Belive it or not, I live.... it's been some busy months but hopefuly I'll be writing again sometime soon and updating even ;)

Echo

Got tired of the job hunt thing which is depressing so went to an employment agency. I know they take a chunk of the $$ but wanted an in with some companies and some non-Air Force resume stuff.

So Weds I went in with my resume for an interview with the employment agency... didn't get to the interview. They looked at my resume and I started a 5-10 week job for a big test writing agency as a technical beta reader today. Pay is about 2/3 of what I'd take minimun long term, but this company has a habit of converting people they like into full time employees working directly for them... and by the end of the day they had extended my job through the end of August if I want to keep it lol. That was after I worked the fact I was gay into the conversation with my supervisor in the first 30 min.

So all excited and happy now... really mellow place too. 8 hour days, well 8.5 with the minimum 30 min lunch but I can get there anytime between 7:15/8:30 am eveyr day and take a long lunch as long as 8 hours are done by 7pm.

-Echo

Erm, so I totally re-did a recipe to the point that it does not resemble the original at all, but it turned out REALLY good so thought I'd post it here ;)

-2 cups black beans, cook covered over low/medium heat for 1 hour
-Drain beans and return to pot over medium heat with 2 cups hot water and 1 can chicken stock
-In a frying pan cook 5lbs diced chicken in 3 tablespoons olive oil season with salt/pepper/cumin/paprika/and a PINCH of cayanne pepper, after 5 min transfer chicken to beans with slotted spoon
-In same frying pan cook 3 sliced and crosscut onions for 3 min before removing with slotted spoon
-In same pan cook one leek cut lengthwise then into 1/2 inch slices for 3 min before removing with slotted spoon
-In same pan cook 8oz mushrooms sliced for 3 min before removing with slotted spoon
-Large dice one big turnip and cook in the pan, spicing with salt/pepper and adding a little olive oil to almost coat the pieces, cook for 4-5 min before removing with slotted spoon
-Toss 2 bell peppers cut in small strips in the pan to soak up any bits of spice/oil for 1 min before dumping in the big pot
-To the now almost overflowing pot, use a garlic press to crush 8 cloves of garlic in the pot, squeeze the juice of 2 small lemons and 1/3 of 1 small orange in the pot, add one small can of cream of mushroom soup
-Cover and cook at a slow boil over medium heat for 60 min
-Take lid off, test for flavor and re-spice as needed, cook over low/medium heat for 30 min to reduce, check spices again, continue reducing until it's the right consistancey for you.

It's set up to get 2 pans, 1 spoon, 1 knife, one garlic press, and one strainer dirty. Once you start on the chicken, everything cooks in sequence as you prep it.. only about 20 min real in the kitchen time. Makes 10-15 servings.

New picture of me for an Icon here... I like using pictures of myself don't I lol. Just got back from the gym and weigh-in. Lost another 2.25lbs this week and dropped 1% bodyfat (closing in on the excellent catagory for body fat instead of good). Not as big a drop as last week, but still good enough for me.

Current story beta is still in the 'one final check' phase and Creed and I have not started the SG1 story. Almost all my fault. I just have not been inspired the few times we were on at the same time this week and not already busy. But I promise to do better this week.

Just 3 more weeks to the start of the final season of Queer as Folk. Not nearly as into it as I was when it started, but still looking forward to it. Not sure if I'll keep Showtime when it's over... that and Dead Like Me were the reasons I had Showtime... ditto HBO when the final season of 6 Feet Under is over...

And now I must shower, eat, clean, wash, etc.

-Echo

Current Music: Matt Alber - Stand

Lol, if I'd update more often these might be more focused.

1) The Serenity Trailer is OUT and wow it looks good. Go watch it and drool.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/

2) The painting of the house is coming along. Just have the front door and trim to do then it's on to the eves before paining the 3 sides that are not brick.

3) Let's hear it for the gym. Decided I needed to get in better shape so 6 days a week doing cardio in the gym and no more soda. Between the weigh in at the end of week 1 and week 2 I lost 3.25lbs! Hopefully I can average 3lbs a week. Slowing upping the duration of my workouts (this week is walk 10 min, run 7 min, elliptical runner 34 min, run 7 min, walk 10 min.... got knee problems so can't run too much).

4) Working through the beta of mine and Creed's latest. Up next is a short SG1 fic that we need to get started but when we were both on this weekend I was not in a motivated mood. Taking a friend out to dinner tonight and helping another friend move tomorrow so prob no writing until Thurs.

-Echo (2.5 weeks with no soda... I WANT a coke damn it lol)

Pentagon Supports Repeal Of Sodomy Law
by Doreen Brandt 365Gay.com Washington Bureau

Posted: April 21, 2005 2:03 pm ET

(Washington) The Pentagon has recommended repeal of the military's ban on consensual sodomy, Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Under military law, consensual sodomy by heterosexuals as well as same-sex couples can be punished by up to a five year prison sentence.... http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/04/042105military.htm

Now I know this actually has very little to with gay's from the Pentagon's point of view but it's definately a step in the right direction. As the law is now, I'm willing to bet over 95% of the military has violated Article 125. Hell, right now, a guy getting a blow job from his WIFE is breaking the law.

Statute: Uniform Code of Military Justice: Article 125:
“(a) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal is guilty of sodomy. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense.
(b) Any person found guilty of sodomy shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

From the Manual for Courts Martial:
Explanation: It is unnatural carnal copulation for a person to take into that person’s mouth or anus the sexual organ of another person or of an animal; or to place that person’s sexual organ in the mouth or anus of another person or of an animal; or to have carnal copulation in any opening of the body, except the sexual parts, with another person; or to have carnal copulation with an animal.

So came back from the gym and ate/crashed out, veggin' in front of the TV. Watched Star Trek and left it on UPN for America's Top Model... wow, it's compelling TV in the 'I can't look away as the train goes off the rails' way.

So everybody look at my pretty new icon. It's a satalite view of my house. Google has a beta of their maps system running now ( http://maps.google.com/ click the satallite button on the right to get the pretty pics) that is pretty cool.

My B-Day was Weds, had a nice dinner with a friend and saw Sahara which was good, but kinda movie lite. Not a lot there really. Inspired I think in pat by my BDay, I'm back in the gym and gave up soda unless I go out. I think the soda withdrawls are driving me to drink huge amounts of water lol. I just keep drinking (and peeing) but water does not satisfy like Coke.

Watched 'Revelations' on NBC. It's actually pretty cool and I'd recommend y'all catch it. NBC/Universal musta spent a lot on it as it's plastered across their networks. 6-episode limited series on NBC Weds at 9/8 central and then re-run on USA/Sci-Fi/Bravo (pilot episode is on USA tonight at 11pm, Bravo Saturday at 6pm, Bravo Sunday at 5pm, NBC Sunday at 9pm, Sci-Fi Sunday at 10pm, Bravo Tuesday at 10pm, Bravo Wednesday at 4pm, NBC Wednesday at 7pm all leading to the new episode NBC Wednesday at 8pm (those times all central so other zones add an hour probably)). Hmmm think they are rerunning the episodes enough???

-Echo

So, been busy around the house the last few days. Decided to put up SolarScreens on four of my windows. The air conditioning bills can get big here in Texas so I figured anything to lower it ya know (two years ago I replaced all my lightbulbs with flouresent which was a nice savings). Anyway, the SolarScreen is a tight weave made of a material that blocks 90% of the sun's heat while only constricting airflow by 30%. Would have been around $450 to get the 4 screens made which was too much so decided to make them myself.

So went to Home Depot and got framing pieces, tension springs, corner connecters, roll of screen material, spline, spline roller, miter box, hack saw... the first one turned out so-so, but the other three look damn nice. Screens are actually fun to make from scratch and supplies were about $120 so a BIG savings.

Of course while doing that I saw all the other work I needed to do. The trim paint job is going to hell and the french doors are just as bad. So today I cleaned and re-caucked the trim and the siding. Put in a few nails were stuff was pulling away. Got the paint and if the forcast looks good tomorrow will start paining whee.

Of course, would not be me without going to Home Depot and getting SOMETHING I didn't plan on. So got a cool detatchable showerhead on sale and installed it today.

And thus ends my recounting of this week in home improvment (so far anyway).

-Echo

Can I just say again how in love I am with 24 this season. The end of the hour tonight was beyond good.

Got all my yard work done today and was trying to find designs for do-it-yourself kitchen islands... if anyone knows of a good site for that, shoot me a link.

-Echo

Was just checking deals online for Queer as Folk S4 and found a deal at bestbuy.com. They got iton pre-order for $75, plus $1.50 for ground shipping. And if you pre-order you get a digital coupon for $20 that you can use at bestbuy.com. Only thing is you get the coupon by email on the 11th and have to use by the 23rd. Still a pretty good deal if any of you are looking for a deal on S4. The deal just just good through April 2nd btw.

-Echo