Long Time!

OK, It's Scott. For those who don't follow MK on FB (or me!), here's the lowdown:
- MK went to London this summer for a month to study Contemporary Art History, and she absolutely LOVED IT! She even did a few interviews here in Tulsa when she returned, one of which was on the local ABC affiliate's morning show, and she did grrrrrreat! But look for yourself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUa4ncpm7QA

-I went to London for a week to see MK, and we went to Paris for a long weekend (complete with a few diamonds for my lovely wife along the Seine)

-Annnd we moved....three days after we returned from vacation.

So here are the long-awaited pictures of the new house (they're out of order, but you'll get the just)


Master bath

Master bath

Master bath

Master bed

Master bed

Hallway into the master bed

Kitchen

Backyard

Backyard

From the kitchen into the 'den'

From the 'den' into the kitchen

From the dining room into the den (the dog was doing her 'statue' pose)

Spare bedroom

Spare bedroom

Office

Laundry room/mud room

Parker ready for the move!
Sophie ready for the move!


Karizma taking her last nap at the old house


Randon family picture during the annual Stockholder's meeting for the McCollum Land Co.
Outside
Garage

Living room

Living room

Hallway with the hallway bath, guest bed, spare bed, office, and mud room/laundry/entrance into garage

Hall bath



Spare bedroom

Art Car 2009

A few weeks ago I got to see some amazing works of art during Mayfest and the Blue Dome Arts festivals. My favorite part by far was the Art Cars. These are works of art made from actual working automobiles. People drive from all over the country to participate in festivals and parades in different cities. Here are some of the highlights.

This next one was absolutely my favorite. The car is covered in Big Mouth Basses and lobsters that respond to sound. The artist plays music and they are move together. Hilarious! Take a look at the pictures, then watch the video. You can click here to go to the artist's website and see more. The car, by the way, is known as the Sashimi Tabernacle Choir.

New Moon

School is officially out, but who cares.....the real issue is whether or not you have seen the New Moon trailer yet. If not, or if you have only watched it 20 times instead of 30 (which I have quickly surpassed in a short 24 hours) click here.

By the way, my London blog is up and running (see the list on the right). Not much to it yet but there will be in 17 days. Wahoo!!

OK Magazine

A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by Oklahoma Magazine about my Fund For Teachers grant and trip to London. The article just came out. Go to Oklahoma Magazine and click on current issue if you are interested in reading it (you will have to register to read it).

Celebrity Playlist

So I was playing around on iTunes and checking out the celebrities that have a new playlist posted. It's terribly addictive and I have no idea why I should care what these people are listenting to. Still, I do find some occasional new jem that I had not previously known about. I began to think what my Celebrity Playlist would include. And since it's 10:30pm and I should be getting ready for bed or working on lesson plans for tomorrow, I have put it together for you:

Track 1: Michael Jackson, PYT (because only the King of Pop can use words like 'tenderoni')

Track 2: Kings of Leon, Manhattan (one of my favorite groups right...and one of their more appropriate songs)

Track 3: Carter Burwell, Who Are They? (oh, Edward)

Track 4: 2Pac, California Love (this is what living in LR will do to you)

Track 5: Mark Schultz, Running Just to Catch Myself (see previous post)

Track 6: No Doubt, Just a Girl (still my 90's anthem)

Track 7: Newsboys, He Reigns (and I am so thankful that He does)

Track 8: Train, Calling All Angels (for Scott)

Track 9: Joni Mitchell, A Case of You (lessons from Practical Magic)

Track 10: Timbaland, The Way I Are (the glory days of student council)

Track 11: Jackie Wilson, Higher (an homage to my early education in the "oldies")

Track 12: Muse, Starlight (I don't know that I will swear by them the way Stephenie Meyer does, but this one I love)

Track 13: The Who, Baba O'Riley (because pounding on the steering wheel really wakes me up during my morning drive)

Track 14: Rocco Deluca & The Burden, Colorful (for my daughter...someday)

"...it's just a perk of being middle-class & educated."

Mark Schultz totally gets me.

Well, the school year just keeps a-rollin'. On the brightside it's May and so no matter what, I will be finished by the end of the month. I am still loving my art history class. We have finally made it into contemporary art so I am having a blast challenging their previously held notions of beauty and just generally shocking their socks off. I am beginning to study for the art certification test I must take in order to continue to teach the class. Apparently I am not "highly qualified" for my job since I am not yet a certified art teacher. The test is May 30. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Scott and I made it down to OKC for the marathon last weekend and both of us ending up participating. He ran the half, as planned (and did great!), while I was asked to participate in the relay with a group of girls. I was a little worried since a) I have a stress fracture and am not suppose to be running and b) even if I didn't I haven't run in about 6 weeks. I ended up walking the second leg of the race (a 5k) and had a blast. The girls were really sweet to include me, even making me a team t-shirt - our team name was "I Need a Drink." Also, Scott and I finally made a visit to the OKC Memorial Museum. It was a very powerful experience and I highly recommend it to anyone planning a visit to OKC.

It's 6 weeks until London and I am getting geared up. I went to my orientation meeting last week and got all of the information on the requirements for my grant and more importantly the grant money! I have about got my housing situated and now I am just left to wait until I get a little closer to make other plans. I will be creating a travel blog specifically for London and will post it here when it is up a running.

"I'll take the quiet life for $200, Alex."

I realize I am a terrible blogger but we are still here and alive and well. Life is a little bit quieter without state convention to plan (Praise the Lord!) and its been nice to come home while it is still light outside and catch all of the game shows. I have been dominating at Jeopardy while Scott cleans up on Wheel of Fortune.

We decided to give the Oklahoma City Half Marathon another try this year but unfortunately, we are both injured and have had to get x-rays and bone scans. So far there are no indications that either of us have stress fractures but we are both still in pain. We got back next week for another look.

Scott is enjoying his work and getting to drive the big red fire truck more often. I am....well, I am hanging in there. I think I have hit "the wall" that most teachers hit in mid-April. This year has just been so exhausting and there are some days I am just not sure I can make it until May. I know I need to work on my attitude and trust in the Lord to give me the strength. One thing I am looking forward to is this weekend - I am taking a group of my AP students to Dallas to see the King Tut exhibit. They are really pumped and I think they will really enjoy it. It should be fun and it will also give me a chance to see my mom. Yay!

Hope everyone is well in the land of blogger and that I haven't missed anything really big....like your kid's wedding or something.