Namaste

-- 10.5, 60m rope. No major falls. w/backpack bag - $50 -- LaFuma Light backpack from Pro Mountain Sports: $45 -- Knessel 180 downhill skis w/woman's 7 boots; look bindings - $200 -- Nikon N80 w/28-70 lens - $300 email-tamarafilm1@yahoo.com

Namaste friends, I’d like to personally invite you to the next free screening of my 30-minute film -- In the Shadow of the Himalayas: How People Live in Nepal -- at the Seattle Mountaineers Clubhouse, Nov. 11th, at 7 p.m. (300 Third Ave West in lower Queen Anne). In addition to showing the film, I’ll be joined for a Q&A session about the current state of Nepal by Stephen Bezruchka, author of Trekking In Nepal: A Traveler's Guide; and Sushil Bogati, a member of the Nepal Seattle Society. We will speak and answer questions about how current events are affecting the country. We are also hoping to be joined by Kendall Dewey from Alpine Ascents who is climbing in Nepal right now. In the Shadow of the Himalayas features fifth-grade students, who have a sister-school in the Katmandu Valley, learning about Nepal. Throughout the film, the Hamilton students introduce different aspects of living in Nepal – geography, culture, religion, ethnic diversity, daily challenges, and play – while answering questions about their perceptions of what life is like in Nepal. The screening is free. However, I will have the film for sale with profits supporting girls’ scholarships through www.roomtoread.org. These funds are greatly needed since only 14 percent of girls over age 15 can read and write; and 50 percent of Nepalese students drop out by grade six. If you are not able to attend the Nov. 11 screening, but want to order the film, send $27 for VHS ($25 + shipping) or $33 for the DVD ($30 + shipping) to Tamara Plush, 1320 NE 62nd St, Seattle, WA 98115. You can learn more about the film at www.sidff.org/in_shadow.html and send questions to me at tamarafilm1@yahoo.com. I’d love to see you at the show. Peace, Tamara

Journey halfway around the world to a country where you walk everywhere, where what you eat everyday is grown right outside your front door, where your gods have many forms and many colorful festivals. Journey to a showing of In the Shadow of the Himalayas: How People live in Nepal, the recently released, 30-minute educational video produced entirely by Seattle talent. TWO SHOWINGS: Sunday, April 25, as part of the Seattle International Documentary Film Festival, http://www.sidff.org/in_shadow.html (ticket: $7) – 11a. Shows are selling out so buy tickets at http://www.sidff.org. You can also get them the day of the show. The showing will start promptly at 11a so arrive early to get seats. (The film will show before the 2-hour showing of Shepherds’ Journey into the Third Millennium, which you can stay and watch for same price). Tuesday, May 11 (free) – Seating: 7-7:30p; Showing at 7:30p. Official Seattle Premier at Hamilton International Middle School Auditorium – Only 250 seats, so come early. (Note: If we fill the auditorium, we will hold a second showing at 8:30p.). Hamilton is at 1610 N 41st St. in Wallingford. MAP THE PROGRAM: In the Shadow of the Himalayas takes you on an educational journey with sixth-grade students from Seattle's Hamilton International Middle School as they explore living in a country where its people are surrounded by the tallest mountains in the world. The Seattle students can’t wait to learn more about the country because they have a sister school in the Katmandu Valley. They are sending art supplies and cameras to the students at the Kavresthali School. Join them as they enjoy the photos from their sister school students and learn more about how people live in Nepal. In the Shadow of the Himalayas was produced as a not-for-profit venture and profits will benefit a girls’ scholarship fund in Nepal through Room to Read (www.roomtoread.org). PRODUCER NOTE: We will be setting up additional Seattle showings and will keep you informed of their dates and locations. However, if you cannot attend an event and would like to buy a DVD or VHS, please send payment to the address below. DVD and VHS copies will also be available for sale at the May 11 showing. SEND PAYMENT TO: Smudge Productions, LLC 1320 NE 62nd Street Seattle, WA 98115 Please indicate whether you want a DVD ($30 + $3 shipping) or VHS ($25 + $3 shipping). (Additional Note: In the Shadow of the Himalayas: How People Live in Nepal was produced as a volunteer effort at very low costs for an incredibly high production value. Once we raise the final production costs of only $6,000 through the sale of DVDs and VHS copies, all additional funds will go directly to a girls’ scholarship program set up through Room to Read [www.roomtoread.org]). CREW: Narrator: Kate Fleming Producer/Director: Tamara Plush Editor and Sound Designer: Leigh Anne Sides Associate Producer: Dawn Hoffer Animation/Graphics: David Ross Director of Photography: Tamara Plush Additional Nepal Footage: Passport to Adventure and John Hessler Productions Director of Photography (Seattle): Bruce Hutson Sound (Nepal): Dawn Hoffer Sound (Seattle): Matt Monroe Audio Post: Dave Gross Online Editing: Drew Keller Script: Tamara Plush and Dawn Hoffer

Two climber guys seek third roommate for room in top of house just south of Greenlake (63rd and Linden). Laundry, Cable Modem, easy access to Aurora. Available May 1. $405 + 1/3 utilities. Call: Minot or Andreas: 206-783-3878. You can also email: andreas.schmidt@cascadedesigns.com; minotmaser@aol.com

The organization looking for Porter deliveries is HEC - Himalayan Explorer Connection www.hec.org. I took a bag a month ago and HEC met me at the airport to pick it up. I've been working with a group in Nepal called Room to Read (www.roomtoread.org). They are building schools and libraries, providing girls scholarships and setting up computer labs. They could definitely use help and are a GREAT group to work with. Contact: john@roomtoread.org. The founder is John Wood (a former Seattle resident) If you have any other questions, you can email me at tamarafilm1@yahoo.com. Namaste - Tamara

Join a Great Mardi Gras Party Saturday Feb. 9th. Come join great friends in the celebration while helping to support building at least two schools in Nepal! RSVP: www.roomtoread.org/mardigras.html The theme is “Bourbon Street.” Admission includes Free Beer and Wine and Cajun-Dancing with lively local band “How’s Bayou” with dance lessons to get you started. We have lots of Free Beads and some Amazing Auction Items and Find out your Fortune for 2002. DRESS UP IN YOUR WILDEST ATTIRE and head to the FUNC. Fremont’s UNConventional Centre – 160 N. Canal Street (old Redhook Building). MAP. 8pm Doors open9pm Cajun dancing lesson9:30pm Live band “How’s Bayou”10pm Auction for some very Cool Stuff (read below) 10:30pm More Live Band “How’s Bayou”2am Dancing into the Streets RSVP by Friday at www.roomtoread.org/mardigras.html to be ensured admission (300max) and to receive an admission discount. Cost – $30 w/RSVP, $35 at door w/out RSVP. Admission is by cash only, but please bring your checkbook or credit card for the silent and live auctions. AUCTION ITEMS: Ultimate San Francisco Weekend: Flights for four to San Francisco, you’ll be met at the airport in a Rolls Royce and taken for to Napa Valley with personalized winery tour/tasting; followed by a gourmet dinner in San Francisco. Plus there’s a bicycle tour including trip across Golden Gate Bridge and more… A McHale Custom-Fit Alpine Pack Gift Certificate valued at $439. With the certificate, you can get a SARC pack, or apply it towards many other great packs. Check them out: http://www.mchalepacks.com/packs/index.htm. Moonstone 0-degree Sleeping Bag from Second Ascent worth $300: Visit their new digs in Ballard at 5209 Ballard Ave. NW. Karhu Tele Skis and New Releasable Bindings worth $600+. Check out skis at http://www.karhu.com/index2.shtml. Guided trip for Four up Mt. Shasta led by Alison Levine, a team member of the first all-women’s team to attempt Mt. Everest in the Spring of 2002. Fantastic Clock designed by local artist worth $350. Sailing Day Trip on Igniter – a Ranger29 – w/Gourmet lunch. Sunset Hot Air Balloon Ride for two by Aerial Hot Air Balloon Company: Sunset flight includes champagne and champagne buffet http://www.airialballoon.com/ XBox with 8 Games Bucket O’ Wine: Favorite selections from the Seattle Room to Read fundraising committee. OTHER: Vertical World Rock Climbing Lessons Guided Tour up Mt. Baker Personal Skiing Lessons Personal Care Gift Baskets Microsoft Windows XP Massage Sessions Hypnotherapy Session Nanny Service Dinner/Theatre Packages EMP Tickets Not Sure What to Wear? Mardi Gras History: Costumes are an integral part of Mardi Gras – from feathered masks to detailed Louis XVI costumes, hand-made Mardi Gras Indian feathered suits, or a grown baby on flaming rollerskates. At Mardi Gras, it takes all kinds! Mardi Gras costuming has been happening the same time every year in festivals dating back to pre-Christian Rome. Costuming and "masking" are especially important for the riders on floats in the parades. Costumes were once intended to keep the identities of members of a krewe secret. This purpose continues today, especially in the older krewes, where a member risks his membership in the krewe if he takes off his mask during the parade. Mardi Gras participants wear elaborate costumes as a fine art, rather than as disguise. For this New Orleans tradition, costumers design and hand-make elaborate, brightly colored, one-of-a-kind suits. The intricate beading, sequins, and feathers are worn on Mardi Gras Day and again on the Sunday closest to St. Joseph's Day. In the past, these marches were highly competitive, with rival tribes meeting and often fighting in the street. Today when two tribes meet, it's to compare the quality of each other's suits. What’s It All For? Sure, it’s a party… but it’s so much more then that. Having you at this party will make a HUGE difference in the lives of Nepalese children. We recently were given a grant to double all money raised at the party – so your $1,000 donation could mean $2,000 for Room to Read. And then, when we apply it to our Nepal challenge grants for schools, it doubles again – meaning a $4,000 donation: enough to build half of an entire school! How Seattle supports Room to Read (formerly Books for Nepal) Last year, children in two Nepalese villages were able to get a better education in better classrooms with Seattle’s help. With only $8,000 from Seattle residents and matching Nepal funds, Room to Read built The Shree Tinkanya Primary School in Benighat, Dhading and the 8-room, 2-story Kavreshali School in Katmandu Valley. Seattle residents in the last two years also raised enough to build 6 additional schools and ship 27,000 children’s books to Nepal. At the Mardi Gras party, we hope to raise funds to build at least two more Seattle schools and support an educational video on Nepalese education. Room to Read Information Room to Read seeks to provide under-privileged children with an opportunity to gain the lifelong gift of education. They do this by partnering with local villages to build schools, by establishing libraries and filling them with books, and by providing scholarships to help poor children to afford the mandatory school tuition. The villages with which they work believe that the best way to break the cycle of poverty is through an improvement in the education system. Learn more by visiting www.roomtoread.org. Important Facts: · Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries with the average person surviving on less than $1 per day. · Illiteracy in Nepal directly contributes to serious problems like disease and environmental degradation, as the population is unable to read about basic concepts such as sanitation, crop rotation, or the effect of pollution on the environment. · Many rural Nepalese students have to walk as far as three hours to go to school. · With only $3,500, Room to Read can build a school with matching Nepali funds. A school serves more than 150 students. · Room to Read keeps its overhead to 5% of total donations.