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. 

Magic Meltdown

As a family with three kids aged 8-13 it's not easy finding new oddballkidfun things to do. We've been to most library events from Fullerton to San Juan Capistrano. We've been to a few dozen different story times over a dozen years. We know the best and have our favorites- (We miss you, Miss Regina from the Anaheim Canyon Hills Library.)

We've been to almost every museum with kid's activities from L.A. to San Diego. (We miss you, mattress room at The New Children's Museum in San Diego.)

We've visited local history and cultural events, we've eaten unusual food, and explored different beaches. Not to mention my fascination with visiting every park, playground, and water fountain when my oldest was a preschooler. So let's just say we are an experienced family. We've enjoyed a lot of what Orange County has to offer and we have some favorites. 

But that also makes it difficult to find new things to do with our kids. Well, we found an oddballkidfun activity that's great for families with older kids.

The host of the my youngest daughter's favorite show Cupcake Wars, Justin Willman, is also an accomplished magician. He hosts a magic and variety show about once a month in Los Angeles called Magic Meltdown.

The show is held at the NerdMelt Theater which is actually a room in the back of a comic book store called Meltdown Comics. Justin Willman is the host and performs a couple of illusions or in his words- "miracles"- between acts. The show is intended for adults and older kids. But there are still a few occasional uses of coarse language and innuendo depending on the performers.

We went to the show last month and had a great time.The August show is Tuesday, August 7. It starts at 8pm and lasts almost two hours. It costs $10 a ticket but is a little cheaper if you order in advance at NerdMelt. The other performers are usually local magicians, actors, and comedians. 

We had fun at the show. We were able to look around and read some comics as we waited for the show to start. My teenage daughter enjoyed the show. She said, "Like how did he get that note in the box. I was all, no way! How'd he do that?" That's high praise from a thirteen year old. 

Go to the show to see the very likable Justin Willman from Cupcake Wars and drive home trying to figure out his miracles and re-telling the jokes you heard from the comedians. Have an oddballkidfun time! 

7522 Sunset Blvd. LA 90046 inside Meltdown Comics