Rolling in the Moonlight: 10 Lessons for a Rex-y Body

There is a lot for me to learn about roller skating.  Fortunately, Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, CA was...

Open!

As if the lure of skating wasn't enough, the mellow hum and multi-color glow of the neon-lit
entry to Moonlight Rollerway got my wacky tacky juices going.

Our friend Anna, of Easy Acres Chicken Sitting, rounded up some of the gang to spend an evening at the rink boning up on the finer points of roller rink protocol - staying upright on skates was the least of my worries.  Here are the ten most valuable lessons of life in the rink.

It's not what it looks like; Denise & Anna weren't sitting long enough
to get the bench warm.  We were there to SKATE!

I had absolutely no idea why there was on oversized, sand-filled, ceramic
frog at the front door.

Lesson #1
It was obvious that I was a novice skater.
The first, and most important, rule of the rink is,
"NO GUM ALLOWED."

Lesson #2

You are at a roller rink - dress accordingly and be ready to participate.

Dress code: Be "Neat & Clean"

"No visiting; everyone must have

 a ticket and must wear skates"

Lesson #3

I look amazing in roller skates.

Actually, I  think the two different laces signify

the increased threat level to more experienced 

skaters of skating anywhere in my general vicinity.

The interior of Moonlight Rollerway taught me Lesson #4.
The slower you roll, the further out you should skate.
The center of the rink is for experienced skaters both in speed and technique.
Interestingly, the same is true when it comes to dancers on a large dance floor.
The center of the rink is even painted with formations should a figure skater choose to practice.

Lesson #5
Tuesday is organ night!
Almost all roller rinks of a certain age were fitted for organ accompaniment - canned music came much later.
By far, the best part of the night was Dominic on the Hammond Organ.
The mirror above his head is for the benefit of skaters; one can watch all the action on the keyboard.

Lesson #6
 Rexing is for lovers.

As is evidenced by this beautifully executed silhouette,
"rexing" is roller dancing.  Apparently, rexing can be
done alone, in pairs, or as a trio. The rexual activity at
Moonlight Rollerway can get pretty intense.

Sexy Rexers.
They were rexing all night long.

Lesson #7
 Roller Disco is not dead.
Don't let the fact that 1979 (the magical year of
Roller Disco-themed classics like "Skatetown, USA"
and "Roller Boogie") was well over 30 years ago fool
you into believing that a "Disco Roller Rink" is a
thing of the past.

"Skatetown, USA" (1979)


"Roller Boogie" (1979)

Lesson #8
A Slush Puppie by the snack bar is the nearest thing to Heaven on Earth.
I haven't had a Slush Puppie since I was 10 years old.
Dang, they're delicious! 

Lesson # 8-A
Ladies love a man with a Slush Puppie!
Side note:  How badly did I want to hang on to
the locker key safety-pinned to my sweater?

Lesson #9
Real roller skaters always carry their pencils in a crocheted pencil cozy.
It occurred to me that carrying a sharpened pencil
whilst skating might prove for some future medical
trauma, but they were selling these in the pro shop,
so I figured it must be safe.

Lesson #10
Skating is over at 10:30.
"Goodnight Couples"

Honestly, roller skating was a huge success.  I hadn't had skates on in many years and it only took a few trips around the rink for all my old moves to return - that is to say, skating forward without falling down.  I'm pretty sure I am ready to shoot the duck!!!  If my "10 Lessons for a Rex-y Body" aren't enough inspiration to strap on the old quads, here's a "Popeye" cartoon that will surely have you heading to the roller rink in no time.

"A Date to Skate" (1938)

Moonlight Rollerway

5110 San Fernando Road

Glendale, CA

(818)241-3630

moonlightrollerway.com

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Seas of Science

I hate to admit it, but I am an idea man.  Getting those ideas off of the ground and turning them into something lucrative and/or fulfilling would be great but really, I just like to get good and lost in them.  I try ideas on like shoes and walk around just to see how they fit.  I take time to thoroughly wallow in them for a while before I haphazardly abandon them in favor of my next "stellar" idea.  Nothing impresses me more than a person of vision AND productivity - a person who takes her amazing idea and, through creativity, hard work and commitment, actually turns it into something legitimate.  Such is the case with my friend Tabitha and her amazing, children's theater production, Seas of Science.

Tabitha is a real-life scientist!  With Seas of Science, she has transformed her love of science into an interactive, theater experience that actually challenges kids' brains to get them interested in the sciences.  As you can see from the poster,  Seas of Science, is "music, adventure, puppets, science."  It is like the illegitimate love child of Bill Nye the Science Guy and Pee Wee's Playhouse witha dash of Dora the Explorer. Basically, it is a no-fail, laugh riot that has kids fully engaged and leaves them learning when they least expect it.  One of the best reviews we heard came from a little girl that said, "I didn't think I wanted to come to the show but I loved it. I loved it!"

Marisol and Sergio, dethroned king turned ship's cook.

The show concerns Marisol, and average kid like you and me, who can visit the SS Science, a traveling ship inhabited by scientists, Barry the Robot, singing sea creatures, the Captain, and Sergio, a one-time king.  The ship is capable of taking Marisol and the crew anywhere in the world to solve her science-related quandaries.

The inside of the SS Science

The production begins with a disheartened Marisol, who has been accused of having a "black thumb," when her house plant fails to thrive.  She boards the SS Science to find out how plants grow.  Her encounters with everyone on the ship teach her about photosynthesis and how to nurture her own sickly house plant.

The SS Science sails to Brazil to visit the rainforest.  There, Marisol meets a fern from the forest floor who teaches her the difference between flowering and non-flowering plants.  He explains how plants grow and details the importance of sun, water and soil.

Audience participation at its cutest.

Audience participation was strongly encouraged. In fact, each audience member was given a card indicating sun, water, or soil that both inspired camaraderie amongst those holding similar cards and elicited the shouting and hollering the likes of which would put Manchester United fans on notice.  Every time one of the players said the word "soil," I had to be physically restrained.

Barry the Robot

The cast

Me and Crewman Roger

By the end of the show, Marisol's plant is in full bloom and everyone aboard the SS Science is looking forward to the next adventure. Everyone in the cast was great, but our favorite was definitely Crewman Roger - a throwback to characters that could be found on any number of 60's and 70's children's shows like "Lidsville" and "H.R. Pufnstuf."  For me, whether intentional or accidental, Roger was the comic relief and "he" had me laughing from his first entrance, stage right!

I laughed so hard, I soiled myself.

A good friend would have posted about the production prior to the performances but I think a little late is better then never - especially when it is a good review!  While the run of the show has ended, a springtime production is in the works.  To follow its progress, be sure to check out the Seas of Science blog and "like" SOS on Facebook.

Congratulations Tabitha on a job well-done!  Bravo on turning your dream into a reality!  Science has never been so wacky tacky!


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny