Trick or Treat

A world-wide-weirdie from Ken Reid via Monster Brains

Happy Halloween

Do I have to wear that costume? 

If you want candy, you do. 

But don't take a picture. 

Okay. (I lied.)

Hobo Pippi Longstocking: Umm, does that beard itch? 

Lumberjack with foam Legoland hatchet: No! Okay! Stop talking about it!

Do I have to wear that costume?

It's the only one that fits you in the dress-up clothes.

But do I have to?

If you want candy you do.

Okay. But don't take a picture.

Okay. (I lied. Again.)

Now smile. One, two, three, cheese

Much better. Have an oddballkidfun Halloween!

Zombie Apocalypse For Kids - How To Practice

As a concerned parent, I'm sure you've asked yourself,  "How can I prepare my kids for the Zombie Apocalypse?"

The answer is, of course, practice, practice, practice. Once every few months, just like a school fire drill, all families should practice how to behave in the Zombie Apocalypse until what to do becomes second nature.

Luckily, the practicing part is fun, painless, and pretty easy. We're going to play a game. Gather up anywhere from 5 to 40 participants and play a zombie version of tag. There are two good games: Zombie Tag and Doctor's Antidote.

Zombie Tag is a lot like a playground tag game with a few small differences. To start playing Zombie Tag an original zombie must be chosen. This person is "it" to start. The original zombie's goal is to tag any other human and turn them into a zombie. Once the original zombie tags someone they are also a zombie and now both zombies will chase the rest of the players until there is only human left. The last human is the winner.

During the game the zombies should identify themselves by saying "Brains,brains, brains" or walking with their arms outstretched or limping. Zombies should walk or jog but they shouldn't run. There is also no safe place for humans to go to during the game. Remember, no one is safe from a zombie apocalypse!

A more involved game is Doctor's Antidote. This one begins with one player called the doctor. The players gather around the doctor before the game starts and close their eyes. The doctor quietly taps about half the players on the shoulder to become zombies. The players keep there eyes closed and stay quiet until the doctor is finished.

Now the game can start. The players are in two groups: humans and zombies. Everyone waits with their eyes closed as the doctor hides. It might take a couple of minutes for the doctor to find a good hiding spot. Once the humans give enough time for the doctor to hide they can open their eyes and start looking for the doctor. The zombies then start their own count to thirty to give humans a head start. Once the zombies finish counting they can open their eyes and start looking for the humans.

Th object of this game is for the humans to find the doctor, who has the zombie antidote and bring him or her to a pre-chosen location- the hospital. If the humans bring the doctor to the hospital then humans win. If the zombies tag all of the humans before they bring the doctor to the hospital then the zombies win.

There are a few rules for Doctor's Antidote. Zombies can only walk in this game- no running. They cannot guard the doctor if they find him before the humans. Zombies aren't that smart! The doctor cannot hide close to the hospital before the start of the zombie attack. Also, tagging the doctor does nothing because with the antidote he or she is immune to the zombies.

Now that we know how to practice for a Zombie Apocalypse, all we need is a good park to play in. I'll cover that in another post.

Good luck and stay safe when the Zombie Apocalypse reaches your town.

Global Cardboard Challenge At Caine's Arcade

On Saturday my son and I spent a few hours enjoying the first Global Cardboard Challenge at Caine's Arcade. The event was one of more than 200 events in over 30 countries across the world. The event was created by the team behind the Caine's Arcade films and their Imagination Foundation which was formed to find, foster, and fund creativity and entrepreneurship in kids.

We've visited Caine's Arcade a few times. It's always a treat. This time we created our own cardboard game from a mailing tube, boxes, a Twix cereal box, a pencil, duct tape, and some Gatorade caps. Our goal was to create a small copy of one of my son's favorite ticket redemption games at Chuck E. Cheese - The Smokin' Token.

Here's our cardboard game...

And the original...

While we were there we helped out a group of kids and adults create a cardboard tunnel maze. The ingenious pieces used to connect the cardboard were donated by a company called makedo. 

The maze tunnel started off as a small painted cardboard entry and a few boxes but by the end of the day covered as much space as a basketball court. All of the maze was built that day by kids, parents, and volunteers. 

The maze included secret rooms, a fort, and many twisting pathways. Local school kids spent so much time exploring and crawling through the maze that they would come out covered in sweat. Friends played hide and seek once the maze grew. 

The event had places to build using only recycled items, cardboard boxes, and imagination. The street was blocked off toward the end of the event to have a kid parade. Kids marched in a row showing off their creations and hand made musical instruments with all the adults standing in a long line giving the kids high fives. 

Every time I've visited any Caine's Arcade event I've been impressed. The events are a genuine appreciation and recognition of kid's creativity and sense of fun. 

Most places dedicated to engaging kids and families - from kid's museums to Disneyland - try hard to look clean and new with bright colors and shiny surfaces. Caine's Arcade, on the other hand, gets dirty cardboard, tons of paint and packaging tape and tells the kids to have fun. Even great kid-focused art programs at almost every museum will have the kids put on smocks to keep the paint off their clothes. Caine's Arcade events seem to encourage kids to sit on a messy floor and get their hands dirty.

This is my son after the event. His knees are covered in dirt, he's sweaty from crawling through the tunnel maze, and he's proudly displaying a few of the things he put together at the event: a cardboard tube bazooka, a cardboard and packaging tape drum, and a large cardboard tube he squeezed into and rolled around in before the kid's high five parade. 

Caine's Arcade inspires kids to create without rules and have fun trying things out. The leaders of the Imagination Foundation behind the Global Cardboard Challenge encourage kids to be kids. This is a place where looking forward to a four square game is commonplace. 

The best part of the day for me was during a visit by L.A.'s mayor and a city councilman. Before the speech most of the volunteers were herded behind the podium. A group of kids visiting from local programs were also seated behind the mayor for the cameras. But there were still a few kids running around. And during the mayor's speech, while the audience was quiet, you could hear a handful of kids playing hide and seek in the tunnel maze. They would laugh, then yell, then laugh again and chase each other. I thought that was a great moment. The mayor came to speak at a family event and some kids didn't care, they just wanted to play. That's what Caine's Arcade is about for me- letting kids imagine, play, and create- not because adults tell them to but because they want to. And because it's fun. 

Halloween Candy Mashup

Jerry Seinfeld's routine about candy, kids, and Halloween mashed up with Pinkie Pie from My Little Pony. Created by MysteryLarry. Enjoy the sugar-coated sweetness.

Thirty Minute Stretch-Your-Legs Break At The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia

On our road trip to the Maker Faire a while ago we stopped and had a great time at the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia in San Mateo County. It's an oddballkidfun kind of museum celebrating the wonderful world of Pez. But it's even more than that. Its small storefront also houses a gift shop, the Classic Toy Museum, and the recently added Banned Toy Museum.

There are thousands of Pez dispensers displayed. Everything from the first dispensers with heads like Casper and Popeye to an unusual 1968 psychedelic eye dispenser to current Disney movie characters. You can listen to a podcast audio tour from your couch if you can't make it to Burlingame for information on all the unique dispensers. 

The gift store has a wide variety of dispensers to buy from the most recent to old favorites. It also has the world's largest Pez dispenser. A snowman that's 20x the size of a regular dispenser. Instead of giving candy it dispenses a regular size, new Pez dispenser in a plastic box. Just be careful to not touch it. Read all three signs "Do Not Touch". Got it? Good.

The great thing about the museum though, is that there's always something new. Here's the latest from the museum: 360 degree videos of Pez dispensers. These are awesome. I can watch these for hours. Enjoy a few. 

Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia 214 California Dr. Burlingame 94010 

Tuesday - Saturday 10-6 (650) 347- 2301 Admission- $3 adult, $1 ages 4-12

Monty Python For The Kiddies

Is it important for kids to get references in entertainment? Is it a parent's job to point out that the SpongeBob SquarePant's Yellow Album is called that not just because SpongeBob is yellow and the cover is yellow but because it's a reference to the look of the Beatle's White Album? Do older kids like the movie Clueless more or less when they know it's based on Jane Austen's novel Emma?

On Phineas and Ferb when Doofenshmirtz pantomimes a force grip while fighting Agent P and says, "Just kidding. But I made you look, didn't I?" are we supposed to mention Darth Vader to our kids and how Vader finds a lack of faith disturbing? Or when you hear the Wicked Witch theme music from Wizard of Oz during chase scenes in shows should we remind our kids why that music is playing?

Are jokes and stories better when you get the references? I don't know. I mean, what kid in the 70's and 80's knew the celebrities caricatured in the Saturday black and white Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons anyway? Porky Pig racing with Greta Garbo, W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy, and Clark Gable?

But coming up on Wednesday, September 26 there's a chance to increase your child's pop culture inventory by seeing Monty Python and the Holy Grail at Cinema City Theatre's classic series.

Out of love and concern for your children you'll give them a chance to learn more about killer bunnies...

and the bravery of the Black Knight who will never give up...even after a flesh wound.

The movie is rated PG but does include some adult language, gore and innuendo- especially at the castle of the vestal virgins. But you'll be increasing your child's bank of pop culture references so he or she can enjoy this wonderful world more fully, right?  

Entertainment and pop culture education all in one movie. Amazing. 

   Cinema City Theaters - 5635 E. La Palma Ave. Anaheim Hills 714-970-0865

   Classic Series Wednesday, September 26 - $7 admission - show starts at 7pm

Someday In Cincinnati

If our family ever gets to Cincinatti, Ohio, we'll make a stop at the American Sign Museum. We'll also catch a Reds game, play Cornhole, share a plate of six-way Cincinatti Chili at family-run Dixie Chili, stop at the Cincinatti Museum Center, educate ourselves at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and shop at Jungle Jim's International Market to check out their 2007 Hall of Fame winning bathroom. Here's hoping for a long road trip in our future!

Here are some photos of the American Sign Museum before their 2012 summer move to a larger location.

Gotta love the neon!

How To Make A Cheap Kid's Size Blow Gun With Giant Pixy Stix And Some Other Stuff

My son is a big fan of the Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction books by John Austin. So I decided to share one of my own school day weapons with him. Growing up I called it the gutter blow gun because I could usually find all the parts I needed in the gutter on my walk home from school.

Since blow guns are illegal in California, (Did you know that?) we made it and played with it for about ten minutes then took it apart.

We started with the supplies we needed: a pencil eraser top, a cigarette butt, a needle or long pushpin, and a long plastic giant Pixy Stix.

Next we took off the metal ferrule and eraser from the pencil. This will be the body of the dart. It works best with cheap pencils. Trusty Dixon Ticonderogas are just too tough.

Once we got the metal ferrule off we pushed a needle through the eraser. It's a little tricky getting the needle straight. We had to insert the needle a few times before we got it right.

Then we unwrapped the cigarette butt to get the filter. 

The filter will be the dart's fletch. We twisted the filter as we inserted it into the pencil eraser. 

We gently tore the cigarette filter to open it up so it would fly better and fit snugly in our pixie stick. 

After loading it into the long plastic pixy stix we were ready.

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My son gave it a try. I warned him about not sucking in when the blow gun is loaded. I also let him know the blow gun has the same rules as his BB gun. Shoot only targets, nothing that's alive. 

Success! It went right into the fence. 

He was able to shoot accurately to about 15 feet after some practice with his new darts. 

Here in Orange County we actually had a blow gun expert that lived in Orange in the fifties and was profiled in Modern Mechanix. 

Have fun. Be safe. Don't bring it to school for show and tell. 

Is It Possible For Flamin' Hot Cheetos To Get Any Better? Yes. Yes it is.

We found ourselves in East L.A. So for some oddballkidfun, we decided to follow a recommendation from Charles Phoenix and stop at Original Snow Cones and Funnel Cakes. Home of the world famous big snow cone bucket.

We went for the medium bucket with ice cream. Yes, that's the medium bucket. I know! It was more than enough for our hungry family. The three syrups we chose ended up melting into one super-sweet fruity flavor. Next time we'll get a sour flavor too like lemon or tamarind. If raspados aren't your thing, they also sell deep fried Twinkies and Oreo's, stuffed churros, and funnel cake. Fantastic fair food all year long!

If you want to keep it old school, order the Original Snow Cone- strawberry, pineapple, lemon. They say the original syrups are made the same way they were 70 years ago when the stand first opened. The building sits on the corner of Indiana and 3rd a few minutes from both the 5 and 60 freeways.

The star of the day was my new favorite snack - flamin hot cheetos with chili and cheese. Served right in the bag frito pie style. A little spicy, a little crunchy, and a whole lot of flavor. They've made Flamin Hot Cheetos taste even better! Doesn't it look delicious?

Original Snow Cone and Funnel Cakes - 3557 E. 3rd Street Los Angeles, 90063 (323) 269-0109

I Can't Drive 55 (Unless There's A Big Hill And A Tailwind)

School's starting but it's not too early to plan for the next break, right?  I think I found our Christmas vacation project. Tuna can headlights and all.

Might need to attach a hand brake so we won't get busted at the radar trap at the bottom of our local hill.

via Stork Bites Man via JuJu Made

The Best Back To School Movie Is Matilda. Who (No Matter What Truchbull Thinks) Is Not A Squirming Worm Of Vomit Or A Villainous Sack Of Dog Slime

Back to school is around the corner so it's time to sit down with the kids and watch Matilda directed by Danny DeVito from Roald Dahl's novel - our favorite film to start school with. It's the story of a bright girl from an unloving and inattentive family who longs to go to school. Besides her ability to read early- reading everything in her house by the time she's 4- she develops the ability to make things move with her mind.

Harry Wormwood: Why would you want to read when you got the television set sitting right in front of ya? There's nothin' you can get from a book that you can't get from a television faster.

With a bullying brother and parents at home more concerned with eating and watching television than with her and a terrifying headmaster at her new school, Matilda finds the most perfect teacher who appreciates her intellect and showers her with affection.

Matilda adores Miss Honey and Miss Honey adores her. And Miss Honey's classroom becomes Matilda's favorite place. That's my hope for my kids every new school year- to be part of a classroom where they can have fun and learn and have a teacher who appreciates them.

My kids love the movie for two reasons- Trunchbull and Matilda's psychic powers.

The Trunchbull storms through the movie scaring and torturing her students. Trunchbull's dreaded "chokey" is a closet used for discipline and Trunchbull has a knack for shotputting her students out of a second story window. It's rumored Pam Ferris stayed in character on the set to keep the child actors afraid of her for the film. It's great to have a character so bad you root against her every chance you get. My kids cheer every time Bogtrotter burps after finishing the giant chocolate cake that Truchbull makes him eat as a punishment. And they root for the students when they get back at Trunchbull with the help of Matilda.

Agatha Trunchbull: Besides, even if you didn't do it, I'm going to punish you, because I'm big and your small, and I'm right and you're wrong and there's nothing you can do about it. 

Oh yes there is, Trunchbull, because Matilda has developed telekinetic powers. Having special abilities lets kids get one up on adults. Every kid wants to be powerful. I still remember trying to develop my Jedi skills and Escape From Witch Mountain powers in my bedroom when I was nine years old. This charming scene when Matilda practices her powers makes me want to try again.  (By the way, the doll named Wanda at  0:55 was designed by Mara Wilson when she was 7 for the movie.)



Of course we love to watch the movie for the happy ending. Miss Honey becomes principal, gets her house back thanks to Matilda, and Matilda ends up being adopted by a caring teacher. Sappy, sweet, and silly.

Matilda is the the best movie to start a new school year.

Enjoy it with your family and never spell difficulty wrong again. Mrs. D, Mrs. I, Mrs. FFI, Mrs. C, Mrs. U, Mrs. LTY.

Classic Playground Merry Go Round

This is one of Orange County's last real-deal-spin-until-you-fall-off-and-get-hurt playground merry go rounds. Also known as a whirl, spin away, or that's how I got this scar or lost my front tooth. Yes, today some playground have imitations of these but they are made to be safer and slower. They have governors, mechanical speed control devices, to keep them from reaching "Hey, slow down, I'm sliding off!" speeds.

This beauty is in a private park on Lido Isle in Newport Beach. Although the park is intended for residents of Lido Isle only it is not gated. The park looks out to Newport Bay from Via Lido Nord. There's a few parking spots along the street. There are no bathrooms - remember, this is a private park.

It's good to see this classic whirl is still being enjoyed. Notice the footprints circling the equipment. Of course the reason you don't see these merry go rounds too much anymore is because the chance of injury or lawsuit when someone decides to let go or walk across the whirl while it's still spinning. I'm glad my kids had a chance to have some oddballkidfun on this one.

Hurray for the back-in-the-day-spin-away by the bay. Remember to have fun and hold on tight!

Drive-In Movie At Mission Tiki

Oddballkidfun can also be old-fashioned family fun. Relive your past and let the kids see what it was like before cable tv, video recorders, DVR's, and Netflix. Take them to Mission Tiki Drive-In Movie Theatre. No need to hide anyone in the trunk or under blankets because it's a reasonable price for adults ($7) and only $1 for kids ten and under. 

Some things have changed- you listen to the movie through your car's sound system now- no metal speakers hung on the window. Some things are the same - it's still a double feature and the snack bar is usually a hike. Another thing that's the same is the chance to watch a movie outside and the chance to talk to each other during the movie without disturbing the guy in the seat next to you. 

Maybe you can't tell in the fuzzy picture below but most families park their suburbans and minivans with the back of the vehicle facing the screen. Then they open up the rear lift gate and set out chairs facing the movie screen. It's like a tailgate party. Except you don't throw around a football or barbecue or drink beer or wear your team's jersey. So I guess it's more sort of like a picnic on asphalt while you watch a movie on a humongous screen. Except your picnic food can be nachos, carne asada burritos, and popcorn - all available at the snack bar. 

The Tiki drive-in is themed very well. There are thatched A-frame roofs on the ticket booths. Each ticket booth is also lined with bamboo and decorated with a fishing float light, tiki mask, and carved wood. Even the pylon is wrapped in rope. The drive in was tiki-fied around 2006 with help from tiki artist Tiki Diablo. 

The snack bar is impressively decorated inside and out with carvings, bamboo, and tropical landscaping. The snack bar is missing a swing set like my childhood drive-in but everything else is there. The snacks and drinks are affordable. The snack bar also has a small gift shop, usually open on the weekend, where you can purchase a few tiki things and glow sticks for the kids to wear as they watch the movie.

The signage is fun to look at and the large bold signs are easy to spy at night on your way to the bathroom or to the snack bar for another serving of nachos. By the way, the men's restroom has an old school urinal for the boys. Just a wide open long trough with running water. It might take a little pep talk with a younger one about what to do- or not - depending on how much experience your little guy has in public restrooms. 

Before you leave, see if your family can find the tiki holding a box of popcorn during intermission.

One more thing- it get's chilly at night so bring enough blankets and jackets for everyone. 

Mission Tiki Drive-In Theatre 10798 Ramona Ave. Montclair, Ca 91768 

(909) 628-0511. It takes from 30 to 60 minutes to get there from the center of Orange County depending on traffic.