South to Drop Off, North to Pick Up

So don't get me wrong, I love Shelby's school. I love the teachers, the staff, the kids, the families but I do have one pet peeve. One that just makes me angry every time I have to pick Shelby up from school. And that is the issue of the parking lot/pick up area.

So at Shelby school you drive in and to the right is the bus circle. A little further up is a spot where parents can pull up to the curb (great for quick morning drop offs). And then you have regular ol' parking. There are signs posted that say "Please Pull Forward" and "Do Not Leave Your Car Unattended" Yet every time I go there in the afternoon (and I am always running late mind you!) I get there and can barely even turn into the school driveway because people are backed all the way up to the main road, they are blocking the bus area AND they have not pulled forward! I mean there is like a whole car length between cars!

I am a parent, so I understand wanting to get that prime curb spot. And I wouldn't mind it being right between the main entrance and the bus area so I know Shelby will see me but I am not going to get there early and park right in the middle before any other cars get there just for that spot.

So I think my new job is going to be Parking Lot Nazi. Expect to see me soon in my orange vest with my flaggers. And if you are sitting in your car (or God Forbid...you have left it unattended!) be warned that I will come knocking on your car window to keep on moving!

The Countdown Begins!

The Vampire Diaries season premiere is October 11th! Let the countdown begin!!


Vampire-Diaries

How Do I Love Duvall...Let Me Count Thy Ways

So I live in this cute little town called Duvall (that is pronounced Doo-Vall). It is such a great town! Kind of off the beaten path but closer enough to larger cities so you are only 30 minutes from larger chain stores, movie theaters and such. Up until a few years ago there was a ban on any businesses that had drive-thru's (ie McDonalds, coffee stands) but we are now lucky enough to have a drive-thru Starbuck's!

I do have to mention that I grew up in Woodinville which is just the next town over. Back in those days had someone said I would be living in Duvall I would have laughed at them and probably made some comment about never living in some pow-dunk, redneck little town like Duvall! But back in those days it was kind of scruffy with just one grocer store (The Family Grocer) maybe one street light and a ton of antique stores. It was simply the town we passed through to get to Carnation or Monroe!

I guess my grandpa always wanted to buy a house out in Duvall but my grandma always turned up her nose at Duvall as well. Maybe that is where I got it from! So it is kind of cool now to live in the town my grandpa would  have loved to live in!

Seven years ago we bought our second home. We moved to Duvall. By then there were two or three street lights and a Safeway! And the Safeway, by the way DID have a Starbuck's. Shortly after that the drive-thru Starbucks was built and well...That has to be reason #1 that we love Duvall!

But...there are other reasons.

Everybody Knows Your NameOkay so not really but sometimes it feels like it! It seems that whenever I go to the grocery store I run into someone I know. When I actually leave the store without running into a friend, or the parent of one of Shelby's classmate I am shocked and will usually take one last glance around the store to make sure I didn't overlook anyone!

We Have Great Local Businesses
Okay so they aren't the big retail stores (like a Target but hey I have two of those only about 30 minutes away!) but boy do we have some wonderful restaurants (Pickle Time, Red Pepper Pizzeria, The Duvall Grill) and neat speciality stores (CC's Espresso, Teemer & Schmidt Candy Store, Match Coffee & Wine). Toss in a clothing stores, art gallery, art center, photography studio, a few salons and of course those antique stores which, yes, still exist and you have a great town!

Country Living Without TO much Country
We live 6 miles outside of town. When people first come out to our house they are always going "Man, do you live out here!" but you know what? You get used to it and really...it's not that far. I am about 10 minutes from town and about 30 minutes from Woodinville or Redmond where I have all the major retailers that I need. We are on 2 beautiful acres where on a clear night we can see a sky full of stars. And if I really wanted to I could probably walk naked through my yard but...I don't really want to do that AND we do have neighbors that could see me through the trees that are planted along our property line. So I can enjoy that country feel but still be able to get my "city" on!

We Care About Each Other.....Really!
No...really...we do! Granted part of that may have some help from the technology of today (Facebook, websites, etc). But we watch out for each other. We keep an eye on our neighbors kids, making sure they make it home from the bus. Someone loses a puppy and the whole town starts looking. If you don't know of a good place to take your car, or to take your pet just ask a friend (who will ask a friend who asks a friend) and before you know it you will have a LONG list of wonderful places to go.

It's a good thing we won't be moving anytime soon because I love living here. It is the perfect place to raise our daughter - though she isn't as thrilled at running into friends every time we head to town. Some day she will appreciate it though!