Phantom of the Opera at The Pantages

For part of Em's birthday, we took a trip to Hollywood's Pantages Theatre for a showing of "The Phantom of the Opera."

The last time we were there was for Father's Day last year, when we went with Mom and Dad for a showing of "Fiddler on the Roof."

There's something I love about this theatre -- the art deco-ness of it all that makes me feel like I've been transported in time. The Orpheum, downtown, has that same effect.

After both growing up listening to the soundtrack to the musical, it was great to actually be able to experience the dialogue of it all -- where the songs came into play and the emotion behind them.

The costumes and staging here are fantastic. The voices were unbelievable -- and to think that the same talent had to do the same thing a few hours later for the night show was a crazy thought.

We'd always heard about the drama of the chandelier crashing scene closing out Act 1 -- but here, it was more of a chandelier-gradually-swaying-its-way-down-to-gently-rest-on-the-stage...to close out Act 1. We both agreed that the raising of the chandelier in the auction scene was more dramatic than this "crash." But other than that, the show was fantastic.

After the show, we headed east to Palm Springs for a couple days of lounging. More on that later...

Happy Birthday to the Wife!

Today's Em's 26th birthday -- so now she's officially closer to 30 than she is to 21.

And as somebody who's just months from 30, I find some happiness in her "getting older" grief.

Happy birthday wife!

The $35 Pumpkin

Last weekend, Em and I took a trip to Lombardi Ranch in Saugus with Sara, Jeremy and the boys.

It's a tough situation... trying to get into the Fall seasonal, festive mood, but combating the 96 degree heat at a no-shade pumpkin patch at the same time.

I remember standing at the Ranch, wearing some really cheap sunglasses when I was 14 or 15 as a part of a high school basketball team fundraiser. And strangely, I remember manning the booth with my friend, sweating and trying to sell baked goods. ...and more sweating.

You'd think we would've learned by now that Southern California in October can still be uncomfortably hot.

Both Em and I hadn't gone with kids before, so watching Cole and Braydon run around, hit pumpkins with sticks and yell mating calls to passing trains was a bit fun to be a part of.

And no... we didn't buy the $35 pumpkin.

Getaway to Big Bear

I love the mountain trees, the cool crisp air, the lack of civilization... so it's obvious why we live in a desert suburb outside Los Angeles.

Last weekend, we went with the entire Barton clan up to Big Bear for a few days. We left Valencia around noon, where it was 93 degrees, and after climbing 7,000 feet via a long, winding road we arrived in Big Bear around two hours later -- where it was raining and 50 degrees.

...and it's because of that climate change why I still live in Southern California.

First...some textual highlights:

• Somehow Em has a Cole magnet on her... which is more fun for me to watch as he follows her around saying "Auntie Em."
• Braydon's hilarious. And loud. And strong willed. And becomes even more alive when he's walking around the forest.
• It's fun to watch Mom as she sits back and watches her entire family interact. She's a quiet matriarch, and she smiles a lot.
• Me, Em, Sara, Jeremy, Ashley and Greg were up late one night screaming and yelling and playing Grump. The next morning, Mom and Dad said they loved hearing us laugh. They're special people, I would've been upset about it and done my own yelling...
• Turns out me and Em just aren't made to wind down one-lane roads in the fog for an hour or two. Just doesn't feel right.

And now...some photo highlights. Enjoy: