Family Dinner

This is a poem I wrote for class. I think it gives a whimsical light on dinner at our house. Enjoy!

Family Dinner

The pot of soup bubbled like a sorcerer’s brew.

An elixir of pickled rats’ feet and the wings of horseflies,

Mixed with the tears of a young girl with a broken heart.

He had been preparing ingredients all day; chopping fish heads and mouse tails

Stirring in some powdered lizard’s tongue for good measure.

The steam from the brew rose in haunting spirals and filled the kitchen with intoxicating scents.

It held a magical power; his helpless spawn gathered around

With their mouths open like famished baby birds, not sure of what lured them in.

They sipped from the ladle, unaware of the potion’s enchantment.

When the time came and the pot got one last counter-clockwise stir,

The spawn were eager for their own helping.

They spooned it greedily, pausing only to dip their bread into the brew.

The sound of their consumption was the only language this cluster of offspring had shared.

He sat back and smiled, his arms folded over his chest.

A gesture of the triumph to come.

Soon their slurps became quiet, dainty even, as they spoke to him of wizard sports,

Kissing frogs, and the latest trends in pointed hats.

The spell had been cast; they had been tricked into telling him their secrets.

A cackle of joy escaped his lips.

Okay, so it has been a while. Who has time to update their blog every week?
The Mack family is doing great in 2009. The kids are back in school. Heather and Theresa are getting ready for the track season, running in the cold after school. They have been hiking almost every weekend in the foothills around our house. I am glad to see that they are creating those memories with their friends.
I am back in school as well. I really love it here at SUU. It is a smaller college, so the professors know you by name when they see you in the hall or around town. They have helped me so much, and they really care about my success. Going back to school has been such a great thing in my life. The challenge has been good for me; I am stronger than I think I am.
Drew is in West Valley with his dad. I miss him, but he is doing well. We gave him our old broken DVD player so he can take it apart. He has always loved to see how things work.
Dave will be working days again, so the kids don't have to suffer through my cooking anymore. Dave will be home to make dinner for us, we are all happy about that. The only bad part is that he loves to keep me from my studies by inviting me to cuddle with him on the couch. Bad husband!

The Christmas Letter

Now that the madness of finals is over, I guess I should update the blog and do our yearly Christmas letter. Here it goes.......

Angie--That's me. I just got through the hardest semester ever. I had Pathophysiology, Microbiology, Micro Lab, Organic Chemistry and finally, my Chem lab. I don't know why I took 3 science classes at once. The good news is that I will be ready to apply to the Nursing program with a higher GPA; the only reason I was not one of the 20 selected to start last semester. It was a blow to my ego, but now I know how much I really want to be a nurse.
My job is great. The office manager and I are working on a whole new training program for the medical staff. It will be a lot of work, but the clinic will be even better for it. I am lucky to have a job I love so much.
In my free time, I have a list of books to read during the semester break that have nothing to do with nursing school. I fully admit that I am a geek. I am starting with The Count of Monte Cristo, keeping with my effort to read Classic novels. I feel like even more of a geek, but I am loving it already.
Dave-- Dave got his license to teach Concealed Carry Permit classes, and is loving it, even though it means more work. He is still the manager for ALL AMERICAN SECURITY here in Cedar, and he loves it most of the time. Some weeks he works 60+ hours. We miss him when he isn't at home to make us all laugh.
He still likes to try new recipes. A recent favorite was his version of Curry Chicken. I look forward to dinner when he is home to make it. He loves to cook and we all benefit from it. He has started to impart his cooking genius on the girls. They love to help him.
He still is on a constant Quest for Sci-Fi and Horror books he hasn't read. I try to avoid Barns and Noble when we are in St George, Dave would spend his whole paycheck in there if I would let him. We frequent the used book store here in town, Dave has been buying old cook books and whatever hard back books we like for the home library.
Heather-- Our Heather turned 17 this year. She is thinking about what to be when she grows up. She has seriously considered joining the Air force, photography, or being a school teacher. It changes all the time, but she has plenty of time to decide. She will start Track in January and has a goal to make state this year. With some hard work, I am sure she can do it. The Cedar High team is awesome and has competed in state every year since the early '90's. Heather loves kids, watching movies and hanging out with her Dad.
Theresa-- She is growing into a smart young woman. She earned a 4.0 last semester and will probably do it again this time. She puts in the hard work to do her best. She will be running for the track team this year with Heather. She still loves to draw, and her work is simply amazing. It shows a maturity beyond her 15 years. She spends a lot of time outside with her friends and loves to be goofy. Her sense of humor is so much like Dave's; if they get together it means trouble.
Drew-- He officially grew taller than me this year. He turned 14 this summer. Though he hates school, his grades are good. He is playing the trumpet and is really quite good at it. We went to his Christmas Concert last week. He loves to be the center of attention; always making jokes and acting silly. He loves video games, music and action-hero movies. I can't believe that he is a young man now. Where did all the time go?

Well, that is the latest and greatest from the Mack Fam. All our best to all of you.

I am thankful for...........
My family (Dave and the kids, my parents and extended family, and friends that have known me so long they are family), my home, the opportunity to go back to college, my job and coworkers who are my home away from home. I am thankful for the little things that make life wonderful--a good book, a blanket right out of the dryer, the scenery outside my front door. I am thankful to have a family that is healthy and full of love and laughter, friends that remind me why I need them in my life, and the fact that I feel safe in my community.
I hope everyone took the time this Thanksgiving to reflect on how good life can really be. Love to you all!

The Monkeys

The kids are doing great. Theresa brought home a report card with all A's....super smart girl. Heather is getting ready for track to start in January, she has been running a couple of miles everyday. I admire her for being so dedicated. Drew is becoming more of a young man, he reminds me so much of my brother and so much of his Dad. He will need to start shaving soon.

1- Where did you meet? We met on Yahoo personals, when I was just looking for free dinner and a little adult conversation to add to single mommyhood. It took 3 months of chatting on-line (he would make me laugh so hard my eyes would water and I couldn't read the screen) then He called me, we planned our first date, and the rest is history.
2- How long did you date before you were married? exactly 1 year, we chose our wedding date because it was 1 year after our 1st date
3- How long have you been married for? 7 1/2 years
4- What does he do that surprises you? the surprise with Dave is that nothing he does will really surprise me any more; he loves to do something because it is out of character for him
5- What's your favorite feature about him? those baby blue eyes
6 - What's your favorite quality about him? he knows something about everything, and he can always make me laugh.
7- Does he have a nickname for you? okay, I will be totally honest here--he calls me gigglefart
8- What's his favorite color? camo colors
9- What's his favorite food? Mashed potatoes
10-What is his favorite sport? hunting zombies ( it is a long story....)
11- Who said I love you first? I slipped and said " I really l l l like you!" (almost said love, but he knew what I meant, and this was after he told me I was the kind of girl he could see himself marrying and growing old with.)
12- When and where was your first kiss? Our first date, in his living room after the wonderful dinner he made (Prime Rib, salad, mashed potatoes, and berry pie with Rocky Road ice cream for dessert)
13-Do you have kids? How many? 3 kids 2( from his first marriage, Heather and Theresa) and my Drew
14- What's a hidden talent that he has? He can sing really well
15- How old is he? 38
16- What's his favorite type of music? heavy metal and 80's stuff
17- What do you admire most about him? he is passionate about everything he is interested in, and fiercely loyal
18-What's his favorite pass time? reading anything
19- Do you think he is going to read this? maybe


PS-I will post some pics soon

Here it is!

The new and improved (and long lasting) Mack family blog!