Grinding Away

I'm still looking for work, but I can't say I'm terribly excited by the jobs I've been finding. Lots of jobs exist, but I'm not qualified for most. The few that I am, I'm overqualified for, and they have terrible hours. I registered at yet another temp agency. I'm hoping they might have something for me that isn't at a call centre. God, I hate call centres. They are the devil. I also applied for flier delivery. It's a walking position. I like walking. Hell, I *love* walking. They want someone who walks briskly. That's me. I'm not much for moseying. Nope. So I'd get paid to get exercise and listen to my music. Sounds pretty decent. I hope they call me back.

EDIT: It looks like I have the walker job. I start on Thursday.

Link time!

Steampunk Mr. Potato Head: I hate anthropomorphic tubers. This is the fuel of nightmares for me.

Russians urged to smoke, drink more: Wow.

Charles Darwin's ecological experiment on Ascension isle: The world's first experiment in terraforming.

The Spoon Theory: An excellent metaphor for explaining life with chronic pain.

M. Knit Shyamalan: Terrifying balaclava knitting projects.

The Most Influential SF Movie Never Made: A fascinating article about a project that brought together some of the biggest names in science fiction film.

Mesa family grows food in swimming pool: "Do you have an abandoned swimming pool that you just don't know what to do with? One family in Mesa, Ariz., decided to turn theirs into an organic greenhouse in their backyard."

Cherpumple "Monster" Pie Cake - New Test Kitchen Video!: I'm intrigued and disgusted, all at the same time.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies: I'm going to tinker with this recipe and make it my own. At least, that's what I want to do this afternoon.

Chocolate Chip and Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Chocolate Chip and Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

I tweaked a recipe found on Martha Stewart's webpage to make these. They are delicious.

Recipe yields about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

* 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (I used the kind with cracked flax seeds in it)
* 1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp whole wheat flour
* 1/4 cup ground flax meal
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup packed Demerara sugar
* 1 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1/2 cups raisins
* 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together oats, flour, wheat germ, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Mix butter and sugars in another bowl until pale and fluffy. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Add oat mixture; mix until just combined. Mix in chocolate chips and raisins.
2. Drop balls of dough (about 1.5" in diameter) onto baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly.
3. Bake until golden and just set, about 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks using a spatula; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.

Ten Things About Me

1. I've assisted in a few animal births: cats, a dog, and a goat.
2. You know that pressure point right around hip level on the outside edge of your leg? I don't have it. Multiple martial artists in a variety of styles have tried to find it (a painful experience, after all the hits), and it is unanimous. I don't have it. The rest of the pressure points appear intact, though.
3. I'd rather sit on my ass than work out, but I feel much better for having exercised than I do for having sat on my ass.
4. I didn't have a birthday party until I turned 25.
5. I am very difficult to offend, but acts of misandry will almost always get my goat.
6. I was in school every year on at least a part-time basis for seventeen years.
7. I used to have a mullet.
8. I love to make pies, but I hate to make pastry.
9. I am almost an inch shorter now than when I was in high school.
10. I spent this morning listening to lectures on ancient Greek history.