The Barrel Game

So I have two photos today- one I took, and one which I LOVE, but that my little friend Jamie at Youth Venture took. But, seeing as how I had just taught her how to take cool focused blur pictures, I'll take credit, even though I was taking shots of the boys shooting at the 8 ball, and she had the great idea to capture Mr. Foosman here:

That's brilliant right there, I tell you.

And here's mine. Not nearly as good, but I tried and tried during my shift today to get a great pic of the kids. They were just moving too fast most of the time, and there is a story to go with that and this picture:

The story is that I taught the five kids who were at youth venture today how to play the barrel game. The barrel game is a favorite of ours. Justin, Justin, Jesse, Tyler and I invented it when we were 19 and bored one night, wanted to play a fun kid game like hide and seek, but decided we were too cool for boring old hide and seek. So we made up the barrel game. It's kind of like Blind Man's Bluff and it's called the barrel game because originally we played around these barrels the Aubrey's had in their backyard when Justin and the guys used to have paint ball wars down there. The game was such a success that we continued to play it many times over the next year, anytime the stress of college and work got to us. Then Justin's mom threw the barrels away and we were devestated. And then we adapted the game for any location.

Barrel Game Rules:

1) You cannot change location once the seeker has finished counting.

2) One foot must remain in its original location at all times; the other foot can be used to pivot away from the seeker.

3) The seeker must keep their eyes closed until he or she finds someone, and then must accurately guess who they have found.

So I taught the kids the wonderfulness that is the barrel game. And, just like with my friends, they learned quickly that the most fun part of the game is banging on things to make noise for the blind seeker and, even better, to throw things at them to get their attention.

And that's where it got a little out of hand. But still, oh so much amazing fun.

Then David Porter, my fellow shift worker got in on the fun and, well, let's just say he did not follow the rules of the barrel game.

And then he made them all return the pillows to their rightful couches. Good times, good times.

This Just In: Brittan Taylor Peck Turns Legal

Happy birthday, seester!!!

She turned the big 18 today and had no idea we were throwing her a surprise party until we got there. Success!

May 4, 2008

Picture of the Day

As you can see, I'm trying to update all the blogs I've been meaning to post the last few days or so. This should be my last post for now (hopefully).

First, yay for me! I just got my check from Creating Keepsakes. One hundred buckaroos for a two-page spread that's (hopefully) going to be in the June issue. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, considering how much last minute editing can happen to a magazine, but fingers crossed for the next week, when I should get my June issue. :)

Second, I started the picture a day challenge some people are doing online, where you, well, take a good picture every day and then post it. Here are my May 1-3 pics:

Oh the places you'll go...

A bunch of my friends graduated college today, hip, hip, hooray, as Sonia would say. To commemmorate this step into the adult world, I thought a poem by Dr. Suess would be fitting:

Congratulations!Today is your day.You're off to Great Places!You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoesYou can steer yourselfany direction you choose.You're on your own. And you know what you know.And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Out there things can happenand frequently doto people as brainyand footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,don't worry. Don't stew.Just go right along.You'll start happening too.
OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!You'll be seeing great sights!You'll join the high flierswho soar to high heights.
You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

With banner flip-flapping,once more you'll ride high!Ready for anything under the sky.Ready because you're that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

And will you succeed?Yes! You will, indeed!(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Brayor Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,you're off to Great Places!Today is your day!Your mountain is waiting.So...get on your way!

Lots and lots of fun pictures

What a fun (and long) day! SDCC graduation was today, more on that later, but the greatest thing was that at Sonia's grad party, I learned 2 great, amazing, fantabulous things about my camera.

First, Mandy and JR helped me in my struggles to create upclose photos that have blurred out backgrounds. Between the two of them, I finally, finally, finally figured out which settings to change in the camera (I think I took the auto focus off), and then how to focus in and then set up the perspective how I like it. A-mazing! My two favorite examples from today, with Liz and Paulby as my models:

Then, completely by accident, I discovered that my camera has a way higher zoom than I ever knew. I was trying to take a picture of this kid who was playing with a remote control boat by the pool. I got one, but wasn't happy with it since it still seemed so far away, even though I had the zoom as high as it could go. So I went to take another, and I must have changed another setting when I turned off auto focus, because all of the sudden it was zooming way in! It was amazing how close up a picture I could get. I give you Example A and Example B:

Obviously, quite a difference. And now, with these 2 new tools, I can officially take some awesome pictures.

And, just for kicks, here's some fun pictures from Old Town tonight:

Ryan's Kitchen: Episode One

Tonight, for your viewing pleasure, we have conducted the first of many installments entitled, "Brittany and Ryan's School of Cooking." In this exciting adventure, Jordan pays rapt attention during the making of Thursday TV Night dinner, whilst Brittany and Ryan offer tips and tricks and general cooking knowledge in a cooking network show format.

Today's Meal: Spaghetti with Salad and Garlic Bread, and Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies



(Currently Playing: Always Be My Baby, the David Cook version)

Lesson One: Always scrape the excess butter and garlic off of garlic bread (also, for actual crispy brown bag, don't use bag... this rule applies for garlic bread that is not pre-frozen. Pre-frozen bread works well with the bag).




Lesson Two: If you do not want your spaghetti to stick to the pot or to itself, add a pinch of salt (note: a very small pinch of salt, not a spoonful).

Lesson Three: Always shake the bottle (Warning! Product placement!).




Lesson Four: Do not recycle the excess butter from aforementioned garlic bread for cookies.

Lesson Five: If butter has not been prepared/warmed ahead of time, microwave the sucker. (Important: take the wrapper off butter, or you will start a fire or melt wax into your butter.)


Lesson Six: Do not leave the butter on the pan for too long. (Exhibit A)


Lesson Seven: Never leave tupperware in the oven, unless you're looking for a good way to make abstract plastic sculptures

Lesson Eight: Fruity salad dressings (i.e. Raspberry Viaigrette) goes well with spinach, not so much with regular old iceberg

Lesson Nine: You must always play David Cook while cooking. (This one's debateable.)


And a pic of the happy family, enjoying the spaghetti dinner: