So about the blog...

Blog posting is not my strong suit. Yeah....

Still working on all the things I set out at the beginning of the year to do. Weight Watchers took a long hiatus over the spring and summer, but I have been back on since mid July and Justin is also doing the program! I've lost around 15 pounds and he's lost about 25. I've been doing Zumba at the gym and we started the couch to 5K training program. In all we have both just decided to be more active in general. We've been walking the Blacklick Creek Greenway just about every weekend. It's good. Our big goal is to each lose 100 pounds by June 2011.

In June 2011, I will finish up my accounting certificate program at CSCC, I will have lost weight, we will be more financially sound, and we can really start trying to get pregnant. So yeah, June is my magic month. That's the time period I have set for myself with all these things I'm working on in my life.

My Resolve Update and Other Things

I started back with Weight Watchers online on Jan. 4th. At the beginning of January I set a goal for myself at a ten pound weight loss for the month of January. Today, Feb. 2nd, I'm happy to say I am 9.2 pounds down. More importantly, I have remembered my old habits. I remember the foods I used to eat and the decisions I used to make back when I was sucessful on the program. I have yet to pick Power 90 back up, but I'm working on that. When I do, I know I'll have great results.

Part 2 of the Resolve was to get back to the Ramsey plan. My car had a broken suspension spring the third week of January. The repair cost us $1025, so that wiped out our emergency fund. We are back to square one of the Ramsey plan, and I hope to get back to the budgeting come payday. Tax returns will also help.

As for stopping trying to conceive, we have and we haven't. I have put off going back on the pill until my annual in March. This month I took a very casual approach to temping and was able to detect ovulation so I know when to expect my monthly gift. I was unsure I'd be able to fully put getting pregnant out of my head unless I was on the pill. But this month, I was able to not even think about it and still temp so I'd know if I'd ovulated or not. Depending on how the weight loss goes, we might just play a wait and see game with it.

The last part of the Resolve was going back to school. I started a program at Columbus State and it's going well. I am taking two online classes totalling 10 credit hours. I do my reading and homework on my lunch break and a little bit of work at home in the evening. I have to go to campus and take my exams. I've taken a total of three. One I got 103%, another I got 96%, and the third has yet to be graded. I find the classes really interesting. They are more interesting than the accounting I took at Capital for two reasons. First, I now work in a business atmosphere, so I know the applications of the things I'm learning. Secondly, I am able to work at my own pace instead of the pace of my classmates. I've registered for spring quarter and am looking forward to continuing the program. I should finish with it by the end of spring quarter next year.

Aside from the Resolve, work has been....different. We have a consulting company observing us at the moment. It's a long complicated story, but in short it makes for some stress at work. Some good things have come from it. I've had some good conversations with my boss and I've been able to tell him I am back to school and I hope to use the certifications I get to further myself with the company. Eh, we'll see what comes of it all.

Weekends this month have been busy. Justin's cousin and her family have moved to Defiance, OH from Arizona, so they came for a visit one weekend. We also helped some friends move. Weekend before last Justin and I took a long weekend trip to Nashville. It was great and I hope to blog about the trip soon. Last weekend I visisted my dad for his birthday which is Thursday, and this coming weekend, Tiffany is coming to visit. Very busy, but great times all around.

A Misunderstood Lot

I've taken this afternoon to catch up on some web reading that I didn't do over the holidays and I came across this bit.ly/6x8cKn.

A bit of back story: I began watching John Stossel's new show on Fox News Business. There have been two episodes so far, one on climate change the other on health care. I was introduced to Stossel by Dr. Bob Lawson, the same man who introduced me and many other Econ 100 students to libertarianism. Libertarianism is most concisely put as liberal on social issues and conservative on fiscal issues. John Stossel had many news specials that aired on ABC which became part of a "Stossel in the Classroom" series.

The new Stossel show the first real news/politics show on TV that expresses libertariant viewpoints. I used to get so angry watching shows like The Factor with Bill O'Reilly and Hardball with Chris Matthews. They were either right or left, both of which had it wrong. Glenn Beck has been more libertarian leaning recently, but Stossel is the real deal.

John Mackey, founder and CEO of Whole Foods was a guest on Stossel. Mackey had written an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal (bit.ly/12Dlpb) that was against government run healthcare and against many of the reforms that are currently in both the House and Senate bills. For the record, he did not refer to "Obamacare," that title was given to the op-ed by the WSJ, not Mackey himself. Now Mackey resigned as chairman of Whole Foods; the reason given is some sort of thing about CEOs and chairmen being separate. The real reason I feel is that Whole Foods does not like his outspokenness. I feel that if he were speaking out with democratic views, there would be no problem at all.

Now Mackey is speaking out against climate change and the role human's play in it. He agrees with the book "Heaven and Earth: Global Warming--the Missing Science," saying that there is no consensus on climate change. He also fears that fear over climate change will raise taxes, call for more government regulation, and lower our standard of living.

Personally, I do not take a stand one way or the other on climate change. Is it real? Probably. Did humans cause it? To some extent. These things are unimportant and moot at this point, and this is where much misunderstanding of libertarianism comes in. It's not that I don't care about the earth. I care very deeply about God's wonderful creation for us. I just don't think government is the best way to help the situation. Scientists are unsure if we can reverse the warming or even stop it. Why spend taxpayer money, force people to buy more expensive goods, subsidize programs, etc. if it won't even work. I'm all for private enterprise solutions like the Pickens Plan. I'm also for pricing fossil fuels to account for damage to the environment. I'm also for increasing wealth the world over so that we may adapt to a change in our climate. We don't need the government outlawing lightbulbs; my father was using CFLs before they were trendy because the economic incentive was there. We don't need to use our taxpayer money to subsidize energy sources that just aren't feasible; wind energy is only useful when the wind is blowing, solar energy only in very sunny locations, etc. If they were economical and worked efficiently, we wouldn't need to subsidize them. I care about the earth, I care about my carbon footprint, I use reusable bags at the grocery store, I try to do my part. I just don't want my government (and my tax money) going to unrealistic, inefficeint programs.

My view on healthcare is the same. It's not that I don't want people to have healthcare, I just don't want to pay for it. It will only make the quality of care on the whole worse. I am all for deregulating insurance so that one might shop across state lines and the elimination of coverage mandates so that my plan only covers what I want it to cover. I am all for Mackey's plan of having a health savings program, so that I need to choose where my first X amount of money is spent. I'm also for helping elderly, disabled, and children--maybe thorugh govenment programs, maybe through private philanthropic organizations.

Libertarians are a misunderstood lot. We don't just say "Fuck you all! I don't care about you!" We do care. I care. I just think the way of dealing with issues should be different. I'm all for markets. I'm all for private philanthropic organizations. I'm all for efficiency and accountability. I like giving my money to my church to help people. I hate giving my money to the government to help people. I like organizations like Operation Christmas Child, Feeding America, The Red Cross, and the Salvation Army. I hate government run organizations that award waste and mismanage money.

People who aren't libertarian have a hard time seeing the line between "what should we do" and "what should GOVERNMENT do," and that line is paramount in the libertarian platform. There has been a shift of attitude in this country. At one time people relied on themselves and their communities for the things they needed. Certain things were provided by the government, starting with local, then state, then federal. Now, we rely on the government to do too much. We also let the federal government do things that state and local governments could do better. Libertarians want to go back to the attitude of our founding fathers. It's not that we don't want to do good, caring things. We just don't want the government to do them for us.

Right leanings are a dirty thing in today's world. You are branded ignorant, uncaring, and selfish on college campuses, workplaces, and even churches. The media has a liberal bias that would make one think that everyone is a democrat. There are few friends my age that I can have a true political discussion with. Most only want to hear people express views that are the same as their own. Others will just quit talking to you all together once they know you didn't vote for Obama. Still others feel like you are attacking them personally because you challenge their views. My views are challenged on a daily basis. If I took it personally every day, I would think the world hated me and thought I was stupid. I'm confident enough in myself and my views to not take it personally. I'm also confident enough to discuss them. I find that a lot of people my age do not want to enter into a discussion because they just aren't strong enough in their own beliefs to accept a challenge and then form a rebuttal. They don't want to talk to me, because I make them take off their blinders. There are some friends that I can go back and forth with, and I welcome it! I like hearing their points. I like it when they hear mine.

In closing, John Mackey is a libertarian. He's a libertarian in a very far left world-the world that is Whole Foods. He's been branded as uncaring about people's health and now the environment, and I think it's cost him his position of chariman of the company he founded. I feel for John Mackey. I know what it's like to have your politics dictate what others think of you. I'm often misunderstood, and I think John Mackey is as well.

My Resolve

This is not a New Year's resolution. It's a life resolution that happens to be occuring right now, near New Year. Justin and I have hit a wall when it comes to conceiving a child. I've been pretty quiet about it and only letting a few friends know what's been going on. Most, including my parents, don't even know we were trying. Ware at the point where we need to take the next step, but my weight won't permit it. It's unclear if my weight is causing our current problems. While I may have symtoms of PCOS which can be caused/helped by weight, I am not insulin resistant so I cannot be treated with medication they normally use. The only treatment available to me is fertility drugs, but at my current weight my doctor doesn't feel comfortable giving them to me. I agree with her 100%. It is almost unethical for her to help me conceive when I and my child are at risk for so many complications.

This is not a surprise to me at all and something I've known in the back of my mind for some time. Even before we started trying I started Weight Watchers, knowing that my weight may cause issues or complicate them. I was successful on Weight Watchers, having lost close to 40 pounds. Since August of 2008 I've put about 30 pounds back on. This may have caused my fertility issues to worsen, but that's really a moot point. I need to lose weight. I need to lose almost 100 pounds. I need to do this. If it helps me conceive naturally, that's great. If it makes my doctor more comfortable and Justin and I are able to take the next step and receive medical assistance that's also great. In the end, I will be healthy and I have a better chance of carrying a healthy baby.

I just wish that I'd stuck with Weight Watchers when I began it in 2008. I'd be at my goal of 100 pounds lost by now. I lost enough to make me feel "okay" and then I got impatient. Justin and I bought a house and I was ready to put a baby in it. We started trying and I stopped trying to lose weight. A year and a half later, I still need to lose the weight, I'm not pregnant, and I have a long journey ahead of me. I'm really angry at myself. It's my own fault. I'm not stupid. I knew that my weight would be an issue, one way or another.

All the beating myself up won't help the situation, so instead I'm being proactive. Justin and I are going to stop trying for about a year. I could still try to conceive on my own, but it's just not a good option for me. I have to either go all out tyring--temping, checking fertility signs, charting--or go back on the pill. There's no "wait and see" with me. I don't ovulate regularly, so I'd be taking a pregnancy test every time I turned around if I didn't track my cycles via charts. I can't put myself through another year of charts. It drives me nuts. How Catholics do it, I'll never know! Maybe it's easier if you're always a 31 day girl. I'm more of a 50, 67, 94, 38 day cycle kind of girl. I'd also like to go back on the pill because I feel very off with such erratic cycles. I have terrible acne, PMS, and cramps. I seriously feel like I'm 15 again. Plus, I think taking conception off the table completely will help me psychologically. My resolve to lose weight started to waiver when we actively started trying.

Step two of being proactive is Weight Watchers. I've signed back up for Weight Watchers online and I vow to follow the program. My friend Sarah is also getting back on the program and we are going to keep eachother honest and meet up once a week to check in. The program works, I know it does, I just have to do the program. I'm also going to resurrect the video program Justin and I did in the fall. We were hardcore into it for 30 of the 90 days. Then we fell off the wagon. But starting the first of the year, I'm going to follow WW and then do the 90 day workout. I expect to have really great results with combining the two. It'll be a great way to jump start myself and make my goal seem attainable.

The final part of my proactive plan is the Dave Ramsey plan. Dave's plan is a debt elimination plan. Again, Justin and I started this a year ago and had some success. Like with weight loss, we got rid of enough debt to feel more comfortable month to month. The more comfortable we felt, the less we worried about our debt. But as any parent will tell you, babies are expensive. Why not take this break from trying and use it to finish the Dave Ramsey plan? We've (re)completed step one of the plan and are ready to move onto the next part. Being debt free, or close to it, will make adding to our family that much easier. Like the CPA, being debt free will make my career options more numerous.

That's the plan. Go back on the pill, lose the weight, pay off some bills, and finish the program at Columbus State. I have given it a year, but it might take less time, it might take more time. We will have to wait and see. I feel good about our plan, and I will be updating my progress I'm sure. I debated on blogging about this, but it can only make me more accountable. You hear that? It's your job to keep me honest!

Four Days

There are four days until Christmas. Three and half to be exact. Two and a half until Chirstmas Eve. I got a lot of things done this weekend, which was good because I was behind. I guess if it's done by Christmas it's not really behind, but behind the schedule I'd set for myself at least.

There's just a few things left to do. I need to bake gingersnaps, sugar cookies, and make fudge. I need to make up a platter for work and also baggies for work. I need to make three cookie plates for three of our neighbors. I also need to wrap two last minute gifts. Finally, I need to go buy the standing rib roast for Thursday.

I've yet to buy the roast because I want it to be fresh obviously. Also, I'm a bit intimidated to go to the butcher and select one. I've been debating between the butcher in Reynoldsburg or the meat counter at Andersons. I know that it's their job to help you select meat and to trim it/prepare it the way you ask, but I feel like I'm putting them out or something. I don't know where this comes from in me. I'm afraid to ask someone to go out of their way for me (in this case, not even out of the way, just do their job). Maybe it's the years I spent working retail, even though I was usually happy to provide excellent customer service. Maybe it's just the way I was raised. I was taught to not make waves and to follow the rules to a T. When all else fails blame your parents!

In any case, I am pretty much ready for Christmas. A few loose ends and of course the cooking of the dinner, but I enjoy that part.

I'm really looking forward to what is happening after Chirstmas. I begin two online classes at Columbus State January 4th. I'm starting a program that's a certificate of accounting. It's designed to give those who have a bachelor's degree the accounting knowledge and credit hour requirements to sit for the CPA exam. It's only a six quarter program, and I plan on going during summer quarter as well. Given this, I'll be done with it in sometime in 2011. What I do as a CPA, I'm not sure yet, but it will give me options. I can try to use it with my current company, I can take it elsewhere, I can start a freelance service. The possibilities, though not endless, are numerous.

December is here!

I'm so happy that the holidays are here! I wasn't really eagerly anticipating them because they actually snuck up on me this year, but I'm happy they're here nonetheless. I love the holidays-- friends, family, great food, Chirstmas decoratations, shopping, gift giving. It's all so much fun. Here's a quick run down of what I'm doing and how I'm preparing.

• Our tree is up and we have lights on the house. This year I have our traditional tree, which is a hand me down tree from my mom. My aunt Joyce bought it end of season from a specialty shop years ago. It's a five foot tree that looks supre full and realistic. Since I'm allergic to pine, this forever green tree is the closest I'll get to the real thing. We've also put up a small three foot table top tree with all my Wizard of Oz ornaments. I've amassed quite the collection of Dorothies, Scarecrows, Tinmen, Lions, Totos, and witches. They took over our tree last year, so this year they get their own, be it sparsely covered, tree. More Wizard of Oz ornaments welcome *hint-hint* We've took our normal decor off the ledge above the front door and replaced it with seasonal items, and we've bought garland to do up there, we just need to borrow a ladder to place it up there properly. We hung icicle lights outside on the porch and got a little light up penguin that is sitting on the porch pot. We put bows on the porch columns and one on the EVANS solar light spindell thing. In all, the house if very festive and pretty. It's amazing how much Christmas decor can make a home feel that much more "homey."
• I'm mulling around what holiday baking I'd like to do. I'll do the usual fantasy fudge and almond shortbread thumbprints. Last year I did spritz cookies, but they weren't such a hit on the tray I brought to work. I think they're good, especially with coffee or a glass of milk, plus the recipe makes a ton so they're good filler as it were. So maybe I'll do them, maybe I won't. Kroger has the same large rolls of Pillsbury dough for $2.50 again this year. I hate shortcutting like that, but at that price you can't beat the convenience. I'll buy the gingerbread and make gingersnaps again and probably the peanut butter to make kiss cookies. Justin will want chocolate chip cookies, so I'll make some of those, but keep them at home. Every year I plan to make buckeyes, but I never do. Maybe this year will be the year I finally do it. Mom gave me a quick and dirty buckeye recipe that I might do to simplify.
• Grandma and I did a little craft project while I was home a few weeks ago. I'd love to share what I did, but I'm afraid some of the recipients will read this and it will spoil the gift. I had fun beading with Grandma and the final product turned out probably better than I thought. I plan on giving them to my small group and people at the office.
• Justin and I are almost done with our shopping. We have a few gifts here and there to buy and we need to nail down what we're getting a few people, but for the most part shopping is done.
• I've brought my Christmas cards to work to get them signed. I will address them over the next few days and hope to get to the post office for stamps so I can get them mailed this weekend.
• Also this weekend, my mom and dad are coming down to celebrate my birthday. See, my birthday is part of the holiday season as well, so I get an extra special bonus! Justin's company has a large surplus store with restaurant equipment and smallwares. We get a discount normally, but this weekend we get an extra discount as a holiday gift. I love kitchen things as does my mom, so that's how we plan to spend Saturday. I have things to pick up in preparation for:
• Hosting Christmas Eve dinner! I'm all about starting new traditions now that I'm married, so this year I had the idea of doing a meal with Justin's family and it was decided that Chrstimas Eve was the best time. Justin's family is very into the opening of presents on Christmas morning, so we'll keep that tradition the same, but on Christmas Eve, they usually just watch a movie and eat cheese, crackers, and summer sausage. This year, they will come to our house and dine on prime rib (one of Justin's favorite things) and LOTS of side dishes. It's not a meal unless you have more side dishes than the number of guests. That's the Hickey/Cowley rule. I guess it might be the Ray Hickey Method of holiday meals LOL! I've never done a prime rib before, but I've done some reading and I'm confident that I can make a good one.
• I also want to persuade everyone to go to our church's late night Christmas Eve service. I loved going to church on Christmas Eve as a kid and lighting the candles and singing Silent Night. Plus, it puts the holiday back into perpective at least temporarily. Chirstmas after all is about the birth of Christ and God's gift to us. Even if I go by myself, I'm going. And when we have kids, I will take them.
• We currently have no plans for New Year, and I'm okay with that. If we get invited to a party, we'll go. If we go to a friends' house, we'll go. If we go over to my in-laws we'll go. I'm not hosting anything and I don't mind if what I do is small.

That's my December in a nut shell. We've been invited to some holiday parties that I'd like to attend if it fits into our schedule. And I'm sure invitations to this that and the other will crop up throughout the month. This time if year is one that I don't mind being busy!

I'm Thankful For

I'd be super thankful if my boss would let me leave right now, but it doesn't look like he's going to. I'm currently done with everything I needed to do today and am answering the phones. That is, if they were actually ringing, which they aren't. Oh well, I will kill time with this.

This year I am thankful for:

My Loving Husband
He's just as sweet and lovable as he ever was, maybe more. We've been married for a couple days shy of two and half years now, and I can't imagine life without him. It's amazing how nicely we've fallen into our roles as husband and wife. I love him and everything he does for me.

Our House
We've been in our house a year and half, and it's really truely become our home. Milo and Maggie, dinners around the table, new drapes, wicker chairs on the porch, evenings spent watching TV, all of this is home to me. I love it!

Our Church
This year, we finally buckled down and found a church home. We began attending Peace United Methodist during Lent, and it has been a great fit. We've been getting involved, meeting new people, and worshipping God ever since. Those who don't go to church, just don't get the feeling that church can give you; it's just one more thing that has made this year great.

Family
My family has been through a lot this year. My Grandma Hickey passed away in January, which was extremely hard, but it has made me realize just that much more how important family is to me. I've been able to visit with family during our vacation to North Carolina and get to know some of "the cousins" better. I've also started chatting more with my dad and Uncle Darryl on Skype. I was also able to meet more of Justin's family this year as well. He also lost a grandparent, and although the circumstances were not great, we got to visit with his family. I finally met his cousin and her little boy when we hosted them for a few days. I love how marriage has helped my family grow!

Tiffany and Jonas
I am so thankful for these great friends that they get a specail entry in this blog. I visited them in Chicago in March and was able to see their new home. I was also priviledged enough to be a part of their wedding in August. It was such a wonderful day, especially since two people that mean so much to me were married. Tiffany is a great friend, and although our relationship is different now that she is in Chicago, we are still close. I'm proud to be her "economist friend, " and I love talking about "my friends in Chicago."

Friends
I am also thankful for all my friends in general. Sarah J., Erin, James, Sarah P., Catey, Angel, Jaime, Jen, and Derek. You are all super great to me and super fun to have around. God has put some really great people in my life.

My Job
I am thankful for my job, not only because of this economy, but because of what it allows me to do. I am able to be home every evening and weekend with my husband. I was also introduced to accounting as it's applied to a business which has gotten me interesting in being a CPA. It's funny how you think you're killing time, but it leads you to the path that God has set out for you. " 'For I know tha plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future' " Jeremiah 29:11

I know I'm forgetting a ton of great things. My life right now is just wonderful. Of course there are tough things that I endure, but the good makes them bearable. Happy Thanksgiving!

Return to Normalcy

Ah, life is back to normal. No one has died, no one is staying at my house, my calendar is not full of obligations. I sill have a lot of things coming up, it being the holidays and all, but I just don't feel so scheduled as I have lately.

For all the complaining I did, I really did enjoy having Jusitn's cousin Chrissy and her son JJ at our house. She and I were Facebook friends, and pretty close ones at that, but had never met in person. Knowing how close her and Justin were, I figured she and I would get along, but my expectations were more than exceded. She and I got along very well and it felt as if I were reuiniting with her just as the rest of Justin's family was.

And don't even get me started on JJ! He is totally at my favorite age, 16 months. He is starting to talk a little and mimics everything you do. Couple that with an awesome personality and you have the cutest kid ever! He is very easy going and friendly. It didn't take long for him to warm up to both Justin and me. By the time we had walked down to baggage claim at the airport, we were best buds. He really took to Justin while he was here, and that was just the greatest thing to see.

Chrissy's husband has interviewed for a job in Defiance, OH. If he gets it, it would bring them a little closer to us than Arizona. Not right across town or anything, but at least a visit once a month kind of distance. I really hope he gets the job. First, he needs a new job. Second, it sounds like an awesome position. And third, we can have more family around.

Currently, Justin and I are settling into our roles as small group leaders for our youth group. My group had a really good session this last week, and Justin says his went well also. Justin is driving/chaperoning a trip on Sunday to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. I will be in Stow for a family thing, but even if I wasn't I don't think I'd be interested in going. Put me down for the Intelligent Design Museum trip LOL. But I think it's great that we are getting involved and giving back. I really feel like I'm imparting some of my older wisdom to the young minds of today. Just this last week, a girl from my group who hadn't been able to attend yet this year came. The other girls introduced me and Laney as the leaders and the girl gets all excited and says, "I have cool leaders this year." Not nice to the other adults, but still made me feel pretty with it and hip.

This weekend is the annual Allen Family get together (used to be Christmas party, but then was held in October, now is done sometime in the fall). Justin isn't going because he has Modern Warfare 2 to play, plus the Iowa game. I'm bummed I will miss the game, but the Allen family thing is pretty important to me. The older I get the more I realize how rare it is to be close to extended family the way we are. I think it's partly due to the fact that when the Allens moved to Ohio, they moved together and stuck together as outsiders in a new place. Couple that with the southern tradition of family and the Scots-Irish clan mentalitly and you've got a closeness with second cousins and third cousins once removed that most can't fully understand. I hope the traditions stay in place, and I realize that my generation is the generation that can make of break it. So I go. I forgo the Iowa game and schlep myself up to Stow. I never regret it, but sometimes I have to remind myself why I do it.