Technical Talk and Vineyard Walks

Yesterday moved from SESIG's technical discussions about solar inverters and sodium batteries through guest preparation to Joey's arrival and Corvallis tour—Coffee Culture barista recognition, Airlie Winery's lovely flight and vineyard photography, E.E. Wilson pictures, finishing my Suds beer card earning the T-shirt, and Old World Deli dinner where Joey made new musical contacts. The day divided between morning engineering talk and afternoon social adventure, both satisfying in their own ways.

From Microinverters to Music

October 11, 2025

SESIG filled the morning with its usual range of topics, though solar systems dominated discussion. We covered weather patterns, Jim's upcoming Canyonlands trip, the recognition that summer is likely over, and various vehicle-related topics—someone's Sprinter van spending time at the repair shop (euphemistically called "spa time"), elevation-dependent mechanical issues, the Rivian Amazon delivery vans, and pricing strategies for 2026 used cars.

But the real meat was solar technology. Jim has Silfab panels. Jon has Enphase microinverters. We discussed inverter strategies, the emerging Natron sodium batteries (natron.energy), spa control system replacements, smart panels with smart breakers from companies like Binary Tech Labs, fire risks in solar installations, and even boot repair somehow worked its way into the conversation. SESIG at its best—technical knowledge exchange among people who genuinely want to understand how things work.

Home brought guest preparation, including moving the upper deck furniture cushions to the lower deck for winter storage and generally making the house presentable for visitors. The work from earlier in the week paid off—most spaces already clean, just final touches needed.

Played a little Minecraft before Joey arrived, squeezing in some virtual construction before the day shifted fully social.

Joey's arrival launched the Corvallis tour. First stop: Coffee Culture, where the barista recognized me from Coffee Culture Annex. That was genuinely surprising—being known across different locations of the same establishment, cross-referencing customers between sites. Small-town coffee culture at work.

Joey at Airlie Winery

Airlie Winery provided the afternoon's centerpiece. Drank a lovely flight of wine, ate a plate of cheese—the classic wine country pairing executed well. Had a good conversation with Mary, the owner, who was open to us taking pictures anywhere on site. That's a generous offer I may need to take advantage of even more in the future—vineyard locations offer excellent backgrounds for portrait work. Afterwards we wandered the grounds taking pictures, capturing the late season landscape, the organized rows of vines, the particular light that comes through grape leaves.

Stopped by E.E. Wilson for more photography. The trails through the woods worked particularly well—the filtered light through trees, the natural textures, the sense of depth that forest paths provide, and lots of fall colors adding vibrant seasonal palette. The wildlife area offers different subjects than vineyards—wild spaces rather than cultivated ones, natural chaos versus agricultural order.

Suds delivered a milestone: finished my beer card and earned the T-shirt. Small achievement, but satisfying nonetheless. Systematic sampling of their bottled beer selection complete, the card filled with checkmarks representing months of trying different options. The T-shirt serves as tangible proof of completion, and eventually a plaque on the wall will provide more permanent recognition.

The Old World Deli concluded the evening with dinner and live music. Joey had a great time and made some new musical contacts—those spontaneous connections that happen when musicians gather in spaces that welcome their presence. The deli provides that kind of environment, where music isn't just background but part of the social fabric, where players recognize each other and conversations start naturally.

Called it a day after that. It was fun—showing someone your town's highlights, watching them discover what you already know and appreciate, seeing familiar places through fresh eyes. The technical morning and social afternoon balanced each other nicely, each mode satisfying different needs, both contributing to a day that felt full without feeling exhausting.