What is The American Dream? This is something I have been asking myself a lot here lately. I feel I have a unique perspective on this question, because I am not from America. My mom and dad moved here to find the American Dream. They moved here for my sister and I to find it. Americans had found it, so now it was our turn to try and find it. When I was about seven years old, long before I knew I was moving to America I had a dream I was in American….flying (yes flying) around tall buildings (hang in there Kelly, I am not going to get all dream interpretation on you) but I dream t of America. I think I had just seen the music video “Born in the USA” so somehow it snuck into my night time dreams. Five years later when I turned twelve, we packed five suitcases and got on a plane and that was it, bye bye Ireland, hello USA.

Am I living the American Dream? Back then the dream was big house, big car, big TV, everything was cheap, money was no object, because this was America! Eighteen years later that dream seems so silly. Now, I am trying to sell my big house, avoid a big car, everything is expensive! Ok I am keeping the Big TV, sorry.  So the dream has changed. My American Dream is now very different. An old friend introduced me to their husband this weekend, and said, “this is Greg, he is from Ireland, but has a southern accent” I kinda sunk in my seat a little bit. I am not knocking the southern accent (Leigh Anne), but it kinda hit me…….I am one of US now. Was that not my dream? To be American? To fit in? I guess it was. So to answer my question, Yes. I am living the American Dream, because I married an American Girl, I have an American Boy, and now I am an American Man, doing things the American way……kinda. I still have my Irish moments. But you know what? I am going to hold onto my Irish ways, because they make people laugh, and they make me who I am. Ok thats all I got.

Between the ages of 5 and 9 I remember summer time as fun in the sun, and getting a tan! I would brown really nice. I never burned. I would just get this really nice looking brown tan all over my body, and people were jealous. Everyone would admire my beautiful tan, I looked like a little foreign boy from spain or somewhere tropical. You may not think anything of that, but for a little Irish boy, this was a big deal. At least it was a big deal to all the grown ups around me, because most everyone in Ireland is pale white, and when there is a heat wave and the sun is shining (which is not often!), they fry like lobsters. So for me to tan and not burn, I was a super hero among my Irish counterparts. I was an elite.

Ohh but like every superhero I had a weakness, or a vulnerable spot you might say. That spot was my buttocks. It was as white as snow. So when I tanned, my glory was short lived when my mother thought it was the greatest thing ever to show everyone my buttocks, to compare my tanned back to my bright white untanned butt cheeks. She would yell with excitement to her friends or whoever was around, “look at this boys beautiful tan, and see how his little cheeks are snow white….isn’t it glorious!” she would say. Every time we met someone she knew (or didn’t know, it didn’t matter! I dreaded being called over….because as soon as I got within arms distance of her, she grabbed me threw me over her knees and down came my pants, and behold there was a beacon of light shining as bright as the moon, that moon was full, that moon was my butt.

Earlier I posted photos of Desmond, because I just thought they were so cute, but Jackie suggested I pull them down….and I agreed, I was not thinking, but then I got to thinking, and the above entry is what came of it. So Bonus for that. For those that got to see his cute little butt, congrats! (I know who you are!) it is chubby and beautiful. :)

For those who can’t view youtube click here.

Picture One: I finally got a good picture of the tongue sticking out, I love that little tongue.

Picture Two: Danny and Desmond. They are going to have so much fun together!

Picture Three: He is getting so big. Crawling is about to happen any moment.

Picture Four: My Mom and Desmond having a good time.

Picture Five: In midswing sleeping like a baby. I want a swing like this so bad.

Picture Six: This picture made me laugh! As I snapped it, he ripped one. His face is priceless.

In my head I had grand ideas of what my 1st Fathers Day would be like. I would wake up to bacon hanging from the ceiling fan, spinning round and round like beautiful pig butterfly’s flapping in the wind. I would step into the kitchen and turn the cold faucet on and ice cold beer would flow like liquid gold. I would twist the hot faucet on and hot cheese dip would fill my sink, and nacho chips would fall from the sky. The day would be about me, me, ME! Oh yes, it would be a glorious day indeed. Realistic? No of course not….but I told you it was a grand idea!

Fathers Day today for me was not my “Grand Idea”, but it was something else. I think God had a lesson in store for me and that lesson was “to give myself, rather then receive”. My day was spent helping others. Others who at any moment would help me when I needed them, without question. I ended up doing the one thing I hate most “Yard Work”  if you will notice, its a double four letter word. The worst kind! And doing other peoples yard work is even worse! Which is what this was. I did however get to use a chainsaw with no supervision, or guidence! Fixing the chain when it fell off? no sweat! Im a total pro now. Using the chainsaw was something that was always “Dads job” who was the Dad this time? I looked around and only saw me of course. Afters hours of cutting, chopping, hauling, getting flesh wound after flesh wound. It was time to call it quits and move on to a “Fathers Day Lunch”, only to be tricked into moving furniture! There are some sneaky Mothers in this family, I’m not naming any names! They lure you in with food, and BAAM! before you know it you are moving an entire room of furniture from the 3rd floor down.

So now that I am a father, what does that mean? It means I care for my family, I protect them at all costs and I do what needs done even when I do not want to do it. You do what you have to do to get through life, and to help the ones you love get through life also. A selfish attitude will not feel as rewarding at the end of the day. A positive selfless attitude however is a fulfilling feeling at the end of the day. That is how I want to live my life, and that is the type of Dad I want Desmond to see in me. I just pray I can be that way. It won’t be easy. But THAT is what I learned about being a Father today.

So what was my special Fathers Day Gift this weekend? Saturday morning Jackie carries Desmond into the bedroom and places him on the bed beside me, Desmond is carring an IPod Touch. Something I have been drooling over for months and months. As much as I loved that gift, and I really really do love it. The gift of both of them laying in the bed beside me playing and laughing together as a family with the ipod touch laying untouched on the floor.

I will just let the video do the talking.

(if you cant access youtube click here)

Maimeó and Pops rolled into Kathleen this weekend to visit their Grandson, the one and only Desmond. You know, that little boy who hogs up much of nagoh.com. Yes, that one. Anyway, getting ready for their arrival is not a difficult task, they have a few simple requirements. Have plenty of Tetley’s tea in stock. Have a hot steady pot brewing at all times. It does not matter that it is 110 degrees outside. If you do not have tea, they will move on to another house that has. Another requirement is cable tv. Give my dad the remote control and more than 4 channels to flip through and he is in Heaven. I think Tivo blew his mind a little bit, because at one point he handed the remote back to me to fast forward, this is something I have never witnessed! Has the student become the master? I almost didn’t know what to do. We watched a Deadliest Catch marathon, we both agreed, we could never do that job, and he is a hardcore fisherman.

This was my dads first time meeting Desmond. This was very exciting for me. I have been waiting almost 5 months for that moment today, and to see him walk in the door and go straight for Desmond is something I will never forget. Desmond just loved him, he was quite all morning until his Pops showed up. They hit it off really well. Desmond put on quite a show, as always.

If you know me outside of work, you know that if I am not in my work uniform, I am in my “other” uniform. My Irish uniform. I pretty much always have some sort of Irish t-shirt on at all times. I have one for everyday of the week. Well after mom unloaded her bags she brought back from Ireland, it would seem Desmond now has an Irish outfit for the next 5 years of his life. They are incredible outfits. If you do not know already, Desmond is Irish for “Man from Munster” which is a province of Limerick where I lived and grew up. Munster recently won the Rugby European Championship, which is a BIG DEAL. So as you can see we are sporting our Munster shirts. I am jealous of some of the shirts he got from my Uncle Paul, with his name embroidered into the shirt. Very slick!

Desmond is still working on this, but do you notice anything about this picture? I did not notice it until I posted it. I find it interesting and amusing. There are now three Hogan Men, welcome to the club little buddy.

I agree, she looks beautiful. Jackie got her hair done, and I love it! I didn’t know she was getting that much cut off, so I was very surprised to see her when she got home. I think its a perfect look for her. I love you babe. I can’t believe your all mine. Desmond too.

Facts:

1. Desmond has shaving cream on his face also.
2. Desmond is reading “Fundamentals of Financial Management”. I am reading Dr Seuss.
3. Yes he really was choking me in that one picture.

9am-11am: I had grand ideas of my first day at home as a Part Time Stay at Home Dad (SAHD). I was going to get up around 9am stay in my PJ’s. Feed Desmond, watch some of “The View” I wanted to embrace my new role, and what better way than to watch “The View” to get my perspective on all things “womanly”. Because we all know Barbara Walters and Whoppi are in touch with all that, but as soon as Ms. Walters started talking about her “what nots” and Whoppi about her “do whats!” I freaked out and covered Desmond’s ears and eyes, and flipped it to Elmo. God Bless you Elmo, thank you for saving me and my child’s life from a tramatic experience that would have cost myself and Desmond years of thearpy.

11am-12pm: Having a house on the market is tricky. Once you get seated and situated you get the call and are told “get out of the house now! Ohh and before you get out, clean it from top to bottom, you have 1 hour”. Like Jack Bauer from 24 I was scrambling like a mad man with the clock ticking in the corner. Luckly I had my mother in law as back up, she was like Chloe O’Brian hacking the subnet and sweeping things under the carpet. Once the clock reached zero I carted Desmond and my two dogs in a car that has no A/C in 99 degree temperatures to the safe house to kill 2 hours, so far this was in no way a day off. I was sweating by 11am and I don’t sweat. Desmond loved every bit of it. That boy loves adventure.

12pm-2pm: Finally getting home after the house showing it was time to mess the house up. Out comes the Jumperoo and swinging chair and play mat. Desmond requires time in each, its a full cardiac workout. He needs to burn some fat to work off them Chankles he is sporting, that little tubby monkey.

2pm-2:33pm: Nap time, he finally takes a nap, I am exhausted. It’s time to follow his lead and do the same. I drift off and dream of milk bottles and diapers. When I awake I am fully NOT rested. Desmond is ready for round two of Jumperoo. That boy is a jumping fool.

2:33pm-4pm: Jackie is on her way home, sweet relief because I have to pee! Why oh why did I not pee between 2pm and 2:33pm? Jack Bauer has this same problem. Such a rookie mistake. I need to regroup and take a new plan of action. Operation SAHD is in full effect. God bless you SAHM’s out there. You do an incredible job each day and every day. I am such a n00b, your wisdom is appreciated.