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This year’s award winners are as follow:
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Try these recipes on your own!
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Just about as soon as I stepped out of my vehicle I could hear Forest barking, excited to greet a new guest. My Seattle Running Club pals, also purportedly eagerly awaiting my arrival, Trisha & Uli welcomed me to the party and offered a round of introductions to the hosts. It was a warm welcome, indeed. I mean, literally, the sun finally decided to show itself and the temperature in the house was nearing a balmy 80°F from the sun and all of the activity going on in the kitchen. Thanksgiving dinner treats were warming in the oven!
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Roasted Brussels sprouts and yellow squash
[link to recipe] We gathered at the table and shared our collective thoughts on what we have been thankful for over the past year. And then we feasted! |
The dishes for dinner and dessert were absolutely Deeelectable! Deeelightful! Deeelicious! (: Phew, that was quite a long day that started in the wee hours for the commute from Seatown. I was off to bed to catch some zzzs so that I could wake bright and early on Black Friday for a trail run with the king of the drumstick, the carnivorous Mr. Ulrich Steidl. |
Campers on the Last Day of Camp, Port Orchard, WA USA (photo courtesy of Mayuri Reddy, Facebook)
Yellow school bus ride to camp!
Approaching the Tacoma Narrows strait in our school bus!
THE ICEBERG!!!
Horseshoe Lake at Sunrise, Port Orchard, WA USA
Closing ceremonies at the Chapel of the Cedars
One final snap w/ these lovely campers -- Cory, Nikki, Sarah C., Diana, and Brian K. (in the background).
Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA
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Monday 29 February 2016. A delightful interaction with the Public Charging Community.
At the end of one of the longer days in recent memory – two interviews, a visit to a local Starbucks to retrieve a back-up, mobile device, and a peaceful, evening walk along the Green River, I found myself back to unplug from the nearest, public EV Charging station: IKEA Seattle’s Blink Charger. Upon returning to the “i3electriclady,” I was greeted with an unexpected, “I love your car.” The kind voice came from a fellow EV charging station visitor. I quietly responded, “thanks,” probably, with a toothy smile. The friendly charging station neighbor continued, “how do you like it?” and “how long have you had it?” We chatted about my very positive experience with the i3 that I’ve been driving since shortly after Thanksgiving; she disclosed that she and her partner had test driven one a while back. The fellow Southender then revealed that they weren’t able to commit to an electric vehicle due to the current EVs’ range limitations and meager stock of public charging stations. Like me, they are (apartment) renters and “public chargers.” For quick comparison, the electric range on their 2012 model Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) is about 18 km (11mi) before utilizing the 1.8 L, 4-cyl gasoline powered engine. The fully electric i3’s range averages 140km/87mi on a single charge. The PHV’s total range, with the aforementioned gas-powered engine as part of the drivetrain, is much greater than any EV on the market – about 850km (530mi) with a full tank and full charge. With the minimal charging stations available for public use, a definite drawback to the EV experience is having to plan, with relative precision, the proximity of the nearest charging station. |
But for a few minor inconveniences, public charging has been an overwhelmingly positive aspect of the EV experience. I’ve not had any instances where the plug has been prematurely removed by a rogue interloper wanting to play a silly prank at a charging station. Nor have there been any undesirable encounters while approaching a parking spot, or when returning to the vehicle after charging. As for a minor inconvenience, sadly, EV charging stations are not fit with windshield washing bins and squeegees that would allow for enormous fun between us beautiful people waiting for the charging to complete. And although those of us with EVs are, in fact, really, really, really ridiculously good looking, we are powerless in our desire to celebrate our good looking-ness by embracing in a proper windshield squeegee water fight (***CUE ZOOLANDER'S ‘GAS STATION SCENE!'***). All kidding aside, this night’s encounter was unique in that it allowed for a more substantial interaction with a very interesting couple. Rachel, the kind voice from earlier, was soon joined by her equally kind partner, Parker. They are also transplants from a far off land – the Sooner State of Oklahoma. After meeting Parker, we talked a bit more about public charging, the electric vehicle frontier, and how we’ve migrated to the Northwest. Rachel shared that her position as Staff Photographer with 425 Magazine is what brought them to the Puget Sound region. Parker, also a photojournalist, joined her on the voyage and landed with KPLU, a local public radio station based in Tacoma. Before we wished each other ‘goodnight,’ we exchanged some parting thoughts on our expectation that the public EV charging infrastructure will rapidly increase, and thus present many more occasions for friendly charging neighbors to interact, the world over. Signing out from another moment in Electric Vehicle charging history, Smiley-faced bushy top. Just give me moments… |
2nd Base: Used Sports Eqpt., Northlake/Univ. District, Seattle, WA, USA
3rd Ave and Broad St, Seattle, WA USA.
