Week One: Famous Last Words

Looking back on the week I guess you could say it was a successful one! Now that I’m taking all upper division classes the bulk of my classes are actually over things I am interested in… other than OCHEM. I think this will be a difficult semester but overall I am excited for what it has to offer. School wise there wasn’t much to accomplish this week, it being Syllabus Week and all.  

I did move up a lot later than most people. I’m from San Antonio and I didn’t move up here until Friday the 21^st. It’s about an eight hour drive to get up here and my parents and I started unpacking right as we got here. My biggest accomplishment this week was definitely cleaning the apartment, unpacking, organizing, and decorating as quickly as I did. Now my goal is to keep everything as clean and organized throughout the semester! I’m typically a very messy person so this won’t be the easiest thing for me!

I’ve lived the bulk of my life outside of Oklahoma so I never got to see my grandparents much who live in Mustang (which is about 30 minutes from Norman). Being up here allows me to see my grandparents all the time. Last weekend they helped me move in and this weekend I spent a night out at their place. They’ve got a pup named Princess so I get my puppy fix since my babies are back home. It’s nice to go out there get home cooked meals, play with Princess, and go to church on Sunday morning!

Since there wasn’t much to do this week school wise I used this weekend to get somewhat ahead in some of my classes. Hopefully it pays off as everything starts ramping up! I can’t wait to see what this semester has to offer!

Syllabus Week

Storybook Favorites

Searching through the storybooks it didn't take me long to find three that caught my eye.

The first one that got me was at the top of the list. The Never-Ending Love Story grabbed my attention because I'm a complete sucker for sappy love stories. Scrolling through the Introduction we learn that its written from the point of view of Death and he details that not even he can tear apart true love. It follows the lives of two lovers through time and space. No matter what obstacles they may face their love always finds a way.

The second one was Gossip Greeks. I have always had a huge problem with gossiping with my friends. I always get sucked in to whatever drama is going on in literally everyone's lives. The author put an interesting twist on some stories from Greek myth by gossiping about them with other women. She tells them stories of other women in a way that entices the gossipers and leaves them wanting more. Which is what any good piece of gossip does to a person.

Lastly, I stumbled upon Tales of Beauty and the Beast. This was a no brainer for me to stop and survey because Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favorite Disney movie. When I was a little girl I always hoped I would one day grow up to be Belle, or at least a princess just like her. Don't you just love the imagination of a child?  The author told the story in a completely new perspective unlike any I have seen before. She told it as if she herself was the book in which the story was printed on. This of course made me reminisce about the beloved Disney cartoon in which all the servants of Beast's castle were transformed into household objects that could talk. The author broke the story into three different pieces and in each one it was a different version from the original.

All three pieces were very creative and provided intriguing reading!

(Beast's Rose)

Exploring the UnTextbook

Briefly scrolling through the UnTextbook there were a few units that caught my eye.

First off, the Adam and Eve story grabbed my attention. I already know this story like the back of my hand because that’s pretty much the first story every kid learns in Sunday school. I think it would be interesting though to take this story and compare it to Creation stories associated with other cultures. The picture below depicts Adam and Eve being banished from the Garden of Eden after from the Tree of Knowledge. I chose this image because of the way the snake was depicted. I was intrigued because it is a half snake half woman creature. The fact that the snake is depicted as a woman shows the views of women at the time this painting was created. Women were seen as inferior to men and if a man betrayed his morals or values it was seen as the woman's fault, always. This portrays the story of Adam and Eve but also the culture during the time Michelangelo made it.

(The Fall, by Michelangelo)

I’ve read some of Dante’s Inferno but not very much. This is one of those things I have always meant to get around to and just haven’t. Plus, I already have a copy of it on my bookshelf!

When I was a little kid I always loved reading about Greek and Egyptian myth so the unit over Egyptian myth caught my eye. I was able to tell you all of the Gods and Goddesses and some of their stories. It would be pretty cool to review all of that because to this day it still interests’ me.

The Grimm tales would be really interesting to read this semester. My whole childhood I grew up listening to the fairytales that were originally written by the Grimm brothers. I am familiar with the recreated versions of all of these stories but have never actually heard the originals. I’m interested to see just how disturbing the original stories are compared to the fluff we hear now.

Lastly, Homer’s Odyssey was something I was required to read I believe my sophomore year of high school. Unfortunately, my younger self didn’t want to take the time to read it so what little I remember I received from Spark Notes. It’s a classic book and I would like to finally read it.

There are so many possibilities and a lot of interesting stories in the UnTextbook. I can't wait to see what this semester has to offer!

 

Introduction/ Tech Tip: Embedded YouTube

Hey everybody! My name is Kristin Murto and I am in my third year here at OU and I’m on track to graduate early. I’m a biology major, not Pre-med like everyone else, with aspirations to one day work for SeaWorld. Ever since I was a little kid I have had a huge passion for animals and knew in some way I wanted to have a career working with them. I’m from San Antonio, Texas but I actually spent a chunk of my childhood here in Oklahoma. My mom went to school here and I was born at Norman Regional Hospital so I truly am “Sooner born and Sooner bred”. Because of my mom I grew up to be the biggest Sooner fan. Football, basketball, and soccer are my favorites but overall I’m a huge sports fanatic. I played them my whole life and even walked on to the rowing team here my freshman year, just to try something new. There is nothing I love more than watching our Sooners stomp the competition. 

My other love would definitely be travelling. As mentioned in my previous post I’ve been fortunate enough to experience many different places and cultures. Hawaii is my favorite place but France would be a close second! I loved everything about France; the culture, rustic buildings, and of course the food! I have never eaten better food in my entire life. For my senior trip my family and I went to Costa Rica and did several excursions like zip lining over the rainforest and white water rafting. As you can see from the picture everyone else had a blast but I was scared to death! I’ve also been on two cruises which have taken me to various places within the Caribbean. Within the states I’ve ventured to a couple for skiing alone and of course I’ve been to Disney World and Disney Land!

I could go on about other things in my life but sports and travelling are probably two of the biggest things in my life. Most of my favorite memories have either been from playing sports or being on vacation with my family, and these are things I will treasure forever.

(Showing My Devotion at a Young Age)

(White Water Rafting in Costa Rica)

(Skiing in Colorado, We Love OU!)

2014 Football Hype Video

Week 1 Storytelling: The Mighty King and his Loyal Subject

Deep within the Serengeti the mighty King of the beasts was taking shelter from the midday sun beneath an Umbrella tree. Feeling adventurous a small mouse ventured too close to the King hoping to gaze upon his glory. Foolishly the mouse woke the mighty King from his slumber. Angered, the King trapped the mouse within his paws and demanded an explanation.

“What is the meaning of this?” the King bellowed. “How dare you wake me from my slumber, I should take your life for this!”

“Please forgive me Your Majesty! Be merciful and allow me to return home to my family. I swear to you that one day I will return the favor,” squeaked the small mouse.

“What could a miniscule mouse as yourself do for me?” the King scoffed. “I suppose you caught me on a good day. I will let you leave with your head but if this happens again you will become my afternoon snack!”

Scurrying away the mouse vowed to never forget the Kings mercy.

Sometime later the King was surveying his lands when he stumbled into a trap set by some poachers. Panicking, the King released mighty roars to alert his subjects. While the other creatures of the Serengeti loved their King the one thing that frightened them more than anything else were the poachers. If the King couldn’t protect himself from the poachers how were they supposed to feel safe in the plains? Of all his loyal subjects’ only one rushed to the Kings side to free him from his entrapment, the small mouse. He had never seen the mighty lion looking so helpless. Knowing they were limited on time the mouse got to work trying to free his King. He chewed as fast as his little jaws would move to cut through the ropes holding him down. In the nick of time the mouse freed his King and the two ran off before the poachers came back to survey their capture.

“I underestimated you little mouse. I owe you my life. For this you can name your price and I will pay it,” the mighty King declared.

 

Authors Note: This was a retelling of Aesop's The Lion and the Mouse which can be found in the Aesop for Children book. This story details the interactions between a lion and a mouse in which they both preserve the livelihood of the other. First the lion releases the mouse that woke him from his nap when he promises to return the favor if his life is spared. Secondly, the mouse comes to the aid of the lion after he becomes trapped in a hunters net. This retelling is essentially the same plot wise but the lion was given a regal status because he is after all the King of the Jungle. This made it seem like an even bigger mistake for the mouse to disturb his King. in addition, this version also elaborated on why none of the other animals came to the aid of the lion. Both the original and the retelling have the same underlying message that an act of good deed will never be forgotten. 

(The Lion and the Mouse)

 

Hawaii, My Favorite Place

Growing up I've been pretty fortunate to travel to as many places as I have. From Europe, to Latin America, and various places within the states there is one spot that stands out above the rest. Hawaii is without a doubt my favorite place. The sun, surf, and easy going lifestyle allow me to relax and enjoy some of the most memorable moments I've ever had. My dad would travel to Oahu for two weeks every month or so and we would tag along with him. The best trip we had was a giant Murto family vacation where all my aunts, uncles, and cousins went out there (and the Murto's are no small family...). Of all the trips out there the coolest thing we ever did was swim with wild dolphins in the ocean. That day was one I definitely will never forget. Aloha for now.

  (Surfing in Waikiki)