Thursday, January 31, 2013

Job Hunting.

As I've mentioned before, I've been on the hunt for a job here lately, and I don't mind jumping through some hoops to get the hiring process going. It's always been that way, and there always will be hoops to jump through. What I don't understand, is this whole Internet thing is supposed to make the job search and applying process measurably easier. But, it doesn't. Although you can find most any job online, you have even more hoops to jump through to get your application and resume submitted. I still don't understand why when you send in a resume, they turn around and give you a form to fill out and have you put all the information from your resume onto the application. Seems redundant, and a waste of paper and trees. Also, why do you have to create an account with a company to apply for a job with them. I'm not going to mention any specific company, but I have had to make several accounts with companies, just so I could submit my resume, and fill out their online application, (with the same info that's on my resume) at least it's easier on the trees. And, one company that I had to make an account with, deletes the account after a few months after your last application submission. I understand the need to control the spam for companies, I know how much I get, and I can only imagine how much companies and popular sites get. But, I think that something simpler could be done to make the process of applying for a job online a bit easier on the job hunter. Something like a simple dedicated e-mail with a captcha would go a long way to making things easier for someone looking to work for a given company. The e-mail wouldn't even have to be public, just a common submit link with a hidden e-mail behind it. I filled out an application the other day that took me a little over a hour to fill out. I just think the whole process could and should be easier.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Job Hunting With Coffee

In my current job hunt I have noticed that employeers often want your resume, and then ask you to fill out an application with pretty much the exact same information as you put on your resume. What is the purpose of this redundancy. Some of the forms they want filled out make sense, depending on the job applied for. Those I understand, but it's the general application with name education work history and skills that makes me wonder, why all the hoops?

Monday, January 21, 2013

Slightly Unproductive Weekend.

Well, I didn't get but two of my small projects done this weekend. Although I was busy all weekend, just on other stuff. But, that's how it goes. Got my magazine rack and toilet paper holder done, and I have to say I'm pretty damn pleased with them.

 



Also, during a trip to Walmart. I noticed this sign outside the hair salon there.


 
 
The extra dollar just seems like a waste of a dollar. I think it's a scam. "Hey, I'll take the buzz and wash. When you're through washing my hair, put it in this bag please. I'm saving it for when I go bald so I can hold it and cry."

Friday, January 18, 2013

Not Much To Talk About Lately... But...

Ain't had much going on here lately, mainly some job searching and more job searching. But, it's the weekend so it's time to relax and build things. And, I'm looking forward to getting outside and putting my new saw to work and see what all I can come up with. First thing though, I have to build a damn magazine rack for the bathroom. Leaving them on the back of the toilet or on the floor next to it just ain't working and I'm going to see what kind of roll holder I can incorporate into it to make it dual use and unique. Then to work on getting my bedroom door built, and a couple dog houses, and some end and coffee tables, and maybe a goat hut since my daughter is bringing her new goat home here in about five weeks, after it's weaned. May even start on the cat gym too, just depends on what I can get done. I'll throw some pictures on here when I'm done with what projects I get done this weekend.

One thing I have discovered here recently is a cookie recipe. Nothing fancy really, just basic cookies really. Modified from the back of a chocolate chip bag actually. The interesting part for me is that I had discovered some almonds from Blue Diamond that are wasabi-soy sauce flavored. So, I thought I'd pick up a bag, and unfortunately they didn't have a small bag for a dollar or two so I could just give them a try and not be out much if I didn't like them. Which I didn't care for them much out of the bag just for snacking, but they had a good unique flavor. And, I got to thinking one day after I made some cookies, that they may be good in a cookie. So, back around Christmas time, I conjured up another batch of cookies, but this time I split the dough in half after I got the chocolate chips in, and ground up about a half cup of the wasabi-soy almonds. And, they were damn good. I sent a half dozen to my friends next door and got their opinion on them, and they liked them also. The only thing I didn't like was that you only got a hint of the wasabi and soy sauce flavors, just enough of a hint to know there was something else in them that wasn't normal, but couldn't put your finger on it. And, in the interest of my philosophy of "Try shit twice, you could have been wrong the first time." I made some a few days ago, a whole batch. Well, I actually made two batches of cookies, one batch was half plain 'ol chocolate chip, and half peanut butter chocolate chip (with real peanut butter), and the second batch was the chocolate chip wasabi-soy almonds. I added about an extra quarter to a third of a cup of the almonds, and you could really taste the wasabi and soy sauce flavors in this batch, but it wasn't overwhelming, and I declared them an outstanding success, and they are permanently in my recipe book to be made at a later date.



Also, here's the recipe for the cookies I make.



Just Fuckin' Cookies



2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 sticks butter
¾ c sugar
¾ c brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 lg eggs

Pre-heat oven to 375 deg

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside
Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until creamy and consistent.
Slowly add flour mix, while mixing ingredients.

For individual cookies
Using a regular soup/cereal spoon, spoon cookie dough onto a baking pan/sheet.
Bake 9 - 11 min
Cool on pan for about 2 min, the move to a wire rack.

For a sheet cookie.
Using a 10 X 15 roll pan, spread cookie dough across pan evenly.
Bake 20 – 25 min
Let cool completely in pan

These are just plain 'ol basic cookies that you can make nearly any cookie you want to out of.

You can add any number of things to them after the dough is well mixed. Here's some examples.

2 c Chocolate chips or any candy chips (Cinnamon, Butterscotch, Peanut Butter, etc...)
1 c chopped nuts of your choosing
½ – ¾ c peanut butter
1 – 2 c dried fruit
1 c of crushed hard candies.

One variation I love is, I add the chocolate chips, and a cup of wasabi-soy sauce almonds.
Another is, I make chocolate chip peanut butter cookies.
Also, you can substitute the extract for another flavor, depending on what flavor you're going for.
For example, If you want to impress for Christmas, you can use peppermint extract, or just add
  a cup of crushed peppermint in with the chocolate chips.
Replace the vanilla extract with rum or brandy extract for a new twist on an old favorite.


Thursday, January 10, 2013

Smile, this is the end of the beginning!

Hey there people of the human pursuasion.
You worry, and scare me.
 
Time wasted
Ticks away
Gone
Left
Never to be found
Fading
Fast
Passing us by
Rocket into tomorrow
Blast through today
Taking from yesterday
Giving today
Leavin us behind
Ticks away
Time fading away
Gone
Goodbye
 
 
In the darkest of night, there is no color, shade, nor shadow.

In the end, every thing we do. Is just everything we've done.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Chicken Hut...Finally

Well I finally got the hut part of my chicken coop built yesterday. And, I'm so glad it's done. With the snow and rain we got here Christmas week, and the fact that I have to build outside, I had to wait untill my wood and work area dried out to where I could actually do something with it. Now it's time for the fence panel portion of the build.
 
 
 
 
 Plus, here's some other projects I have done. Built the dog house for my neighbour's Bully Dog. And, the end and coffee tables reside in my living room. Now... If I can only get people interested in buying them.