Author: James Hogan

Refiner’s Fire

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Good morning, my friends!! It’s a beautifully cold morning in Houston, what! I think it’s approximately forty degrees, which is…surprising. But hey, I’m not complaining. I feel like I’m back in Scotland, as I’m pretty much wearing exactly what I would be wearing in Aberdeen – scarf, coat, boots and all!. So I could almost feel like I walked down George St. to Books and Beans today and sat at my normal table. Alas, that is not true. I drove down Westheimer and am now at my (semi)normal table at Beans! Still enjoying my mocha. Some things never change. God is good. Always.

And because it’s almost Christmas and I feel like it – listening to the Messiah right now. Simply lovely. I don’t think I’m going to see it in person this year – there’s a surprising lack of people who want to see it, and I’m not quite desperate enough to go alone! Maybe next year. I can still enjoy it on my iTunes…yeah.

Anyways, you all may have to get used to more sporadic updates from now on, as I’ve still not got Internet in my flat yet. I may soon, but holding off as long as I can. So – coffeeshop updates for now! Today’s going to be a fun day – a very much Saturday kind of day. Once I meander home from here(which may be a while), I’m going to go to the store(i.e., Super-Target!) and get cookie-making ingredients and cleaning supplies. Then home-time to make Christmas cookies! Of course, I’ve already had a few of Mom’s when I was home over Thanksgiving. That whetted my appetite enough that I simply must make my own now. And Abby, Claire and Charlotte are throwing a Christmas party tonight, so I want to take my cookies there(speaking of, I need to find a tacky Christmas sweater for aforesaid party. Hm. Let’s hope Target can provide). Anyways, besides making cookies this afternoon, I’ll probably just be continuing to go through some of my boxes that I haven’t opened yet(all clothes I’ve not worn in three years..) and I also need to do some cleaning and some laundry. Typical. To make it all more fun, I figure I’ll throw on Star Wars to play in background.

And this is a very chatty post – my apologies if I’ve bored you to death!!

I think I’m going to enjoy the coffeeshop here a bit more(not time to go out in cold yet). I might even write a bit more later, we shall see. Peace and love, my friends!

Star Dream

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Hello there!

I’m currently writing from Beans coffeeshop in Houston. Yes, back in Houston! I had a ridiculously early flight this morning(6:30AM flight, which means I was awake at 3:30…fun times…). For some reason, I decided to still go to church. Which was good, but I must confess I felt quite sleepy while there. I’m still sleepy now, but since I don’t have internet in the flat yet, figured I should come here so I could get some work done online. So I’ve had my lunch and now just need to get some shopping done(no food in apartment!) before I can go home and take a nap. A nap sounds simply delightful right now. Stef invited me and others to go see a movie this afternoon(Thor!) but I’m going to pass, as much as I’d like hanging out with people. I think falling asleep in the cinema is probably not the best plan.

Anyways, I did want to write a little bit here of Thanksgiving fun times. Not long though! I got in to Tampa on Wednesday night, and after enjoying a delicious chicken caesar salad dinner(plus cinnamon rolls!) with the fam, went to bed. Thursday – Thanksgiving day! And I still maintain Thanksgiving is one of my all-time favorite holidays. So much less pageantry surrounding it, compared to the other holidays. Just a time to be together with family and relax together and enjoy the many many blessings we have been given by our Lord. And so Thursday we enjoyed more cinnamon rolls and crunchy bacon and delicious coffee and then in the afternoon, we all went over to Steve and Vickie’s and had the most awesome afternoon with standard Thanksgiving fare. Oh lovely.

And you can tell I’m tired in that I’m really finding it difficult to find the words to describe these last few days! Anyways, on Friday and Saturday, the best parts of the time was just being with Dad and Mom and Maryanne and Laura…talking and laughing and loving and being together. You know. Friday night, had some sweet game night action(with Megan G – we got to play our homemade Star Wars game(which is pretty sweet if I say so myself) and Taboo! I was victorious all night long). Saturday, got to make a yummy lasagna for the fam(with Laura’s help!) and then last night we got to be together just a little more.

And now I’m back in Houston. And while I fear this entry has been all over the place – lack of sleep will do that! – I will let this stand. Now, time to log off and go shopping. Burritos tonight, I think. And then, prepare for the week ahead. Go forth and conquer, my friends.

Battle of the Heroes

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So, Star Wars Ep. III is currently playing as I sit here in the family room and attempt to write a few words! It’s been a Star Wars marathon for the past few days – fun times! But since I’m feeling a bit sleepy and not capable of writing too much tonight, I’ll try to quickly summarize these last few days of awesomeness!! Yes, home in Tampa right now, what! Maryanne and Laura are here too and we’ve had a Thanksgiving to remember.

And I would write more now(and I mean to laters!) – but time to finish up watching Remember the Titans. That’s been our family movie these past four nights!! Fourth quarter. Fourth quarter. Fourth quarter.

Fire and Ice

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I was going to start this off by saying good morning, but it’s definitely morning no longer! I’ve been here at this coffeeshop a bit too long today, but no matters. It has been a good morning. I woke up early this morning to take my car to the shop for an oil change, then made my way over here for a nice breakfast and coffee time! I’m now on my tea and trying to decide whether I want to spend the remainder of my time writing or reading(I really should write, because of the disastrous state of my NanNoWriMo novel!). Anyways, we shall see. I just thought I’d write a few words here, since it’s been a while!

So I guess my biggest update is that I’ve moved into my “permanent” apartment! Got a nice little place that’s a bit more central – also only five minute drive from church! It’s so great being able to finally settle down – I got some nice second-hand furniture(including an epic map table!!). Today I need to put together my final bookshelf, and then I can start unpacking all my books, movies and music! I fear that I won’t have enough space for everything though. Three bookshelves are not enough.

I’ve been told that my walls are looking a little bare, so I guess I need some kind of art or something to decorate the walls with, but that can wait.

In other news…work is still going strong, and by strong – I mean insanely busy! I do have to offer up praise to God though – yesterday morning before going to work, I feared it would be a crazy day that I would have trouble surviving, so I prayed and asked God for strength and blessings. And lo! He blessed exceedingly and gave me grace with my endeavors and things went far more smoothly than I had anticipated. I can only praise my God. Always.

And this time next week – I will be home in Tampa with my family. Oh yes. Thanksgiving this week – home-time beckons!

I’m now going to sign off and attempt to write a bit. Farewell, friends.

Jasmine

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Hello friends!

It’s a lovely Sunday night here in Houston, and it’s about bedtime, but not quite yet! I have the Dallas/Saints game on TV right now – taking full advantage of having TV since I’m moving apartments next week…and will not have TV in my new apartment. Isn’t a bad thing, but definitely the thing I’ll miss the most will be random sports-watching. I will survive!

Been a most awesome day today, must say! First had an awesome time at church, then out for lunch with friends(enchiladas and good chat, can’t beat it!). Afternoon I spent trying to write(about 1800 words written, guess I’ll count that as progress) and also watching Houston trying to beat Arizona. They were unsuccessful. I think all my football teams are cursed this year – between the Redskins, Bucs and Texans…they’ve won five games combined. And it’s week ten. Don’t even mention the Gators!!

Enough football though. This evening, I had a fine dinner – burgers, baked potatoes and green beans. Standard. Delicious. And after doing dishes and folding laundry, got to talk with Dad for a few minutes – hurrah! So, with this nice tidy update, I think I’m going to finish messaging a few people and then computer off. Tea is already made and I think a bit of reading will do nicely to finish off this day. And before I go, just want to say – have an awesome week my friends. In all you do, praise the Lord! Remember all He has done for us. And as He has been, so will He always be.

Again – praise the Lord!!

Morris City

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Hello there!

My spaghetti is boiling, so my time is already ticking down, but I thought I might as well write a few words this beautiful Sunday night. The Texans/Colts game is on TV(and the Texans are actually up 14-0, shock!) but I think I’m going to turn that off soon because my dinner is at hand. I’ve made proper Mom’s spaghetti sauce today, even though it’s looking suspiciously unlike hers. Ah well, it still tastes pretty good and the meatballs are legendary as always(can I call my own meatballs legendary? forgive me this once!) I’ve had a nice and relaxing afternoon, trying to write. I may be mad, but I’ve committed to NaNoWriMo(National Novel Writing Month) this November. This is a scary thought, because I’ve said I’ll write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Yes. I’m mad.

Anyways, I’ve actually already written about 5800 words, so – progress! It’s a mess though, I don’t think any of you will ever get to see it. We shall see.

In other news, church this morning(at Bethel) was fantastic. Worshiping God with a family of fellow brothers and sisters. Few things are better. And last night, went out with a crowd of people(I think we had fifteen of us? Thanks Abby for the heads-up!) to see Ender’s Game in cinema. One of my all-time favorite books by one of my all-time favorite authors. I went in a bit dubiously, doubting the movie could match the book. And while the silver screen has certain limitations in comparison to the written word…I was most impressed. The movie captured the heart and soul of the book, and I think I spent half the movie with my hands to my mouth, just trying to process the emotional breadth of it all. If you haven’t read Ender’s Game, it’s a science fiction novel involving a young boy who’s being trained to be a battle commander. It’s brutal and tear-worthy. His internal struggles and extreme loneliness are at the core of the book…and the movie handled that very well, I thought. I won’t write more on that now, because it is dinner time.

So farewell my friends. Have a most lovely evening. Peace.

New Autumn

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The last thing she wanted to do was flip that switch.

The warning siren warbled at an even higher intensity and the cockpit lights dimmed ominously.

Jasmine raked her hands through her hair and glared daggers at the navigation panel and refused to believe it would all end like this. No more time for hesitation though. She reached over to the awkwardly positioned and boldly lettered ejection lever and caressed it for a brief second before giving it a firm flick. The restraining belts snapped into place as her head was slammed backwards. There was a song of screeching metal and gasping wind and flashes of lights across the sky in purest symphony of calamitous fate. And then her eyes rolled back in her head and she only had the time for briefest thought. Home sweet home. Blackness.

******

Why was it so light outside? Had she missed her alarm? And why was there a giant tree root jabbing her insistently? Wait, tree roots were in her bed?

Hazy waking up thoughts fled as Jasmine bolted upright. Coughing violently, she looked around wildly. Grass stains on her jumpsuit and the taste of blood in her mouth. Yet, it was beautiful. The sun – the sun! – shone down on her like a mother’s smile. The trees swayed magnanimously around the meadow she had apparently ended up in. Leaves of red and orange and yellow fluttered down as the wind sighed around her. Jasmine supposed she could have landed somewhere worse. And it appeared all her limbs were functional. Mostly. She pushed up against the soft grass and lurched to her feet. Wavering, she looked up. Blue sky. Never, never had sky looked so beautiful. She took a few steps across the meadow, limping as she went. Everything hurt. She didn’t even want to see the bruises she’d ended up with. But she was alive. Alive.

Her ejection pod was still slightly smoking a few meters away. It had done its job and delivered her safely down. She should probably retrieve her survival gear and weapons, but for now…

Jasmine wobbled around the grass like a toddler learning to walk and marveled in the feel of the sun upon her skin. It was so warm. So real. Her pale skin soaked in the heat and Jasmine sighed in joy. What a wonderful planet. What a wonderful world. She should probably scout out the area and set up camp, but…

A piercing cry echoed across the sky. Jasmine’s head jerked up. They were here. No more time to rest. She walked towards the pod, determination in her limp. There was work to do. Her destiny was at hand. There were enemies to slay.

Blackberries

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And I thought I’d be silly and just write a couple words tonight. My hamburgers are sizzling away on the stove – and potatoes baking in the oven!! It’s the end of a long and busy week(but to work is good, I’m not complaining!) and now time to enjoy a restful evening. God is good in giving me such a night as this. True that, y’all!

Tomorrow hopefully I can write a bit more, we’ll see. I do feel like I’m settling in Houston, but do I still miss my Scotland friends? Absolutely. And I always will. But right now, I’m living in Houston and my life is here. God has placed me here – for what purposes I know not. But we shall see. The road goes ever on and on.

Now – just added the green beans to the frying pan – dinner is smelling good. Time for dinner, my friends. Farewell.

Curious

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Good evening my friends! My dinner(chicken parm!) is in the oven and I’m looking forward to a nice relaxing evening involving aforesaid dinner and possibly a little Redskins/Cowboys game action as well! Because I’m actually eating dinner early for once, I hope to have some good reading time(possibly involving chocolate and coffee? I say yes) before I go to bed.

But I did not write this post just to talk about my evening plans – no – I wanted to celebrate the birth of Chris and Jo’s baby girl!

Elizabeth(Lily) Aria George was born early this morning to some very happy and very weary parents! And she is just beautiful. And they are pretty much one of the most awesome families ever, let it be written! I couldn’t express my joy enough this morning when I discovered the news. Now as I think of Chris and Jo and Lily…I simply praise our God from whom all blessings flow. I love you guys!!!

And now, time to sprinkle some cheese on my chicken parm before putting it back in the oven. Mmm, dinner.

Peace and love.