At my job, we have "buyers" who decide what to buy for our store. They often create things in the system with a placeholder name -- not really putting much effort into the name, because they know that my team will most likely rename it in the end. (And they're right.)

But still, is there any excuse for naming something "Lend a Hand Pants"?

So many comments spring to mind...
 ... "you don't need to lend me a hand, honey, these are Velcro"
 ... "is that your hand, or...."
 ... "those pants have landed in the wrong hands"
 ... "if only I had someone to lend me a hand with these pants..."

:-P

Turns out the design features owls interspersed with handprints and textblocks reading "Lend a Hand" and "Care for the Land." Sort of like "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute."

( ... "give a hoot if you want to lend me a hand with my pants" ... )

We also sell Christmas cards called "Santa's Nuthatch." Because the card shows Santa, and, erm, a "nuthatch" on his shoulder. (It's a bird, people! A bird!)

So, my job, essentially, is selling things online. We get a sample of something, we write copy about it and photograph it, put it up on the website and sell it, and make lots of money. (That's the theory, anyway.)

Over the past three years we have sold literally thousands of different things. And for most of them, we still have the original sample.

( Read more... )

162) I missed a day or two there. Turns out that I didn't get the job. At least, that's what I assume from the fact that they haven't called me, and they said that the decision would be made last Thursday afternoon.

I feel that it would have been polite to give me a call and tell me so-- the hiring manager said he would call me that afternoon-- but my boyfriend explained that in the business world, once they've decided not to hire you, it would be a waste of their time to call.

I think that's too bad. Politeness is politeness, even if it would be "a waste of their time."

Ah, well. Life continues on, and so does the job hunt. I learned a few valuable things from this particular round. I will continue sending out resumes. If nothing happens by Wednesday, I will go to the temp agency on Thursday, after my friend Limoncello gets back from Illinois.

Nothing makes one feel nicer than fresh-baked cookies. Here are a couple more to help you all through your respective disappointments... we can all make a batch and eat them together and know that we're in good company!

5: Peanut Butter Cookies 

• 2 and 1/2 cups flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening 
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar 
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy style

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together onto a large piece of waxed paper, and set aside (carefully!). Beat butter, shortening, and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in peanut butter.

Add the flour mixture, 1/3 at a time, and beat in. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, to firm up.

Shape dough into balls about 1 inch in diameter and place on a lightly greased baking sheet, about 3 inches apart from each other. (Not too close or they'll run together and you'll get peanut butter bars.) Using the tines of a fork that has been dipped in flour, flatten the balls, leaving a crisscross pattern on the cookies. (This is the fun part!)

Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes, until slightly firm. Color will not change too much. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Makes about 5 dozen.