bad blogger

I just visited my blog as I generally do every so many days to see what updates my friends have made....and I just thought, how hypocritical am I that I look forward to seeing updates from friends blogs but haven't updated mine in a month! Yes, I have started s new job but that doesn't take up all of my time...I have just been lazy! But I guess we can all fall victim to that! I promise I am going to finish my holiday blog and move on to 2009 events!

For example, Coleman and I took a great weekend trip to the CA central coast in January that I have been wanting to share with friends....probably one of the best things we have done since we have moved to CA! I hope to share pics with you soon..

On another note, I just saw in our paper online that a tornado touched down in a town about 45 minutes north of us earlier today! The article said it was the first tornado in the area in 13 months. And I thought all we had to worry about were earthquakes and drought! Ah, gotta love mother nature!

Barnes Holiday Post 1- New Mexico Bowl

Coleman and I had a great first visit to New Mexico for the bowl game vs. Colorado State. Of course, the outcome wasn't what we had hoped for, but the bowl experience was a lot of fun. Albuquerque was a great town and we enjoyed all of the events planned around the bowl. Coleman also ventured up to Sante Fe and said it was such a cool city. I was at another event and didn't go, but we definitely want to get back to NM and spend some time in the Sante Fe area. The food was so good and Coleman picked out some great restaurants for us to go to when we had free time....all I have to say is red or green?

Here are a few pics...

the Sandia Mountain view from the stadium

(the game was played on the Univ. of NM campus)

Us at the Pep Rally at the stadium

It's 2009

So, we are are back. Back to the blog. It was a nice long holiday and we really enjoyed the extended time to visit family and friends. I am going to steal a posting idea from Mary and Scott and break our holiday events into separate posts. That way I can get everything in a logical order as to when they happened!

Before going back in time, I want to report some good news that I have accepted a new job! I am the Associate Registrar at Alliant International University. Alliant is a private university based here in CA with campuses in San Diego, Irvine, LA, Fresno, Sacramento, San Fran, and Mexico City. In Fresno, I will be working specifically with graduate students. I'm very excited about this opportunity and feel very fortunate to have found a job in my related field at this time with the way our economy/job market has been affected.

More to come.....

What a wonderful time of the year!

Hello everyone, this is Coleman and I am finally posting a blog! I hear it is an addiction, but I'm not scared. The bowl schedule was just announced, and it's great to see that Fresno State and three of my former teams (Miami, Ole Miss, and Kentucky) have made it to the postseason (Harvard also won the Ivy League, but the hardcore academians do not have the opportunity to play in the postseason).

The Miami Hurricanes get to play in the Emerald Bowl against California. Too bad it is on the 27th, or I would probably try to make it since it is in San Francisco. Go Canes!

The mighty Ole Miss Rebels are heading to the Cotton Bowl after a great season. Why couldn't they play like that when I was in Oxford? They will be playing against Texas Tech, which could result in a big time shootout. Hotty Toddy!

Kentucky gets to play in the Liberty Bowl against East Carolina. Big Blue Nation will no doubt take over Beale Street. At 6-6, they do not need to lose to the mid-major Conference USA champions and finish with a losing record. Mary Beth and I could possibly make New Year's in Memphis, but after attending the last two UK bowl games, our streak will end this year. Go Big Blue!

One bowl game we will make, however, is the New Mexico Bowl on December 20. Yes, there is a bowl in New Mexico and Fresno State will be taking on Colorado State. Mary Beth and I are very excited to be traveling with the team and it should transition us into a wonderful holiday break. Hopefully the good guys will win and give us some momentum heading into next season. It would also make my job much easier! Go Dogs!

We will get back from the bowl game the night of the 20th and fly to New Orleans the next day. We do not fly back to Fresno until January 4, so it should be an incredible two weeks. Our goal is to see as many family and friends as possible between Mississippi and Kentucky. We do not get to get back to the South as much as we would like, so we will definitely make up for lost time.

Happy Holidays and we will see you soon!

Christmas Tree Lane

One Fresno neighborhood goes all out every year and decorates their entire street for Christmas and the holidays....I mean the entire street! Intricate house displays, lights streaming every tree and music throughout...It's on Van Ness, the historic area of Fresno with large, beautiful homes (the University's home where the President lives is also in Van Ness).


We walked the almost 2 mile stretch last night and had a wonderful time...you can drive down the street anytime to see the lights, but 2 nights in December they close the street so you can walk and see the displays...it was definitely a great holiday memory we will hold with us here in Fresno! The news last night even said they expect 100,000 people to visit Van Ness over the holiday season!


My camera's battery went dead half-way through but we plan to go back and do it again! The house at the end of the road was definitely Clark Griswald worthy!

here you can see people walking the street and the lights streaming the trees

starting the walk....

Coleman's parents visit

The week before Thanksgiving Coleman's parents came into town for their first visit to see us out in California. We spent the weekend in San Jose for the Friday night football game (we won) then headed to San Francisco for the rest of the weekend.


From San Jose we drove up to Palo Alto to see Stanford's campus, then headed up the coastline for the beautiful drive to San Francisco. We stayed in the Fisherman's Wharf area and got some great views of the bay...It was a great weekend. Sunday we headed back to Fresno. We showed them around our new home and the Fresno area. I hope they had a great time!

David and Cookie with the Golden Gate Bridge view

Christmas decor at the Wharf

Coleman and his parents with Alcatraz in the background

Victor E. Bulldog

During the last home game, our official mascot took some time to come up to the suites and visit with us..he was pretty tired after a long day, but he still was excited to see us and that Fresno State won the game!

after the petting begun, it was all over...

but he stood still long enough for Coleman to get a pic

checking everybody out