1. I've decided to be more proactive in what I do. So far the results have been very positive- I've been doing things that are important but not urgent in order to prevent them from becoming urgent.
2. School is going really well- part of that proactivity I mentioned. I've been making sure I get my homework done as soon as possible.
3. Money has been a little tight but as long as I stick to my budget I should be fine. I'm gonna try to save more money on food too. Apparently clipping coupons isn't done anymore- you gotta get them through the web.
4. After talking to several of my fellow classmates who have done their student teaching, it seems I should be able to work part time for Time Warner Cable while doing the student teaching. I was a little afraid that it would be impossible, but after discussing it, it should fit fine as long as my employer is willing.
5. The zombie horde continues to suffer major setbacks, as my friend and I continue to rampage.

Additionally, I've made up my mind about moving. I'm definitely going to move south. Once I have my teaching certification, I will take it to another state that has lower taxes and more freedom.

Live free or die.

1. School has started. The teacher was organized this time.
2. Saw a play on Sunday, "You Can't Take It With You." It was cute, but aside from the two kids seated in the back, I was the youngest one in the audience.
3. Melissa is back home. Her kitties are rejoicing.
4. I donated to my church's Haiti fund. Wow, that felt good.
5. Helped another friend out because she needed it. Money isn't the only thing that can be donated- time is also a precious commodity.

It's a brand new year and it's well on its way. If 2009 was the beta version, then 2010 is going to be the full release. A key skill I've developed in 2009 was my discipline. I have demonstrated to myself my capacity for making a plan and sticking to it. I know I can reach any goal I set my mind to(my diet, my exercise regiment). Discipline also means I have self-control to hold back excessive behavior(World of Warcraft dry for 12 months). I've also learned to be proactive. I couldn't sit and wait for my tasks to be completed on their own, I had to go out and get them done. Finally and just as important, I learned to set those goals with a time frame. To that end, 2010 will be a continuation of sharpening those skills.

By the end of 2010, I will be down to at least 250lbs. I went from 370lbs to 315lbs from July to December, so having a whole year to lose 65lbs more should be doable. My doctor says as I get closer to my trim weight, it'll be harder to lose weight because of my thyroid problem. I will not let it stop me.

By the end of 2010, I will either be working full time or hired full time as a science teacher with my newly obtained teaching certification. This year is the last year of education classes for the certification, so I will endeavor to make every class count.

By the end of 2010, I will have read seven books that I feel are important to my social, psychological, vocational and spiritual development, and those books are: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey, 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller, The Millionaire Next Door and Stop Acting Rich by Thomas J. Stanley, Boundaries by Henry Cloud, More than Enough by Dave Ramsey, and The Bible.

By the end of 2010, I will have made more real-life connections than connections over the internet in order to ground myself with my community. I will do so through my church, my place of employment, and my fellow students at school.

For the summer of 2010, I will have successfully maintained my primary job and a second part time job for the expressed purposes of saving up money for my student teaching. If the money saved is not required then it shall go towards paying off my debt.

By the end of 2010, my debt snowball will be smaller.

So these are my goals for 2010. I have the capacity to complete them- now all I need is the resolve. Additionally, I will make it a point to post at least once a week on this blog, even if it is only to post five positive things that are going on in my life. JR 1.0 installation complete.

Christmas is always special to me because family is special to me. I love Thanksgiving and Halloween is becoming a competitor for that exalted "Favorite Holiday" title, but Christmas is by far my favorite. I love the family, the food, and especially the reason for the season, gifts.

But it's not the receiving of gifts that's so important to me. I have been learning that one of things that is Christ-like is generosity and giving. Christians(and Jews) tithe not because it's a salvation thing, nor does God love tithers more than others. Rather, tithing is to teach us to be givers and be generous with our gifts from God. Christmas to me is a way to emphasize that spirit of giving.

So this year, for the first time I contributed a substantial amount to a charity. This is something I've never done before, and it felt wonderful. At first, I wanted to feel recognition for this act because for me it was something unique in my life. Now I see though that recognition isn't necessary and could detract from the act. It will be enough to note on my blog that I did give, but I won't go through the details.

It was wonderful sending a few gifts to my friends and family, and I hope they liked what I sent them. I also made some delicious snacks and shared it at the Christmas party. Additionally, I spent some time decorating the cubicles at work and many people were impressed by the hard work. I just hope it brightened their day while being there at work.

The next update with include pictures as well as a summary of my winter break plans!

Now that I have all this time on my hands... Yeah right!

I finished my classes with a rush and flurry that I haven't had to experience in a long while. The coursework was not heavy during the year but the execution was the problem. Both teachers had problems keeping the class organized. I liked the professor for my morning class- I learned a great deal. However her lack of organization made the class difficult and I ended up having to write two papers at the end because there was little preparation up to those papers. The teacher was nice and understanding, but her organization needs improvement. In addition, she used a bunch of material from the teacher who taught it previously and it added to the chaos. I hope she rewrites those assignments and makes them her own.

The afternoon class was made more difficult not because the teacher was disorganized, but rather because she was crazy. She would make it a point to name drop some of the more important educators out there. She obsessed over some of our fellow students' facial hair(creepy!) and would change her mind often on how things were graded. There was so much confusion in that class that while I did the work, I'm not sure what grade I'm going to get. She said I would have a "solid A" but then again she's crazy, so that could very well change.

I'm just glad I'm done and I can move on. Next semester I'm taking two classes, one is the next step in my education coursework and another is an online course I need to complete for my dual certification in Social Studies. Hopefully I got good grades but I won't know until Dec. 24th. Early Christmas gift? We'll see.

Update: I just checked my grades, 'A' for both of them. Fantastic!

One of the things I would like to share on this blog are some of my recipes... when I get around to it. However, my sister insisted I post this recent and tasty recipe I picked up from Candi. We're not sure what to call it. Originally, it was "Buffalo Chicken" but the hot sauce is Louisiana-style hot sauce, so there isn't much 'Buffalo' to it. Also, I've switched from using chicken to turkey breast instead. So what should I call it? Louisiana Turkey Fingers? Stripped Mardi Gras Turkey? I have no idea, but its so tasty, you'll like it. Remember, this recipe is adapted from Candi's recipe so all credit goes to her.

What you'll need:
8-10 ounces Louisiana hot sauce
15-20 ounces of chicken or turkey breast meat
2 tsp salt
1.5 cups flour
Cajun seasoning
(For the flour and Cajun seasoning, I used a brand of batter called "House Autry Chicken batter")
Frying pan with .25in of oil on the bottom, or if you've got the equipment, a fat fryer and oil.

Cut your chicken or turkey breast into 2-3 ounce strips(too big and the meat won't cook right). Soak the meat in salt water for 20 minutes, then drain and marinate the meat in the Louisiana hot sauce for 30 minutes, coating it. Mix your flour and seasoning and spread out on a plate. Begin heating your frying pan to medium heat. Once the meat is ready, remove each strip from the marinade and place it in the flour batter until it is coated evenly. Place each strip into the oil and cook until the meat strip is golden brown on each side. I've learned its about 3-5 minutes per side, but that can vary depending on the size and thickness of the piece of meat. It's good to have a meat thermometer handy too!

It really is delicious, hope you guys try it.

Link: http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/mike-osegueda/story/1717495.html

I was reading this article and it got me thinking about how I play video games, especially multiplayer games. These days its mostly Left4Dead/2 but my thoughts apply to World of Warcraft and other games as well.

The author was playing the game with his wife and found that it was frustrating when they were playing like they would when playing the game alone. This lead to some frustrating moments. However, when they filled roles that each of them were good at/enjoyed the most, they were playing much better.

When I played L4D(and now L4D2), I noticed that we went through a similar situation. Each of us would get frustrated when each of us were going off and doing what we wanted. However, in L4D, we learned what role we liked and were good at and stuck to it. Then the sessions got much easier and we got much better as players. MJ lagged behind in this area but now that I've read this article, it makes sense.

Now that we're playing L4D2, we're still figuring out the new items and weapons so we're still figuring out how we play and what we like. Already I can see the roles being filled.

Candi is the generalist- mass zombie death is her thing. Whether its a well-played pipe bomb or a chainsaw frenzy, she's really good at mowing down the zombies. At first I was jealous of the numbers she was putting up but now that I understand my role it's just fine.

MJ is the long-shot killer. He's great at killing witches from a distance, and clearing out the far-off shot. However, he has to get better at protecting his teammates.

I'm the protector of the group. I feel a need to knock that jockey off or hunt down the smoker to protect my teammates. I'm right behind Candi or MJ protecting their back. I think I fill this role pretty well. There's a new weapon in the game, the grenade launcher, which I really enjoy but if I'm going to be able to keep using it I have to get better at it- sometimes it explodes a little too close and if we go up to normal that would hurt.

I think once we learn the dynamics of the game more we'll fit into our roles better and become better players. For now, we follow Candi's trail of zombie corpses and try to keep the special zombies away.

I figured I'd give everyone an update on how my workout has been going. First, I've decided to erase the final weightloss goal. Since I don't know how low I can actually get to, I've decided a final weight is unrealistic. Rather, I'm going to keep to my diet plan and just keep losing until I plateau. Whatever that point is, is where I'll stop and then from there consider the skin surgery. Since I'm still losing, I've still got plenty of time before that comes up.

Suffice it to say, I still set mini-goals. A previous mini-goal was 320lbs by Oct. 23rd(the day of my Virginia trip), and while I didn't quite reach it on that day, I did reach it by the following Sunday. For now, I'm working on getting under 300lbs by January 1st.

I separate my workout into 3 exercises on the five days I get to the gym.

Walking(3.5mph) - I have scaled back a little bit because of time. I walk between 2-3 miles a day for each day of the workout instead of the usual 4 miles. Walking takes a lot of time and while the exercise is worth it, I am still pressed for time because of my classes and work.

Bench Press/Upright Press(3 sets of 10 repetitions)- I started doing this when I started going to the gym at the start of September. At the beginning, my bench press was 80lbs and now I'm up to 120lbs. The upright press I started at 60lbs and now I'm up to 90lbs.

Abdominal/Extension(5 sets of 10) - These two machines does the work that a single sit-up provides. However, sit-ups are painful without ample padding so I use the machines. On the abdominal I started at 60lbs, and now I'm up to 120lbs. On the back extension I started at 210lbs and now I'm up to 335lbs- however I can do a lot more and the machine's weight limit is maxed.

So there you have it. I don't believe my workout contributes to the weightloss as much as my own diet and discipline, but I've noticed some other improvements. I definitely have an improved stamina and I can exhert myself for a lot longer than before. I'm definitely stronger, and I can definitely feel my abs tightening up(even though I can't really see them). Overall things are going pretty good.

I forgot to post about these. What was going to be my birthday present from Candi turned out to be a Halloween gift instead. Here they are: The stash! and Frankenbubbles!

I really needed a break. It has been inordinately busy around here and I really wanted to do something other than a camping trip before the end of the year, but time was not working well for me. After discovering some free time and learning that Candi was interested in making a trip to Ohio, I decided that was the adventure I needed. My budgeting and schoolwork was planned out and I was gearing up for a stay in Ohio to visit King's Island, hang out with my best friend, and get to know Ohio once again.

But that was not to be. As many of you know, Candi was having stomach problems. It got to the point where an eight hour trip from Virginia to Ohio would have been impossible. I did not want the planning to completely go to waste so I asked Candi about me going to Virginia instead. She said it was great and offered to let me stay in her apartment for the weekend. We didn't have anything concrete planned but we had some ideas. So off I went.

The trip down to Virginia was gorgeous to say the least. I've never driven that direction through Pennsylvania before and there were many opportunities to take pictures. The only negative was the constant construction zones with no construction going on. You're still legally required to slow down to 45mph and turn your lights on in PA, but as a NYS-plate bearing driver, I obeyed the law despite the locals whizzing past.

Perhaps distracted by the gorgeous scenery, I accidentally drove past an exit near Pittsburgh, which forced me to double back. And because I had my lights on at a rest stop due to the construction, my car needed a jump. Other than that the trip was uneventful. Oh yeah, Maryland rocks! 70mph speed limit! Woohoo!

Arriving in Harrisonburg was the real treat. I got to meet Candi again and finally got to meet MJ in person. That night we grabbed some fast food and talked quite a bit. Even after MJ went to bed(he had class in the morning) Candi I still managed to talk late.

The next few days were limited by what Candi could do. Because of her digestive problems, we couldn't do some of the things we talked about beforehand. However, we did have fun doing the things we can. We tried to play Left4Dead, but because of the wireless we had problems with that. We did play cards and after three rounds we each had a victory. I finally got to see Saw for the first time and it was an excellent experience. We visited Glens, a party shop with a flair for Halloween(you've seen some of the pictures). We also took a walk in the arboretum, a park nearby James Madison University. Overall it was fun.

I also got to sample some of Candi's cooking, and it was delightful. When I arrived there was some Worms 'n Dirt, and later in the week I had some of her Buffalo chicken and garlic potatoes. I think Candi has a natural talent.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was about MJ. Most people picture this guy as a bumbling, naive fool who probably couldn't tie his shoes without help. However this is not the case. We hear a lot of criticism but the truth is MJ isn't so naive, and he isn't so bumbling(well okay maybe a little). He really does care for Candi and I had the opportunity to see that. I think most people would be impressed by his knowledge of the restaurants in the area as well.

Sunday morning it was time to say goodbye. Candi was doing much better by then, but I still had to make the 8 hour trip home. Candi gave me some of the left over chicken and MJ helped carry my stuff out to the car. All in all, it was a great vacation though being short. I learned a great deal and the experience was definitely positive.

Thank you Candi, and thank you MJ for allowing me to stay with you for that weekend.

Here's a quick post to the gallery. I'm gonna post more later, but enjoy the pictures for now!
http://jeffraven.net/images/galleries/va2009

I've got a few posts queued up that I wanted to post on... and then other things come up. I keep running out of time to really sit down and write- so I'm going to do it now.

I've been having enormous success in losing weight. I'm down to 328lbs and continue to lose. Today I purchased my first jacket in 4 years and it was only a 2XL. I have not worn a 2XL size in nearly 10 years, and I'm still shocked and amazed at that fact. I'm slowly but surely changing into a person that I don't remember ever being. I've always been obese and for the longest time I always imagined that I would remain obese. Until now.

My school classes are going along fairly well. I'm mostly concerned with getting my observations done and fighting to understand a certain confusing teacher and just what she wants from me in terms of performance. Tomorrow I get to do an awesome demonstration involving paraffin wax and explosions! Don't worry, it's safe and fun(for me at least).

Sometime soon I'll be posting on my current plan to get out of debt. I would feel remiss if I did not share it with everyone who reads this blog. It's done really well for me so far and I know it'll help others too. That's it for now, stay tuned though!

I used to be skeptical once, but since my mom passed away I believe in the power of prayer. I have a friend who is in need. She's been having gastrointestinal problems for quite some time and recently its become unbearable. She is currently seeking help from a doctor and there's no diagnosis yet, but the pain is great. I've never really done a prayer request so I don't know how it all works, but for those of you who do believe, Candi could use your help as she works through the pain, and (hopefully) quick recovery. Thank you.

I've got a few things to talk about for this update. All is quiet on the education front. My teachers haven't pressed me for any difficult work. I'm waiting for instructions on how to get started with my in-class observations in one class. The other class features a professor with an admitted tendency for loopyness. Neither class has any solid structure except for maybe the first one. It's very different than my science classes. Here's the odd thing: in these two classes they instruct us to be clear, concise and explicit with our instructions with students and NEITHER of our instructors practices what they preach. Imagine the frustration.

I'm continuing to lose weight at a steady pace and it is in line with my goal of being 320lbs by October 23rd. I was 340lbs as of my last weighing which brings me to a total weight loss of 190lbs since February of 2007. Through different experiments I've learned that I lose weight when I control my diet whether I work out or not. I'm still going to continue to go to the gym but on my days off when I'm at home, I'm going to ease up on the walking since its starting to get too cold to do it.

Speaking of the workout, I did ask a few ladies at the gym if they could guess my age. The average age of the guesses was 23, with no one guessing higher than 24. One lady thought I could have been 19 or 20. What a boost in confidence that was! Some people thought I was deluding myself by saying I was 25 again, but now I have proof that my claim isn't far from the mark.

Things are always looking up for me, and even when I hit a speed bump it doesn't always seem so bad after the fact. Thanks for reading!