Raise the Roof

Solar panels in Seattle may not make sense at first blush.  However we get sunlight just like any other place.

A few months ago, my husband spearheaded this project after hearing about a recent installation on a friend's house here in Seattle. We invited Solterra Systems over to take a look at our roof on a VERY rainy Saturday.  I was doubtful that we'd have the attributes to support a solar installation.  But lo and behold, our location at the top of a (slight) hill coupled with a significantly unobscured western exposure made the house a prime candidate.  Add to that a smaller but just as unobscured southern exposure, and we were looking at a system that could generate 44% of our yearly power draw. With a one-time federal tax incentive and yearly energy production credits, the system will pay for itself in 5-6 years--all the while reducing our draw from the grid.  While I had understood we'd be paid for energy our system collected, I only thought it was whatever excess we didn't use first.  But no: ANY kilowatts we generate, regardless of who uses them, we get paid $.54 per kW (until 2015, then the rate drops a little).  But still--Wow.

Our system was installed in February when we were on vacation earlier this year. The only reason I mention that we were gone is that that when we came home, the panels protruded above the roofline by at least a foot.  It was significant.  I saw this and was all...um, no. I certainly didn't mind having solar panels but I didn't want to turn our house into a goofy-looking science fair project.

 Luckily they were able to slide the panels down a bit on their rails to make them less obtrusive.

Western facing array

South facing array

From the backyard

More technology bolted to the old house--inverters and meters.

With the monitoring tool, we can see online how much energy the panels produce and likewise, how much energy the house is using.  See those red spikes?  I think that is the heat pump coming on in intervals.  See that green bubble?  That's a mostly sunny day and a surplus of kW going to the grid. We are eager to meter specific breakers (hot water heater, range, washer/dryer) to see exactly which things take the most energy. Just this week, a very serious report out by the UN basically concluded that alternative energy and reduction of greenhouse gases has to happen or we risk "catastrophic effects from global warming." Sounds so dire and so unsurmountable.

As a parent though, as someone who wants humanity and all of the planet's life to succeed, apathy isn't an option.  It's now about the "long game" and doing one's part.  Our science project in domestic energy production won't completely solve the problem but it's one step in what needs to be done. 

Girls Weekend!

First plane ride by myself since the kids were born.  First trip to Sonoma.  First Girl's Weekend in a LONG time.

Is it wrong to have felt so much unbridled glee as I strode through Sea-Tac on Friday with not a care in the world?  Having only traveled with children these last 4 years, I'd forgotten that it doesn't have to suck.  Grab some tacos, sip a Starbucks, wait in peace while checking my phone for Facebook updates.  It can almost be, dare I say, fun?  Suzanne's 40th was the occasion that got us all to Sonoma.  

Beautiful and picturesque as you'd imagine California wine country but not as "commercial" as Napa I was told.  All of us are moms so we savored every minute of it.  Even though it was Suzanne's Birthday, this trip was a gift to us all.  The visit to Ram's Gate Winery was the crown jewel of the weekend.  The grounds, wine and hospitality were unparalleled.  We were taken on a tour of the facility and sampled gourmet dishes paired with appropriate wines. I even bought two wines and had them shipped home.  Good times.

The Sonoma Film Festival was also going on. The East Coast Singla contingent.

Ram's Gate Winery

Bubbles!

Private tour and tasting event.  Amazing.

Requisite Selfie

Suzanne, Erin & Brynn

Liz & Jo-jo

The birthday girl and her mom

Being the News

Photo by KOMO News

Today the KOMO news helicopter crashed right after take off in the street between KOMO's Fisher Plaza and the Space Needle.  According to multiple Seattle news sources, the two men in the helicopter (pilot and videographer) were killed instantly and a man who was in his car on the street below sustained burns on over 50% of his body.

I worked at KOMO right out of college.  A lot of those people had been with the company for a long time.  It was a tight knit group.  While I don't know too many folks there anymore, I just can't imagine simultaneously being a news organization and being the news as well.  What is just slaying me right now is that KOMO is live reporting and it's heartbreaking to hear the trauma and shock in their voices as they trudge forward with providing coverage and processing the loss in real time.   Tragic.

You know that thing when you turn 40...

I loved my 30's so much. The foundations of my education, relationships, money management and goal setting manifested into a life I had always hoped for.  But more importantly, I left behind those awful 20's with the tumultuous, self-obsessed, bad judgement-making dizziness that is prominently displayed in HBO's GIRLS.

Yes, the 30's seem like the perfect age group.  As someone in their 30's, you have the experience and maturity to be trusted with responsibility but still retain an energetic vibe that keeps you connected to pop culture.  But once you turn 40, you're not quite as shiny, novel or hip.  At least that was the feeling I got looking at all the celebrity websites and magazines.  That soul-destroying, pride-crushing gossip culture can just suck the best-constructed self-confidence out of a room if you let it.  And a few months ago, when worrying about this milestone too much and not feeling good in my body, I let it.

Looking in the mirror sometimes, I think, who is that slightly doughy, tired lady with grey hairs, bringing her B-game to the dance floor?  Who is that?  I'm a little ashamed to admit this but the first time I saw Jessica Simpson's Weight Watcher's commercial, I kinda teared up.  Just the first 10 seconds.

She says,"This body made two amazing little human beings. I love this body and what it's capable of."

Holy s**t balls people...that's the perfect affirmation for moms (okay the ones who don't have personal trainers, dietitians and nannies on call 24/7).  So what I realized is that it was less about the milestone of 40 but where I was with things.  I realized that I just felt a little out of control and even though I carve some activities and moments out in a given week/month for myself, something was missing.

After noodling over it and talking with friends, I discovered that one of the "things" was challenging exercise.  On Suzanne's recommendation, I started going to a Barre class once a week (which has daycare too, booya!). So in addition to Zumba and Yoga, this helped round out my activity schedule, push myself in a more active way and strengthen that illusive core area that gets blown to bits after carrying babies around in it.  I am so grateful she suggested it.

And you know what, all that trepidation about 40 fell away because I felt like I was still in charge.  I've earned the right to be here.  I survived.  I contributed.  I organized.  I loved.  I partnered.  I gestated.  I felt feelings.  I saw things.  (Enough with the "I" statements--we're not in the 20's anymore.)

4-0, starting now.