Portobello and red pepper sammich with a salad....quite tasty.

Pizza w/Yukon Gold Potatoes & Carmalized onions

This is my friend's recipe...and it's damn delicious... Please try!!  (Pics coming soon!!)

Makes one 12 inch pizza that
Ingredients:
1 package of pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's) removed from your fridge and let sit for 20 min
1 to 2 large or 2-3 small yukon gold potatoes
1 small to medium onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup (or more) of daiya mozarella cheese
1 small bag of arugula rinsed
olive oil
salt

First preheat your oven to 350 degrees. If you have a pizza stone pop it in the oven to let it preheat as well. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. With a mandolin or sharp knife slice your yukon potatoes into about 1/8 inch rounds (aka pretty thin). Toss the potatoes and garlic in about 2 tablespoons olive oil on the parchment paper, sprinkle with salt, and put into the oven for 20 min flipping them over at the halfway point.

While the potatoes are roasting, halve and thinly slice the onion. Put them in a small skillet on the stove set to med-med/high heat with a splash of olive oil. You want to caramelize the onions so stir them every so often until they turn a glistening brown. Once done remove them from the heat.

Flour your working surface and roll out your pizza dough into a 12 inch circle. Once the potatoes are done cooking take them and the pizza stone out of the oven. Transfer the dough onto the pizza dough and brush the dough with a little olive oil. Lay out the onions evenly on top of the dough and cover them with the potatoes in one even layer making sure to get the garlic pieces from the baking sheet as well (those are tasty!). Finally top the potatoes with the daiya cheese (use as much or as little as you want).

Cook the pizza for 10-12 minutes. Ours took 12 maybe a couple more cause our oven sucks. When you remove the pizza from the oven top it with the arugula and dig in!

Being sick has been quite annoying.  It seems every other week, I'm down with a fever and unable to do anything.  Yesterday, I was in bed all day with a fever that barely broke last night.  Today, I came back to work only to be sent home again.

With me, I've taken all kinds of paperwork with me.  Notes from our retreat, board meeting, lab orders, reimbursements...It's going to be a long Friday.


So now that I'm sick, I'm unable to do my blood tests and my 24-hour urine collection...again.  I want to be fit, and healthy so when the committee reviews the results, there will be no doubt that I am fit for donation.  Nothing hurts me more than putting our lives (mine and my aunt's) in other peoples' hands, and just.... waiting.  I appreciate that they are taking my well-being so seriously, but I feel that my aunt's health should have more priority at the moment.  She will eventually die if she doesn't get this kidney, and I will continue living with a "what-if" that will forever haunt me.

It wasn't until recent years that I've learned how much my family means to me.  Up until recently, there was nothing I would just give my life up for.  Now, I know, I'd suffer a thousand deaths before my family feels pain...well some family members (we can't like them all that much can we?)

If I could wish on a shooting star, find a 4-leaf clover, throw a coin into a wishing well...all I'd ask for on this Earth Day/Good Friday...is by the end of the summer, to be able to donate and save my aunt.

Now listening to: GLEE - Get it Right

Yes, Leona.  We've all been there, love.

What's even better is that this is the official song for Final Fantasy XIII, and I love the trailer! I'm a huge nerd for graphics, and cgi.  This is top notch.

Young lady.  Beautiful voice.  Perfection.
Adele, you sing to my soul.

Her new album 21 is amazing

Pain motivates me...others' pain...

So, I'm back into MMA training.  Currently, I work with the guys 3x a week, and do yoga and gym on the offsetting days.

As I was at the gym today, after my sparring session...I was watching two ladies work out.  Both Asian, one chubbier, the other skinnier.  The chubby Asian, let's call her "Fluffy" and the skinny one "Screech".  Fluffy is over there doing some leg lifts, and Screech is completely appalled at the gym equipment and it's sanitation.  Apparently both are going through some sort of boot-camp w/my sparring trainer's partner. 

So as I'm warming up, watching Fluffy and Screech out and about...the trainer goes to Fluffy and has her to do some squats.  Now squats aren't my favorite either, but I can do them without a fuss.  Ol' Fluffy over here is turning a shade of pinkish-red that I think I've only sFluffy very aware of where her trainer is at all times, making sure his back is always turned when she's resting.   Screech is doing some ab-work on the floor.  She makes a high pitched squeal that...I've probably only heard on some sort of Predators show on National Geographic, I wasn't aware humans could make that sound. 

Now, I'm no spring chicken, nor am I in my best form.  However... watching these two in what seems to be immense pain and agony, it motivates me to push myself harder...to be better.  I probably had one of the best work-outs of my life thanks to Fluffy and Screech.  I hope to see them again...

Online Dating

This article from CNN regarding online dating...so true...Though, I've never tried it...it's things like this that steer me clear from virtual courtship.

I was thinking...I should cut my hair again....but...how should it look??  These are my hairstyles for the past 2 years...what do you think?

Nice and long, during fall of 2009...ish. 

Blondish/golden at the end, dark chocolate color on top.

Then I chopped it late 2009/early 2010

Short in the back, longer in the front, red panels on a violet/burgandy.

Summer 2010

As it grew out, I had it colored back to dark brown with heavy blond highlights.

Then later Summer of 2010, I colored chunks of platinum blond in the front and the sides, the rest was colored dark dark brown.  The layers were super choppy so if I put my hair back, it looked really short.

 Fall of 2010, I colored all the platinum blond to PURPLE (hands down still my favorite) and the rest of my hair was colored black.  It looked blue under fluorescent lights, but in natural lighting it was purple :)

But alas, purple does fade.  So now, my hair is back to black, and I have longer bangs. 

What's my best look? Should I keep the bangs?  Color them purple? Decisions, decisions...

Remember when working out was easy?  yea I don't either.  First day back on the mat today, and I'm 90% sure I died a little bit.  At least I didn't throw up :)  Coach said he was impressed, but I think he said that to make me feel better.

How you suffered for your sanity...

Of all the versions of this song, I LOVE Julio Iglesias' version the most (yes Enrique's father).  And of course, Vincent Van Gough's work is phe-nom.

  This video covers it all- Happiness... it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. - Vincent Van Gough

 

The Oatmeal - Annoying Facebookers

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

My boy, Monty...always the light of my life.  He always did something that cracked me up.  Miss him so dearly.


Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

  My grandma.  This woman had an incredible life.  There were legends in our family of her exploits as an opium dealer for the Americans in Vietnam.  I also heard she killed someone, but we wont get into that.  She was our matriarch and quite eccentric.   If I could go back in time, I'd love to meet my grandma at 25 :)

Food then fear

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Me & my brother at Fogo de Chao (if you've never tried it, I highly recommend it for meat lovers).  This was back when I ate meat :)  Brazilian bbq like you've never had it before! SO damn good!  Makes me want to go back to eating meat haha.

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

 

 'nuff said...gave me the creeps to even post this pic :-/

Fighting Ignorance...and I'm no Hero

My transplant coordinator has gotten my chart back after all the work-ups, scans and tests.  Right now, we're waiting for someone to read my CTU scan-apparently there's only 2 doctors in the whole of UCLA that can read these scans for kidney donations.  This...may take a while.  But so far, everything looks good and I'm healthy.

So what's the problem?  I have some pretty toxic family members.  I'm not entirely sure why, they're telling my aunt that she's selfish and thoughtless.  There is nothing selfish about wanting to live.  She has never asked me to do this for her, I offered.  I want this more than anything.  No, I'm not trying to be a hero, but sometimes, life asks you to rise above and beyond yourself and do something for another.  Why don't they understand that she is dying, and this will save her life??

Here's my aunt's email to me today, after I told her what my transplant coordinator said:

"Oh wow...that was quick.  How do you feel?  Are you nervous or scared?  If you're still not sure then just take your time.  I don't want you to rush if you are not comfortable.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Audrey.  Your gesture is wonderful enough and makes me  wish I didn't have this problem so you don't have to sacrifice so much.  So give it some thought OK?  I don't want people to judge me if I receive the kidney from you.  Some have already said that I'm selfish and thoughtless but I just hope you're OK and happy to go through it. "

She does not deserve this.  How dare someone call her selfish?  This was my response to her, I had to do a lot of editing, my original letter had many more curses...

"How do I feel?  I feel great, a little fat, but great nonetheless.  I'm a little nervous, and a little scared...mostly I have nightmares about getting an ugly scar but I think that will pass.  I'm actually trying to rush...just a little bit, the sooner I get this done, the more healed I'll be for my birthday (that's my own selfish, thoughtlessness). 

All jokes aside-  To be absolutely honest, this is the easiest decision I've ever made, and I've never been so sure about anything.  I've given it a lot of thought, and I'm so fortunate to have a great support group of friends, family and co-workers.  What hurts me the most is that people that should be supporting us, are putting us down.   Please don't let them get to you.  Don't feel selfish, there's nothing selfish about wanting to be healthy.  You never asked me for anything, I offered.  It's my body, I'll do what I want with it...I wonder why anyone is surprised by this considering all the tattoos and nonsense I do to myself. 

This is the way I see it....this as an opportunity for a better life (for both of us), not a sacrifice.  People are going to judge you, always and forever...they'll judge you about the house you buy, the car you drive, the clothes you wear, how many kidneys you have, your haircut...NONE of it matters.   They judge others because their own lives are severely lacking in purpose and happiness.   People like that can't see past their own tragic existence, and I feel sorry for them...so sorry that they will never experience life the way you and I will- (be happy you don't live in their world.)  We'll both be judged by everyone, but you know in your heart of hearts that we're not doing anything wrong.   Remember what's important- we have some pretty amazing people in our lives that do support us and love us no matter what.  It's time for us to find out who really cares for us and who really cares about how we make them look.

I don't take this decision lightly, but it was an easy one to make.  I'm more than happy to go through hell and back a thousand times for anyone I care about.  I know I'm young, and I know not many young people get to give something away, and come out the other side with more appreciation for life and love.  Negativity is toxic, and we don't need it...especially now.  Just keep your thoughts light and happy.  I can't promise this will be over soon, or that life will get easier.  But life will be better!!  Love you so much!  Don't worry about me, judgMENTAL people don't bother me"

Hollywood, Reptiles, Ikea??

Day 25 - A picture of your day

Today my friends and I went to the Reptile Zoo in Fountain Valley :)  We fed meal worms to some red ear sliders and some large...I don't know what they're called fish.

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

My family.  Period.  My nephews mean the world to me.  I would do anything for them <3

9-11, never forget.

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

 I wish there was something I could do...all those people... The aftermath was...awful.  My friends and their dogs...trekking through the rubble looking for cadavers.  What a painful thing to go through.