Sunday, April 24, 2011

Words With Friends

This just about sums it up...



-Barry

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Smiling Girl

We had everyone up today for some birthday festivities and dinner and, as usual, were entertained by my hilarious little niece, Alexa. We had her up on the table in her bumbo (yes, the one I got her for Christmas.) I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a few pictures. :)


LOVE this smile!


The best part of this picture is the way her little foot is sticking up. (I also really like the drool... hahaha)


Love the little chickie fuzz on her head in this one.

Oh, Alexa... I never tire of taking picture of you.

-Barry

Noodles and Coke


My co-worker friends, Mandy and Jason, came with me to lunch at Noodles and Co. We chose Noodles and Co because of a free birthday meal ticket they give on the week of your birthday. Even though you have to be a member of their club for six months before you get a free birthday email thing (damn you Noodles and Co) I decided that I was really hungry for the Japanese pan noodles they have and we went anyway. Mandy, for the record, did get her free birthday meal, so all was not lost.

When we arrived, we noticed a camera mounted on one of the tables. That's not normally what you see when you eat at Noodles and Co, for those of you who have never been there, so we knew something was up. Sure enough, as soon as we sat down to eat, I see the lady sitting by the camera get up and start asking people if they want to take a survey. I'm always happy to give my opinion and spout about something, so when the people she'd just asked kindly declined I chimed in, "Hey, I'll take a survey."

She proceeded to explain that they were doing marketing research around the new coke machines. If you've never seen them, they're these silver, futuristic machines that have a million flavors of Coke products in them. You use a touch screen to pick your flavor and then fill your cup. It's quite futuristic, but a bit over the top in my opinion.

The new face of Coke products.

Anyway, I had used one of the very machines I just described to get myself some Coke Zero and this lady was very interested in what I thought. I took the survey, she filmed me saying some things, we had a lively conversation about the pros and cons of new soda technology and then, as a highlight to the entire experience, she gave me a ten dollar gift card to Noodles and Co! YEAH! My meal was practically free after all. Or... at least half price (ya know... with the math for my next meal and all.)

Totally great experience. I've also decided that I love that lady's job.

-Barry

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Santa Cruz and the Monterrey Aquarium

More pictures from San Fransisco:



Cori on the beach at Santa Cruz. It was TERRIBLY cold and rainy. Nothing like the Santa Cruz I'd pictured in my dreams. It was a ghost town. Seriously seemed like the residents - beautiful tan people with an affinity for the sun - were holed up in their bunkers waiting for the poisonous cold to disappear.


I am COLD. Also, I get sad when I realize that this beach would be so beautiful in warmer weather...


Not a soul to be seen.


With the cold, rainy conditions outside, we decided to hit up the Monterrey Aquarium (along with every other resident on the west coast.) Here, Cori and Justin admire a school of sardines that swims above in an endless circle.


My personal favorite of all the pictures I took. One of very few in which no person was in the way. I love the otherworldly serenity jellyfish evoke.


Photography lesson: when people get in your way, simply make a better picture with them in it!


This bird is real. Also, he'll kick your butt at a "stand-on-one-foot" contest.


Confetti of the sea.


Texture...


People and fish. People and fish. Everywhere I see people and fish. :)


Anemones...


...are my favorite of all.


-Barry