Flat Stanley Along the Au Sable

Back in December, I was told that my friend's daughter selected me to be Host Mother to Flat Stanley and so I anxiously awaited his arrival. If you are not familiar with Stanley, get out from the rock you live under and read the highlighted link on the Flat Stanley Project.

Flat Stanley arrived just before Christmas and during his vacation with me, he participated in many different winter sports activities in the Olympic Region. Flat Stanley went cross country skiing and skated on the 1932 Olympic Arena. He also rode the chair lift at Whiteface Mountain before snowboarding down the mountain.

When he wasn't exercising, he visited the 1932 & 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum. Here, Flat Stanley got to hold the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic torch, tried out a junior bobsled, and met Roni Raccoon, the mascot from 1980.

At the Olympic Center, he even got to sit on the Zamboni that cleans the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena where the "Miracle" hockey game took place.

Flat Stanley did get in trouble once on his trip here, when he ran into a bear! That really scared him, but luckily the bear was friendly and only wanted to dance with him.

Flat Stanley had a lot of fun along the Au Sable, but he is looking forward to seeing Genevieve again. He can't wait to tell her and the other second graders all about his trip.

All at T & T

Okay, so maybe I didn't start the new year exercise thing two weeks ago, but I did finally get a membership to the gym yesterday. Where you ask? At T&T Tanning!

It's right next to the post office in Wilmington in that new little building. When you see the structure from the road, you probably wonder like I did, how there could possibly be a gym inside.After finally checking it out, I was surprised to see that there is a lot to be offered at T&T. Besides the two tanning beds, they can ship your UPS packages, have a jewelry counter and sell many other gifts for purchase.

The gym is set up for circuit training and they recently added a treadmill. I tend to be a big wimp when the temperature outside dips below 10 degrees. Who am I kidding? My exercise regime came to a screeching halt some time in November when I left work and it was dark outside. So, I like the comfort of the indoors and this treadmill will do the trick for a couple months.

As I was running on it yesterday, I was warmer than usual and looked down to notice that the heater was right next to me, turned on high. Luckily, the owner told me I had control of everything including the heat, music, and as many cups of Keurig beverages I would like! I think next time I'll ask if we can turn the treadmill around facing into the room rather than the wall so I can feel less like a caged gerbil running on a wheel.

I'm pretty sure T & T will get me to March and have me looking like this lady I met when I was changing in one of the tanning rooms.

I'll just have to see if Keurig makes a drink that will grow my hair out and color it, get breast surgery, and really hit the T & T tanning beds for the next two months.

Winter Morning

On this below zero morning, I was lying in my warm bed watching the pink sunrise peek over the mountains.

There's not much that can make me get out from under my cozy flannel sheets except for the thought of my car not starting before work. With Drew leaving in 15 minutes, I could not be stranded with a bad car battery. So I got out from under the down comforter and slipped into my down jacket, started the car and checked out the backyard. It's confirmed... another cold, beautiful day along the Ausable.

Heaven at the Little Supermarket!

Can I just tell you that I discovered that the Little Supermarket in Wilmington carries the ice cream sandwich of my dreams?

The Andes Ice Cream Sandwich! I never knew such a treat existed and am so glad I stumbled upon it so close to home. I think I mentioned before my love of chocolate and mint, the best pairing of two ingredients that found each other in this world.

My love of the ice cream sandwich started in middle school. I think from 7th grade until high school graduation I had an ice cream sandwich every day with lunch, along with a bagel of some sort and chocolate milk. Turns out my future husband's lunch consisted of the same. We love ice cream sandwiches and are known to have them in our freezer in the summer. But, now it will be this heavenly dessert I found at the Little Supermarket!

I love you so much Andes Ice Cream Sandwich, it's a shame I'm already married.

New Year, New Pizza

Nearing the end of 2009, Travy G's shut down and Mad River Pizza opened in the same location in Ausable Forks.

I started off the new year by phoning in a cheese pizza for pick up. When I arrived, Mad River was packed with people dining inside and it took quite awhile for the worker behind the counter to ask me what I needed. I hope they didn't name their pizza joint after the "Mad House" I experienced. I realize they haven't been open for more than a week and it was New Year's day, but every worker in there seemed totally overwhelmed, so I probably shouldn't be judging them based on this one experience. But, I guess it all really boils down to the pizza.

I think a cheese pizza is the best way to determine if it's a good pizza. It looked promising, since there were actual herbs sprinkled on top of the cheese. The pizza was okay, but the dough and crust had absolutely no flavor.

I feel like I'm being a little mean, but I'm finding it hard to find a good pizza along the Ausable? There are a few restaurants in Lake Placid that make great pizzas, but they're more of a brick oven, gourmet style.

The search continues for a good, New York style, take out pizza in 2010...

Last Blog Post of 2009

2009 really bummed me out on the friend front. More friends left for the west.

It actually started at the end of 2007 when our best "couple" friends moved to Lake Tahoe. I figured they'd be back in two years...2009. That didn't happen and I'm still not over it.

Then, one of my closest girl friends of over 10 years decided she'd go to Montana for grad school. Tears happened, lots and lots of tears. Bittersweet.

Oh, and remember Mango, our cat? I'm pretty sure when he went missing he hitched a ride out west too.

Then just before Thanksgiving, it happened again. Friend comes to see me at work after a trip out west. She tells me she's moving to Colorado. I tell her through tears, "I'm glad I didn't invest too much."

I hold my friends close to my heart. I miss you all and to those of you that remain living along the Ausable, know that in 2010 I might be holding on a little bit stronger. I hope to spend more time with old and new friends, near and far in 2010!

Santa Visits the Gargoyles

I couldn't sleep last night because I was anxious to see if Santa brought the Gargoyles anything for Christmas this year. Without waking the Gargoyles I noticed that "Santa" had indeed delivered!

Apparently the Gargoyle stockings were too small to hold the PEZ that Santa brought and must have run out of wrapping paper too because they were propped up against the wreaths.

I hope that no wild animal discovers the PEZ before the Gargoyles find their surprise from Santa!

Merry Christmas! Ho Ho Ho!