Ms. Boardmember...

I guess I need to prepare an acceptance speech or at least a round of thank yous. I was up for membership vote to be elected as a new board member to the NC Sustainable Energy Association...and I made it!

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes renewable energy and energy efficiency in NC through education, public policy and economic development. It is the only non-profit in NC devoted to leading public policy change and driving market development in ways to create green jobs.

As our tax credit advisory team has evolved to include renewable energy tax credits in addition to low-income housing, historic and new markets tax credits, this appointment seemed to fit right in line with the type of work that is important to me right now.

Mr. Bad Luck

What a fun Labor Day - except for Mr. Bad Luck and his unwelcome appearance! Our plans for today included Daniel and Kristin meeting us to go to the lake and wakeboard. We had plans to meet Meemaw for breakfast and leave the kids with her. As we got in the truck and started down the road with the boat, the truck started to sputter and act crazy. Jonathan turned around, certain something major had gone wrong with the truck. I, on the other hand, knowing that we can't get nearly as good of gas mileage pulling the boat as without it, was certain the truck was out of gas. Jonathan unloaded the boat, put a gallon or so of gas from the garage in the truck and proceeded to the gas station to fill it up. 32.5 gallons later in a 32 gallon tank and we're on our way. - Mr. Bad Luck visit no. 1. So we're finally on the way to the lake with Daniel and Kristin when Mr. State Trooper turns around to pull us over. No tags on the boat trailer, so here's a ticket for your labor day. Mr. Bad Luck visit no. 2. At the dock, we unload the boat and head out for a fun day wakeboarding. We have a lot of fun with no issues. Once we stop for lunch on the lake, turn the boat off and sit for a while, then start back up, the boat starts to overheat. Mr. Bad Luck visit no. 3. No worries, we just needed to open the motor cover while we sat. Ok, so we made it through the day with Mr. Bad Luck giving us a little heartache and a whole bunch of laughs. Now we're just wondering when will Mr. Bad Luck go away.

Reagan and the tent

Who knew it would only take putting a Princess tent in Reagan's room to keep her in there all night long? We've had trouble keeping Reagan in her room. We can get her to sleep (albeit on a pallet on the floor beside her bed), but come 3:00 or so in the morning, Miss Reagan treks through the house and ends up in our bed. Thanks to Kristi, we brought home a Disney Princess tent (a hand-me-down from Lexi - we love hand-me-downs!) and Reagan now sleeps like a baby all night in her new tent. I woke up the next morning after setting up the new tent in a panic because Reagan wasn't in my bed. Amazingly, she was fast asleep in her room...on the floor...in the tent...beside her bed. Hey...whatever it takes - who needs a bed when you've got a tent!