Much Ado About Duncans

2011-06-16T10:52:00.001-05:00

Exploring the Old House on the Hill

2010-11-13T09:52:00.007-06:00

Wilburton, Oklahoma, November 6th, 2010.

Ashley, Jordan and Hailey decided they wanted to see the house on the hill. Where is that house on the hill? What was Rock City? Mike and I decided to venture to the hill country. North hill that is. The hill side had decided to reclaim the lot. You could barely see the house from the road. We drove up to the top of the hill. The girls explored the house. Ashley said, "This house is small.". Small? This house was huge growing up. What was she talking about? We went upstairs to check out the bedrooms and explored the rest of the house. The ceilings on the second floor seemed low. I don't recall them being this low growing up. We walked outside and we went to the bank behind the house. This is where I spend my after school time. I built streets and buildings for the inhabitants of Rock City. Built the paper box plant to provide jobs to the citizens. This is where Rock City existed. There was nothing left. The streets and rock buildings of the past, gone. As with all cities abandoned by time nature had reclaimed Rock City. The walking path down to the junk house had been taken over by vines (you couldn't see the path). The path from the junk house to the road was gone. Elm shrubs had taken over the path. This was the short cut we used to walk to school.

The junk house was looking to be in sad shape. The pre-fab building Dad had started to put up was still standing but with no walls. I remember walking home from lunch to see the bulldozer clearing out the road to the junk house. Mike talked about the cement truck delivering the cement up to the split level. The cement truck on backing down that steep drive way lost control. The truck zoomed down the hillside out of control and luckily headed into the trees across the street. The cement truck took out several trees before stopping. No one was hurt. Memories of the house on the hill.

The girls decided they wanted to walk back to NeeNee's. Uncle Mike walked with them. They went further up the hill to take the old school steps back to the house. The house on the hill. Memories of the past. It too would eventually be reclaimed by the hill side.

NeeNee's 80th Birthday

2010-11-13T09:45:00.004-06:00

NeeNee, Grandma, Mom (Fern Duncan) celebrated her 80th birthday on November 6th, 2010 in Wilburton, OK. To celebrate we had three cakes to choose from: a white cake, a red velvet cake and a caramel cake. I think that is enough cake to cause a sugar attack.

Ashley and Jordan decided to make presents for NeeNee.

Check out the video on the girls unique gifts to NeeNee.

Cruise to Mexico

2010-10-28T21:09:00.003-05:00

October 16th, Saturday. Sailed out from Galveston, Texas on the Carnival ship Ecstasy for five day cruise. Sailed to Yucatan Peninsula. Day three in Progresso Mexico. On Monday took an hour and half bus ride to Uxmal. There got to climb a Mayan temple and see Mayan ball game court. You don't want to be the winner in Mayan ball games. Third day the ship travels to the island of Cozumel. Take a submarine 100 feet down to see the coral reef.

On the ship there is food , food and more food. Four buffet lines in back of ship. Ice Cream 24/7. Girls loved Camp Carnival. Thursday back to United States and customs line. Hey they let us back in.

Our cruise director was not named Julie but Brad.

Oh and yes Hailey did get her stitches out on the ship. The doctor took them out and did not charge us for her services.

Hailey Attacked by Concrete Floor

2010-10-28T20:59:00.002-05:00

October 12th, 7pm. Tuesday. Open house today at Fletcher School. All the girls had their fair share of energy power bars today. I didn't see them eat today but then again they never eat much and always have tons of energy. Hailey decided to run around her classroom. As she was making the turn around a table her feet went out from under her. Her chin decided to be first hitting the classroom floor. That is when the blood starting coming out of the inch or more cut in her chin. 7:30pm visit to AM/PM clinic. Sorry but you need to go to the ER the doctor tells us. Five minutes later Comanche Memorial Hospital ER. Eight o'clock in to see doctor. Six stitches later and a $650 bill (before insurance). The doctor informs us that the stitches need to come out Sunday or Monday. Uh, we will be on a cruise ship in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

Hail Storm Hit Lawton

2010-10-28T20:45:00.002-05:00

October 10th, 2010, Sunday, started out as a quite evening. Then at nine o'clock something unseen for months appeared. Rain wait that's not just rain that's hail and more hail. It looked like it snowed outside. The hail came down so hard that it caused the rain to back up into the garage. Great, another inch of standing water flowed in. Emergency action required a causeway to be created for the water to flow past the garage.
The girls slept during the hail storm.

Hello, Sara? Get me the sheriff's office.

2010-08-27T16:19:00.003-05:00

We needed an old fashioned desktop telephone for a film project we're working on for church. I told Melissa I'd take care of it. After collecting a handful of odds & ends, gluing them together and spray painting the whole thing black, here's what I came up with. You can call me "Propmaster Tim"! :P

Letters From A Nut #5

2010-07-28T15:24:00.004-05:00

Speaking of letters to the editor, this one didn't get posted last year in response to a previous letter. I believe it was published September 26, 2009 in response to this letter which was a response to this letter. Whew! At least I think that's what happened.

Editor, The Transcript:

I feel compeled to write to you in response to a recent letter published in your fine publication from Ms. Joan Kozalowski. She questioned my truthfulness concerning a letter I wrote you about my neighbors. I can assure you that it was completely true. I do have neighbors and they are not figments of my imagination nor characters from a movie or television program, though I often enjoy watching television and movies.

I wonder if this response is a result of the growing cynicism in society. No one can be trusted. Everyone is out to get your money or pull a “fast one”. No one is willing to help their fellow man anymore!

I have seen a man at a busy intersection in Oklahoma City with a cardboard sign “Veteran Needs Money!”. Do I assume he’s not really a Veteran?

Someone in Nigeria e-mailed me an urgent message that his money was tied up here in America and needed my help. Should I assume he's trying to con me?

If we can't trust what is written in our local newspaper who can we trust? Who is Ms. Kozalowski going to tell us we can't trust next? Our own government of this great country that we live in? Shame on you Ms. Kozalowski!

If Joan Kozalowski (if that is her real name) does not believe me, I invite her to join my wife and I in my front yard. We've been watching the neighbors for weeks and we still don't know what they're up to.

Thank you,
Tim Duncan
A concerned citizen

Letters From A Nut #4

2010-07-28T14:54:00.003-05:00

Published in Norman Transcript July 18, 2010 -
Link here. But here's the original:

Dear Editor,
I have a suggestion for the Norman developers who are striving to improve our fair city and I hope that you can pass this suggestion on to the appropriate city council member, clerk, alderman or whoever makes these decisions. If not, perhaps they read your fine publication or someone who knows who makes these decisions reads your fine publication and can pass on the information.

The road construction at Robinson and Stubbeman has brought a growing concern to my mind that has been there building like the continued development of Norman. This construction, like similar construction in various locales around town, has caused a serious bind in traffic. There's hardly a time I travel to Wal-Mart without feeling that there are far too many people on the road and most of them seem to end up at Wal-Mart. These various construction projects don't help.

I propose we build a cross-town ramp that bypasses the traffic altogether. We could have one end begin at the East-side Wal-Mart and the other end at the West-side Wal-Mart. In this way we can expedite travel to and from Wal-Marts without interference from construction on the various streets and thoroughfares in between.

It can be called the Norman All-City Bypass. Or you can name it after me.

Thank you,
Tim Duncan
A concerned citizen

Who do you write like?

2010-07-15T16:09:00.003-05:00

Paste a sample of your writing and find out what famous author you write like based on statistical analysis. It's very scientific, I'm sure!

I write like
Douglas Adams

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Kitty Cat Crisis!

2010-07-03T09:40:00.003-05:00

For those not in the "know", two weeks ago we took our little three-legged kitty, Seven, to the vet. She was very lethargic, clingier than usual and had little head tremors every now and then. After blood work showed slightly low electrolytes, the vet gave her some fluids and we took her home. Saturday night she couldn't hold her supper down and Sunday morning she began some very disturbing seizures every half hour or so!

After a trip to the emergency clinic, more inconclusive blood tests, and another trip to her regular vet, she was prescribed phenobarbitol for the seizures. Her situation got worse, she couldn't stand, her equilibrium was gone, her eyesight seemed to have gone, she barely ate and we scheduled an appointment to have her put down.

But, then, after a web search, we found other people with cats that had similar symptoms. Their cats had strokes. And many, with time and help, recovered! We canceled our vet appointment and after a week and a half, Seven has made an incredible recovery. She's still a little weak and unstable, but she can jump up and down from the bed, cries to be fed in the morning with the other cats and seems more like the old Seven every day!

Hopefully she'll keep up the recovery!

New C&H:ITC!

2010-06-12T22:11:00.001-05:00

Egg Drop Soup

2010-05-25T16:07:00.006-05:00

Cassie's 8th grade science class had an end of the year Egg Drop Project in which they had to design a container for a single egg that would be dropped from the top of the school football bleachers.

The container had to use certain criteria (no "padding" or wings, had to be less than 12" wide, etc.) After several brainstorming sessions (including one involving her uncle Mike at The Library) Cassie came up with "The Sphere". The Sphere was created from a styrofoam ball hollowed out, encased in Dixie cups for force distribution and air resistance. The egg was suspended in the center of the sphere by a nylon hose.

After assembling the package on Monday night, Cassie & I performed a test run on the church front lawn. It failed. But after discussing possible improvements, Cassie pressed on and took The Sphere to school for The Egg Drop Tuesday afternoon. We ventured by the school to check out how it went. The teacher saved Cassie's for one of the last to be dropped (it was one of the coolest looking designs). After several promising drops from other students' designs, and a few very disheartening crashes, slams and splooshes (one used water as a cushioning system) it was Cassie's turn.

We held our breath. The Sphere plummeted to earth. Cassie timidly cracked it open to examine the damage... and plucked the perfect unbroken egg from within! The Sphere was a success!

Thanks to Mike from some inspiration and Sir Isaac Newton, without whom we wouldn't have these silly projects at school!

Happy Iron Man Day!

2010-05-06T09:51:00.003-05:00

Cassie has been anticipating the next Iron Man movie ever since watching the first one. He's her new number two hero (her father being number one of course, right?) and as soon as tickets were available online we purchased them for the midnight show. Today's the day and the entire family has Iron Man fever.

I still contend that the first in the series was the definitive "comic book movie", combining the best of action film making and comic book sensibilities. Hopefully Robert Downey Jr. and crew will be able to maintain the feel of the first without falling into the typical snares of these kind of things, keeping away from the hokey but still staying true to the spirit of the original.

To add to all the Marvel Magic, they've now released the first glimpse of Thor from the next Marvel blockbuster! If you're unfamiliar with the God of Thunder then check out your Norse mythology at Wikipedia, the Marvel character actually stays pretty true to the original fabled version. He's a noble son of Odin the All Father, king of the Norse pantheon and wields his trusty hammer Mjolnir to deal out justice! In the Marvel story he's been banished to earth by Odin to learn the lesson of humility (being a nigh omnipotent god tends to go to your head) and must live a dual life as a humble disabled human Dr. Donald Blake and The Almighty Thor!

It's going to be hard to stay clear of the hokey in this one! The film makers have a difficult task but with master Shakesperian thespian Kenneth Brannagh heading the production there just might be a chance. And so far, the look of Thor seems to fall into a good place. Like Thor and Dr. Blake, it seems to be precariously balanced between the classic look of the comicbook and something that could actually exist in the real world (or as real as a superhero tale can possibly get).

And I understand we might get a little tidbit of Goldilocks after the credits of Iron Man II so stick around and cross your fingers!

Vacation Report #17

2010-04-21T21:31:00.008-05:00

On the Friday of Spring Break we awoke to a disturbing weather report. Nothing devastating, no tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis or giant, mutant bipedal dinosaur attacks. Just your average first-day-of-Spring snow storm, that's all.

We were faced with a choice: stick to the plan of leaving Saturday morning after breakfast and face chancy-at-best road conditions - or - skip our last set of vacation sites and leave early to try and beat Snow Miser to the punch. After weighing the two possibilities, debating the merits of each and flipping several coins we finally came to a decision.

We decided to compromise. We'd do some last minute sightseeing, eat out at Incredible Pizza for dinner and leave in the late afternoon/early evening on Friday. That would put us back in Norman excrutiatingly late (or the wee early hours of Saturday morning) but the only thing we'd really miss would be miscellaneous roadside photo opportunities.

After visiting Laclede's Landing Wax Museum it was time for our last St. Louis attraction. Our resident co-host Ralph suggested we visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis located in the heart of the Gateway City.

Construction of the monumental structure was begun in 1907 and it wasn't completed until 1988! And it's not like they were goldbricking the entire time - well, they sort of were... The building, if you can call it simply that, is a throwback to European cathedral's of the Middle Ages. It is huge. Whether you have a spiritual bone in your body, are christian, muslim or buddhist, believe in a greater power or not, it is a beautiful and inspirational place! It's complete with golden mosaics, giant rose windows, amazing marble sculptures... and a gift shop!

The first thing you see is the narthex decorated with a golden mosaic depicting the life of Louis IX of France (St. Louis). As we entered into the nave we were greeted by the angelic voices of a children's choir that really resonated in the huge space of the church. We pretty much just wandered around from there in awe of the structure and the amazing art that filled the place. The Cathedral Basilica was a great way to finish off our visit to St. Louis!

Next up: There's no place like home!

Sole Mates!

2010-04-20T10:43:00.000-05:00

New t-shirt design - and I think the best one yet!

Cassie & Hannah: In The Cave

2010-04-19T11:29:00.008-05:00

Cassie & Hannah filmed a quick episode while at Meramec Caverns!

Vacation Report #16

2010-04-19T07:59:00.011-05:00

My daughter, the mad scientist!

Madame Tussaud's is the premier museum for wax sculptures. Expect to see amazingly lifelike representations of actors, politicians and historical figures that could seemingly walk out of the displays at any moment.

Laclede's Landing Wax Museum in St. Louis, MO however is a different story! Some of the figures are laughable, some with fingers missing and most miss the mark of their intended portraiture by a St. Louis mile! Not to say it wasn't great fun to visit! This is the sort of thing we live for! Cheese in every direction and fun for the whole family (though Hannah was terrified of the Chamber of Horrors and decided to opt out of the basement with the more "scary" figures.

Cassie's most frightening moment was in front of the Nightmare On Elm Street exhibit. Another couple were trying to pass by her, making a sort of scratchy noise while squeezing between her and the wall. She pretty much freaked out, jumped a foot off the floor and paused clutching her heart ala Redd Foxx. "Elizabeth! I'm coming ta join ya!"

Providing some presidential advice.

Next up: Do these pants make my buttresses look big?

Video Killed The Radio Star!

2010-04-15T18:03:00.001-05:00

The latest in our t-shirt design project! Go vote!

Vacation Report #15B

2010-04-14T21:30:00.004-05:00

Despite reports of his death in 1882, in May of 1948 a man came forth and proclaimed that he was, indeed, the notorious outlaw Jesse James! He claimed to be 101 years old and to make it even more interesting, he had moved to Lawton, OK to escape justice.

That's where all the outlaws I know live.

That bastion of truth, the local newspaper The Lawton Constitution, dedicated their May 19, 1948 issue to the discovery, guaranteeing the veracity of the old man's claims! And you can purchase reproductions at Jesse's Hideout Giftshop at Meramec Caverns just like I did! Though there are still questions surrounding the death of the famed bandit, unfortunately it seems the Lawton reports were all a big hoax, perpetrated by a man named J. Frank Dalton.

Disappointing, perhaps, but Jesses's brother, Frank James (often considered the more bloodthirsty of the two), did actually live on a farm in Fletcher, OK from 1905 to 1911! One of his best friends in town? The local bank president, of course!

And this concludes your history lesson for today.

Next up: Waxing nostalgic!

Vacation Report #15

2010-04-13T09:30:00.013-05:00

Oscar Wilde once wrote:

"Americans are certainly great hero-worshippers, and always take [their] heroes from the criminal classes."

We do like our anti-heroes: Dirty Harry, Bonnie & Clyde, ninjas, pirates and outlaws! And there were plenty of outlaws in the Old West, none more famous than Jesse James! And Missouri is Jesse James country. You can find museums, the family home, his purported gravesite (more about that later) and his hideout, Meramec Caverns!
A little less than an hour west of St. Louis, located on Rt. 66 (natch) Meramec Caverns is a 400 million year old, almost 26 mile labyrinth of meandering limestone caverns. And the shining jewel in the tourist trap tiara that is Rt. 66 roadside cheese. Mixed metaphors aside, we do like our cheese more than our anti-heroes.

The story goes that back in the James Gang's heyday, after a big job robbing yet another train, lawmen followed in hot pursuit, led by a tenacious young sheriff. They hunted the outlaws down, riding all the way back into James' home territory where he and his crew led them deep into the woods along the Meramec River where they mysteriously disappeared. The sheriff suspected the band of thieves had rode into a wide mouthed cavern and decided to wait them out. They would eventually have to leave the safety of the cave for food, supplies or at least another bank heist. The lawmen waited patiently. They waited. And waited. And waited some more. But no Jesse James.

Eventually they gave up and moved on, but it's a wonder they didn't figure out it was Jesse's secret lair, considering the entrance is lit up with a great big neon sign that spells it out for them: "Meramec Caverns: Jesse James Hideout"! At least it was when we were there. The caverns themselves were pretty awesome, and the idea that some regular Joe could stumble on something so incredible makes the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in all of us scream a little girl's scream of joy. Maybe it's just me.

In 1941 that regular Joe who made Meramec Caverns what it is today, Les Dill, discovered the hidden alcove that held lockboxes from the James Gang's heists and the backdoor passage they probably used to elude those lawmen all those years before. From there he found more and more passages, underground rivers, bizarre and wondrous limestone formations and a great way to make boocoos of money! He'd make Jesse proud!

The hokiness of the tour is fun, complete with other stories about Art Linkletter, Lassie and Kate Smith, arguably the hokiest part of the tour. It's the Grande Finale, as you sit in the "Theatre Room" before one of nature's wonders, a giant mass of stone draperies formed over millions of years. Majestic? Yes. One of God's magnificent creations? Absolutely. A prime opportunity for some Roadside Cheese? You bet your sweet Bippy! As we sit in the dark, Kate begins wailing "God Bless America" and the cheesiest light show displayed on one of God's great works of art begins. Imagine taking the Mona Lisa and covering her up with hot melted cheddar. Sweet, sweet cheddar.

After the tour we made the requisite visit to the gift shop with the added bonus of finding an errant cute-as-a-button bat hanging from the ceiling.

It was here that I discovered the thing that made it all make sense. The missing link between a van full of vacationing Okies and a gang of antisocial, reprobate old west outlaws. It made sense. It felt right. So I purchased it.

Next up: More on Jesse James? Really?

Vacation Report #14

2010-04-08T10:30:00.005-05:00

After reviewing man's inhumanity to man one needs to restore one's confidence in the state of humanity. Where better to find that confidence then in the happiest place on earth? Even though it's a happiness brought on my a drunken stupor. That's right, it's the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and it's like Willy Wonka's Candy Factory if Barney Gumble, Otis Campbell and W.C. Fields were in charge. We're not drinkers in any way, shape or form, but it turned out to be a fascinating tour. And you get to see the Budweiser Clydesdales to boot.

I'm a little disappointed I didn't see any of those talking frogs, though.

Vacation Report #13

2010-04-06T21:44:00.010-05:00

Most of our vacations tend to land on the silly side. But occasionally we throw in something educational or even significantly emotional. That would include our visit to the Holocaust Museum & Learning Center. There's not much I can say about the museum that would give it justice.
We kind of piggy-backed onto a guided tour with a local school group and then sat in on a Holocaust survivor's talk afterwards. Her story was an amazing one, a Polish Jew who went from a Polish Ghetto to Concentration Camps, losing her mother and separated from her father during the process finally ending up in Bergen-Belsen by the end of the war where she was found on the brink of death.

Hearing her story and seeing how she made it relate to the kids in the room was something I'm glad we got the chance to experience. It certainly makes something that you normally just read about in history books, watch on TV and see in museums become much more real!

Next up: Back To The Lighter Side!

Vacation Report #12

2010-04-05T09:18:00.022-05:00

At 630 ft. the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO is the tallest monument in the United States, commemorating the country's Westward Expansion. It was built over the course of three years, between 1963 and 1965, by men without safety harnesses of any kind, who held on with one hand and smoked their cigarettes with the other.

We arrived at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial just in time to get tickets later in the afternoon to go up to the observation deck of the monument since one side wasn't running that day. It takes approximately 4 minutes to get to the top via two trains of capsules that normally go up both legs of the monument, a sort of crossbreed of elevator/cable car/ferris wheel that rotates as it rises to compensate for the arched structure. And you can hear the screams of the passengers in the next car over.

We found how much two skinny little teenage girls really weigh!

After the scare of losing 3 teenage girls in an area swarming with the huddled masses we all ventured into a darkened theater, watched a 43-year-old documentary (that needs a major restoration), wandered the museum (including creepy animatronic old west dudes), visited the gift shops and ate fudge. Eventually our ticket time approached and we stood in a long line, waited some more and then finally boarded the capsule or as Melissa calls it "The Elevator of Death". It was a little claustrophobic. Our fellow travelers rode up elevator #3 while Melissa, Cassie & I stepped into #4 with two young ladies from Kentucky with matching white knuckles. Four agonizing minutes later and we were looking out the observation windows with 600 some odd feet of air beneath us!

For someone who suffers from acrophobia, the experience really wasn't all that bad. The small windows probably helped, despite being angled downward so that you can pretty much look straight down! But now we can say we've been there, we didn't fall off, it didn't fall over, and we didn't get stuck in the elevator on the way down either! I'm just glad we didn't read about this before we went. Melissa would never have gotten up if we had!

The "capsule"; Melissa at the top; the whole crew on the way down.

Next up: How 'bout a little history to go with your vacation?

Vacation Report #11

2010-04-03T21:15:00.017-05:00

Our first major attraction to visit in the Gateway City was the City Museum! It's hard to describe the place satisfactorily. As you approach it, the school bus hanging off the side of the roof catches your attention immediately! It's a mish-mash of a museum. Think Art Museum/Ripley's Believe It Or Not/Giant Chucky Cheese Play Area with a second-hand store and an aquarium to boot! It's something that kids and adults can both enjoy, from crawling around giant hamster tubes to sliding down enormous slides to wandering through some great architectural galleries. It's very eclectic and artsy-fartsy but kid friendly (as long as they're careful!) Not only kid friendly but adult friendly, too. Donna liked the rollie slide so much she went down it 3 times!
The Aquarium has a DIY feel to it, like somebody's uncle put it together. It's very "hands-on", literally! It's just like crazy Uncle Ed to let you stick your hand in the water and let the fish swarm around it and bite your fingers and then let you pet the sharks!

We could have spent the entire day there if we hadn't gotten so worn out climbing stairs, crawling through tunnels and petting sharks! We didn't even get a chance to go outside to the amazing MonstroCity, a huge playground that includes airplane fuselages, castle turrets and giant iron slinkies you can crawl through! The City Museum is worth several vacation reports, but we're already up to #11 and we haven't gotten past Monday yet!

So... next up: Is that the second biggest McDonald's?!

Vacation Report #10

2010-04-01T23:59:00.014-05:00

After a long day's journey across two states we finally arrived in St. Louis, the Gateway City! Donna's brother Jason was a most gracious host throughout the week, donning multiple hats as hotelier, tour guide and dinner entertainment. The house was huge! It was like staying in a Bed & Breakfast. The bedroom Melissa & I stayed in was complete with adjoining bathroom, cable television and little doorknob "Do Not Disturb" sign!

But the room that probably got the most use was the basement gameroom, complete with pool table and shuffleboard!

Jason schools Trey

in the finer art of billiards.

Lou Bear!

Vacation Report #9

2010-03-31T23:59:00.003-05:00

It's hard to pin down the highlight of our Spring Break. There were many amazing and wondrous things on our journey during the week. Wonders wrought by man and by nature. But perhaps it was that perfect synergy of both that wins the grand prize, when man takes what nature has given him... and paints it.

We were led there by that greatest of vacation resources: Roadside America. If you've ever planned a vacation that involved any driving and you've never visited this site then you're bound to have missed out on opportunities along the way. It has become essential to our Great American Roadtrips and most of the more unusual sights you see in our vacation reports are due to the best travel website on the Information Mother Road! If there's a Giant Muffler Man or tourist trap to be seen, you'll find it here. And this is where we discovered Frog Rock located along Hwy 66 (of course) in Waynesville, MO.

The GPS system on the dash of the van would not accept a world in which Frog Rock existed. The cute little device, affectionately christened Jenny (think 'Jen-nay' from Forrest Gump... don't ask, I'm not sure there's really an answer!), had been the bane of our trip, constantly telling us to get off the highway, make u-turns and generally trying to get us lost, then suddenly getting huffy and clamming up when we would ignore her insistence that we should "Exit now!"

So like in most instances, we were on our own, armed only with the directions from RA. We turned off at Exit 159 and drove NW per our printed instructions. It seemed a hopeless cause.

But just when you think you've gone too far and you've missed it, there it is... in all it's green glory! Like some... magificent... big... frog. It's just too difficult to put into words.

I'm told Oklahoma has its own Frog Rock near Ada! Roadtrip, anyone?

Next up: Are we there yet?

Vacation Report #8

2010-03-30T22:00:00.002-05:00

The Hubble Space Telesope is about to celebrate its 20th birthday on April 24. There's lots in the news lately in honor of the momentous occasion of its launch all those years ago: it stars in a new IMAX 3D movie; it has a new book out; and it's featured in some major research and fantastic images of what's beyond our little neck of the woods.

And in honor of all Hubble's hard work we visited a little place called Marshfield, MO where they have a scale replica on there courthouse lawn! In 1889, Marshfield was the birthplace of Edwin Hubble, a reknowned astronomer who proved the existence of galaxies other than our own and devised the system for classifying galaxies that is still used today.

Check out NASA's website for more awesome pictures from Hubble and news on its birthday!

Didn't know you'd get this much of an education reading a stupid blog, did ya!

Next up: A rock shaped like a frog!

Vacation Report #7

2010-03-29T21:54:00.004-05:00

Chances are if you've ever been to a picnic, backyard cookout or family reunion you've used a Solo Cup! But probably not one this big! You can find this one in Springfield, MO in front of a Solo Cup factory. Though it looks like business is bust, the factory and cup still remain for photo opportunities!

Not only is Springfield the home of a giant cup, it's the home of some ginormous earthworms! And the Solo Cup parking lot seems to be their final pilgrimage as they sacrifice themselves to the great Cup! They were everywhere! Ewwwwy!

Vacation Report #6

2010-03-28T14:20:00.003-05:00

If you're driving down the hiways and biways of this great nation and you see a state travel center on the side of the road, I highly encourage you to give it a visit. Most are manned by wonderfully friendly folks during regular hours (even in Texas), have a boatload of information for the precipitate pilgrim and some have interesting sights all on their own!

Vacation Report #5

2010-03-27T08:15:00.005-05:00

Teenagers are fascinated by "energy drinks". You know the stuff. It's like non-alcoholic beer for teenagers. At least back in the day we drank things like Mountain Dew or at worst Jolt Cola to get that sugar/caffeine buzz, products that at least had a modicum of taste, unlike the swill that pours forth from convenience stores nowadays. They all have "adult" labeling and vaguely illicit names like "Vault", "Semtex", "Red Eye", "NOS" and "Rockstar".

Unfortunately Cassandra has discovered them, after a long stint of abstaining from fizzy beverages in general due to her growing health consciousness. It's a proud moment when my daughter orders water in restaurants. But now she's backsliding with "energy drinks". And to make things worse there's chewing gum with the same sort of stuff in it! And this is what she was chewing when this was filmed at one of the tourist information stops along the long road to St. Louis:

Try to convince her it's nasty stuff. It'll go over better coming from you!

Hannah joins in the fray!

Treat at the ballpark

2010-03-26T23:18:00.001-05:00

Hannah-bear sampling baseball yummies at Norman High.

Her big bro' getting ready to steal second base.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....Wait a Minute!

2010-03-26T23:16:00.003-05:00

OK, Tim, so you got us to big tall Indians and pipe cleaner art. But then you leave us hanging with some t-shirt thingy? Where's St. Louie? Have ya forgotten this is a travel log (or whatever they call it)?

Tooth & Nail!

2010-03-26T17:46:00.003-05:00

The latest in our t-shirt design project! Go vote!

Vacation Report #4

2010-03-24T23:45:00.002-05:00

While traveling the long, long, long and winding road to St. Louis, we occupy ourselves like anyone else. We count the number of yellow volkswagen bugs (by the bruises on my arms and legs), sing sing-along songs (like Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline) and make pom-pom & pipe-cleaner animals!

Our menagerie included a cat, a giraffe, a panther-dog, Falkor the Luckdragon from the Neverending Story, a dismembered elephant head, and a bizarre mutant black spider-dog-thing!

Next up: 1 piece of energy gum + 14-year-old girls = disaster!

And now a message from our sponsors....

2010-03-24T13:56:00.004-05:00

After you're done enjoying our Spring Break Vacation vicariously through the Duncan Family Blog move over and try Big Bro's Photography Blog and view a snapshot from the mind of a photographer. It's kinda scary...

You can always find a link to his site in the sidebar to the right of this blog page, too.

By the way, Mike, it's about time you updated the website!

Vacation Report #3

2010-03-23T21:14:00.002-05:00

If you've ever driven down I-44 east of Tulsa then you've driven under the Biggest McDonald's Restaurant in the United States! Or did you? There's some contention concerning the reigning champion of Fast Food Conveyance. There's a newer restaurant that claims the title in Orlando, FL (of course) but many point out that the newer 25,000 square ft. facility would fit inside the 29,000 square ft. version in Vinita, OK!

Next up: Lions & Tigers & Mutant Spider-Dog-Things! Oh my!

Vacation Report #2

2010-03-22T21:36:00.008-05:00

Our next stop along the Mother Road was Big Cabin, OK. Big Cabin was named after, well, a big cabin used by local Native Americans near a Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway switch. But we think it was really named after the Big Cabin this Giant Indian Chief must go home to after a long day standing along the roadside. His name is Standing Brave and he guards the truck stop nearby.

At 51 feet, he's a towering figure and a perfect photo opportunity! Alas, the road is a harsh mistress and Standing Brave's pedestal is an unyielding concrete block, as Cassie can testify. In her attempt to climb up to Standing Brave's feet she ended up scraping her finger! But this is the pain we must bear as we continue our adventure East!

Next up: That's the second biggest arch we've ever seen!

Vacation Report #1

2010-03-21T07:46:00.012-05:00

Along Oklahoma's hiways and biways, one can find unusual treasures: Native American burial mounds; desert-like sand dunes; even dinosaur tracks embedded in stone. But along Route 66 one finds the really historically important sights! Like round barns and giant cyan cetaceans!

Yes, I'm talking about the Big Blue Whale found in Catoosa, OK just east of Tulsa. It was originally a local swimming attraction built by Hugh Davis in the early 70's as a gift for his wife (a lifelong collector of all things whale-ish, blue or otherwise), along with picnic tables and Noah's Ark full of snakes and lizards and alligators, oh my!

Davis has passed on to the great Blue Whale in the sky and the park has for the most part fallen into disrepair. But The Whale is still given a fresh coat of paint from time to time by locals.

There's still a slide into the pond from The Whale's tail, but it was a little coolish to take a dip. We did find that you can climb up into it's back and look out the portholes in its side, but Melissa was suspicious of it's structural integrity!

The Ark (or what's left of it) is still there, too, but was locked away behind a fence, seemingly neglected and rotting away. What would Noah think!

Next up: There's a reason it's gotta be a Big Cabin!

Screwy In St. Louey!

2010-03-20T21:07:00.008-05:00

This year's installment of The Great American Road Trip took us to St. Louis, MO for 5 glorious days during Spring Break! Though we had to cut the trip slightly short due to the wonderful "Spring" weather, we still managed to pack in the tourist traps! And now, through the miracle of digital technology, join us here daily as we travel east along I-44 and see the sights, hear the sounds and smell the smells... you know the ones I'm talking about, after being trapped in a van with 4 teenagers in the back seat for 12 hours!

This year we were joined by some more friends: Hannah of Cassie & Hannah: In The Closet; Donna, Trey & Angela; and our most gracious hosts and St. Louis guides Jason & Ralph!

We start reports tomorrow in our great home state of Oklahoma for a roadside pitstop at a Route 66 classic!

Bush League!

2010-03-13T15:03:00.005-06:00

Here's a new shirt to vote on! Head over to Threadless.com & gimme a 5!

Harry Wolfman Private Eye

2010-02-25T21:59:00.004-06:00

Here's my latest project. Threadless.com is a website that sells t-shirts. They have an online submission for everyday Joes (such as myself) and if you're design gets chosen you win fabulous prizes! Melissa, Cassie & I have been brainstorming ideas for shirts (admittedly Melissa has come up with most if not all of them) and this is our first design. Go check it out!

Fall pics...

2009-10-30T15:22:00.008-05:00

Some Fall in Oklahoma shots taken last weekend. Chickasaw National Recreation Area near Sulphur.

Letters From A Nut #3

2009-09-20T21:41:00.002-05:00

Published in Norman Transcript September 20, 2009 -

A 'Halloween gotcha?'

Editor, The Transcript:

After reading the letter from Tim Duncan "Missing my friendly former neighbor" only two things came to mind: The editor has been "had." Duh. Or the editor is clever and wants to see if readers are paying attention.

This has got to be a joke, based upon ideas from a dozen or so old horror stories, TV, and/or books. The "pipewrench" (Clue) hooks instead of hands (Urban Legend), crazy old man who thinks he is Santa (Old Twilight Zone TV), the gay couple, something buried in the backyard, strange cars around a silent house, etc. Hmmm and all on one block, one neighborhood...

Is this the first report in a series of such mysterious doings in Norman leading up to a "Halloween gotcha?" Are you having us on, Tim? Liar, liar, pants on fire.

JOAN KOZLOWSKI
Norman

2009-09-15T02:05:00.004-05:00

New Head Coach Greg M. on the sideline of Kingston High Redskins football.

Saturday football tailgate

2009-09-15T02:02:00.002-05:00

Mike and Hunter before Saturday's Oklahoma vs. Idaho State football game.

Letters From A Nut #2

2009-09-14T18:04:00.003-05:00

Published in Norman Transcript September 13, 2009 -

Dear Editor,

I am concerned about a problem we have in our neighborhood and I am hoping that you could help by making the general public aware through your fine publication. We have lost our friendly neighbor.

When my family and I moved into our current home 12 years ago, we were delighted to discover a friendly neighbor to our immediate west. He was most helpful. He would let me borrow his pipewrench when I needed it and I bought a pair of very interesting lamps shaped like an abacus from him. But most of all he was a fount of information concerning the life of our neighborhood. He knew the goings on of everyone from corner to corner. From the circumstances of how the gentlemen with hooks lost his hands across the way, to the schedule of the gay couple next door to the police record of the crazy old man who looked like Santa Claus down the street. He seemed to know everything one might need to know about one's neighbors, except for what was buried in the gay couple's back yard.

Unfortunately that neighbor moved away. And now I have no one to tell me what's going on. New people have moved across the street and I have seen as many as 7 vehicles parked out front at one time, but no "party noises" emanate from the house. In fact it is unnaturally silent.

What ever happened to our friendly neighbors? Have they all moved away? If so are they all living in the same town somewhere. I think ours moved to South Carolina.

Please encourage the readers of your fine publication to become better neighbors. And if you know what's going on across the street please let me know.

Tim Duncan
A concerned citizen

Letters From A Nut #1

2009-08-16T15:38:00.006-05:00

Published in Norman Transcript August 15, 2009 12:15 am -

Bruised dad wants slug bugs on 'Clunkers' list

Editor, The Transcript:

After seeing many articles in your fine publication and other media outlets concerning the "Clunkers for Cash" Federal program, it occurred to me that it was far lacking in its inclusiveness. Not only could it be used as a boon to the environment and the economic stability of the automotive industry, but it could help stem the tide of rising violence in our great nation. A violence that has reached the keystone of our society: The family. It has reached my own family as it may have yours. From my dearest wife to my darling daughter. I have the bruises to prove it.

I would like to amend the list of eligible cars for the above mentioned federal program to include: Volkswagen Beetles (slug-bugs or punch-buggies); Chrysler PT Cruisers (bruiser cruisers); Volkswagen Jettas (Jetta jabs); and all models manufactured by the Chevrolet Motor Company (heavy Chevys).

Most recently I would like to include any and all vehicles that are predominantly yellow in color. My wife and daughter scream out "banana" as they inflict grievous bodily harm against my already sore and bruised arms.

After adding these vehicles to the Federal program there should be new regulations involving the manufacture of these cars. If the owners of said vehicles do not avail themselves of the monetary incentive involved, their vehicles should be subject to seizure. There is a yellow Volkswagen seen near our neighborhood from time to time and I believe this should be the first vehicle to be seized under the new regulations.

Please help stop this unnecessary violence in our society by writing your Congressman or Attorney General concerning this matter.

TIM DUNCAN
Norman

Factoid of the Day!

2009-07-09T22:35:00.004-05:00

The flashes of colored light you see when you rub your eyes are called “phosphenes.”

Vacation Report #10

2009-06-26T18:36:00.012-05:00

As one travels the hiways and byways of this great country, one tends to see a fair share of billboards for restaurants, hotels, massage parlors and the like. Then there's that rare find, that daisy in a field of weeds, that billboard that actually catches your attention. Not necessarily due to its catchy graphic design, it's bright vibrant colors or the message it conveys, but because it's the only one touting "The Best Restrooms in the World!"... or something like that.

On I-45 between Houston and Dallas you'll find a whole string of billboards for Buc-ee's Convenience Store. Reminiscent of the repetitive Wall Drug signs of South Dakota, Buc-ee's believes in repetition and ridiculous proclamations. We had to stop to see it for ourselves.

Why so glum, chum?
We found it in Madisonville and though I can't vouch for the restrooms (you'll have to ask Melissa, our resident restroom connoisseur) the convenience store that's more than just a convenience store had a super sweet cigar indian out front, an animitronic inmate jailed by the men's room, and Buc-ee himself greets you at the door! Now that's what I call personal service!

Don't ask me what "Beaver Nuggets" are!
They've got a bakery, a coffee shop, a deli, those awesome candied pecans, peanuts & almonds, furniture made out of wild animals, and something called beaver nuggets!

So, if you ever find yourself on that lonesome highway near Madisonville, give Buc-ee a visit. He's got "The Best Restrooms in the World!"

Vacation Report #9

2009-06-26T17:40:00.014-05:00

All good things must come to an end, it is said, and so, after all the fun in the sun, battling the turbulent tide and taking in the sights, it was finally time to head back home.

But there were a couple more sights to take in, like...

"A Tribute To Courage"
It is also said that everything's bigger in... the state that shall remain nameless. And that includes their roadside attractions.

"A Tribute To Courage" is the official title of the monumental statue of Sam Houston in Huntsville. It is touted as the largest freestanding statue of an American hero. Though if you can call a guy who beat somebody to a bloody pulp with a hickory cane on the streets of Washington, D.C., is tried and fined $500 but then skips the country to avoid paying, a hero...

But, it was a more rough and tumble time in the 19th century. And we are talking about the man who is esteemed as the epitome of all that is Tex... Whoops! Almost slipped!

Whatever your opinion of the Senator, Governor and President of this former Republic, you can't deny he makes one BIG statue!

Somebody's not smiling!

Melissa! Have some respect!

Vacation Report #8

2009-06-26T17:31:00.006-05:00

I am conspicuously absent from most of these pictures since somebody's got to be behind the camera. So here's a couple special shots of your's truly in front of The Rainforest Cafe. They've got a super cool facade, complete with waterfall and ancient ruin temple!

Don't tell Melissa!

Vacation Report #7

2009-06-25T20:00:00.012-05:00

The Rainforest Cafe is restaurant/attraction with a "Save the Rainforest" theme and a Disney World atmosphere complete with overpriced gift shop and less than exciting amusement park ride. Simulated lightning storms and frantic animatronic animal escapades are regularly scheduled during your meal!

The highlight of any visit to the slickest tourist trap on Seawall Blvd. (besides a visit from froggy mascot "Cha-cha") has to be their signature dessert! Order one and you'll hear it coming your way as the waitstaff yells out at the top of their lungs: "VOLCANO!"

Yes it's a Volcano, a huge mound of ice cream, fudge, chocolate, caramel and what-have-you, topped with a sizzling sparkler. Cassie ate the whole thing by herself - she's so selfish (just kidding)!

Vacation Report #6

2009-06-25T19:21:00.009-05:00

There are generally two ways to get to an island: by bridge or by boat. Well, three: by bridge, by boat or by plane. Well, four if you want to get technical... Never mind.

Bolivar Peninsula is just East of Galveston Island and the quickest way to get to and from the thin stretch of land is to ferry across, car and all. It's quite an experience for land lubbers like us and our one real chance for dolphin sightings!

The only problem with the whole arrangement is that, there's really nothing there to see or do. It's a pretty barren wasteland with a few houses spotting the beaches along the coast. So after driving awhile and seeing nothing, one's only other choice is to turn around and take the ferry back!

A fellow feline ferry traveler
who was none too happy to be taking the trip!

Vacation Report #5

2009-06-24T22:47:00.027-05:00

While taking in the sights of Galveston, Lissa was impressed that they had a ship named after her... wait a minute! Something's fishy here, and I don't mean that pungent aroma floating across the bay!

According to the
Galveston Historical Foundation:

ELISSA is a three-masted, iron-hulled sailing ship built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland... She carries nineteen sails covering over one-quarter of an acre in surface area. From her stern to the tip of her jibboom she measures 205 feet. Her height is 99 feet, 9 inches at the main mast... But, she is much more than iron, wood and canvas...

That's right. She's an awesome cool pirate ship! Manned by the scurviest scoundrels that sailed the seven seas! Deck Hand Calico Cassie, First Mate Tim "Black Dog" Duncan, Captain One-eyed Juanita & Ship's Cook Bonny Black Barbara!
Though it may not have actually been a pirate ship, it was an awesome cool feeling to be on the deck of something very much like it. After perusing the ship from stem to stern we dined next door with the Elissa right outside the window.

Vacation Report #4

2009-06-24T22:05:00.009-05:00

The beach was our main attraction and so we spent every morning and evening frolicking in the surf (as best we could) or playing in the sand. Cassie laid traps for unsuspecting beachcombers to fall into, but alas was foiled by the incoming tide and falling into her own traps!

I am a testament to modern day sunscreen. After three days of "fun in the sun" I did not return to the Sooner state as a lobster. And despite the red flag warnings by the lifeguards, no one was drowned or dragged out to sea. The surf was definitely a force to be contended with, though. If only any one of us knew the first thing about surfing. We had to be content with flopping about the saltwater surf in floaty rings! I swear I totally tubed one awesome wave, though, dude!

Vacation Report #3

2009-06-24T21:26:00.012-05:00

Finally, after a long hot day in the car (how do you Houstonians survive the summer?) we arrived at Galveston Island just in time to take a sunset stroll along the beach. Despite warnings from well-meaning ne'er-do-wells, who foretold of wrecked beaches and disastrous conditions at the site of Hurricane Ike's wrath last year, the beach was in fine form. In fact the crowds this year far exceeded our previous visits!
There were definite signs of damage, from beach houses down the west side of the island missing great chunks (if not swept away altogether) to the hotel on the pier closed down in a shambles (Melissa always thought that was a bad idea)! But for the most part, hotels, restaurants and sundry businesses along Seawall Blvd. were open and thriving with tourists. And despite heavy surf (the red flag flew the entire time)the beach was teeming with people!

Vacation Report #2

2009-06-24T20:56:00.013-05:00

Many's the time that Melissa has regaled me with stories of her and her brother playing out in the field by their house: Cops and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, Spy vs. Spy. But more often than not they were playing Army and her brother was... Audie Murphy. Sure, there may have been a time or two when I was a kid, that I'd imagine holding the front lines for some kiddy version of the Battle of the Somme, but I can't remember ever knowing enough about American history to actually portray a real war hero by name!

And in Greenville, his boyhood home, you can find a great big statue of that hero.

For those not in the know (or those who didn't grow up in Melissa's family) Audie Murphy was a real life WWII hero, the most decorated of them all, who made his main claim to fame after the war to end all wars appearing in a laundry list of combat themed flicks filmed in the 50's & 60's. The real story of his military career is heart-renching and trumps any movies he made later on in spades. There's an official site from which you can learn more here.

Since Melissa's brother was invariably Audie, who was Melissa, you might ask? An original creation named "Big Lou Lou".

Don't shoot Audie! It's me! Big Lou Lou!

Vacation Report #1

2009-06-24T20:46:00.005-05:00

Our first major sight along the way was: Glenn Goode's Big People in Gainesville!

Once upon a time, in this wonderful land we call the U.S. of A., roadtrips were full of wondrous sights like giant jackrabbits, giant peanuts, giant rocking chairs and... giant people! The Muffler Man is a relic of a time not quite forgotten, when people wanted to sell you something. And when they wanted to sell you something they needed to get your attention. And giant people glaring down at you from the side of the road got your attention! Glenn Goode has a small sampling of old roadside statuary just East of Gainesville.

They're big. Really big.

And you can look up the former Uniroyal Gal's skirt and see her pink bikini shorts! What? I'm just sayin'!

Find out more about Muffler Men here!

Oooooo. Ahhhhhh. They're so... big.

Galveston Oh Galveston!

2009-06-24T20:24:00.008-05:00

After a significant delay (it's a busy life) I'm finally posting our pictures from our latest edition of The Great American Road Trip! This year it was no wild meandering across the great American West nor an extended expedition into the colder climes of the Colorado Rockies nor a fun-filled family outing to Florida. This year it was a simple venture south and to the beach. Yes, Melissa revoked her previous oath never to set foot in that state that will remain nameless, and we traveled to our old vacation mainstay, the newly revived beaches of Galveston. This year our special guest vacationer was Melissa's mom, Barbara, who also happens to be my favorite mother-in-law!

It was a short holiday - but we tried to make it a memorable one. Join us as we remember - it'll be fun and exciting, like watching somebody's vacation slides! Only better! Because... they're just better!

Factoid of the Day!

2009-06-12T16:22:00.002-05:00

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

Discovering Facebook

2009-05-14T19:21:00.005-05:00

After attending my 20th High School Reunion this Spring I discovered an inordinate number of my past schoolmates with Facebook accounts. In fact much of the gathering had been organized through Facebook, much to my surprise. Thusly, I was given the challenge of signing up myself and finding out what all the hubbub was all about.

Cassie now accuses me of being a "Facebook Addict". True, since signing up I've logged on almost every day. Yes, I participate in inane comment banter. Of course, I answer various random Facebook surveys and top 5 lists. But am I addicted? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile the Duncan blog goes sadly unattended. Sorry blog.

C&H:ITC Princess Diana Report!

2009-03-26T20:37:00.001-05:00

Swingin'

2009-03-25T22:47:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite snaps from when Cassie was little!

New C&H:ITC!

2009-03-25T20:23:00.001-05:00

Cassie & Hannah interview the Elephant Man!

Factoid of the Day!

2009-03-16T22:19:00.001-05:00

Chewny is Scottish slang for chewing gum.

No C&H Year in Review

2009-03-13T22:39:00.003-05:00

Instead look for Cassie & Hannah's latest biographical book reports ala C&H:ITC! Cassie's topic will be Joseph Merrick, more commonly known as the Elephant Man and Hannah's will be Princess Diana.

Factoid Of The Day!

2009-03-13T22:34:00.002-05:00

A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

Factoid Of The Day!

2009-02-09T19:19:00.001-06:00

You are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than by a poisonous spider.

It's That Time Again!

2009-02-09T19:04:00.003-06:00

Yup, it's the time when I randomly post something to the blog, bemoaning the lack of activity on my part and yours! Looks like before Christmas since anything was posted and here it is almost Valentine's Day! Hope everyone is well and surviving the hard economic times. Look for a "2008 Year In Review" from Cassie & Hannah soon!

Change in Christmas Plans!

2008-12-01T11:05:00.002-06:00

Here are the new plans for the Holidays as it concerns Clan Duncan and its friends and relations:

The annual Muse Red Oak Christmas will be December 20, the Saturday before Christmas, as is customary. But instead of reconvening in Wilburton afterwards for our usual gift exchange, the powers that be have decided to change things - in order to spice things up a bit and to make things easier for those traveling from the more outlying locales on the family map.

The plan now is to meet on Christmas Day in the afternoon at Mike's house in Norman for BBQ and presents. It's closer to the Lawton branch and the Ada branch of the family plus the Houston branch will be nearby on Christmas as well! This way if you can't manage the trip to Wilburton and Red Oak you won't miss out on the rest of the festivities!

Ho-Ho-Hope to see you all there!

Alex on election night

2008-11-19T22:38:00.008-06:00

Here is Alex on election day/night 2008. As most you know he was field coordinator for the Andrew Rice for U.S. Senate campaign.

Cassie & Hannah: Wiggin' Out!

2008-11-19T11:06:00.003-06:00

Duncan ABCs

2008-11-05T20:26:00.003-06:00

So, say a person wanted to create an ABC book for the younger cousins of the Duncan family for Christmas, can anyone out there help me come up with names? Here's what I have:
A - Ashley, Alex, Abigail, Alanna
B - Uncle Billy, Bunnie, Barbara
C - Cooper, Cassie
D - ?? (group photo of Duncans?)
E - Elizabeth
F - Fern
G - Greg D, Greg M, Glen
H - Hoyt, Hannah, Hailey, Hunter
I - ??
J - Jordan, Julie, Jim, James
K - ??
L - Lois
M - Mike, Melissa, Margaret
N - Nici
O - ??
P - Price
Q - ??
R - ??
S - Susan
T - Tim, Tami
U - ??
V - ??
W - Weta
X - ??
Y - ??
Z - Zac

I'd prefer to stick with family proper, but if I have to fill in a few with pet names, that will work if I can find pictures. ;-)
Julie

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-03T20:24:00.019-06:00

Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween on Friday! We had a blast ourselves. I had to go to work but since my fellow prepress monkey also dresses up for the occasion, we roamed the plant making sure everyone was safe from paranormal activity and supervillains. After work the whole family went out with friends, wandering the streets of Norman, getting attacked by werewolves, giant spiders and kids hiding behind porches.

If you went out trick-or-treating, e-mail us your picture so we can all see how silly you looked on Halloween!

Cassie as Goldilocks
Who ya gonna' call?
Cassie, Tim, Jensen and Hannah as Goldilocks, a Ghostbuster,
Goth-chick and the Queen of Hearts

Big News

2008-10-30T23:15:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to make sure everyone saw my new blog http://zansttcjourney.blogspot.com/. We found out the genders today!!!

A REAL election poll!

2008-10-29T23:01:00.004-05:00

I don't know a lot about Worlds of Warcraft, the online role-playing game, but in light of the upcoming election - I thought this was deeply insightful!

Ready for Halloween?

2008-10-10T22:53:00.004-05:00

How are you dressing up this Halloween? Favorite superhero? Scary monster? Political candidate? Let us know! And send us your pictures (or better yet, post them yourselves!).

Vintage Picture

2008-10-10T22:49:00.004-05:00

Found this in a bunch of old pictures. They must be related somehow...

Best C&H Episode Ever!

2008-09-09T22:45:00.002-05:00

See more of Cassie & Hannah at YouTube.com!

Cassie takes on Volleyball!

2008-08-13T23:54:00.005-05:00

The newest addition to the Alcott Lady Wildcats Volleyball team: Cassie Duncan! She'll be signing autographs after the game...

New! Cassie & Hannah: In The Closet

2008-08-05T12:57:00.004-05:00

The latest from Cassie and her friend Hannah plus this week only: a bonus friend (while supplies last)! Topics include Pennslyvania cheese, an Oompa Loompa named Robert and what the heck happened to the "peace" sign?

Alex Graduation Video

2008-08-05T12:53:00.003-05:00

Alex's graduation memorialized in video form: Here!

Nici News!

2008-07-28T12:29:00.004-05:00

From Nici:

So I know a few of you are probably wondering what exactly is going on but are afraid to bug me about it constantly. So I decided to put up a blog to keep people updated and so I don't have to talk about it over and over and over again. So I promise I'm going to try and keep it updated! Here it is!

Cassie & Hannah: In The Closet

2008-07-14T16:01:00.003-05:00

In this episode Cassie and Hannah set things straight concerning sugar, splinters and... cheese, of course.

Vacation Report Wrap Up

2008-07-10T18:21:00.003-05:00

And that's about it, really. We dropped Ashley off in Wagoner, returned the van and made our way back home, weary but satisfied with a vacation well done.

We laughed. We cried. We got lost. We ate lotsa junk food. We saw lotsa stuff. Now you've experienced everything we experienced. Except for the long stretches in the van.

Let us know what you thought of our vacation in the comments section. And post your own vacation reports right here at Much Ado About Duncans!

Vacation Report: Day Six #2

2008-07-08T20:19:00.010-05:00

Our summer vacation had a veritable cornucopia of Fast Food Discoveries, from the Arctic Circle and Fry Sauce in Wyoming, Utah and Idaho to Bison burgers in South Dakota. Our last meal on the road would boast one more.

Lunch time landed us in Salina, KS. A list of the quickest stops for a burger or sandwich left us wanting something different. Then we saw it. Let's try it! What was it?

Spangles! The sign said "It Just Tastes Better!" And with not only Elvis but Marilyn Monroe herself beckoning us from the windows, how could we not stop?

The decor was replete with 50's kitsch splattered all over the walls - like a bomb made from all the best stuff from your aunt Vera's attic exploded in the center of the building. The burgers are pretty good and the fries come in cups. If you find yourself in Kansas and a Spangles is nearby, give it a try. And say "Hi" to Elvis and Marilyn for us!

After ice-cream all around, it was the final drive into the great state of Oklahoma and home!

Vacation Report: Day Six #1

2008-07-03T12:53:00.014-05:00

After Cassie and Ashley spent a night turning into prunes in the pool, we started off on our last day of vacation traveling. The day began with a look at The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument.

Apparently featured in the Jack Nicholson film About Schmidt (can't say I've seen it, though now it may end up on my Netflix list!), it straddles the highway as a monument to the Platte River Valley and Westward Expansion. What can I say, they don't have a lot to memorialize in Nebraska!

Unfortunately, we arrived too early to see anything inside (not that we had all the time to see it, what with Kansas in our way between us and home). But we took a few pics and moved on.

Vacation Report: Day Five #3

2008-07-01T10:44:00.015-05:00

After Mt. Rushmore we made our way south for our last leg of the trip. But we still had Nebraska and Kansas between us and home. Our fifth day would end in Kearney, NE, home of the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument which we'll pay a visit to later. But on the way we had a little unscheduled excitement.

Melissa was our primary driver on the trip and throughout our travels she kept a close eye on our speed, albeit usually about 5 miles faster than the limit. Normally not a problem. But in Nebraska, where there are long stretches of nothing on the highway, and fewer cars traveling down that highway than Obama supporters at an NRA rally, Nebraska's Highway Patrolmen get a little bored. Maybe they just pull people over just for the company.

Whatever the case may be, on Friday June 6 somewhere along Hwy 30 near Odessa, NE, one of Nebraska's Finest pulled over a van with Texas plates full of Okies. He was the friendliest guy, especially after we made sure he knew we were from Oklahoma, despite the tag. There's a certain comraderie between Sooners and Cornhuskers, despite the years of collegiate rivalry. Texas? Not so much.

After the usual rigamarole, license and registration, the good officer handed Melissa a slip of paper.

"I'm just giving you a warning. You can just throw that away if you want."

You don't hear that very often from the boys in blue.

"I'm keeping it as a memento!"

You don't hear that very often from someone given a ticket!

Vacation Report: Day Five #2

2008-06-29T07:32:00.007-05:00

And what kind of "All-American Vacation" would it be without a visit to one of the nation's most recognizable landmarks... Mt. Rushmore! No, we didn't see Cary Grant or Eva Marie Saint running about on top nor have they added George Dubya, Michael Jackson or Alfred E. Neuman to the existing presidents. George, Tom, Teddy and Abe are all there in all their stoic glory.

Of course we had to catch the obligitory shot of someone picking a president's nose, but it was comforting to see we weren't the only ones! And we saw one garden gnome make the trip as well!

Vacation Report: Day Five #1

2008-06-28T09:00:00.003-05:00

Each hotel stay included a "continental breakfast" which could mean anything from toast and juice to a full complement of breakfast foods including sausage, pancakes, bagels and a variety of fruit. Most of our meals at the hotels up to this point were quiet, oftentimes we ate all by ourselves with the occasional fellow traveler meandering in and out of the room from time to time. Not so in Custer. Located basically at the hub of a major national vacation spot in the Black Hills of South Dakota, it was veritably busting at the seams. The breakfast area was in the lobby of the hotel and people were everywhere. But we eventually made our way through the queue and had our breakfast among the din of other people having their breakfast.

We gathered our things and piled into the van for our first site of the day, not much more than 15 minutes away: The Crazy Horse Memorial. The museum there was huge, we saw a short film on the monument then took a bus ride directly under the huge face of Crazy Horse.

It is a huge monument, albeit unfinished, built to the spirit of the Native Peoples of America that inspires one to ask: "Why?". When one considers what Native Americans believe about the sacredness of nature, it's a little difficult to imagine them supporting blowing a piece of it to kingdom come for the sake of art.

Rather than bring to mind the Spirit of the Red Man, Melissa says she got more out of the Crazy Horse monument concerning perseverance through hardship and the great American Pioneering spirit of Korczak Ziolkowski, the man behind the monument. The Crazy Horse Memorial is the brain-child and blood, sweat and tears of the former Mt. Rushmore worker, all around handyman and jack-of-all-trades.

Where Mt. Rushmore had a full contigent of federal employees hard at work, Korczak single-handedly took on his task without government financing or even a crew for that matter! Just himself, a ladder and some dynamite. That's all you really need to make art, right?

Right?

No matter what you think of The Crazy Horse Monument, there's one thing we can all agree on. That thing is big!

Vacation Report: Day Four #4

2008-06-26T23:54:00.003-05:00

An inadvertant underlying theme seemed to be insinuating its way into our vacation this year. We started in Wichita's Museum of World Treasures where we saw Custer's Nephew's scalp, a trophy of the Battle of Little Bighorn, crossed through the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming where the Little Bighorn river has its beginnings and now after the long and arduous journey across Wyoming (we didn't get lost this time!) we landed in Custer, SD.

The hotel room in Custer was about the size of Cassie's closet, with a bathroom attached. But the size of the room didn't matter that night. We were exhausted after a tiring day in the van and as long as two beds were crammed in it, we were happy. After a quick pizza delivery and a late supper it was beddy-bye-bonzo time.

Tomorrow: Crazy Horse!

Vacation Report: Day Four #3

2008-06-26T10:30:00.004-05:00

When packing clothes for a vacation, always plan ahead.

Having lived all our lives in the Sooner state, we've gotten used to some strange weather phenomena. It is often said of Oklahoma just as Samuel Clemens said of New England: "If you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes." But there are some meteorological occurences that are just unheard of. Snow and ice the first week of June might be one of them. And so despite having seen snow on the mountain tops along the way here and there, on Thursday June 5, Northern Wyoming was home to a van full of startled Okies!

We continued our journey via the Cloud Peak Skyway through the Big Horn Mountains where we encountered 34 degree temps. Just west of Buffalo, WY near Cloud Peak at an elevation of 13,167 ft., the road began icing over and snow fell in wet splatters on the windshield.It wasn't all that dangerous and it didn't last long but it made one consider if this is what this part of the world is like now, what must it be like in winter?

Vacation Report: Day Four #2

2008-06-25T23:30:00.004-05:00

Back in the day, filling stations along the hi-ways and bi-ways of this great country of ours would employ attendants who would pump your gas for you, wash your windows, check your oil, wish you a safe journey and send you on your merry way confident that the motor-going public was in safe hands when needing a quick fill-up. Today your lucky to get a nod from the guy at the counter inside when the pump won't accept your debit card.

Except at The Red Barn gas and convenience store just East of Yellowstone on the North Fork Highway! Here you'll be greeted by arguably the friendliest service station attendant you'll ever meet. We're not sure of his name (it wasn't on his tag) and he didn't actually pump the gas or wash the windows, but he made sure everything ran smoothly at the Red Barn and sent you on your way a little cheerier than you may have arrived! And you can tip him with Goldfish crackers!

Make sure to say "Hey!" next time you're traveling that way!

Vacation Report: Day Four #1

2008-06-24T13:23:00.013-05:00

After skirting north along the east side of Idaho and making a quick jog into the southeast corner of Montana we arrived at Yellowstone National Park, home of free ranging herds of bison & elk, grizzly bears, wolves, Old Faithful and Yogi Bear... or is that Jellystone?

Yellowstone has a natural beauty unrivaled on our trip. But our one thought at seeing folks stopping in the middle of the road to snap shots of the bison shambling slowly by was "Hey! We can see these in Lawton! Keep movin'!" What we really wanted to see was the hot springs geyser that everyone's familiar with: Old Faithful. We were afraid we might get our timing off (as is our inclination it seems). The show repeats approximately every 90 minutes or so. When we arrived at the parking lot we discovered everyone else on vacation had decided to stop and see how their timing was as well. So Melissa dropped us off.

Miscommunication is the bane of Man's Existence and it reared its ugly head once more. I thought Melissa was dropping us off so we could find out how close we were to the next scheduled eruption, she'd find a place to park or wheel back around and we'd plan accordingly. She already had a plan, however, for us to go ahead and see it, and she'd catch up one way or another. Oops.

I ran to the ranger's station, found out we were right on the money, just 5 minutes give or take before. So Ashley, Cassie and I stood by to wait for Melissa.

And waited.

And waited.

I searched the parking lot. Nuffin'. The girls filmed the top of the geyser as it spewed above the station building, not actually getting to see the whole thing since we didn't want to get everyone lost, the crowd was huge. I made my way back from my fruitless search just starting to get a little worried about Melissa and there she was making her way from the direction of Old Faithful.

"Did you miss it?!"

"Ummm. Yeah. We were waiting for you."

"Oops."

If only she had taken the camera! She insists it wasn't anything spectacular. I think she secretly thought it was awesome and was just trying to ease our sense of disappointment. But we didn't have time for another hour and a half wait! There was a long road ahead of us!

Despite having missed Old Faithful, there were plenty of steamy hot springs, snow, critters and beautiful scenery to see along the way. And more to see ahead of us as well!

Cassie & Hannah: In The Closet

2008-06-23T17:52:00.004-05:00

We take a break in the vacation reports to give you this special message from our sponsor:

Vacation Report: Day Three #3

2008-06-20T09:39:00.005-05:00

To top off the day we spent the evening in the hot tub and pool. Cassie's plan was to sample each and every hotel pool. Unfortunately the hotel in Logan, UT didn't have an indoor pool (and we were running so late we would have missed it anyway) and later in Custer, WY she missed out again.

Vacation Report: Day Three #2

2008-06-20T08:51:00.011-05:00

How can anyone make a trip to Idaho and not visit The Potato Capital of the World! It's Blackfoot, ID and it's also the home of the Idaho Potato Museum, an educational and entertaining foray into the world of that most special spud, that terrific tubor, the ever-popular potato! See the giant potato! See the world's largest potato chip! Discover the fascinating history of the potato! And get a free pack of hash browns with each admission!

This was probably my favorite day of the whole vacation. We took things at a leisurely pace, the weather was beautiful, the hotel room in Pocatello was roomy and we got a nap in the afternoon! Plus we got free hash browns! This is what family vacations were meant to be!

Vacation Report: Day Three #1

2008-06-19T07:10:00.017-05:00

After a good night's sleep and a slightly later start than usual, this was The Day. The Big One. The Coop-Dee-Gracee. And we started the day in Preston, ID home of... drum roll please... Napoleon Dynamite!
Of the many glorious sites on our list, we saw:
Preston High School
Napoleon's House
Pedro's House
And we even ate at Big J Burger where Uncle Rico and Kip make their business plans (even though the original building was torn down to build the new and improved version)
Yeah, it looks pretty sweet. It looks awesome. That suit, it's... it's incredible.
How could it possibly get any better, you ask? Just wait! There's more! This was just the beginning of our day!

Hunter's Photography

2008-06-18T02:02:00.002-05:00

Hunter went on a downtown OKC photography shoot on June 6 -- capturing the Red Earth Festival Parade and downtown sites. You can see his photographs here:

Hunter's Photo Gallery