Mt. Pilchuck

I've been wanting to go on a Family Hike/Camping trip after we climbed Mt. Whitney but since then we've had moves, track meets, holidays and more. It has been over two years since we were in Cali climbing that mountain with our good friends. So I was delighted to be able to finally take an adventure with Raul, Sug and Wilson. It only took us three and a half hours round trip but it was perfect. Wilson was solid the whole way...even better than me.

After our glorious summit, we camped in a local campground about 8 miles from the trail head. We slept four to a two person tent and even though we didn't freeze I think I only slept about three hours. It was a little cramped. Anyway, glad we went, had fun and I really want to do a back packing trip up by Wonderland Trail.

Cheers to Goals for September 1st 2010

Hey Ya'll....Alright, I had a talk with my lovely boyfriend about having a five year plan, this does not mean a five year plan of frying wings at the local Hooters. I liked the idea and I feel it is going to be a project of mine.

With the five year plan, I get nervous because I feel like the possibilities are endless and it is only up to me on what I want to do and who I want to join me on the journey. Even though I'm not quite ready to start my five year plan workbook, I thought a new fall resolution was a good start. Technically it gives you enough time to plan some great goals and then it is immediate enough to satisfy the Freudian "Id" in us.

With that mouth full of gibberish being said, I advise ya'll to set some goals for yourself. They could be anything from weight loss to finances. Make your deadline right before the holidays(or Jan 1). Here is the cool thing...then you can do another set of resolution goals in January. It is a pretty sweet deal if I don't say so myself.

I think too many times we talk about what we will do tomorrow...and as the great Garth Brooks says, "Tomorrow Never Comes." So make it a September goal. I plan to get somethings in order. I want to make some extra money on the side, which might entail my own business. I want to establish a better group of girl friends up in Seattle.

So...write it out, put it up somewhere where you will see it everyday. Good luck and hope you are enjoying your summer.

Next up(Steeling from Katie): Mt. Pilchuck Hike-First family Summit!...hopefully with pictures.

I just can't stop and a little bit of ass fat

Since we have been in Idaho, we have had Mexican food almost every single day. Don't get me wrong, I love it and I just can't stop! We (me and my accomplice, Raul) went on a Mexican food spree of eating it for lunch, dinner, and snack time. As much as I love the Latin love of frejoles and queso, I don't love the ass fat that it comes with.

"What do you mean by Ass fat, Audra?"

Ass Fat (noun): It is the soft little bit of fluff that rides along the cheek that connects to the top of the leg. It doesn't see much sunlight but for some reason the Mexican food heads straight there before anywhere else.

This is how I think the conversation goes every time we have an encounter.

Mexican Food,"Hola Audra, we would love to live in your body, we know you would welcome us, because we taste so good, salsa-guacamole and all."(In the sexy Antonio Banderas voice)

Audra:"Of course, MF, I welcome you with open arms plus you could just live in my body and live vicariously through my ass fat."

MF: "What a great idea and opportunity for us to be together forever."

Audra: "Absolutely, just as long as you keep tasting so good."

Can't you see my dilemma of not being able to stop the MF from turning into ass fat! Yeah, and lunges and squats are not getting rid of it either, bc MF just keeps coming back around trying to get back to its favorite form in my body, ass fat.

I just can't stop the ass fat!

Magic 7's for all man kind

If you check out my comments from my last post, the Asian porn stars made another appearance. I'm actually now more accepting of the Asian porn comments. Either one, they don't care and have no idea what I'm posting which in return means that they continue to market their outrageous porn product, or two (which makes me laugh)have answered with a "Thanks Audra for the post, however we feel that your blog is spectacular and really enjoy reading it. You are our favorite American blog girl. Since we love your blog so much we wanted to make it apart of our website and hope that you enjoy our comments about Asian porn."

So anyway, I do not want to go to a private blog so I hope that it doesn't offend anyone. And if it does, just think of them as really nice people who love to read my blog.

On to another...wonderful subject.

I feel like my "cheap ass" shopping skill are very tactical, frugal yet purposeful. My bargain shopping has opened up an addiction that I have no control over. As we all know there is lots of money in Seattle. It is a very trendy city and Nordstrom couture crowds the streets with handbags, jeans, jewelry and lifestyle. And once these pieces of clothing or accessories are no longer needed for that individual they are tossed out and donated to a magical place. "Audra, that is called Goodwill or Salvation Army, I donate all the time, just yesterday I cleaned out my closet and sent some old sweatshirts and valentine's day socks to St. Vincent De'Paul."

Ladies and maybe the one gentleman that reads this blog, I am talking about a place where in each rack, hangs designer everything. Banana Republic, J Crew, Patagonia, The North Face. But the most exciting thing that awaits in this what the locals call "GoodWill on the Ave" are designer jeans. Everything from Joe's, Paper Denim, Citizens of Humanity, to the Magic 7's for all man kind. These jeans wrap around your body like a glove. They hold everything in place, like the ass fat, and make your butt look "Fergalicous". Here is the very best part about my affair with this place. My wallet is not ever compromised. Last week, where I found my new favorite pair (by the way, no holes, no tears, zipper and belt loops attached) of 7's with some fancy dancy rhinestones, I only paid $24. And it gets even better. Every time I go....and I mean every time, I find unlimited amounts of my magical jeans that are practically new. Well at least new to me.

I told Raul yesterday that I am so satisfied with being a clothing hunter at thrift stores and Goodwill's. I do such a great job with finding fantastic stuff. And to top it all off...I look at it as my contribution to being Green!

Hope you all have a fantastic day.

Audra....out.

Question for the Blog World

Yo!
If you go down to my comments and take a gander, you will find some interesting information. There have been several posts from anonymous authors in Chinese/Japanese, some kind of Asian communication.

Well, I thought it would be interesting to find out what was being commented on my blog. Maybe some nice lady in Korea, reads my blog and wanted to say, "Oh thanks Audra, your blog posts always make my day, and I just enjoy reading about your interesting stories." I couldn't have been more wrong. I copied and pasted the hopeful sweet comments from my unidentified Korean lady, to google translations. Hmmm....what a surprise my sweet little lady turned into a conglomeration of Asian porn discussion.

WTF! I'm really not interested in Asian porn to be honest and I'm really not interested in it being on my comments. So my question to you all in the blog world: How the Hell do you turn the sweet Korean/dominatrix comments off?

Fillet o' Fish

I just attempted the unthinkable..well actually not really, I just didn't think it was something that I would ever do. I filleted a fish.

Seriously...it was kind of hard. This sucka had all of his bones intact. I did the stupid thing by naming him, Jose. Spanish names always come to mind when I am naming things. I guess I just like the way it rolls off the tongue...Jose!

Thank goodness he was organless, that would have been an adventure in itself. As I attempted to cut him in half, I hit bone...back bone to be exact.

As usual...I panic.

The Internet is so fantastic when it comes to crises. I had a little help from Salmon University...."Your complete Saltwater Fishing Resource." It was step by step instructions on how to take Jose Fish to Jose Fillet. Fish are very interesting. The outside layer (scales/skin) is very tough but when you cut inside the meat part is very delicate and can be easily mangled.

So...back to cutting Jose. I proceed to slice him in two. Then I take one side of him, turn him over and cut right along the back bone. It was pretty spectacular. Once I turned him over, I had separated backbone and ribs and had a nice slice of salmon heaven.

Now the other side...got a little carried away. I tried to de-rib him and found myself getting a little "cut happy." I ended up salvaging what I could and ended up with a beautiful fillet and a half.

I'm actually really happy that I attempted that. It gave me new appreciation for the profession of meat cutters. Here's to you, butcher/fish monger: Thank you for taking the bones out of these tasteful creature to make our lives less stressful.

Happy Birthday Grandma Esther. I miss you everyday.

Audra...out!

Blog Lost

I've never been sure how I've wanted this blog to go. At first it was just a great way to tell the cyber world how I was doing. Which hasn't been too exciting. Then it became a place where I let out frustrations and filled the page with messages from the heart. Then I had ideas of attaching a health and fitness blog on top of that. I have failed miserably.

My blog is lame! My summer project will be posting at least three times a week on RANDOMNESS. This gives me lots of range to post whatever. It may be about relationships, work, aging, just randomness. Get the defibrillator and stand back, I'm hoping that this will shock me back into the blog world and get me back to writing, which I do love.

I want to talk about my most recent obsession with Brandi Carlile. A native folk/new age singer from Seattle who stole my heart the moment her video was released on Grey's Anatomy. I fell hard for "The Story" and was immediately a fan, this past Christmas I was gifted with her entire album collection. Every song takes me somewhere different. If you have a chance you tube The Story.