Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Hans Reviews "The King's Speech"






Next time you see our personal lines agent Hans Eskelsen, ask him about movies. 

Hans began writing movies reviews for Crankleft.com, a website devoted to comics and entertainment, a little over a year ago. He now reviews movie for The Projectionist and the Stanwood Camano News.  

Read Han's latest review on The King's Speech below: 

What does one do when you have everything, but the only thing holding you back is a stammer in your voice?  When can we accept that all greatness comes from help of others? As shown in such movies like Good Will Hunting and Ordinary People, sometimes it takes someone to take us out of our comfort zone to help us find who we are, and to obtain the success destined to have.  So the question is if The King's Speech is worth the quest to see King George IV find his success? The answer is yes, from the beginning of the film till the movie ends.


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Seattle Seahawks v St. Louis Rams



One of my favorite activities to do outside of work is attending sporting events in Seattle.  One of the more enjoyable for me has always been going to a Seahawks game at Qwest Field.  Qwest Field, in my opinion, is one of the best stadiums to attend a football game.  I was lucky enough to attend this last weekend’s game versus the St. Louis Rams in a game in which the winner made it to the playoffs.  It was truly the best experience I have had at a sporting event here in Seattle.  The crowd was electric which really made for a great atmosphere all game long. 


The one thing about Seahawk games is the fact that the fans do have an effect on the game which really makes it an enjoyable experience for all in attendance. If you ever get a chance to attend a NFL game at Qwest Field, I highly recommend it.  There are not many stadiums that compare and the games are fun not only for the avid sports fan but for the whole family.  


Here's another pictures I took at Seahawk games this year. 

Monday, November 15, 2010

Josephine Sunset Home's 3rd Annual Gala

Thomas & Associates staff and family enjoy their time at the 3rd Annual Gala on Saturday

Thomas & Associates filled a table at Josephine Sunset Home's 3rd Annual Gala on November 13 to raise money for the Josephine Endowment Fund.  The fund was established to continue their ministry which started more than 100 years ago.  There was great food, great music and informative speakers, and a good time was had by all.  For more information on Josephine Sunset Home visit their webpage at http://www.josephinenet.com/.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Parent's Weekend at Syracuse University

Jim Jonson, Ashley Jonson, and Sue Jonson
The last weekend in September was Parents Weekend at Syracuse University, so Sue and I flew back to spent the weekend with our daughter, Ashley. After missing Parents Weekend for the first three years of college, we finally made it back for Ashley's senior year.

The weekend was packed with activities. Along with the tour of the campus and the city, Ashley took us to some of the local eateries including Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, which was recently featured on the Travel Channel show "Man Versus Food". The food was great and there was lots of it. Ashley also drove us up to Skaneateles in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York. About 30 minutes out of Syracuse, it was a beautiful (and very hot) day and it was a great way to spend our second day in town. But the best part was just spending the day with Ashley.

Saturday was filled with more activities including a pre-game pep rally on the campus, and then we had front row seats in the Carrier Dome to watch Syracuse beat Colgate, one of their arch rivals, by a score of 42-7. Immediately following the game, we had to change and drive to a private dinner hosted by Ashley's sorority Gamma Phi Beta. We had a wonderful dinner, had a chance to meet several of her "sisters" and their parents. Gamma Phi was founded in Syracuse in 1874.

Finally Sunday arrived and it was time to fly home. Travel is an all day process since you cannot get a direct flight between Seattle and Syracuse. After traveling back and forth several times a year for the past three years, I don't know how Ashley does it. She has become a seasoned traveler after flying cross country for thousands of air miles. Maybe she has enough to send her home "first class" after graduation in May 2011. That day will come before we know it and then we will make our next trip to Syracuse for Graduation Weekend.


By Jim Jonson

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Kin On 25th Anniversary Auction Dinner


Attendees crowd around the silent auction tables. 
Last Saturday, my wife Jeanni and I attended Kin On Community Health Care Center's 25th Anniversary Auction Dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. Over 450 supporters attended the black tie affair. Following the live auction, there was ball room dancing for those brave enough to get out on the dance floor. It was a very fun event that raised a significant amount of money for an exceptional organization.  

Kin On is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization the provides nursing and community health care to Seattle's Asian community. Today, Kin On's nursing facility is home to 100 residents. Kin On also provides home care to over 500 seniors. This in-home service allows seniors to maintain their independence while living at home. 

Kin On has received many awards for their outstanding quality of service. Their future plans include building an independent living facility and senior center. The auction included a "fund-an-item" portion, which allowed attendees to make cash donations for specific parts of these new facilities. Over $58,000 was raised from this portion of the auction alone.

If you are interested in learning more about Kin On, please go their website at KinOn.org.

- Scott Thomas 

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Thomas & Associates' Summer

Mandi before her run. 
With summer coming to a close, we thought we would post a brief update on the Thomas & Associates family:

Scott and his family just returned from San Diego.  They spent a relaxing week laying in the sun, surfing and visiting friends.  What a great way to end the summer!

Walt just moved his son to Centralia for his second year of college. His son plays baseball for Centralia Community College.  We hope this is a winning year!

Jim and Sue are anxiously waiting to visit their daughter, Ashley, at Syracuse University later this month.  The Syracuse football season already started with a victory at Akron! They play University of Washington tomorrow. Go Cuse!

Hans will visit the "happiest place on earth"- Disneyland - later this month with his family. Hans, don't forget to give Mickey and Minnie a hug from your friends at the office!

Mandi just completed her first 5K run on Camano Island. Way to go Mandi!

Jordon has been busy with his baseball team and the purchase of his new home.

Steve and his family just returned from Montana. They attended a reunion.

Marie and Hannah enjoyed a wonderful trip to Montana over Labor Day weekend. They had a fun time catching up with family.

Tina has been busy decorating her new home with her two children, Jordan and Payton.

Siw had a relaxing Labor Day visiting her daughter and having one last barbque before the summer ends.

We hope your summer was as good as ours! 

Friday, August 20, 2010

Cash-saving secrets as shopping season reaches full swing

If there's a season to save, this is it. With the kids needing new clothes and supplies for school, and the holidays approaching, the coming months can be one of the costliest shopping times for families.

With everyone trying to save a little cash these days, there's no reason to pay full price on the items you'll need to buy. By shopping smart and being prepared, you'll be able to save significant money as you fulfill your family's wish list.

"As retailers look to get shoppers spending again after the recession, there are plenty of consumer-friendly deals to be had," says Ralph Bond, a Portland, Ore.-based consumer electronics reporter and radio personality. "Particularly in the area of electronics, there are always ways to shop smart and get more for your money."

Of course, nobody knows more about shopping and saving than parents themselves. A recent survey conducted in July by Haier America, a home appliance and consumer electronic company, asked 1,002 parents with kids in kindergarten through twelfth grade what their top three smartest steps are when the time comes to shop for back to school items. Here is how they responded:

* Compare prices (55 percent of respondents). By looking at newspaper ads and online resources that compare prices for certain products before you head out, you can save both money and time.

* Buy all or most of your purchases at sales (51 percent). Find information about when sales are occurring through your local newspaper, on television or on your favorite stores' websites.

* Shop at discount stores (42 percent). Discount stores can be a great resource, as many have good products that are either being discontinued or are sharply discounted for another reason.

"I also recommend shopping for products with multiple uses," says Bond. "This can especially be useful if you are looking at a few technological electronics upgrades for your home. For example, if you are looking for a new TV, consider one with multiple functions like the Haier Ultra Slim LED HDTV, which also functions as a computer monitor."

If you are in the market for a technology upgrade, you may want to consider how what you are purchasing can enhance your child's educational experience. As the numbers in the survey point out, children are using electronics to learn at home more than ever: 88 percent of parents responding to the survey considered television an educational tool, and 64 percent of parents say kids having their own computer or notebook is a necessity for kids' education. So while you might be buying a new TV for your own enjoyment, you could also consider it an educational aid for your children. For more information on these types of TVs, visit http://www.haieramerica.com/.

With a little savvy shopping and research, you can end up getting what you want out of one of the biggest shopping seasons and hopefully come out of it with some extra money that you can save or put toward next year's purchases.

Courtesy of ARAcontent