jersey, is that Sounders FC fans -- young and old – have such great energy that it's nearly impossible to not clap and chant along with the pre-game crowd.

Amongst the excitement of chants and the rhythms of brass bands, groups stopped by the PEMCO van to get their photo snapped as the "'I Know I Am, I'm Sure I Am Sounders FC Fan." Before every home game, PEMCO offers to print complimentary photos of fans and their families. Standing in line or waiting to receive their custom lanyards people would say things like "I love the Northwest Profiles, I can totally relate." Or, "Hey! How do I get one of those PEMCO t-shirts?"

Everyone – including the blue mohawk-coiffed uber fan to the pair of dads treating their daughters to a Saturday night game -- who stopped by the booth for a quick photo left with a smile and seemed more energized than when they first arrived. Probably the most memorable moment for me came at the end as we were breaking down and getting ready to head home.

One man had this to say:

"God bless you guys and the work that you do, this was great, can I get you something to eat?" We turned down his offer, but I had a great time at the match and can't wait for the next one this Wednesday when the Sounders take on DC United. Go Sounders!