Mean mean ATM machine!

This morning I went to get money out from the ATM machine at Community Bank in Lake Placid and became completely annoyed when the machine's screen went blank and decided not to give me my card back!  I furiously pushed the red cancel button several times and my card remained inside. I know it is not often that I give a bad write up of something in my area, but this really sucks! My bank used to be Citizen's Bank, but then it changed to Community Bank some time in October.  When they made the change one weekend of painting the bank's interior from green to maroon, they allowed no account or debit access from a Friday to a Monday.  When that Monday came, I still hadn't received my new Community Bank debit/credit card in the mail and had to file some paper work to receive it and wait 7-10 business days.  It was two weeks before I received the card.  

I was pretty sure I would cancel my account and move my money over to a different bank.  Once the card got to me and the transition from Citizens to Community became easier, I decided I'd just stay with Community Bank and not deal with the hassle of changing banks.

I called the 800 number this morning to report my card being gobbled up and the nice lady in Fargo, ND told me I would have to speak to my branch on Monday morning to receive a new card.  I guess I'll have to wait another couple weeks to get my new card again and walk up to the teller and get some cash out the old fashioned way.

I'm warning you Community Bank, one more problem and I'll be exiting Community Bank for good!

Cascade Inn

Last night a bunch of us went out to celebrate our friend Mary Catherine's birthday and she decided to have her birthday party at the Cascade Inn.  I had asked Mary Catherine why she choose the Cascade Inn for her birthday dinner and she said, "because it's very homey, comfortable and good, home cooked food."

I had never been to the Cascade Inn on Rt. 73 just outside of Lake Placid and was curious to see how the food was.  The Cascade Inn calls themselves "a place where the locals meet and visitors are always welcome."  Apparently Saturday night is the night to go because they serve their "famous prime rib."  There were a lot of people there and our party of 10 just added to the crowd. Luckily, we had called the day before and had them reserve a table for us.

Since there were ten of us, I knew it was going to be hard to discuss what everyone ordered so I decided to concentrate on my own order along with those sitting next to me, Marcy and Kathy. I was surprised to see that all entrees include the homemade soup of the day, baked rolls and butter, a house salad, and your choice of rice pilaf, baked or French fried potato.  I wondered why they didn't just name the option french fries and Kathy informed me, "that is a fun way of saying french fries, they must take a potato and fry it the French way."  I don't think anyone at the table ended up ordering a French fried potato, but I would be curious to see if it is anything different than french fries.

At any rate, Marcy ordered the Petit Filet Mignon, which is cooked to perfection with sauteed mushrooms.  

I asked Marcy how it was after a few bites and she simply said, "This is very good."

I had ordered the Baked Cheese Ravioli Parmigiano.  I am a cheese ravioli connoisseur.  My family makes fun of me all the time because 9 times out of 10 if it is on the menu, I order it.  I almost ordered the Chicken Parm, but felt that my assessment of the Cascade Inn's Baked Cheese Ravioli would determine if I would come back.  

I thought the ravioli was good but, I must admit it was not the best cheese ravioli I have ever had.  However, it is hard to beat the ravioli I tasted in Italy and the same goes for their sauce which is also up against Italy and my favorite Bove's in Burlington.  I might put it in the top 10.

Kathy had ordered the Chicken Cascade along with three others at the table.  The Chicken Cascade is described on the menu as a succulent chicken breast covered with a rich cherry tomato and vodka cream sauce.  

Kathy said, "This is very delicious."  The other ladies that had ordered this also thought it was really good and there became a question over the secret ingredient in the sauce.  They weren't sure if the secret ingredient was dill or tarragon?  We asked Celeste, our most excellent server, to ask the chef and she came back with the answer dill.  I guess it wasn't really a secret after all.

We had a fun evening with lots of laughs and good food.  I know Mary Catherine won't be happy with this picture of herself, but this big birthday smile sums it all up.  

Happy Birthday MC, we love you!

Mountain Valley Shuttle

Last week a free shuttle began operating from the town of Ausable Forks to Lake Placid.  I was pretty excited to learn about this shuttle because less than half a mile from my house I could pick it up at the Village Green in Jay.  I'm a huge fan of a public bus.  In fact, while living in England I preferred the bus over the Tube or train because it usually leads to great people watching.

I had scoped out the schedule and it seemed like the time table catered more towards the Whiteface crowd rather than the nine to fivers going to and from Lake Placid.  However, I figured it would be a good option for me when the roads are bad and it would save me and my little car from sliding around in Wilmington Notch.

Driving back from my parents in Potsdam on Christmas night, my brake lines went and we had semi brake failure for the next 60 miles.  Merry Christmas to us!  While I was getting upset and thinking about spending more money on my car, I remembered that I would be able to use the shuttle service in the morning to get me to work.  How convenient!  

I walked up to the Village Green to wait for the Mountain Valley Shuttle.  It was about -2 that morning and I was all alone.  I wasn't really sure where the shuttle was going to stop so I waited at the corner, but then decided it was a little hooker-like to be standing there.  I'm sure I didn't look like a prostitute with my puffy down jacket and knit hat on at 7 am, but I ended up moving away from the corner.  There are a couple benches in the park, but they were snow covered and I thought I'd get even colder sitting on a stone bench.  

Just like any kid waiting for the school bus, I started kicking the snow and ice on the sidewalk to pass the time.  

As scheduled, the shuttle came at 7:20 am and I got ready to board. 

Pretending to be an urbanite I came armed with a book and ipod.  In trying to look the part, I put my ipod on only to discover the battery was too low for me to listen to my music.  I sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the ride.

 After stopping at Whiteface, I became a little annoyed that I had to go to work and everyone else was off with their friends and families preparing for a fun day skiing or snowboarding.  This is one of the reasons why I have a love hate relationship with the holidays.  

At any rate, we arrived in Lake Placid and the driver made his way from hotel to hotel picking up more passengers along the way to take them to Whiteface for all the fun.  I made the mistake of staying on the bus for all the hotel stops when I could have gotten off at the Crowne Plaza and walked down the hill, but I only had to wait 10 more minutes for the Olympic Center stop.  Considering my luck lately, it seemed like a good idea for me to stay on the shuttle because I probably would have fallen on the icy sidewalk and broken my arm on my way down Olympic hill.

My car is fixed now and I drove to work this morning in half the time it takes me to ride the shuttle.  Even though it takes considerably longer and the times aren't the best for my work schedule, I will take the shuttle again because 1) I'm cheap and it's free, 2) I'm a greenie, and 3) I'm a big wimpy winter driver!

I hope to see some of you on my next ride and I might even save you a seat!

Christmas Gargoyles

The Gargoyles have been busy decorating and preparing for Christmas and I must say the driveway that they guard looks pretty nice at night.  

Gargoyle Righty has the Christmas tree all lit up, I'm assuming it is for Santa to find them so he can drop off some gifts.

Gargoyle Lefty has a stocking out and is ready for Santa to bring him lots of toys and goodies. 

I hope the Gargoyles get everything that's on their list.  Merry Christmas Gargoyle Fans!

Egg Nog Taste Test

Last night my friends Jen and Amy came over for a little holiday get together.  Knowing that Amy's daughter Ruby was going to be here, I figured it would be a good time to conduct an eggnog tasting because it would test the taste buds of a 5 year old with a few 30 somethings. Before the taste test began, I was pretty confident that Stewart's was going to win over Price Chopper.  

For those of you not familiar, Stewart's is mainly an upstate NY shop where you can get gas and also a few groceries.  It's not your typical gas mart because you can also get a scoop of ice cream there. I have found in the past that their dairy products are quite good.  Around the holidays I usually get the light eggnog that they carry and really enjoy it.  However, I didn't see a light brand of Price Chopper eggnog and for the sake of things starting off even I purchased the regular eggnog for our test.

Since I was already partial to the Stewarts brand, Amy was the administrator to the test and she poured one brand in a clear glass and the other in a red mug.  

It was unanimous, we all thought the red mug was way better than the glass.  Before Amy revealed to us who the winner was, here are some of our comments on the Red mug:  Jen thought, "it's sweeter, much smoother in consistency."  While I thought it was well balanced in the flavoring and at the same time Amy and I said, "it coats the mug!"  Amy mentioned, "It's so thick, this is real egg nog."  Amy and Jen both thought it was leggy.  As for Ruby, our almost 5 year old said, "I just liked the red.  It tasted better."  Although, I have to say she is named after the color red and perhaps she was partial to the red vessel she was drinking out of.

As for the clear glass, Jen thoughtfully said, "This has an eggy consistency, I felt as though I was swallowing strands of egg white.  This one seems to be missing some spices."  I tasted something artificial, the eggnog was thin and watery and I couldn't even finish it.  Ruby said, "It seems bad.  I don't like it."  Amy also "found no reason to finish it."  Amy thought it was boring and "it was like skim milk water and tasted like partially hydrogenated oil."

So, after commenting on our eggnog, Amy revealed to us that the red mug was indeed the Stewart's brand!  Ruby exclaimed, "Price Chopper lost!"

I knew from the first sip that it was Stewart's.  Now I would be interested to do a taste test on Stewart's regular eggnog vs. light eggnog to see who the winner would be.  I am also told they sell a cinnamon flavored eggnog.  That might be interesting too.  For those of you that live along the Ausable, you can stop at Stewart's in either Keene or Lake Placid to pick up your very own eggnog during this holiday season.

Christmas Lights Driving Tour

Tonight I picked my friend Lisa up for a Christmas lights driving tour of Jay and Ausable Forks. There were many houses with impressive lights, but two stuck out over all the others.  

The first was a house on John Fountain Road here in Jay.  I can see this house from my house through the trees and over the covered bridge. Lisa thought that it looked like it's own little Christmas village from this distance.  We decided that we had to do a drive by to get a closer look.   

When talking to Jay about his Christmas lights on Thanksgiving Day, I think he mentioned that this was his brother's house.  I might be wrong, but if so the ability to put on a Christmas light show must be genetic!  This house had a nativity scene, snowmen with candy canes, and Santa with his reindeer.  

Hands down, my favorite thing on their lawn was the cute little gingerbread house.

This house does a good job, but a house in Ausable Forks tops it.  

The house in Ausable not only concentrates on the lawn ornaments, but does quite the job on the porch too.  

I couldn't possibly just do a drive by of this house, I had to get out of the car!  Lisa informed me that there was a Santa on the porch with a motion sensor that when activated, starts to sing and dance!  I paced up and down the sidewalk to try to get him to sing, but he must have been tired because it took him a couple minutes.  It was well worth the wait though. Santa was shaking his hips back and forth and indeed sang some Christmas songs to me.

A man walking his dog passed by and the dog was either scared of Santa or he just wanted him to stop singing because the little dog just wouldn't stop barking.  

Their lawn appeared to be a blow up decoration park.  There must be about 10 different blow ups, some that I have labeled as "Santa with hot air balloon", "Santa running into Christmas tree"and also "Reindeer pulling Santa out of Chimney."

I'm sorry these pictures came out so blurry, but in my defense many of them moved!  Here is a close up of "Reindeer pulling Santa out of Chimney."  On second thought maybe it should be called "Reindeer shoving Santa back down the Chimney."

Secretly I wish that someday I would have a house where people would drive by slowly to admire my lights or decorations. But, I know that my husband would probably be mortified if I came home from Sam's Club with a blow up Christmas decoration of any kind and he would probably think that I was off my rocker.  So, I'll just have to admire everyone else's decorations.

Don't get me wrong I do love my Christmas tree that sits in the window with it's pretty white lights, but when I drove Lisa by my house...she didn't even ooooh or aaaaah.

First Christmas Tree

I know I don't usually blog about things here at my home unless it is something significant like the bear scat in our mud room, but I thought our first Christmas tree at our first home deserved some attention.  

After returning from vacation Monday night, I was ready to get into the Christmas spirit and so off we went to get our first tree when I got off of work yesterday.  I would like to share with my friends and family some of my favorite ornaments that I have gathered over the years.

I'll start with fuzzy wuzzy bear that I made at about 8 years old, maybe in the basement of the Potsdam Museum.  I'm pretty sure my parents are happy that he no longer hangs on their tree.

 Another lovely ornament that is hanging proudly on our tree this year is an ornament I made as a Girl Scout brownie.  

I'm thinking my family is also happy that this juice can top no longer hangs on their tree. 

 Some of the best ornaments on the tree are those that my grandparents had made for me over the years.  My Grandpa Wallace had given me a wooden mail box with my name on it when I was two, there was a bird house my Grandma made and also this gingerbread house I received when I was only one.  

I always hang an ornament in memory of Priscilla Zipay that she had given me when I was a little girl.  

We hang the two ornaments that we got at Chris and Amy's wedding and think of them living not so close to us anymore near Lake Tahoe.  

One of my new favorite ornaments is from the wonderful (almost) 5 year old Ruby. 

 I wish all of you a happy holiday with lots of wonderful things to remember.