A Cure for Run Procrastination. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Crunchies.

 

 

 

 

This happens to a lot of my clothes.  I don't know why or how - although lifting the bike in and out of the car four or five times a week could have something to do with it.   

Even if there were extra money to spend on new clothes all the time, I'd still have a problem. 

I hate shopping. 

I just like to have stuff.  I don't like to buy stuff.

I don't even like shopping for fun stuff.  Like a new bike.

I have finally come to terms with selling my road bike. 

Yes, I'll get right on that as soon as I sell some of this old furniture and my old hardtail.  Thank goodness the new furniture is picked out.  That was an ordeal!  Lord help me when I have to decide on a rug!  But a new bike - that's actually tougher.  So many choices.  

Popeye and I do spend more time on our bikes than we do on the couch.  And, truthfully, most good bikes cost about five times what a new sofa cost. 

 

So you can imagine the decision.  Or the indecision, rather.

I have the perfect 29r and it's not dead.  Not yet, anyway.  Last week it's computer rolled over to 10,000. 

Considering the computer only works about two thirds of the time...  So, retirement time is coming.  It will be an awesome back-up bike.  

But... oh no, not shopping.

So what to do? 

Procrastinate, of course. 

Meanwhile, there's plenty of other endeavors around here that are coming up on the already-procrastinated-long-enough list.

Running:  The Dirthead Du is coming up fast.  Dec 7, just two weeks away.  Um.  Time to start running, maybe?

Blog posts:  Five sitting in draft over the last few weeks.  Zero published.  But I do have a new idea about that.  For later, of course.

Thanksgiving. Christmas. Boat Parade:  Truthfully it had crossed my mind this year that by now I should at least be thinking about the holidays.  

So yikes,  I gotta go.  But before I do, I wanted to rave about one last thing.  Some cookies I suckered for at Publix last week. 

Now it's been since last Christmas since I surrendered my soul to any cookie other than the occasional Oreo, but these called directly to me from their eye level rack at the end of the cat food aisle.  (No, one doesn't have to be anywhere near the cookie aisle.  Yes, Publix can be downright demonic that way.) 

These devilish concoctions were called "cookie chips", and they were awesomely chocolaty and super awesomely crunchy.  They were also over $4.00 for a six ounce bag! 

Ouch.  Do NOT do that again.

Instead - do this.  Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Crunchies. 

I've got mine in the freezer as future protection from the demonic store bought bag o' cookie-chips.   The plan is to enjoy one or two per session instead of an entire $4 bag.  Well, assuming the end of any run procrastination, anyway.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Crunchies

3/4 c. butter 
1 1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. water
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 c. rolled oats
1 c. choc chips
1 c. dried fruit and/or nuts.  I used dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds, just because that's what I had.  Apricots, or even raisins, could be good too.

Cream butter and brown sugar in mixer bowl until light and fluffy.
Add egg, water, and vanilla; beat well.
Combine flour, soda, and salt; stir into creamed mixture.
Stir in oats, fruit/nuts, and choc chips.

For about 2 dozen large cookies, drop by the tablespoonful onto parchment covered cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely. 

(Not my style, of course, but you can always drop by the teaspoonful for about 5 dozen small cookies.)

Now, forget about the carrot at the end of the stick. 

Get.  Run.  Shoes.  On. 

And get going!

There's a cookie in it for ya.