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Showing posts from October, 2007

To Ellen on her Halloween Birthday...

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Happy Halloween. Not only is it Halloween but it is also Ellen's (Elbow, Elle, Nellen ) Birthday! A couple of us kooky girls met Ellen at Axel's Bonfire on Grand Ave... Something must have been in the punch, (or the margarita's) cause we were one giddy and goofy group. Of course it was Halloween, so maybe there was something in the air? We had fun, celebrating Ellen and her life. Megan sang for us, and some of the girls had fun taking pictures with my camera of their naughty bits... but I won't name names, and I'm way too classy to post any pictures of that variety! Oooh they are cheeky girls! But I love them all! We had a beautiful time celebrating Ellen and her life. Happy Birthday Ellen! And to top off the night, we discovered the many ways you can wear a scarf. Ellen was the Model Du Jour ... and she was oh so inspiring! Could she be America's Next Top Model? This was WAY better than watching ANTM ! Oh yeah... WAY better!

Pumpkin Carving Madness!

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The Robideau - Vlachs , held their first annual Pumpkin Carving Madness Party! First I was treated to a delicious dinner, prepared by kelly . She made a wonderful soup that was hearty and healthy! We then set to work on our pumpkins. The vlachs used a Chinese symbol for Peace. Kelly was a bit worried that maybe the symbol wasn't really a symbol for peace, and that maybe it said something bad about Hmong people. And considering her neighbors are Hmong, maybe it would be offensive. But I reassured her that, her Hmong neighbors probably don't read Chinese ... We were having a fun time carving and chatting but unfortunately , Kyle got a little crazy with his carving techniques... and he accidentally cut off his hand! Ooops ! I had no clue what I wanted to do, so I just did some weird swirly design, but all in all I think turned out pretty decent. Fun times. After the carving madness, we ate some amazingly wonderful apple pie that kelly made. Mmmmm ... It was a very Spooktacul

Dinner Party Delight

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Yesterday, I had a beautifully fun and relaxing day of getting ready for my dinner party guests. I had been planning to have my friends, Shannon, Cindy & Jaime over for dinner for quite some time. So once the menu had been planned and the table scape had been decided upon, I set to work. But I was in no mood to rush myself or take any fun out of the day. Shannon came over around noon to relax with me and help me out with the cooking. (And yes Shannon, transferring meatballs from one plate to another, IS helping). I don't typically need much help in the kitchen, but I do like the company. Good conversation can only aid in the joy of cooking. When we weren't cooking we chilled and watched an America's Next Top Model Marathon on VH 1. We also watched country music videos, but I won't go into it. It was fun. Eventually Jaime and Cindy made it over and we began to feast. On the menu was the following: Homemade Meatballs and Spaghetti, Broccoli with lemon bread crumbs, H

My Last Supper

There is a book out right now by photographer Melanie Dunea, called My Last Supper. She interviews top chefs and asks them, What would be your last meal? Most of the chef's surprisingly went with comfort food, regardless of the fact that they make gourmet meals at their upscale restaurants. Pasta, hamburgers, pizza, doughnuts, and friend chicken were among the top pics. Those also seem to be the top picks of convicts on death row. The theory is that you go to the foods that are associated with good memories and/or childhood. I however, have a different spin on what my comfort foods would be. And it's not because my palate is more experienced or defined. I just find comfort in something more than mac & cheese, albeit I do really like mac & cheese. I would have to say that my last meal would be, Chicken Pad Thai, extra spicy with lots of crushed peanuts and limes, a bowl full of jiaozi (or as they are called here, dumplings\potstickers). Some form of duck breast... love t

Who is Susan?

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Apparently there is another superfluous out there in blogger land... And we are like night and day! Funnily enough my cousins read her blog last night thinking it was my blog! They even had their theories about who "Susan" was code for, and of course the man must be my ex bf... I can just imagine the dialog between K & K! I am pukevsmeow . blogspot , not http://www.superflous.blogspot.com/ and if you are ever reading my blog and thinking, gee sabrina's a little debbie downer today, then you are reading the wrong blog! Halloween is next week? I have not decided on a costume! Last year I was Tattoo from Fantasy Island... I was so hot as a little man in a tuxedo! the year before I was in Alaska pretending to be a moose watcher and woodsman. The year before that i was my mom circa 1985! I can't remember past that... although I've been going to the same parties for the past few years, but not this year. New faces, new places. That kinda sounds like the south dak

The 12 Days of Absence

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I have not been at my home, alone since October 10th! The one night I was at home I had people over. So tonight I am going to shut myself in, do some dishes and laundry and make a killer dinner of: Garlic & Butter Talapia Spicy Eggplant and Cauliflower with Basil Apple-Cucumber Slaw AND Pumpkin Caramels!!

Les Miserables Lives On...

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In 1992 when I was 15 years old, I worked\camped at a little ol' camp called Camp Shamineau (Whoop Whoop EV Free!!!) Anyway, it was the first summer that I was old enough to be a CIT (Counselor in Training) after years of idolizing the counselors as a camper. That summer I befriended a girl, Erin Van Vonderen. We had crazy fun and lots of little adventures all summer long. Erin would always be signing these pretty little songs that would just stick in your head. And so one day I asked her what she was always singing and she said, "It's Les Mis of course!" Thus began my love affair. I went home that fall and promptly purchased the Les Miserables cassette tape! and began to memorize every song. I knew that there was a book, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, but had not read it. So I also bought a copy and read the abridged version. As soon as I got my driver's licence i purchased tickets to Les Mis at the Ordway and Erin and I went to see a real live Les Mis producti

Snakes and Fire, Oh My!

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Well I did it! They say that everyday you should do something you're afraid of, or do something you fear. Whatever the saying is, not only did I do one monumental thing i am afraid of, but two!!! I didn't plan for either of these things to happen. I didn't wake up this week thinking, "Hey God, please let me tackle my 2 biggest fears." But when you least expect it, life hands you the opportunity to face what you're afraid of, and you can either run away or face it head on. So when i needed to use my stove top, I found that both pilot lights were out. I knew that one was out, pretty much since I've lived here. But i was very content working with 2 burners, even if it was a hassle and i really need 3 to cook on. Nonetheless, I needed to use a burner and to my shock the last pilot light was out. Now I have never lit a pilot light. What I really fear is being started on fire, and pilot lights have the makings of a big explosion. I stood there in my kitchen for

Krua you're so Cruel

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A message to Krua Thai on University Ave.: The next time you want to close "Just for Today"... maybe not do it on a night that i am craving some pad thai goodness with 3rd degree burns on the side. The one day when my fellow burn your mouth off companions and I just want to sit and eat your amazing entrees and watch ANTM ... please don't close "Just for Today". Thank you. I am becoming the person that plans out her menus for meals the week before. What does that indicate? Is this a control issue or just a way for me to stop saying, "Now what am I going to have for dinner tonight"? This past week, since being back from MI has been nonstop, going out and getting together with friends. This will continue into the weekend up until Monday night where i will be making my first meal of the week. alone and in solitude. I used to be a hardcore introvert, and I thought once an introvert, always an introvert. But apparently that can change. Now don't get me

Who was I visiting? IDK, my BFF Rachel!

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Well I am now back, not really ready to be, but I am back nonetheless. I had the most wonderful time visiting Rachel. I headed out Thursday morning on my trek to Michigan. It has been almost 2 years since i've seen Rachel and in that time she went and had herself a baby! So of course when I made it to the airport, there was Rach holding her baby boy Seth and I started to cry. Tears of joy of course, and happiness... I have known Rach for so long and her desire to be a mother has been evident the first time i met her, and now here she is a wife and mother! My complete and utter happiness for her cannot be contained. We spent our time doing what we do best and that is just relaxing and enjoying each others company. I have great friends, but there is no one like Rach , where I can just show up and no matter how much time or distance has taken place, we start right where we left off, as if there was no lapse in time. We shared memories of our time in New Hampshire, including laughi

In My Backyard?

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****I posted this about 2 years ago and I thought it would be fun to post it again. Especially in light of the death of Michael Jackson.**** QUESTION: If you could have any three bands\performers, alive or dead, over to play in your backyard who would you choose? Who would i choose? I love such a variety of music from my past to my present. My choices? This is not going to be easy... But these are my 3 picks: The Grateful Dead w\ Jerry Garcia, For Beaner and Tweaker and the hippy days!!! Steal your face forever!!!! The Dead can jam on and on and they have the best sing along songs. Johnny Cash, cause who wouldn't want to dance to a rousing version of Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison Blues? I would die to hear A Boy Named Sue live!!! Micheal Jackson (post Jackson 5, pre-nose job)... couldn't you just see him with the glove bringing down the house with Thriller, Beat It and Billy Jean! Throw in the Moon Walk and girls (and guys) are gonna swoon! Totally Sick! Runner up: GN'R or

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...

By this time tomorrow morning i will be on a plane to Michigan. I will be visiting my BFF Rachel, and some other friends from long ago. This month will mark 10 years since I left everything that was familiar and moved across he country to New Hampshire. It's hard to imagine that this much time has passed, some days it feels like I just left. My time in NH was difficult and wonderful all in one year. The best part of moving there was meeting Rachel. I knew the moment I saw her that we would be best friends. We have seriously gone through so much together, loss and birth, boyfriends and marriage and moves criss -crossing the country. Yet here we are, still as close as the day we met, probably closer, because we have shared so much history. I am looking forward to just chillin ' and doing what we do best, just being our goofy selves. I will report back with an update of my travels probably Monday night next week, when I return. peace.

Rock Lobster!

Have you ever heard the B-52's song Rock Lobster? If not, I have the video below. This is one of the coolest goofiest songs known to man. I was never a fan of the B-52's because unfortunetly I only knew them because of that dumb song Love Shack! But one night about 4 years ago, my boyfriend at the time, put this album on his record player, and he played me Rock Lobster. WE danced and danced to this song, and we laughed and laughed. This by far was craziest boyfriend i ever had, and every day was an adventure with him. The relationship was short lived, because silly boys only get you so far, but overall it was one of the funnest years of my life! Rock Lobster Forever!

Drink Du Jour

This is a take on the Bloody Mary, but with way more za za zing! I have been making this drink now, almost everyday for a week. It is deliciously spicy and fresh. And very healthy too! I don't add the alcohol, but you could add gin or vodka for a kick. Red Snapper 5 ice cubes 6 fluid ounces of vegetable juice hot & spicy 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon brine from olive jar 1 pinch hot chili powder 1 pinch garlic powder 1 pinch ground cumin 1 pinch of crushed red pepper flakes 1/4 teaspoon celery salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon prepared horseradish DIRECTIONS Place ice cubes into a cocktail shaker, and pour in tomato juice, gin, lemon juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, celery salt, pepper, and horseradish. Cover and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted. Pour contents (including ice) into a 12 ounce highball gl

A story...

I was just thinking about this little story I heard about an old married couple. The man was crotchety and gruff and completely pessimistic, and his wife was nagging but in an endearing way. One day they went on a boat cruise that also happened to have a fishing contest going at the same time. Now in order to actually win you would need to have purchased a raffle ticket. So even if you caught the biggest fish, if you had no ticket, you received no prize, which in fact was around $5000! So the man and his wife boarded the boat, and set out for a day at sea. Now the husband wanted nothing to do with raffles and the like, and told his wife, “I don’t want to buy no damn raffle ticket”, which the wife replied, “Fine, but don’t come crying to me, when you need one.” The gruff old man went fishing and low and behold he caught the largest fish of the day. When he went to show the judges, his prize fish, they said to him, “You have indeed caught the largest fish, but do you have a raffle ticket

Friday night laid back...

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I am finding that more and more, and maybe it is my age, but i really like to just chill on a friday night. Not that i wouldn't pass up an opportunity to shake it up on a friday , but i try purposefully to not make plans. And really, i have no problem being home alone on a friday ... I mean where does it say that you HAVE to be doing something all weekend long! During the week, I get up early, work all day and almost every weeknight i have something going on! so who's to say that friday can't be a chill night? I am not ashamed! I made some delicious thai noodles with crunchy carrots, that made my heart skip a beat! Hey I even busted out a set of chopsticks I purchased in China over 5 years ago! Life is too short not to use the good kuàizi ! (chopsticks) Crunchy Thai Noodles Serves 6, (the recipe called for snap peas, bell peppers & scallions, which i had none of, so i used carrots, which tasted just fine!) Kosher salt 1/2 pound thin spaghetti 1 cup sliced crunchy car

Birthday & Slumber Party

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Answer: NEVER! What is: When are you too old to stop having slumber parties? Saturday was a busy day of preparation for a fun evening with the girls. I spent the morning baking and decorating a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for Tabitha... I love baking cakes, and I love to decorate them, but the problem I have is that decorating a cake takes patience... which sometimes I lack! I hurriedly wrote "Happy Birthday Tabitha" on her cake, when I realized that I spelt Birthday: BIRDAY! UGH! So I had to clean up the mistake, wipe the palette clean and start fresh! Which funnily enough, often mirrors how my life works! Thank God that frosting is forgiving, which then i guess i should say that thank God, He is forgiving too! Anyway, make the cake, get everything together, head over to Bonnie's and wait for Tabitha to arrive. We went all out on making this the most girly birthday she has ever had. We're talking, candles, bubble bath, bath salts, earrings, bathrobe, slipp