Be cool my babies ...

As a kid I would watch Johnny Carson, the undisputed King of Late Night, on our RCA television during infrequent lapses of parental oversight. I was always a night owl, like my dad. I liked Johnny — his laughter, his wit, the twinkle in his eye — but I never loved a TV man until there was Conan O'Brien.

I was watching "Late Night" when it WASN'T cool to watch "Late Night," always because the rangy redhead at the helm gave a nerd like me hope. That, and he made me laugh. When David and me were on part of our honeymoon in New York we almost went to a taping at Rockefeller Center. OH, how I wished we had.

But now, after years of dreaming the impossible dream, I have seen my man in the flesh.

Above: Right outside where "The Tonight Show" tapes. That building in the background is the actual studio they renovated for Conan. Pictures are not allowed inside, so this was the best I could get. The security is oddly severe. I felt like I was risking my life snapping this pic — kept waiting for a militant page to give me the heave-ho.

Above: Had to take a picture of our wristbands. Once inside we had THE best seats one could ever ask for: right behind Andy Richter, about seven rows up, perfect for my Conan gawking.

Above: David and me waiting in line. It was hot on Tuesday, hence the misters in the background. After a hilarious monologue, the guests for the night were: Neil Patrick Harris, Paul Teutul Sr. (mean old guy from American Choppers) and musical guest Creed.

Above: My friends Stef and Mike tagged along.

After the show we ate at Micelli's down the road. The piano man (not Billy Joel) was right across from our table. Then a waiter sang "Mona Lisa." I contemplated the night's events over chicken piccanti and a Pepsi. Mike and I discussed the difference between the New York show vs the L.A. show. We all laughed. Then we drove over the Grapevine.

Batman and Superbaby

At first the blond boy refused to put on the costume. Then Superbaby swooped in all hero-like and suddenly it was cool to don the cape.

The hero posse then attended the much-overrated church carnival, where many a lame gory get-up lurked. Batman waited to pounce on a bouncy slide three times only to decide the treachery was just too much to bear.

Then a pirate girl joined the fun.

After awhile the superheroes grew tired of the masses and started for home in their hybrid-mobile.

Once safely home, Superbaby and Batman went trick-or-treating down the lane. At one house where teenagers frolicked Batman was invited in to the party — he politely declined. "Thank you. Bye-bye."

Oh, just another quiet night with the family ...

Ghetto gourds

I should have known when I first spotted the shoddy trailer** with a makeshift snack bar that this pumpkin patch wasn't the most festive place. We were the only ones there, and the attendants never came out of their shadowy lair. The broke-down train looked sad as my kid skipped around shouting, "pumpkins!" We did our thing and only bought a small pumpkin that he picked out.

**I would have documented it but something told me I better not.

A consumerist's mecca

The Target around the corner from my house opened last week, and I can't tell you how happy this has made me. The hordes descended per usual, but I believe this magical land of useless crap will be less busy than the other store I frequented. But in typical southwest fashion I may have to slalom through pushy rich broads to get a latte at the in-house Starbucks.

The boys and me checked it out on Sunday night. We took pictures because we are mega geeks.

I'm digging the new cart design. Gus' baby carrier fits in the front part and it's easier to push the thing.

Four years beotches!

Four years married: almost 10 years together = ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Mama and Daddy (a.k.a. Cindy and David) did it up, Bako-style for our fourth wedding anniversary on Thursday. It was unequivocally Bako because we dined at Red Lobster, which isn't my favorite place in the world. Although I have been known to smuggle out the errant cheddar biscuit in my purse. But the way I see it, special occasions and chain restaurants go together about as good as Obama at a steakhouse. Despite the overly salted food, we enjoyed ourselves. Afterward we saw "Whip It," giggling amid handfuls of Reese's Pieces and Milk Duds. We got a little goofy with the iPhone after the flick. Being away from your parental responsibilities for a couple of hours will do that to ya.

October is THE best month to get married in. Congrats to my fellow October alums: Brock and Melissa and the newly minted Arlene and Guillermo. We're just waiting on Korinna now!

All that and we missed Rick Springfield

One upon a time a family went to the county fair.

The bigger boy chatted with tortoises and insisted mightily that the big albino snake was not to be touched.

But he liked wearing the cowboy hat.

And milking the plastic cow.

And riding the mini-tractor.

Liam eats a corn dog.

He picked the caboose on his first fair ride.

And Gus just chilled in the stroller.