About Me

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I'm a habitual line crosser that believes everything happens for a reason, but life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances, you just have to live life to the fullest. Laugh as much as you can, spend all your money, tell someone what they mean to you, tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, love the ones who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, pig out, smile until your face hurts, be a flirt, stay up late and fall asleep watching the sun come up, don't be aftraid to take chances or fall in love . . . and most of all live in the moment, If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. No one said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Monday, May 18, 2009

DogFriendly.com Announces Its 2009 List of the Top 10 Dog-friendly Cities to Visit in the United States

DogFriendly.com Announces Its 2009 List of the Top 10 Dog-friendly Cities to Visit in the United States

Great pet-friendly lodging, attractions, parks, beaches, shopping and dining. Visit one of these cities with your dog for a top-notch vacation.

POLLOCK PINES, Calif., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- DogFriendly.com (http://www.dogfriendly.com) announced its 2009 list of the Top 10 dog-friendly destination cities in the United States. DogFriendly.com compiles this list for people who want to take their dogs with them on vacation. The rankings take into account the quality of dog-friendly accommodations, transportation, beaches, parks, attractions, stores, dining and things to do with your dog.

1. San Francisco - Luxurious hotels. Plenty of pet-friendly patio dining. Many off-leash beaches and areas. Ride the cable car, walk the Golden Gate.

2. Austin - Dine in outdoor cafes. Visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens. See the Congress Street Bats. Many off-leash parks.

3. Boston - Tour Boston harbor by boat. Walk the Freedom Trail and explore many National Historical Sites. Your leashed dog is welcome on the subway.

4. Northern Virginia - Enjoy a yappy hour or dine in dog-friendly Alexandria. Take the Canine Cruise. Visit outdoor monuments and nearby Washington.

5. Portland (OR)- Enjoy off-leash areas and the famous Rose Gardens. Visit the Saturday Outdoor Market. Have a drink at the Lucky Lab.

6. Charleston (SC) - Take a ghost tour or walking tour. See the grounds of the Magnolia and Boone Hall Plantations. Visit the beach.

7. Chicago - Visit Navy Pier. Ride the Canine Cruise. See Buckingham Fountain, take a walk in Oak Park. Many dog-friendly patio restaurants.

8. San Diego - Visit fabulous dog beaches. Shop at dog-friendly Otay Ranch with its dog park. Dine outdoors and hike many parks.

9. New York - Stay in a fine hotel. Take a walking tour of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. Shop at Time Warner Center. See the Balto Statue and Central Park.

10. Ann Arbor (MI) - Visit Nichols Arboretum, rent a dog-friendly canoe. Visit nearby gardens and farms. Visit many local parks.

Honorable Mentions: Dallas, Madison/Wisconsin Dells, Minneapolis, Salt Lake, Seattle

For more details visit http://www.dogfriendly.com/top10. DogFriendly.com, founded in 1998 to provide dog travel information, offers a free website and publishes paperback books.

    Press Contact:

Len Kain
DogFriendly.com, Inc.
1-877-475-2275
email@dogfriendly.com
http://www.dogfriendly.com

This release was issued through The Xpress Press News Service, merging e-mail and satellite distribution technologies to reach business analysts and media outlets worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.XpressPress.com

Monday, May 4, 2009

Build the HYP

Habitat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Youn</span> Professionals ("<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">HYP</span>") Gala -- Saturday, May 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>

I've been an active volunteer and supporter of Habitat for Humanity for a long time. Since participating on a on a build in 1999 in Mexico. I recently have become heavily engaged in supporting Austin Habitat for Humanity, including volunteering, fundraising, and committee/board service.

I have also been actively engaged with Habitat Young Professionals ("HYP"), which is a diverse, dynamic group of young professionals (20-something to 40s-ish...no real age restrictions) that are like minded in their support of Austin Habitat and affordable housing. The concept behind Austin-HYP is catching on nationwide as other Habitat affiliates have started similar groups modeled after Austin.

HYP's annual party is this Saturday, May 9th. I wanted to be sure to invite you to come eat, drink, dance & support Habitat's mission of providing affordable housing to deserving, hard-working folks in the community. The event is at the One World Theater (from 8pm-Midnight) and its really fun -- it's much more of a big party than traditional non-profit gala. Endless amounts of great food from many of Austin's best restaurants (Moonshine, La Taverna, etc.), lots of bottomless drink options, DJ and Austin-hip people. Virtually everything related to the event is donated so 95%+ of your ticket price goes to building a HYP sponsored house this Fall.

Ticket prices will go up on Friday so get your tix online early this week: www.buildthehyp.com. Feel free to invite friends and co-workers that may want to attend and feel free to call or email me if you want more info on the event or would otherwise like to get involved with Austin Habitat.