We Love Durham NC

Munch Cam

Now that the shiba inu puppycam is closed, what are we going to do? Ah! Munch Cam to the rescue! I could watch the hornworm eat all day long!

Earthworms

Silly earthworms covering my driveway, it is not really spring.

Independent Animal Rescue is America’s Favorite Animal Shelter!

Independent Animal Rescue is America’s Favorite Animal Shelter!

..to the tune of a $10,000 prize. Way to go, voters! Congratulations, IAR! Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of fuzzballs (and their humans). Conrad says hi!

Time for Bunkey’s Car Wash

Bunkey’s Car Wash of Durham on Chapel Hill Blvd. has installed a new time & temperature clock. Convenient!

I have heard they will clean car seats for only $5. Have not tested this yet, but it is on The List.

Christmas Trees

TROSA has several lots of Christmas Trees and wreaths again this year. Here’s the one at Southpoint.

Advent Calendars

I often have a bit of a problem finding those cardboard advent calendars, from Germany, with the little bits of chocolate shaped like Christmas goodies behind 24 small doors. Southern Season in Chapel Hill was our source, but they would sell out before I remembered. This year, I snagged some from the front seasonal area of Harris Teeter, and they are on sale. They’ll be sold out soon.

Fishies

A fish tank or two.
Not much else to do.

Leaves

Early Voting in Durham

I voted early, yesterday, at Southwest Elementary. The voting location was easy to find, thanks to the many VOTERS USE 2ND DRIVEWAY and VOTE HERE and VOTE TODAY signs. I parked in front of a VOTER PARKING ONLY sign right beside the entrance. It took me more time to get the girl out of her carseat than it did to vote… no line, and maybe 5 minutes tops.

I was greeted immediately, and handed a sheet reminding me to vote for President and Nonpartisans seats separately, even if I chose a straight ticket. Good reminder.

I followed another woman waving a small American flag to another table where a man waving another small American flag took my name and address. I noticed the names/addresses were on computer screens instead of long printouts, for the first time. He asked if I was familiar with the ballot–I was, so I carried it to the booth and bubbled in my choices. I had my list, and I checked it twice. Okay, three times.

I put my ballot in the vote muncher and got my sticker! The girl was asleep, so I got to keep my sticker this time.

All the flag waving and greeting, and smiles and general excitement made me cry just a little.

Onward. DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!

Hand Me Up and Outta Here

My most loyal reader had the Habitat Hand Me Ups store staff pick up her used-but-lots-of-life-left couches the other week, and I’ve been staring at my dining room table ever since wishing it, too, would disappear. It’s just a little too big or too rectangular for the space it’s in. Well, I did it. I called Habitat & they’re coming on Saturday to get the table, chairs, and a computer desk. My favorite place to donate items is Goodwill, but you can’t beat a free pickup.

Habitat is located in the newly renovated Shannon Plaza on Shannon Rd. Phone: (919) 403-8668

Chem-Mystery

I’m going to let the boy write this one up, but I’ll say for now that I hope this event turns into an annual one as big as the Santa Train. Fun scary explosive spidery science!

Make a Seven Year Old Laugh

(Thank you to loyal reader J.)

In preparation for the Kimya Dawson show at the Troika Music Festival, you have to see this video featuring a song from her new album “for the babies.” Warning, if you let your kids see this, they won’t stop saying the F word. Not that F word! The other one. And the B word. The other one!

Hope Valley Commons Char-Grill Opens Today

Durham Char-Grill Opens on the 27th

Enjoy!

Build a Bear

To recap, the girl had a Build a Bear birthday party last year, which is where she got the koala. Shortly after that, we adopted Conrad the wonderful dog who likes to eat stuffed animals. You see where this is going, don’t you? We came home one day to a terrible accident in which the koala lost an eye and had severe lacerations to her ear and cheek.

We took the koala to Build a Bear at Southpoint to ask about their “hospital” services and found out that the corporate offices will repair BaB animals, not only for free, but cheerfully! They sent us a shipping label, we kissed the koala and shipped her off to the St. Louis bear hospital, and a few weeks later we came home to a large package. Inside was the koala, carefully stitched. The card inside indicates she was also Fluffed, Mended, Brushed, and Hugged, and that at the hospital she was Happy, Friendly, Funny, Smiley, Sweet, and Brave. “Dr. Robin” indicated she was Beary brave and 100% healthy, and that PS we should give her extra hugs 5x daily.

If you want a mom to tell everyone she knows what wonderful customer service you have, make her 3 year old happy.

(With obvious payoffs; we visited the BaB store today for a little grooming and a new outfit. Then we took her to see the fountains.)

Chicken Locopops

A friend made me go to the Franklin Street Locopops this week. Twisted my arm.

Chicken and beef locopops are done for the season and are now half-price at $1 each. Stock up now!

For your dog, silly.

Tags: dog treats, locopops, neighbors