New Baby Rogan!

Congrats to John & Karin on their beautiful new, baby girl, Jaime!

Forgot about this place!

Just stumbled upon this link again.
I see nobody else has been here for a while either.

Of course the biggest news that's not here yet is Amy & Josh's wedding this month.
If anyone cares to write in their guestbook, it's
www.amyandjoshswedding.com

I reckon we'll all be seeing a lot of each other over the next 3 months! Everyone should make a point of taking lots of pix and let's post them here since I don't think everyone is on Facebook yet.

Later!
Mark

It's Alive

I hope everyone is doing well. I'm drinking some Vodka tonight in honor of the Veterans. My students actually laughed today when I showed them pictures of wounded Veterans. And (not going to lie) it drove me to the bottle.

SO - have a happy Veteran's Day. Excited to see the Herbys at Uncle Mikes this Friday for Uncle Mark's Cancer Function.

Here's a true veteran for you.

Pedagoging Again

Hey yall. What's going on with you? How about that count down? 29 Days? Until the election.
355 days until the big Kalafatic-Melnick wedding. Just smell the excitement!

Here. Look since Halloween is coming - this is a pretty scary video.

Long Time No See

What's everyone been up to? I know that times are hard and the economy isn't in the greatest shape but you need to find time to shoot the cyber shit with fam.

So after an 8 year courtship, Jeanne and I are finally engaged. And so are Chris and Jocelyn.

The circle of life so amazing. I wonder if people will continue to bestow wonderful marriage words of wisdom to me. The best advice always seem to come when your not seeking it. So I'm not. I consider myself an adult and I know that I'm all growns-up. But how the hell did Steve and Linda or anyone else for that matter manage kids before the age of 30.

Why am I thinking about kids? Well now that the comments from family about the engagement can stop... I know that's next. my parents had me at this age (28) and all I know is they must have been on something.

The family is large enough as is. The East Coast Cousins are all good. How's things with enryone else? Here we all are at Candlewood Lake last weekend. Good times. Good times.

John and Tabitha'a Wedding 5 10 2008

This Link...

is friggin hysterical...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCzbNkyXO50

PS3

Hi all. Any news to report?

I'd say not much is going on in my neck of the woods. I saw Dan play another gig last night. He's so dreamy. I also met his new mysterious blond groupie from all the way across the pond. But I'm not here to scandalize and sensationalize or to presuppositize.

I've been preoccupied since Jeanne purchased a PS3 for me. I've purchased a digital timer from RadioShack to limit my ours of online playing. But it's so hard to walk away from a game that gives me the opportunity to play against people from all over the world from the coziness of our living room and 52 inch flat plasma TV.

Where the L is everybody? Here's Pedro and Johan who should ignite a firestorm of strikeouts for the Metropolitans this season.

Your Uncle Jack

THis was in todays paper about dad, your Uncle Jack:

Portraying an 'American Life'
Showtime TV series found family life of John 'Jack' Smith of Hamilton especially appealing.

By Eric Robinette
Staff Writer
Sunday, February 17, 2008

HAMILTON — Lights and cameras sparked a lot of action for John "Jack" Smith and his family Saturday, Feb. 16, as a film crew shot an episode at the Berkeley Square retirement community for the Showtime series "This American Life." The show profiles people at different stages of life who all share a very common name. Smith, 79, is at the upper end of the age range for this episode.

Smith and his family have had lunch at the Berkeley Tavern every week for the past four years, and the film crew was there to shoot that and various other slices of Smith's life. John Smith is such a common name that there have been several of them in this family alone. One of them is "Jack's" son John. "It's been fun. We've looked through photo albums, and it's been a real bonding experience, reminiscing and all that, "John Smith said.

"Jack" Smith is a New York City native who made his way to Hamilton in 1959 to work for the Mosler Safe Company. He retired in 1992 as a vice president.

"This American Life" found "Jack" Smith by searching through the country, looking for people who were in the later stages of their life, said Lisa Pollak, one of the producers of the show. They found Smith's family life especially appealing.
"He has this wonderful family to speak about him that takes him to lunch every Saturday. It will be a nice portrait of a man at a stage where he may not be able to say much, but he's surrounded by this family that's tremendously caring," Pollak said.

"Jack" Smith has a form of dementia that makes verbal communication difficult, so during the shoot, the family tried various tactics to get him to talk a little. One of these was trying to figure out which John Wayne movie was his favorite: "Rio Bravo" or "The Sons of Katie Elder."

The family also talked about the pitfalls of having such a common name. "When you sign in to a hotel as 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith,' you get a lot of funny looks," said Susan Smith, John Smith's wife.

Pollak said the show with the Smiths does not have a definitive air date, but it will play sometime in late May or early June. When the show does air, John Smith said he hopes viewers will see "just the life of a great man."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.

I thought you might appreciate this. Cousin John

Happy New Year

Hey Fam. about to go to work but thought I'd send a quick shout. What's up with everybody?

Resolution

The word has really been tossed around a lot in recent Christmas Seasons. Resolution - it used to have a different meaning. If you ask a person today about their resolution, they'll probably tell you 7.1 or 12.0 if they're really into technology.

But I'm thinking more classic. I'm wondering what an appropriate resolution would be for this next step in my life. Because as far as I'm concerned a New Years Resolution should be more important than "I'll eat less fatty foods" or "I'll try to kick my habits."

My resolution is going to be something more. Maybe I'll try to be less materialistic. Maybe I should become more professional. I might try living healthier. Maybe I'll commit to update this page/ stay in touch more with friends and family? I could even think about settling down. Maybe I'll chastise those celeb-hungry people for their obsessions. I could become politically active instead of just vocal. Who knows? Any ideas?

What will your NYE 2008 promise be? What will you improve on. Anyone with Rogan blood must know there's always rooms for at least an ounce of improvement.

Happy Holidays!!!

I'm sorry I have been away from this blog for a very long while. Bryan, I first want to say how thankful I am to you for continuing to hope our family members will take the time during their very hectic lives to drop a line and say hi once in awhile. Unfortunately, I can only assume that either they have nothing to say or that they are just too busy. Well, I just wanted to say that I am thankful for all my family members and wish them health during 2008. I have enjoyed many happy memories that we all helped to create this past year and hope that they will continue to be created either together as a group or individually. Don't be shy gang let's share our fun times or any interesting tid bit of information that you feel we would all like to know. I have really enjoyed the postings and hope they will continue. As for the Kalberer family, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family and look forward to spending some time together during the Christmas season. Bryan, Dan, Jeanne and hopefully Jennie will be coming up to Ct., as they have been doing for the past 6 years on Christmas Eve. We go to mass together as a family and come home to feast on prime ribs. Then we usually make our way to the tree to open our presents. I have so much to be grateful for this year and I thank God for all he has given me .I pray that each of you will be able to say the same. Hey Smith family...what plans do you guys have for this Christmas season???

Body of War

My Friend worked on this project should be a great movie. I'll post more about the release date when I know more. This is certainly an Oscar Contender. http://www.bodyofwar.com/bow_trailer.php

Please Read

Here's something that many may have read this before:
http://www.mccsc.edu/~curriculum/willing.pdf

This isn't a request for money. It's not about Politics or Religion. This is just a call to our senses to listen before we speak.

Please take a minute to print out, put it up on your refrigerator and read it when you get a chance.
-- It might brighten your day.

turkey & tryptophan

So after 4 straight meals of Turkey+ I'd say I'm sworn off the stuff till at least Christmas.

1. What are YOU doing to for Christmas and New Years?
2. I remember those times when we'd all go around and say what we were thankful for on Thanksgiving. I'd have to say I'm thankful to be home in sweet relaxing Brooklyn after 3 days of partying in CT with Dan and a Turkey Bowl in Carle Place. SO what are YOU thankful for?
   

Have You Seen These People...................

Me and "Dumber Than Corn" enjoying the scenic lower Hudson Valley on October 11th.

halloween jokes

here a few halloween jokes to get us in the holiday spirit:

1. why didnt the skeleton go to the dance?
he had no body to go with!!!!

2. why did the ghost have to wear a bra?
she had booooobies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. what is a vampires favorite dessert?
boooberry pie & icescream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL:)

Math vaccine...

Preface: When Koreans translate their language into English, for whatever purpose be it an advertisement, music lyrics, or an official proclomation, they usually end up directly translating without adding any articles and you end up with what is essentially Konglish.

I was walking through the streets of Jin Ju this weekend when I stumbled across a poster on the side of one of the buildings which was advertising a math vaccine. Now I couldn't know if this was actually some miracle product or the result of a poor translation, but it sure got me thinking. What the hell kind of a doctor would stick you with a math vaccine? Would there be any side effects? But most importantly, would the vaccine enhance your mathematical genius or, and I really hope this is the case, does the vaccine make you immune to math? How cool would that be, if you were free from the metaphysical shackles of math? Numbers would just bounce off of you like you were rubber. You could walk up to the check out, holding hundreds of dollars worth of groceries, hand the poor sap at the register a fiver, and walk right out the door whistling dixie, because what the hell do you care if you just stiffed the guy a couple hundred, you're math-proof.

Yes, this really is how my brain works.

Bro - Phone

This is the Bro-phone; aptly named b/c it acts as the line of communication b/w our two apartments. Dan and I each have one and we can use them up to one mile away. Luckily Dan's new apartment is so close or the Bro-phone would not work. That's right, Dan has managed to feign originality by joining Jeanne and I in Park Slope BK. Isn't that cute? Please contact me for more information concerning bro-phone use, protocol for communication or housing advice. Thank You.

Yanks and Sweeds

Hey - Sucks about the Yankees did you see those bugs during game two? Crazy! They should have called that game on account of bugs.

I have my forth Softball game tomorrow night at 9:00 - I won't be home till midnight but it should be a good time. We're 3-0 right now! I'm #63 - my dad's HS football #. Same # as our Merrick house #.

Secondly, A New Swedish study has found further evidence of tumors resulting from cell phone use. The report studied the use of cell phones by consumers over a 10 year period. Anyway here's two links if you want to know more. -- Just another thing to worry about.

Click Here or This Story

What's new people? Everyone seemed all gun-ho and ready for communication. Cat gotcha tongue?