Tag: football

Vintage

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends!! Just about to start work here – thought I’d pop in for a quick update as another week begins! Had an awesome weekend, full of productivity and fun times(both good things!). I’ll focus mainly on the fun times, as taxes and cleaning aren’t quite as enjoyable to talk about. Anyways! Saturday started with a sweet morning breakfast with the community group leadership team…much good discussion was had(mainly as we tried to hash out the purpose of our group and what we’d like to see come from our times together. A mission statement is currently being constructed, which I think is very much needed) Good times indeed. Following, got to hang out with John a bit(Thai food for lunch…and I worked on the aforementioned taxes). That evening, me and John and Peter went to Melissa’s place where we had a fun game night! Abby and Claire and Jim and a few others were there as well. The highlight of the game night was definitely Pandemic, where me and Claire and Peter saved the world from many virulent diseases(a super fun game that’s played cooperatively…I need to play again – I think the fam would like it a lot too!).

Oh dear, need to speed through the rest of this as work time approaches. Yesterday was a beautiful Sunday morning – worshiping God at church in the morning and then a lunch meeting with the Gathering(young adult ministry) leadership team. After some good open discussion, I went back to my place, did laundry, worked out and prepped for…the Super Bowl! There were no big parties planned and I didn’t really want to watch it on my own…so I invited John, Earnie, Mandy and Julie over to watch. We ordered pizza and wings and had an awesome night talking and being together…oh yeah and watching some football too. The Broncos crushed the Panthers(the Broncos defense was truly ferocious – seven sacks and multiple takeaways!!)…Peyton Manning got his second Super Bowl ring – so cool to see him smiling so much! One of the greats of all time. But truly, apart from the football, it was just a really special evening of being together with my friends.

And now, I must be off. Peace, friends – have a most lovely day.

Forever

James HoganLeave a comment

Brief entry! Just rolled in to work after a couple hours of sleep(yes, after a tragic few hours sitting on the tarmac in Houston last night…I didn’t quite get to bed until sometime after two in the morning). I have my hazulnut mocha and it is a beautifully cold morning and I have to confess I had a pretty sweet drive in to work…listening to the last few pieces of the Messiah. Glorious. And a perfect way to start this work week. Although I am still a bit sad to be back in Houston after leaving the family in Florida last night…such sweet times were had with Dad, Mom, Maryanne, Laura, Caisson…and it’s oh so bittersweet to leave them and fly back here to Houston. And now I’m off(Oh – one sidenote! Best football weekend in a long time this past weekend…Skins beat the Eagles to win the NFC East – represent! And in my second(and final?) year playing fantasy football with people here, I clinched the league title in convincing fashion, 139-50. Not a bad football weekend at all!).

And now I really have to go and start work here. Sipping my coffee and being productive. Sounds like a plan. Have a sweet day, one and all!

Jasmine

James HoganLeave a comment

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!!

James HoganLeave a comment

Another lovely week has begun! Well I guess it technically began on Sunday, but we didn’t have school yesterday(MLK Day) so this feels like the real first day. It’s already been a pretty sweet morning; we had a good class in Adolescent Lit(turned in my homework for that…the homework was to write a poem…WHAT. How awesome is that!) I’m also very happy today because it’s beautifully cold outside…that always makes me happy!! Oh and the coffee I made this morning was good too…I definitely needed that because I DID NOT get enough sleep last night…so waking up this morning around 5:40 felt terrible. Class was fun though so it was all worth it. I love having an early class that I enjoy going to!! I may post my poem I wrote for homework here eventually…I want to see what the prof says first!

Oh and I don’t think I mentioned it here yet…but the Gators definitely won another football championship a few weeks ago…yeah, definitely my fourth championship here during my four years. Wow. Oh and one more note on that. I WAS AT THE GAME. And it was AMAZING. We beat the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 YES.

And now I think I shall go outside(currently in the computer lab doing homework) and enjoy some of this awesomeness that is January weather…so great to remember the God that made all of this and is so loving and gracious to us all!! What a mighty God we serve!!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

James HoganLeave a comment

That’s right, once again, the Gators are national champs!!! Only this time, it’s football. Wow, an absolutely unbelievable game. 41-14. We didn’t just beat them, we KILLED them…our defense looked better than I’ve ever seen it. Our offense was amazing. And Ohio State looked lost. And confused. And very, very sad.

We sacked Troy Smith(Heismann winner, by the way) more times than he completed a pass. Leak threw completions his first 9 passes. And we just got another national championship.

Oh, and this is the first time ever…that a university has been reigning champion at both football and basketball at the same time. GO GATORS!!!

I watched the game at the Jungle II with Rob, Nicole, Javier, Alicia, Eric…and the rest of the Jungle people…we were stunned when the Buckeyes returned the first kickoff for a touchdown. But we were sporting delirious smiles for the rest of the night. After the game, Gainesville went nuts. We lit a Christmas tree on fire in the middle of the parking lot…ok, maybe that was a little bit dangerous. But we were NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. Ran out to University Ave. after that – so crazy with so many people yelling and screaming and dancing and singing…like they say, “It’s great – to be – a Florida Gator!!” This is the one time when it’s acceptable to hug and high-five everyone you see and just go CRAZY! Even the danger of stampedes and getting run over by fire trucks didn’t dampen our spirits…although the thought of having a class the next morning didn’t make me too happy. Eventually, I made my way home…and got some sleep.

Unfortunately, had to get up at 8:30 this morning. Had an awesome day just remembering all the great moments of last night’s victory. Rob recorded the game on his computer, so we’ve been watching that again and again. I bought the official national championship shirt and happen to be wearing it right now. Maybe I’ll wear it tomorrow too! And tonight I was at the basketball game against Arkansas. A great game in its own rights, but at halftime…the football team came out onto the court, and the ODome erupted. They brought out the championship trophy..so beautiful! The basketball team came back on and started congratulating the football team. Amazing to have two championship teams in one place, let me tell you that.

Ok, this is a really long entry, but I guess I might as well say, despite my glee over our win and championship, it’s never good to put your hope in football teams…they may be amazing at times, but they can fail, too. But God never fails, and I hope this Gators dominance works out for His glory. Actually, I know it will.

And one more time.

GO GATORS!!!!!!!