{ Sylvie }

{ Turning 27 }

2011-12-20T11:00:00.001-06:00

Recently I reflected on the almost 27 years of life that God has given me. I consider moments in my life where I could have died, but lived. I consider the humble family that he made me a part of, the sweet new family that I will soon be a part of, and the wonderfully funny, charming, and loving man I will marry in two months. I consider friends who have been through it all with me. God has been really good.

{ Invites }

2011-12-13T18:05:00.002-06:00

Some invites went out. Not all. We need more addresses. We totally DIY'd them using the free invitation suite from weddingchicks.com. Is it DIY if you just print them out? Questions for another day... Thanks, Wedding Chicks! We got them printed at the UPS Store in Roseville. Thanks, UPS Store!

I did wonder if perhaps they looked too cheap. Would people care? Our envelopes are not lined. They're not in DOUBLE envelopes. But you know what, at the end of the day, who cares about what kind of paper your invites are on and whether we embossed our initials or whatever.

Sylvie: wow it's monday and our invites already reached some people
Joe: oh
Joe: cool
Sylvie: ok so
Sylvie:: now you really have to marry me
Joe: crappity

{ Hair }

2011-12-12T09:30:00.000-06:00

Joe: So um....
Joe: I love you very much!
Joe: No matter what
Joe: And...
Sylvie: me too!
Joe: I'm just wondering...
Joe: What's up with your hair? :)
Sylvie: LOL
Sylvie: i curled it
Sylvie: is it crazy
Joe: Ahh
Joe: It looks a little crazy, yeah, at least to me

{ Wedding Dress Shopping }

2011-11-21T10:23:00.000-06:00

I've purchased and received one wedding dress so far. I see now why people say white is not a flattering color! It's not that I was unhappy with the first dress, but I would honestly need to shape A LOT MORE to pull it off. So off I went to buy dress #2. Good thing my Fiancé is so understanding! Each dress cost less than $200, I hope to sell or donate the one that doesn't win out.

11/21/2011
Sylvie: last dress i promise
Sylvie: :)
Joe: no problem sweetie
Joe: if you need four more, that's fine too
Joe: Cause I love you! and you're my sweetheart

{ The Iniquity of Us All }

2011-11-15T10:38:00.003-06:00

Lately, something that has been sticking with me is the idea that sin hurts. Even when sin doesn't happen to you directly it still hurts, it's still painful, and it's so sad. And then, I think of Jesus who bore the sins of us all.

I thought of it this way: Sin = pain, so Jesus + ALL sin = the ultimate pain. More than the physical pain he endured, I think of the emotional and excruciating pain to his holy heart. It makes me so sad. It also gives me great appreciation for what he did. For the first time yesterday I realized I really, really am a sinner.

Below is Isaiah 53:4-12, written hundreds of years before Jesus was even born. Reading this yesterday made me mourn for Jesus for that moment, because even though words like "crush", "scourging", and "pierce" were used, again, it wasn't about the physical pain he endured but the deep pain of sin that he bore. Seriously!

......................................................................................................

4Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
         And our sorrows He carried;
         Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
         Smitten of God, and afflicted.

5But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
         He was crushed for our iniquities;
         The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
         And by His scourging we are healed.

6All of us like sheep have gone astray,
         Each of us has turned to his own way;
         But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
         To fall on Him.

7He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
         Yet He did not open His mouth;
         Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
         And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
         So He did not open His mouth.

8By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
         And as for His generation, who considered
         That He was cut off out of the land of the living
         For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

9His grave was assigned with wicked men,
         Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
         Because He had done no violence,
         Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

10But the LORD was pleased
         To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
         If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
         He will see His offspring,
         He will prolong His days,
         And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

11As a result of the anguish of His soul,
         He will see it and be satisfied;
         By His knowledge the Righteous One,
         My Servant, will justify the many,
         As He will bear their iniquities.

12Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
         And He will divide the booty with the strong;
         Because He poured out Himself to death,
         And was numbered with the transgressors;
         Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
         And interceded for the transgressors.

{ Engaged }

2011-11-11T12:41:00.001-06:00

I am engaged! Check out my awesome .gif ;)

{ PMS }

2011-02-18T12:51:00.003-06:00

Looked through my chat logs to see how often I mention the word ‘pms’… it’s a mental, emotional, and physical state of misery, I tell you..

Today

Sylvie: i think im pms'ing

Feb 1st

Sylvie: im pmsy

Dec 21 2010

Sylvie: i must be getting pms-y

October 22 2010

Sylvie:: i'm emotional from pms right now

August 2010

Sylvie: i am pmsy

March 8th 2010

Sylvie: i'm on PMS x 100

Has it really been this long?

2011-02-02T22:55:00.002-06:00

Hm, I haven't blogged since September 2010.

Bread Salad

2010-09-14T08:13:00.000-05:00

I’ve been making a bread salad for a few months now. It's essentially a deconstructed sandwich --fun to make, easier to eat, and dare I say more delicious?

Here’s what I typically use:

Goat’s milk sourdough bread from Lunds/Byerly’s (sooo good all by itself)
Goat cheese (chevre, not feta)
Smoked prosciutto or regular prosciutto
Leafy greens (spinach, arugula, romaine, whatever..)
Avocado (optional)
Crushed black pepper (optional)

All I do is tear, crumble, or cut each ingredient into bite size pieces, toss the “salad”, and mix in a little bit of extra virgin olive oil if I feel like it. The prosciutto adds saltiness while the goat cheese adds tart. And that's all I need, I’m not really a salad dressing kind of girl unless it's interesting or homemade. If you add lemon to this salad it gets too sour so I skip it. I’ve made a variation of this salad with and without spring greens and it’s been fine. I’ve also mixed in avocado chunks, giving it a creamy consistency. Lately I've been into adding red pepper flakes to my salads too.

It’s not quite a panzanella salad (Panzanella is an Italian bread salad made with Tuscan bread, cucumbers, some sort of vinaigrette, tomatoes, olive oil, basil) but maybe what I’m making is a version of panzanella? Who knows… Hope you get to try this sometime. I could see smoked salmon as an excellent substitute for prosciutto.

Es muy wow!

2010-08-27T22:47:00.001-05:00

My co-worker Camella (whose blog is The Ladies and Gents Auxiliary) and I decided that www.esmuywow.com would be a cool domain name to buy...so we did it...and now, I welcome your ideas on how she and I can make at least $1 million.

Thank you.

{ A bug-free camping park }

2010-06-18T14:37:00.008-05:00

Would you believe it if I told you I used to dig for worms with the boys and threw them at girly girls? I can't believe it happened either... Now, at the sight of certain bugs (including worms) I've been known to cry, run, swerve, yelp, and so on.

One day I'd like to fish from the river, build a fire, forage the woods for herbs and mushrooms, and cook it for dinner! I love the idea of canoeing, barbecuing, and picnicking. A strange desire for a woman who hates all things creepy-crawly.

Thus, I propose a bug-free camping park. I am not the lone lady with these fears! I have a feeling that a bug-free camping park would be quite profitable. Ladies: wouldn't you enjoy the great outdoors sans bugs SO MUCH MORE? Gentlemen: Aren't you tired of your lady's tireless reactions to those buggers? I hereby give anyone permission to capitalize on this idea.Yadda, yadda, you don't have to tell me this isn't feasible or disruptive to the environment.

Next I propose a hat with a bug net entirely around it. But not just a practical bug-net hat thing--make it fashionable! Please note: drawing below is by no means what I regard to as stylish. I just have no artistic talent:

Ah! I just did a Google search. Surprisingly, one such hat does exist. Behold the Delux Spring Ring Head Net. Make this hot pink and I’ll consider it ;)

Laughable Pho

2010-05-18T09:42:00.003-05:00

I ate at Big Bowl last night. I eat there once every couple of months, just long enough to forget why I hadn't been back sooner. Afterward I always remember why... Big Bowl isn't very good. Can’t blame them for lacking in quality and authenticity, this is what probably suits the palates of their primary audience best. And it works, Big Bowl customers eat it right up…

At Big Bowl I ordered what was labeled “Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup (Pho)” -- oh, pho at Big Bowl? What eventually came out resembled pho enough, but in taste? Big Bowl's "pho" is literally chicken stock with a few pieces of rice noodles and basil thrown in there. You look at it and you have to chuckle a little.

Farmer's Market Pasta

2010-05-09T16:26:00.003-05:00

I made dinner last night. After the car accident and a horrible and terrible and awful experience at Namaste Cafe in Uptown, it was so nice to come home and make a dish that actually tasted good. The only thing that didn't come from the farmer's market was the pasta and the balsamic vinegar, so I named this Farmer's Market Pasta.

Ingredients:
Some olive oil
Some shallots
Little bit of garlic, crushed
Asparagus
Splash of balsamic vinegar
Tomatoes
Spinach
Basil
Cooked pasta

Naan Naan Naan Naan

2010-05-06T09:00:00.001-05:00

I'm always on a quest to find the best [insert latest thing I'm into]. Lately I've been craving naan, especially when I'm eating Mediterranean food (Emily's Labanese Deli, Marina's Grill & Deli). Instead, Mediterranean food is paired with pita-ish flatbread (which is still good, but not naan). Fortunately, naan is a staple at any Indian restaurant and I love Indian food too...

Down the street from work is this little Indian restaurant called Jewel of India. I would argue that buffet style is the best way to enjoy Indian food. Prior to buffet style awesomeness, I was always ordering unappetizing, mysterious, and disappointing entrees. No disrespect but I honestly still don't know the name of any of the dishes I enjoy via the Indian buffet line.... except naan. Naan yum yum.

So here we are... A challenge to find a naan that beats the naan at Jewel of India. I'll update this as I go:

Great India in Brooklyn Center -

Verdict: The naan tastes and looks like thick French crêpes. It isn't a naan that can stand on its own but has a decent and subtle flavor.
Cost: Four orders of naan bread came to $8.XX
Naan rating: 6 on a scale of 1 to 10

Curry Up in Maple Grove -

Verdict: The naan is similar to that of Great India and yet so bland. So disappointing! There was no sweetness, no flavor, no saltiness.
Cost: Two orders of this came to $6.XX
Naan rating: 4 on a scale of 1 to 10

Open to naan recommendations :)

I'm anti-promiscuity

2010-05-03T23:57:00.000-05:00

I'm tired of loose and easy men and women... I just think promiscuity is the root of so many social issues today. Have your monogamous and pre-marital sex, but stop having unprotected and casual sex!

So serious...

Yeah, I have a bracket

2010-03-26T23:24:00.000-05:00

I participated in March Madness this year as part of this all-the-women-at-the-office-unite-against-the-boys thing. I'm in the red, red, red... I guess I don't really care about any of these teams, I just want who I chose to win to just win. So much to ask?

Litter Bugs

2010-03-17T10:57:00.004-05:00

I hate it when people litter. Look at this picture from last summer…

I was sitting in my car outside of a Target parking lot when the SUV in front of me rolled down their window and very purposefully dropped their empty french fry carton. Ugh! I sat there for a few minutes considering whether I should knock on their window and go, “Hey, you dropped something” and then, I don’t know, throw it in their car? Onto their car? Hand over their litter peacefully? Call them out on it?

And then I thought, OK, the kind of person who would so blatantly litter like that is exactly the kind of person who would punch me in the face. Off I went then…

Happy Monday!

2010-03-01T16:30:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday to all of us... I like my new QuadCamera app. Here's me using my new app at my desk. I like how the vignette effect makes my desk area appear more polished than it really is. On second look, no, it still looks really messy.

{ Concerts }

2010-02-14T23:16:00.002-06:00

There are few artists I truly love seeing live and don't mind seeing over and over again. Here's my list.

The list:
Butch Walker
Justin Nozuka
Gavin Degraw
Switchfoot

Honorable mentions:
Quietdrive
Britney Spears
Backstreet Boys
John Legend

Who I want to see:
Matt Morris
The Fray
Jazmin Sullivan

Wow

2010-02-12T18:22:00.001-06:00

Ideeli, an invite-only shopping community, serves up daily deals from well known brands and designers.. among other stuff. On Tuesday, they'll be featuring these BCBG shoes on sale. GORGEOUS!!! SEXY!!! I WANT!!! Admittedly, I'm not 100% sold-- I prefer heels 3.5'' or shorter... since I have yet to really learn how to walk in high heels.

Tell me you don't love these too..

TCF Bank really sucks. I don't care that you have a partnership with my alma mater.

2010-02-10T13:27:00.000-06:00

I absolutely hate TCF Bank, and so do these hundreds of people over at the TCF SUCKS blog. Tonight, I quit you for good.

The way you move ain't fair you know

2010-02-10T12:52:00.000-06:00

Have you heard Train's new hit "Hey, Soul Sister"? Last week, Butch Walker (a favorite!) tweeted about additional tour dates but linked me to Train's tour dates page. Butch Walker and the Black Widows will be touring with Train, alright, cool, I'd see a Train show just to see Butch Walker. Nevermind the fact that I've already seen him four or five times... Nevermind the fact that I don't really like Train... I skimmed the list for a Minneapolis stop to no avail. Oh well... I decided to listen to tracks from Train's new album Save Me, San Fransisco while I'm there anyway and then loooved "Hey, Soul Sister." I thought to myself, "I really hope this doesn't become a single."

No such luck. Now I'm already tired of it.

To each their own!

2010-01-24T23:02:00.002-06:00

MMMMM!!!!

2010-01-24T21:46:00.001-06:00

TV Season

2010-01-18T08:51:00.001-06:00

For a long, long time the only television I would watch on a regular basis were original CSI reruns on Spike TV. I actually really hate being into a show. I think what I really dislike is the commitment in returning each week and the sheer suspense of it all. I've mentioned this before but I love spoilers! Except in books.. If possible, I'd want to know complete plot summaries of all of the shows and movies I will ever watch.

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvcccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc,

Right, OK. That's where I fell asleep. Will update this later.

The Food Network pulled me out of vegetarianism

2010-01-10T01:26:00.001-06:00

I'm no longer a vegetarian but I do feel guilty any time I eat meat. Oh, I was a vegetarian for seven years and just started eating meat again recently. Chickens and pigs have a place in my heart. I'd have them as pets if I could and if they would behave! With chicken, I don't like the taste anyway and I don't like the texture. And with pigs, isn't it a little weird to eat what is considered the third most intelligent animal? I guess the only time I don't think about the meat that I am eating is when I have it with spaghetti!

I don't know what else I can share about my adventures in vegetarianism. My friends placed bets on how long I would last. I'm pretty sure they all lost..being in the three to six months range and all. I went through a time where my hair would fall off in clumps in the shower. I quickly packed up on protein to recover. Being an avid fan of The Food Network, cooking, eating and various cooking blogs helped me to finally cross the line. I had a boring vegetarian life, nothing to write about!

I think I'm still deciding if meat is for me.

My "This is one of my favorite songs ever!" playlist

2010-01-06T00:52:00.002-06:00

Enjoy! I'd like to revise this playlist soon but for now it has been untouched in months or maybe an entire year. I love each and every one of these songs.

Wait a minute...

2010-01-03T23:02:00.000-06:00

Just had a birthday and this is what I get. LOL.

Cooking on New Years Day

2010-01-01T21:26:00.002-06:00

Who got stuck babysitting young siblings and even younger cousins all day today? Me! Oh well, good day to make STUFF and get help from eager and tiny helpers!

Homemade burger buns:

Chocolate and white chocolate truffles:

Almond & fig cookies:

Avatar

2009-12-31T02:35:00.000-06:00

This is not a proper movie review and definitely contains spoilers.

I saw Avatar in 3D at the Great Clips IMAX Theatre this Christmas weekend with good friends. In the interest of not wasting anyone's time I will assume you know know the premise of the film so I won't even bother. Here's the semi-spoiler part-- if you've seen the trailer, specifically the extended trailer, then you've essentially seen the entire movie. This summer when Avatar was merely internet buzz (for me) I watched a short, vague trailer that did not pique my interest in any way. Beyond that, I had never seen official Avatar previews before seeing the movie and I'm glad that's how it went down. This is unlike me, I LOVE movie and TV spoilers (but not book spoilers).

As credits rolled, we shared initial reactions. I think the consensus I get from people is, "It's pretty good but..." so here are mine:

It's pretty good...

but I was uncomfortable with humans losing and dying in the alien vs. human battle
but I hated the concept and taunting of turning against one's race. For example, "Hey Jake, how does it feel to turn against your own race?"
but there was a disconnect between the two worlds for me. Pandora was beautiful but too magical. I follow that the main character is controlling his Na'Vi avatar when he's in his tanning bad device but I also needed to remind myself he's not actually dreaming, he's the heart, mind, and soul of a physical Na'Vi avatar

Those were some of my major issues. Despite not liking Avatar as much as I wanted and expected to, I still find myself asking questions about it, dreaming about it, and listening to the soundtrack which effectively brings me back to memories of the movie. It's weird. I usually hate movies. At the end of the day, I say bravo! I was thoroughly entertained and highly recommend it.

I bought the album-only soundtrack on iTunes! I usually hate album-only albums and don't buy them out of spite.... this time I really wanted the "I See You" theme song by Leona Lewis and loved the musical score. Did it. Loving it. Watch the "I See You" music video!

ACTUALLY....

2009-12-28T08:57:00.000-06:00

I make pretty decent

Spaghetti
Caesar dressing
Banana chocolate chip muffins
Smoked salmon BLT sandwich
Coconut curry soup
Rice (lol)
Lemon-dill cream cheese spread
Clam chowder
Creole ranch dip
Chocolate truffles

'Tis the life of a very untalented but ambitious lover of The Food Network/cooking blogs

2009-12-27T23:28:00.000-06:00

FRIDAY:
Haphazard chocolate Mousse. Kinda gross...
Vegetable soup. Not good.

SATURDAY:
Crock pot concoction. Threw together stuff to make a white chili/regular chili mixture. It was weird.

SUNDAY:
Almond & fig cookies. Semi-fail. They're mostly burnt.
Cheesecake. For sure fail. I added 1 cup of sugar when the recipe actually called for 1 1/4 cups and boy did it make all the difference. I think this cheesecake might actually be slightly salty!

It's annoying to constantly make bad food..

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T17:39:00.000-06:00

Christmas was fun, Birthday was good. What a busy couple of weeks it has been. I hope you and your family are well. I hope those who are serving overseas are enjoying their company and are feeling loved. I hope we get to hear more good news than bad in 2010. I hope to see more good friends this coming year -- I know I will. And I hope to meet even more amazing people..

Do not underestimate the power of this spaghetti sauce

2009-12-14T19:46:00.004-06:00

Mmm.. Cub Foods carry this Arrabiata spaghetti sauce by Culinary Circle that is absolutely perfect spaghetti sauce made with San Marzano tomato. According to Wikipedia, San Marzano tomatoes are are considered by many chefs to be the best sauce tomatoes in the world. Arrabiata is basically spicy spaghetti sauce. I haven't tried many of the products that this private label carries but I reach for this in the sauce aisle everytime now. It's easy to miss and you wonder why you should buy from this obscure brand for $3.97 a pop as opposed to $1.47 for that Ragú on sale. Just do it! There's a good amount of heat in this sauce. Not for wussies. But so light, sweet, and tasty. Oh and San Marzano tomatoes are the only tomatoes approved for Neapolitan style pizzas. That means Punch Pizza uses this stuff and that's good in my book.

Hm.

2009-12-03T08:55:00.003-06:00

What are you supposed to be able to do with this bra?

Rapists don't deserve your friendship. Only your cold shoulder.

2009-11-08T17:23:00.004-06:00

What would you do if you found out a guy you've been dating was a rapist? What if you found out your teammate was rapist? A friend's friend? You should dump them, you should not be friendly with them, you should not continue to be in their company.

Some people like to make a case for compassion (aka excuses). When it comes to something as serious as rape, I have no room for it. A rapist is a rapist is a rapist and they don't deserve your friendship or compassion.

It worries me that people I know put forth no effort to disassociate themselves from people like that. It angers me too. In recent news, a group of ten to twenty people watched or jeered on as five or six men raped a fifteen year old girl for hours in Richmond, California. Of course the two situations are different.... by a lot... I won't even get into how this compares in my mind.

Some people like to mock that I highlight depressing, negative things on my blog. I like to think I'm just a realist.

Shows I'm watching

2009-11-02T08:18:00.004-06:00

Modern Family on ABC - I'm only one episode in, but it's hilarious.
Flash Forward on ABC - I've seen all of the episodes online only, so I still don't know what time it's on.
Three Rivers on CBS - Hunky doctors keeps it interesting. Did I say hunky? Yes I did.

Shows I'm looking forward to:
V on ABC - I like Elizabeth Mitchell
LOST on ABC - Last season of LOST starts early 2010

I have nothing to say..

2009-11-01T14:59:00.005-06:00

or rather, I have too many things to say that people don't want to hear. I hate that I can't write about what I really want to write about. I have friends, clients, coworkers, acquaintances who may not share the same perspective and values that I do. I blogged all throughout college without regard to these audiences... then again the content of my blogs were mindless, impartial, and unprovoking.

I started writing in a journal when I was fifteen and went through more than ten journals in my personal journal career. Writing by hand in journals might be old-school, but may be best for me to circle back to the beginning, eh?

Skip the Political Correctness

2009-09-12T20:53:00.009-05:00

Ever so conveniently, the first two incidents I mention here have been taken off of the web so I only have my memory to work from.

A few months ago, a pregnant woman was raped by a stranger who snuck in to her house and the incident was reported by the Star Tribune (Strib). In the article, a description of the neighborhood, the address, perp's clothing, height, and build (gray hoodie, tall, medium built) was described. But no race? I just wanted to die! ARE YOU SERIOUS, STRIB?! Anyone can fit that description! Thanks for nothing. I was so angry I fumed and I ranted and almost wrote a letter to the editor. If the perp's clothing, height, and build could be recalled, SURELY his race was recognized -- or at least his skin tone, voice --something! Please! To be fair, that piece of information might have been withheld in the police report for some reason, I just don't know. And if so, that's where my anger should have been directed at, still, I fault the Strib for failing to address it at all (for example, "Race was not cited").

In the same week or maybe the next week, I saw a Strib article about the same pregnant woman. She had been raped TWICE by the SAME guy! He had snuck in to her house again! A new description of the perp was reported, like red shoes or something -- something that was blatantly different than the first description and still, NO RACE. This time I did write a letter of discontent to the editor...I was composed but I was pissed! What if someone knew him and knew what he wore that day? What if someone saw this rapist in their neighborhood but wasn't sure? What if? It's so disappointing and I'm so sad this happened to this woman. Twice. I'm making assumptions that his race was omitted on purpose but I'm sticking to it. I mean, is there any other reason other than trying to be politically correct about it? I'm not a journalist, how should I know...

That was months ago, so what sparked this post? The Strib reported earlier today on "a group of five young men on bicycles" whose ages range from 15 to 20 years assaulting two Macalaster students on campus and trying to steal an iPod off of another man. Though this crime isn't as serious as the above, again I think, "No race?" Clearly, the three incidents were reported and independent of each other. I very confidently assume more detailed descriptions of the group is available.

While I do realize the implications of always describing suspects by race, I think we need forgo all the political correctness clutter and just get to the facts. Yes, I kinda do feel entitled to that information. We deserve to protect our self and loved ones as best we can.

Bitter about Bikers

2009-09-11T08:54:00.004-05:00

I've never posted the blog below for public view.... but in light of this morning's almost-killed-a-biker-because-he-blatantly-and-even-casually-ran-a-red-light-like-a-jerk incident, I feel it is necessary! Am I bitter about bikers who break the law? Hell yes I am. I'm so tired of bikers not following the law, whether they be motorcyclists or regular cyclists because both are guilty beyond belief.

Bike death in the city - May 21, 2009

Whenever bike accidents happen, bikers are quick to demonize motorists and motorists are quick to throw the blame back. I personally know many avid bike riders so I never express my opinion that… most bikers annoy me!

Based on my experience, I’d guesstimate that less than 50 percent of bicyclists actually know and follow bike rules. The motorist/bicyclist mantra is “Share the road” not “Hog the road” folks! Ride your bike in the same direction as traffic! Obey stop signs and traffic lights like you’re supposed to. YES, you need to yield to my car if I have the right of way. And lastly, ride in a predictable manner; If you zig-zag around and do all sorts of crazy shit in front of and around my car, I (as a witness, I hope) will have very little remorse when you get hit.

Motorists are plenty guilty and plenty reckless. Truly, I feel for bicyclists. Some do it for the love of biking and some do it out of necessity but either way, biking in the city is dangerous and I got that, I got that, I got that. Once, when I lived on campus, I was super late for a test and decided to ride my sister’s bike to class instead of walking. I was an awful biker and I knew it. Because I value my life, I will never again ride a bike in the city unless I’m confident that I understand bike safety rules. I don’t trust motorists when I’m on a bike and I hardly trust myself as a motorist around bikes.

With the death of another bicyclist yesterday morning, I’m going to start being extra cautious of bikers. I’d hate to have that on my conscious and I would be lying if I said I have never had a close call! As a typical motorist I will defend what happened by saying the bicyclist came out of nowhere, riding in the opposite direction of traffic while I was taking a left turn! It was as scary for me as it might have been for her!

Be safe, kids! For safety tips: http://bicyclesafe.com/

Insults

2009-07-12T22:43:00.006-05:00

At home, my parents don't swear and if you're in high school or under you can't swear. Everyone else has liberties... but they're considered accidents ("Stop being such an ass. I mean, oops. Don't say that").

So at least ten times I day I hear......

"Sylvie, Linda called me a hobo!"
"Sylvie, Selina said the S word!" (the S word is stupid)
"Sylvie, Erica keeps calling me a fat boy!"
"Sylvie, Virginia told me to shut up!"

It's funny to hear what they'll come up with. It's annoying when they call my cell just to rat each other out. I wish they'd just get along... eh, but then who did at that age?

This would be a picture of all of the Thao sisters

D-bags and Real Life vs. Online Identities

2009-03-28T17:22:00.008-05:00

I generally don't like talking about relationships on this blog. It recently occurred to me, however, how scared I am of ending up with a douchebag. A douche bag! A very douchey man! I can't stand it... And I should be afraid, as I have known, met, and dated many a douchebags in my life. But then this got me thinking....

I'm perpetually annoyed and disgusted by commenters all over the internet world, whether it's about breaking news, politics or celebrity gossip. People are hateful, ignorant, and rude...gosh darn, I just hate meanies! But what if...what if I end up with an internet troll? How would I ever know and how could I ever know?

Blah blah blah.. shall I do a Part II? I started and I'm tired.

It's 35% Dustin Dribble's fault I am writing this post

2009-02-20T04:37:00.008-06:00

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A Manhattan jury awarded $2.33 million to a man who lost his leg after drunkenly stumbling onto the path of an oncoming subway train.
Click for CNN article

Personal responshiblizerabilitiez...wha? I almost didn't believe what I was reading in this article, one could mistake it for a piece straight out of page 4 in The Onion next to an ad for sexy singles in Minneapolis! That's how ridiculous I think it is! I listen to KDWB in the morning while I get ready for work and every now and then they'll play this satirical clip of how nothing is ever your fault. Like the clip, the decision by this (stupid) Manhattan jury screams: when bad things happen in your drunken stupor IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. I actually sympathize with the driver who was in heat for mistaking Dustin I'm-so-drunk Dribble for an inert object. While drunk I've lost my keys, lost my cell phone, have gotten hungover, have made really expensive transactions...who's fault is that and who can I sue? I don't have anything more to say except... I think itz stoopid.

Chimpanzeecist

2009-02-18T00:42:00.009-06:00

I'm a big hater of chimps. If someone asked me, "Sylvie, what animal do you absolutely hate the most?" I would say, "Chimps, of course!" ...as previously posted here and here...

You may have heard about the story this week about Travis the chimp who was shot to death by police after attacking a policeman after being stabbed with a butcher knife by its owner after it attacked and mauled her friend. Why, why, why was this wild animal being kept as a pretend domesticated pet? They smell, they're ugly, they're mean, they eat babies, they have enough force to chew your nose off and rip out your testicles... I just don't get people's facination with this creature.

All I know is…if a chimp ever ate or attacked my baby there is no telling how ape shit I’m getting!!!!!! (Yuh, really bad use of pun sorry)

Updated picture:

TCF Woes... Again

2009-02-16T00:59:00.005-06:00

Inspired by my TCF rant, my nosy 10-year old sister Selina decided to create a follow up comic of her own. I should really be more careful about what I blog here, eh?

It's not done if you can't tell. She's run out of motivation to wrap it up so I may as well share it. I have no idea where this comic was going... also, this is already so much better than mine!

Never gonna give you up...

2009-02-08T16:28:00.004-06:00

I will get this dance down! Love the Rick Astley song!

Not too shabby..

2009-02-01T23:42:00.003-06:00

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you about my other blog! I called it Fleeting Ambitions because my ambitions are exactly that: fleeting. I lack commitment to just about anything I sign myself up for. I was hoping this blog would encourage me to stick with it, whatever 'it' is, even if I'm no good at it.

I uploaded a picture of my most recent painting called UnCool Hearts OnCool. My sister tells me it's not too shabby for someone with no artistic ability. That pretty much sums it up... :D

About Chimps.

2009-01-19T17:21:00.003-06:00

I think men who hit women are pathetic.

2009-01-18T22:40:00.005-06:00

A man shouldn't even hit the woman hitting his woman. A good man would pull his woman away from danger! Also, a good man would discourage his woman from drinking too much, particularly if she is known to take a few swings at strangers while intoxicated for entirely unfounded reasons. And if a man can't do that, he could at least remind her to put her hair in a bun! Cause long hair is so fun to pull...

My sister just told me this ridiculous story about getting into a fist fight a few weeks ago. The above is the long story short of what happened. Sis felt compelled to get involved as soon as the chick's boyfriend decided, instead of pulling her back, to take a swing at another girl. I left out the part where his buddies pulled out a knife after the fight for show, hollerin' something to the effect of "That's right little girls, run away." Pathetic. I'd cut my own balls off if I was that lame.

Violent drunks annoy me.

Who's that band that I always listen to?..

2009-01-15T17:41:00.006-06:00

I can’t figure out to move my work iTunes downloads and uploads to my laptop. It reminds me of how much I hated it when my computer would crash in college. Computer wipes out, you lose all your data…forget old papers and syllabuses and browser bookmarks…what about ALL those songs you legally and illegally downloaded?!?! I’ve rebuilt my music library from scratch too many times to count. Each subsequent effort is like, ‘Where do I start? What DID I listen to? I don’t even know who I am anymore!’

OK, not actually that dramatic.

Click to enlarge!

Carmine = ground up red beetles/beetle eggs

2009-01-08T13:22:00.007-06:00

Wha.... I can't even tell you how repulsed I was to learn about carmine yesterday. Carmine is listed as a natural (red dye) ingredient in yogurt, candy, drinks, even make up (er!)...and made entirely of ground up beetles and their eggs. Puke bag, please! This is deceitful in my opinion. Ingredients lists should read:

Ingredients:
Water, fructose corn syrup, natural strawberry juice concentrate, potassium, beetles, corn starch, etc..

Cheers?

CSI: For Warrick

2009-01-08T02:46:00.004-06:00

When I was in San Fransisco last week, my friend Ahlam told me about a free TV/movie/video clips service thing called Veoh. It resurfaced again in my Marie Claire magazine so I thought I would give it a go.

A couple CSI: Crime Scene Investigation re-runs ago, I watched the season finale of Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan's character) get framed for a murder and eventually shot in the neck by a mole in his own department. Tonight, I finally saw the follow up episode--a season premiere with a focus on the heartbreak and the shock of Warrick's death. In reality, Gary was likely killed off due to his stint with da coke, among other drugs. Mm, mm, no good kids! Either way, I write to confess that I cried nearly the entire 44 minutes of the episode. It was sooo, so sad!

I love the orginial CSI team. Grissom is so smart.

TCF Bank sucks, sucks, suck-O

2009-01-07T18:15:00.004-06:00

If only TCF Banks weren't so physically convenient... My relationship with TCF Bank is like an abusive relationship you can't get away from. I'll spare details...

I came across this page: www.tcfbank.us. I would encourage anyone with a horror story to post their story. I'd probably hate every bank I ever bank with though :/

Hate and resent towards a financial institution doesn't always result from irresponsibility. Just thought I'd point that out. Well, any suggestions?

(Click to enlarge!)

Me saw the ocean today!

2009-01-04T04:49:00.005-06:00

And it made me very happy.

About Asian Food

2009-01-02T23:57:00.006-06:00

I hate Korean food...
I don't like Chinese food..
But I love Vietnamese, Indian, Filipino, Thai, and Japanese food.

Also, service at most Asian restaurants suck. NOT a generalization, it's true! I would like to take this opportunity to call out a restaurant in Minneapolis in particular: Hong Kong Noodles on Washington on the east bank of the UofM campus. Suck-O! It's a horrible experience every single time (20+) and trust this, it's never my choice.

I have just returned from a Korean restaurant in California for the second time since I got here. Julie looooves this place. I'm resentful I used up space in my tummy for this. A bit.. so I decided to blog it. Sorry.

I would make an awesome...

2009-01-02T14:17:00.006-06:00

Conehead.

Troll?

Alien!

Be Quiet, Chick!

2008-12-31T18:12:00.005-06:00

Day Two of my trip to Cali... back at the old, old, old, old house! Our old backyard is still full of chickens and I, of course, wanted to hold all the chicks! I only managed to catch one and it didn't like it very much...

Have a safe and happy New Year!

2008-12-28T23:35:00.004-06:00

Click to view larger image.

Big Day!

2008-12-24T18:50:00.003-06:00

Thank you for all the birthday wishes today! At least 3 people have referred to me as an old lady already. At twenty four! :) Merry Holidays to you and yours!

New Blog!

2008-12-21T21:25:00.005-06:00

Let's see where this goes.... www.fleetingambitions.blogspot.com

Happy Holidays

2008-12-21T18:14:00.005-06:00

Artwork by Selina Thao
Scribbles and mistletoe by Sylvie Thao

Rap/R&B/Hip Hop Playlist

2008-12-15T15:43:00.002-06:00

Here’s a spotlight on my Rap/R&B/Hip Hop playlist from www.Playlist.com. I dedicate very little thought and effort to ‘em but I am love, love, lovin’ Jazmin Sullivan these days so I hope you take the time to enjoy it also.

Why?

2008-12-10T15:46:00.003-06:00

Someone please tell me why you would ever allow a random male babysitter you found on Craigslist to watch over your kids. I just don't understand. Sexist or unfair? Just reality. I’m not letting girls and women off the hook either. We’ve seen that little darlings 'doing nothing more than peforming duties' of their job, too, are capable of doing awful things. I just wish people were good. I don’t understand.

Cinnamon Rolls Update

2008-12-09T17:17:00.005-06:00

I'm going to make some tonight! Easy peasy.
Thanks Pioneer Woman! I love that blog as much as 101 Cookbooks.
..................................................................................................................

Blerr...it was messy but tasty. Patience and TV is required! I mixed the dough up with a slightly chipped wooden spoon and whaddayaknow, I got some wood in my cinnamon rolls. Just a little bit. By the time I realized it, more than half of the rolls were already gone. And I didn't get any complaints so...

Reminds me of the time I made lemon bars with salt...and how I always burn cookies no matter what...

I'm going to use this recipe for caramel rolls. Mmmm.

Not a Whopper Virgin - The Aftermath

2008-12-09T16:57:00.005-06:00

(4:49:28 PM) Sylvie: http://www.whoppervirgins.com/
(4:52:01 PM) Sylvie: its kinda boring actually (so far)
(4:53:11 PM) Joe: it makes me want a whopper
(4:53:40 PM) Sylvie: yeah, they're Hmong!
(4:53:47 PM) Sylvie: I heard them say "it's so big" in Hmong
(4:53:55 PM) Joe: that's what she said.
(4:54:02 PM) Sylvie: ..
(4:54:45 PM) Sylvie: on the other hand
(4:55:01 PM) Sylvie: some of them are dressed Hmong are not speaking Hmong!
(4:55:10 PM) Joe: weird
(4:56:01 PM) Sylvie: LOL
(4:56:08 PM) Sylvie: a guy said I like seal meat better
(4:56:24 PM) Sylvie: ohhh the credits say The hmong of baan
(4:56:29 PM) Sylvie: and some other tribes too
(4:56:36 PM) Sylvie: i wasnt losin my mind
(4:56:44 PM) Joe: interesting
(4:57:21 PM) Joe: the inuit
(4:57:22 PM) Joe: interestin
(4:57:37 PM) Joe: they showed how they made whoppers fresh
(4:57:41 PM) Joe: but how'd they do that for the big macs?
(4:57:52 PM) Sylvie: who knows..
(4:58:09 PM) Joe: so, I'm really hungry now and I think I can swallow
(4:58:56 PM) Sylvie: also, that's what she said

Puppyternity Leave

2008-12-06T09:33:00.004-06:00

Can you take maternity leave for a new puppy?

Pics taken off the interwebs..

Not a Whopper Virgin

2008-11-30T21:14:00.010-06:00

I saw a commercial this evening for what is essentially the ultimate taste test between The Whopper and the Big Mac. The website asks the question, "Whopper or Big Mac? The Whopper virgins will decide." If you go to the website, you'll get the gist of the commercial. No YouTube video(s) at blog time. I can't offer much perspective but I bet a Yaybia lady is already kicking out a new entry about it. For me, I'm interested because I have a personal curiosity about who exactly the remote people in Thailand are. Hmong? A different hill tribe in Thailand?

The campaign is already generating some buzz. Will it really be the "most amazing and blog-worthy advertising campaign of all time" as claimed by Burger King? or, uh, just offend some? I don't think the potential heritage connection really takes me away from the campaign's goals! I'm still intrigued, I'm talking about it, and I kinda want a veggie burger.

I always laugh so hard @ Engrishfunny.com

2008-11-30T11:20:00.004-06:00

Sunday?

2008-11-29T18:39:00.002-06:00

I logged onto the Post Secret blog twice today disappointed.

Oh, it's only Saturday!

I like..

2008-11-26T15:51:00.005-06:00

"Shattered Glass" off the new Britney Spears album Circus
Fat Tire beer
Oberon beer
www.engrishfunny.com

2008-11-25T16:15:00.004-06:00

I mean seriously.. sit tight while I cut your nuts off, sir.

Awful story.

LOL.

2008-11-19T07:35:00.001-06:00

www.hotchickswithdouchebags.com

I want...

2008-11-17T16:19:00.007-06:00

The truth is I would hardly wear em.

I bet I placed 12th

2008-11-17T09:18:00.002-06:00

Digg's Top 11 Lamest Blogs

I’ll see the new James Bond movie

2008-11-17T08:29:00.004-06:00

Simply because I think Olga Kurylenko is hot.

OK, OK, OK, OK, OK...

2008-11-17T08:01:00.003-06:00

Enough with the harassment...

The Nigerian Scam

2008-11-13T12:50:00.006-06:00

First, I call this post ‘The Nigerian Scam’ simply because that’s what they're called.

I was disrupted at work today with an out of area phone call on my cell by a man with a foreign accent about some ‘package’ to be delivered to my house worth $1.4 million. I said, “Err… I’m not interested, thanks” and hung up. Duh, scamarama! I’ve seen plenty of the likes in my inbox before, but my cell? Oh boy. He immediately called me back with a LOCAL number and proceeded to give me the same intro along with verifying my first, middle, last name, and home address. Oh shit. Now I’m listening. I tell him, “I’m not interested, I have no idea what you’re talking about, I can’t understand you” blah blah. So then the guy offers to have me talk to the CEO of his company, I say “sure” hoping I might actually understand what in the world is going on. At that point, I almost believed that I might owe them a package of some sort via eBay via my brother who sometimes uses my account. But, I was unsure and thus I agreed. Immediately I’m addressed by yet another man with yet another thick accent who is saying the same damn thing. Now I’m getting peeved. I say, “WHAT are you talking about? I don’t want the package, I’m not interested, do NOT call me back.” The man pauses and says, “Why are you acting like this? There is a package that you claimed for $1.4 million dol—“

“Why Am I acting like this?! Why are you calling me?! Do not call me back.” I know, useless but I got him to hang up on me. Why the story? I don’t know, I guess I can’t believe he would ask me why I was acting that way. As if a package worth $1.4 million was legit! Also, the entry will likely get indexed and maybe some unsuspecting and curious individual will realize how dopey this deal is.

Speaking of scams, freecreditreport.com is NOT the same thing as www.annualcreditreport.com. Personally, I think it’s an offense to even own a domain that dupes consumers into believing their service is free. The true ‘free’ credit report website is www.annualcreditreport.com. The downside? No credit score is given. Enjoy!

Blush

2008-11-12T15:14:00.003-06:00

Shear Genius for hair lovers, Project Runway for fashion fanatics, Hell’s Kitchen for foodies. And now?! Blush, a new reality TV competition show for make up junkies. I knew a show like this would be here sooner or later. It premiered last night on Lifetime though I didn’t watch it nor do I feel compelled to on a regular basis. If it’s anything like Project Runway or America’s Next Top Model though... mm…got me.

What an idiot!

2008-11-11T13:23:00.004-06:00

MN Daily link
Star Tribune link

Why did the Strib disable comments for this story? Maybe because 1) the story has elements of race which is very sensitive (not that it has ever stopped them or the Pioneer Press) and 2) people would be calling for the girl to get stoned for being so stupid. It would do the U good to kick her out of school. Sorry, I don’t feel bad about that either!

Truth

2008-11-10T22:24:00.006-06:00

I happen to think this is a damn good piece. I'm far from being a journalist (very far!) but I did graduate from the U of M School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Be objective, be ethical, seek truth, doo doo do...how should I know what a journalism education is like? I majored in PR. Yeah, well, I've always expressed disdain for fluff news too.

There is a cynical quote by Mark Twain that goes something like "If you don't read the news you're uninformed. If you do you're misinformed." Mr. Twain could not have been more right. Sigh and sigh, we all just want the truth...

oiukljaklhdfihmajklfhuyaysui?!

2008-11-10T15:30:00.010-06:00

Frodo, one of Jane Goodall's precious chimpanzee stole a 14 month old baby and ate it in 2002. I'll spare you the details. It wasn't put down??! You've got to be shitting me!!! No, I do not have any remorse for what I just said! The chimp went on to receive medical care after it got sick, was known to be extremely violent, and was protected by Tanzania's Gombe National Park where 'it' resided. Worse, he is famous in the chimp world.. just look him up.

Chimps are not fucking extinct animals. This is not the first case of human infants getting kidnapped and devoured either. I AM FUMING! Blerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrafadfadfafda!

**Update**
So it seems they are going extinct in 3 or 4 countries. Good!

(I probably should not blog so irrationally)

Ew

2008-11-08T19:53:00.002-06:00

The fetus-looking, white blobbity, tail end of the yolk always creep me out.

Favorite Foods

2008-11-07T16:40:00.002-06:00

Pita
Salsa
Sushi
Pizza
Seafood
Hummus
Punch Pizza
Bamboo rice
Pepper Jack cheese
Green curry done right
Cheesecake done right
Sharp cheddar cheese
Strawberry/Fruit Mentos
Golden Delicious apples
Vegetable spring rolls, not to be confused with egg rolls

We're on the Golden Train

2008-10-03T12:53:00.008-05:00

Justin Nozuka MySpace
Justin Nozuka PlayList.com songs

I love garlic.

2008-09-19T11:04:00.002-05:00

Why does it have to be so pungent? So clingy on skin, clothes, and breath? I’ve started rubbing garlic on foods/oiled pans or throwing in whole cloves (and then throwing them away) in my cooking but it’s just not the same.

Also loooove...green onions, chive, cilantro, and basil. I love basil so much...

Bitches get stitches..

2008-08-24T20:48:00.003-05:00

Listen.

Raise your hand if you're going through a quarter-life crisis!

2008-08-09T19:34:00.003-05:00

Olympics opening ceremony

2008-08-09T16:10:00.003-05:00

was boring!

...*

2008-07-01T11:48:00.003-05:00

How many men were in involved in this incident? How can you watch this happen, participate, and still call yourself a man? I’d love nothing more than to personally castrate people like this for a living.

Read the story.

*I apologize about the offensive language yesterday!

My sisters..

2008-06-27T18:43:00.008-05:00

I wish I had boobies like them.

What I'm listening to (Part II)

2008-06-24T18:53:00.006-05:00

(Click on the titles to listen!)

Cold as you – Taylor Swift

Read my mind – The Killers

Afterlife – Avenged Seven Fold

Someday (Hi Bias mix) – Britney Spears (Internet Explorer only?)

Shake it – Metro Station

Kelsey – Metro Station

I wanna be- Chris Brown

Goodnight Gravity – Falling up

I don't get it...

2008-06-11T14:07:00.008-05:00

Is a site required to carry the Joomla! icon simply because they use it? I think not. I've been seeing it around so much lately and I'm getting peeved.. You'd think a producer, designer, or programmer would catch this, eh? The responsibility falls on us to catch those things for our clients :)

The site below is for a luxury home builder in the area. The site wasn't done by us.

Check out wiki for how to deal with favicons.

Do-do-doop

2008-06-11T11:58:00.003-05:00

You know me, I love acoustic covers. I’ve searched for good acoustic covers of “Always be my baby” by Mariah Carey, among other favorites. The best I could find just over a month ago was this. There were literally less than 5 out there at the time. Then I took a break for a while.

After David Cook’s rendition exploded last month, so did the covers…

I’m not a fan of David Cook. I don’t really know why.

Just sayin'

Please stand up.

2008-06-03T13:20:00.001-05:00

May I have your attention please?
May I have your attention please?
Will a real presidential candidate please stand up?
I repeat will a real presidential candidate please stand up?
We're going to have a problem here.

What I'm listening to (Part I)

2008-05-17T20:13:00.007-05:00

(Click on the titles to listen! It's so easy!)
I Say a little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
Sweet and Low -Augustana
I'm Scared - Duffy
Makin' Love - Amos Lee
Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight - Amos Lee
Everywhere I go - Katharine McPhee
Neglected - Katharine McPhee
Sweet Valium High - Charlotte Sometimes

We're always wanting..

2008-05-16T18:45:00.002-05:00

More, more, more, MORE!

New reading list.

2008-05-11T22:06:00.007-05:00

I'm interested in creating a new reading list..everything at the bookstore today caught my eye.

First-Finish/skim though The World is Flat (Holy crap E.L. I still have this?)
Then--Finish The Undercover Economist
And---Catch up on some choice publications (Glamour, Cosmo, Jane, Allure, etc..) ;)

I should actually catch up on current events :(

........................................

What to read next? Recommendations? Here's what I have so far:
The Septembers of Shiraz
More.
More..
Help...

Eh..

2008-05-11T22:02:00.001-05:00

Some people change and that's that. Some people grow apart and that's that.

Yeah!

2008-05-06T16:10:00.003-05:00

I am loving Gavin DeGraw’s second album. Gavin, we have waited so, so long for it.

Red

2008-05-02T23:07:00.004-05:00

Red will be playing at The Rock nightclub July 4th... anyone down for this? I actually really love their music. I especially like "Already Over"... check it.

Click for Acoustic Version
Click for Regular Version