Opening Night at the Opera

Photo courtesy Phantom of the Opera Facebook page.

I've never considered myself the opera type. But Phantom of the Opera? Yes, please!

When my friend and co-season ticket holder Cindy and I watched a version of the musical on Sunday, we weren't sure how much we'd like it in person. Some of the singing was so opera-y that we couldn't quite understand it. What we knew though, was that it's a beautiful but tragic love story. What we didn't know... we looked up on the internet to prepare ourselves for the opening night of the Broadway touring show in Appleton.

But we weren't prepared. We were impressed, astonished and amazed beyond our expectations. And that's a pretty cool thing!

Their photo booth was fun since it included masks a la Phantom. They always have something neat like that for the audience members to do before the performance. (We also ate at the Good Company before the show and that was amazing, too!)

If you know anything about the musical, you know about the chandelier. This one that "dropped" weighs 1,500 pounds and has 6,000 crystals! That's some prop, right? And just watching the stage change its settings so fluidly before our eyes. It's always so impressive when you witness this level of a performance.

I'd recommend seeing it if you can. This was part of the show's 25th anniversary tour and there are only 3 more cities after Appleton. Then, just like the Phantom, it may go into hiding for a long time.

It runs through Dec. 15. For showtimes, visit foxcitiespac.com.

Hello, December

OK, Mother Nature. Just turned the calendar to December. Now it's legal to wake up to a scene like this! Not that I like it any better.

It was still snowing through the morning. Just not too hard. I think we probably got 4-6 inches here. But I haven't seen grand totals. Only bad part is that layer of ice slush under all that. Didn't venture out for church or anything for that matter.

Baked some banana bread before Carter left early in the afternoon. That's when I noticed like twinges and tweaks in my back. Yup. Overdid it on the shoveling yesterday. I know better. Or I should. So I laid low all day. My friend Cindy and I watched Phantom of the Opera to prepare ourselves for the real thing on Wednesday night. And that was about it – besides taking a few snow pictures because... why not?

Those teeny branches can hold a lot of weight!

Go ahead and block to the solar panel on top of the deck lights. There's no sun anyway.

Vikings flag survived and is ready to fly high for Monday night football!

This little leaf on top of a stick has more staying power than anything I know! Or maybe it's just stubborn. Now that I know a thing or two about.

Never have much water in our creek but just enough to reflect the snow. That's pretty.

Well, snow is always pretty when I can just look at it and not drive in it. Tomorrow will be re-entry to work after a 5-day weekend. Wow. And re-entry to commuting. I just realized I haven't left the house since Friday. I get how hibernation could be a thing.

I'll try it in 8-hour doses to start. G'nite! Happy December!