Larry Swanberg is my friend and co-worker at Mortgage Master.   Today he is a marathoner finishing up the last leg of the Breast Cancer 3 Day (60 miles over three days) which happens to be in my neighborhood of West Seattle.   He is walking in honor of Tammy, his wife who lost her battle with breast cancer a few years ago.

This marathon is full of heroes and stories.   Breast cancer touches so many lives.  In our office alone, we have Michelle who is bravely battling this disease and Mary who has recovered.  We lost Tammy (Larry’s wife) who was once a Mortgage Professional at Mortgage Master.   I have family and friends who are fighting as well:  Michelle, Suzy and Vianne.

I set my alarm early this morning so I could be out on sidewalk cheering the marathoners on.   One of my neighbors did a fabulous "cheer station" including mini bags of M&M’s and plenty of pink decor.

The participants are a very entertaining group.  It was a parade of pink with bras, boas, beads and bikers!   We are lucky to have beautiful weather today.  Hopefully it won’t be too hot for this brave spirited group by the time they reach Memorial Stadium where the marathon wraps up.

I’m proud of Larry, the courageous (fun!)marathoners and the brave people battling cancer.

For pictures of this event, click here.

I was expecting a little more acknowledgement of the current conditions in the mortgage and housing industry from the FOMC.   I’m a little surprised that this is all that was mentioned:

"Financial markets have been volatile in recent weeks, credit conditions have become tighter for some households and businesses, and the housing correction is ongoing. Nevertheless, the economy seems likely to continue to expand at a moderate pace over coming quarters, supported by solid growth in employment and incomes and a robust global economy."

I guess I was expecting a little more.  I did not anticpate the Fed Funds rate being changed (it’s still 5.25%).  Those of you with a Home Equity Line of Credit did not have a mortgage interest rate change today; the prime rate remains at 8.25%.  The next meeting is scheduled for September 18, 2007.

To read the entire FOMC Statement, click here.

Do Saturdays get better than this? Somehow we managed to escape the rain just long enought ot enjoy the West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Parade and the Alki Hot Rod Show.   Considering it’s been raining for over a week and that it was dry for these two events, I’d say we lucked out!      

Young and old lined up California Avenue to watch the Seattle PD Motorcycles maneuver along with your classic beauty queens and parade floats.  The community of West Seattle has a lot of participation in this annual summertime event.   The drill teams were amazing, too.  There had to be some tired feet at the end of the day with all the stomping and dancing!

What was my big motivation to get out of bed and hustle to grab a spot on the pavement?  Why none other than JP Patches, my childhood hero, of course! 

And this would not be a Seafair event without the infamous Seafair Pirates!   You can hear them coming from blocks away with the boom and smoke of

their cannons.   Good thing they’re followed by the Seafair Clowns so they can wipe the fear from the younger crowd with some giggles.

For more pictures of the West Seattle Hi-Yu Parade, click here.

In observance of Independance Day, Mortgage Master is closing today at 2pm.   We will reopen for business on Thursday, July 5, 2007.

Here’s a quick list of what’s going on in Seattle and elsewhere around the Puget Sound.

These photos are from a few years ago at Angle Lake where a tradition was born (and I believe has since retired)…the annual lighting of The Lady of the Lake. 

  The Lady is getting primped before her big event…

Angle Lake neighbors gather to admire this gorgeous gal…

Ka-boom!   She was a lot of fun to visit and I’m sure the neighbors (well, most of them) will miss her!

Can you guess what decade this photo is from? This my Dad with his three daughters (who are also in the biz as wholesale reps).   I’m the one in the yellow sweater.    Happy Father’s Day!