if (/^LOGGING: \S+?-(\S+) \S+: (\S+) [^:]*: (\S+)$/) {
     my ($month, $what, $user) = ($1, $2, $3) ;
     if ($what eq 'STARTING') {
       $flushes{$month}{$user}++ ;
       $flushes{$month}{TOTAL}++ ;
     } ;
   }
   else {    # Any error reporting you like, eg:
     chomp ;
     print STDERR "Line $.: '$_' ??\n" ; 
   } ;

##</code><code>##

  ....
  LOGGING: 31-Mar-2008 23:59:10: ENDING ON A HIGH: countryjoe
  LOGGING:  1-Apr-2008 00:01:22: STARTING FLUSH: gotcha
  ....