I have posted the pictures from last night for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Today is Momma Colson’s Birthday! W00T! Today the mission I have chosen to accept is to build her a cake/dessert. It will require “mad skills” some of which I have never had to pull out before. I will be brave and strong. Scooter and Scruffy will be my reinforcements. We will leave no ingredient behind, if something drops from the battlefield they will be there to take care of it.

I remember the 1st time I meet Mom C. It was the 1st time I went over to Jackie’s house, before we started dating. Jackie was taking a really long time doing something, so I sat out in the living room area just waiting. I over heard Mom C. get upset with Jackie about how rude she was being having me sit and wait by myself, she said something along the lines of “that boy was nice enough to come over and see you, and he has just been sitting their patiently waiting, now get out there with him!” From that point on I knew I had nothing to worry about. She would look out for me

Happy Birthday Mom C. We all hope you have a blessed day and love you very much. Tonight we party at the Carino’s.

BTW, Danyelle has pointed out that you share your birthday with GOOGLE, it turns 7 today.

*Cake Update*

“Success!!! I cant wait to shove it into my pie hole!

So Saturday was a pretty fun day for me, it started out kinda blah, but getting up at 5:30am may have had a lot to do with that. I got to spend the day with my wonderful sisters-in-law, mother-in-law, nephew, Melaine and my beautiful wife as they embarked on their trip to Atlanta for Kelly’s Shower. 1st stop was Aunt Elaine’s to pick up a beautiful arrangement of flowers. We then went on to eat at The Flying Biscuit which was very yummy indeed, it never seems to fail. Then it was off to the mall, we split up at this point. Then it was off to La Madeline where things snow-balled for poor Jackie as she worked so hard on getting things just right for Kelly’s event. Benjamin and I chilled outside for a while, I was able to start my new book “The Oath”. Benjamin just charmed the ladies with his cuteness. The boy is a chick magnet. We then took Danyelle to her hotel room where she was able to meet up with her hubby and boys. Kelly and herself relaxed and did their thing.

For the “party bus” however the party was just getting started. We made our way to Chili’s where I was mistaken for a waiter because I was dressed like the staff, this older couple tried to wave me down as I went to get my ID, it looked like they really wanted some service, I just waived back, smiled and headed for the door, I am sure they were not pleased about this. After we all had our fill we got back on the road and headed to pet-co where we decided that Amy smokes like a squirrel, and I would pay a lot of money to see a squirrel smoke. (Turns out a smoking chipmunk will do) I love google.

As the trip home continued the laughs just kept getting louder. I cant repeat all the things that were said on the “party bus”, as the rule goes; “what happens on the party bus, stays on the party bus.” Stories were shared, quotes were born and memories will forever live in the minds of us lucky few. I must say that Amy truly is a one of a kind, and with that I leave you with an Amy Says: “Hitler was an awful awful man.” T-shirts of Amyisms are in the works.
You really just had to be there.

Before the night ended there was “Operation Save Sue” a fence was jumped and a bladder saved.

The End.

I have posted the pictures from Kelly’s Wedding Shower, she has also posted a re-cap of all the events over at http://www.easycheese.net It was a very fun filled day from beginning to end.

So today is a pretty special day for me, today 15 years ago I arrived in a land that would change and shape my life in ways I had no idea, and I still am seeing the benefits from that huge jump across the Atlantic Ocean. I remember a lot about Ireland, I remember the day my parents told my sister and I that we would be moving to America. It was at the dinner table about 6 months before we actually left. I remember thinking “but I finally got a girlfriend across the street, and now I have to leave?” That didn’t last long anyway. I remember things moving really fast between then and Sept 22nd. I remember all our toys being sold at the local market. All my original Star Wars items (I had a huge collection). I also remember my new bike being sold. I saved 120 pounds ($200) I sold TV Guides each week, I got 33 pence for each one I sold. I saved for a year (that’s a lot of money for a 12 year old). I left the 120 for Santa Clause the previous December so he could give me the bike I wanted. (Have you ever heard of paying Santa for a present?) Anyway, I remember the last night in our house, I said good by to my best friend Paul on the front door step, we shook hands, it seemed so grown up when I think about it now. I remember driving out of the neighborhood and saying goodbye to things like “the green” which was a field I played in.

My very last memory of Ireland that day was taking off in the plane down the runway, saying goodbye to my grandmother was really hard. As the plane was lifting off the runway, my mother yelled “look out the window!!” there in the distance I could see my grandmother and her little Ford Escort (puddle jumper she called it) sitting in a field off an old dirt road in the pouring rain waving at our plane. She could not see us in the windows, but she had waited hours in a field of muck just to see us take off at the end of the runway. Yup that pretty much did it for me. The rest of the flight was a blur.

We arrived in Atlanta airport with our 5 suitcases, which was everything we owned at that point. It was late at night, we were then taken to Warner Robins. I woke up that morning and looked out the window of the house we were staying in. My 1st thoughts of America were “its really sunny and it is really brown outside” (the leaves had changed already). The house I stayed in for a month is actually no more then 2 miles down the road from where I live now.

I started school a few days later at Tabor Middle School, I have lots of stories of those few days, the one I will share now is, I remember everyone that morning standing to say The Pledge of Allegiance, I had no idea what was going on. The teacher looked and saw how confused I was, she had the student next to me write it down so I could follow along each morning, I wish I still had that piece of paper.

Ok well that’s my story.

R! I hope yee remembered to talk like a pirate today! You do know that today is “Talk-Like-A-Pirate-Day!”

R! If ye forgot, ye must walk dee plank! R!

Just kidding, I didnt give you all much warning, I will do better next year to remind you all.

Today is the 1st day I can tell my meds are working!! Thank goodness!!!! I was beginning to think there was something seriously wrong with me and the doctors had given me the wrong stuff. I am ready to get back to work and outside, I think I have a bit of cabin fever.

Today was pretty exciting, Jackie and I got Kelly and Joey’s wedding invitiation. Very nice. They also launched their new website http://www.kellyandjoey.com click on over there and have a snoop around. I am sure there will be lots of developments as the clock gets closer to Oct 29th. That day is going to be good times, I cant wait! I know they are both very excited. Things are moving along nicely.

My best friend from high school (Jake) his sister (Holly) had her 2nd child today. A baby girl. She has been named Hope. Congrats to her and her family. Alright, I better go start fixing them quesadillas for J, she will be home soon. seeya!

As you have noticed there has been a lack up updates. I have been under the weather since my last posting. Seems I came down with a pretty serious throat infection. It has not been fun. I think that if you work in the school board system you should be paid hazard pay. I am going to start taking better precautions during my day to day dealings with computer fixing. I am sure the amount of computers I touch in a day has a lot to do with how much I get exposed to.

Is everyone real excited about the “LOST” premier!!?? I know I am. My friend Derek finally took my advice and watched all of season one. He did it in about 3 days which is very impressive. He is now hooked. Jackie and I watched survivor the other night, it was pretty good. I sure do not want to ever get dehydrated.

Ok well, not much to really report on. I will close it out.

Gosh! What a day! Where do I even start? Or should I? Today was awful at work. I will not even go into that mess. This morning I woke up at like 5am with the worst sore throat. It still has not gone away. I think I am getting sick again. I must have the immune system of a butterfly.

I went to the dermatologist today, Dr. Cohen. Really nice guy, he knows all the Hogans, because we have all went to him. Its been 6 years since he has seen me. Little did I know today that I was going to be his show and tell for all his residents (all girls), off was the shirt, I really am not much of a show and tell, and I know it. Oh well. Embarrising

So I went to deep fry some french fries. GOOFY GOOBER me forgot to take the pastic lid off the deep frier. So I went to put my french fries in, and something didn’t look right. The grease had this gross black slime to it. Yup you guessed it, the lid melted into the grease. @#$!! Good one Hogan.

The good thing about the rest of the day is, Jackie will be home soon to make things all better.
I need a hug.

Before I finish up, I am putting out a prayer request for my sister, she was out 4-wheeling this weekend with her boyfriend, and his best friend. Well they got in a wreck, and the best friend has been in a coma since Sunday. He did wake up today, but is unable to speak due to injuries. I know with enough prayer he can make his way to recovery. I am very thankful to God that my sister was not hurt. She is very dear to me.

Thanks everyone, sorry for such a depressing post, but I feel a little better.

So, Dutchie decided today to chase a cat up one of the largest trees in our backyard. The cat managed to climb up a trunk 30 feet or so and now is stuck. I have no idea how to get this cat down. I placed my ladder next to the tree and it is not even close to getting near the kitty.

The kitty has been up there almost 4 hours now. It has a pink collar on so I know it is a house cat, please do not bite or claw me kitty. I am here to help. I guess stay tuned for updates. This could be interesting.

*Update 6:30 pm* Jackie called the Fire Department, they said it should come down after a while. So to wait 24 hours. If it is still there in the morning, call them. Poor Kitty.

*Update 2 7:45pm* Kitty made it down! It was a very impressive descent. Seemed to do it with no trouble at all, and to think I was worrying about the derned thing. It snubbed its nose at my refried beans and water treats. :p

I just had a nice long nap to help try and recover from this weekend. It was a good one. Friday night Aidan came over for a spend the night party. We watched Inspector Gadget the cartoon movie. Then Kya! came over and we had some burgers, then it was off to the park. I have posted some pictures of that adventure. Aidan played see-saw with a new friend. After that it was off to brusters for some good ole ice-cream. That night poor Aidan was afraid of whatever was in the closet. Something was making a noise. (It was my 1st experience with the whole “monster in the closet thing”) I blamed it on one of Jackie’s shoes and threw it in the hallway (her shoes are my “monsters in the closet” and they just keep multiplying), anyway that seemed to ease his mind. I read his book to him which informed him that God loves him very much! I stayed with him till he fell asleep. He was a little scared not being in his own bed. Kelly and Jackie stayed up till almost 1am doing invitations. We got them all folded. On Saturday we all had a nice cold swim out at the McDows, that was a great time, I love swimming over there, its just good fun exercise. Then it was off to Ingleside Pizza. This was round 4 of Danyelle’s birthday celebration. Emmett sang Happy Birthday with much more enthusiasm then anyone of us would ever dare, but that’s another story Anyway, now it is Sunday and time to regroup for another week. Enjoy the new pictures!

Today we also remember all who lost there lives for this beautiful county I now call home.
Dia duit. (God Bless)