Club Chaos Agents - All Things Hollish, Wacked, and Jacked

Life With Wee People: Put your building samples to the test...

Fun is letting your kids abuse your building supplies (LOL). If you are going to install flooring you should buy a sample and put that puppy to the test. If you read my blog you know that my kids are not shy and every so often something gets destroyed by accident or design (making them the ideal test subjects for experiments in durability - silly grin).

Building Direct is kind of cool because they invite you to beat, bash and inspect their samples. We consider that minion friendly advice and decided to give their sandstone, marble, granite, slate and engineered hardwood a run for its money. We even threw in the peel and stick vinyl stuff because it looks like wood, cleans easy, is reasonably priced and a kid friendly project for the lanai.  

The Little Minions spent their holiday weekend scratching the floor samples with their toys, drowning them in the tub, drying them in the sun, walking on them like stepping stones, tossing them onto the rug and lawn and incorporating them into their building blocks for Hot-Wheel-NASCAR and Thoms the Train adventures.

The "sun walking" was a particularly brilliant idea. Turns out some materials warm up and hold heat faster than others.

We're not sure if the thickness plays a factor or the composition of the materials (maybe both?) but the engineered products felt better under our toes during our cooling/heating outdoor experiments than the tiles and stones. It's all fabulous building materials but my kids have a sensory preference so I'm bowing to the wee people since home is their fave space to run amok and play.

We wanted to be fair with our toe tests so we tried them all at different times during the day and realized drowning them in the tub may have gently warped a few wood products (making our toes a wee bit picky regarding the bare foot sun test).

Turns out these were more minion proof when push came to shove:

All of the samples were very cool to fool around with and are great to work with for a number of interesting projects we're cooking up.

I'm sketching what I want to do and am looking forward to ordering more material from them. Turns out I prefer high density fiberboard. It has great moisture resistance. Mr Autism and Mr PDD-NOS also enjoyed playing with it and the engineered hardwoods are easy to manipulate and install. The boys want to line their custom toy and art boxes with the click maple engineered flooring and put down the Vesdura vinyl flooring in our art spot instead of slate. It's textured and feels really good on our toes...

FYI: They learned a new word from the DIY Network: Banquette. Being visual learners they want to take a crack at creating a couple of custom storagebox seating sets to park their stuff. Turns out piano hinges are not that expensive so we're making a tools and materials list to design custom wee people seating.

Stephen thinks we should install the flooring on the walls and floor of a workshop play shed so it will all match.

That might actually work...

Question: When Do I Need A Permit?

Answer: Per the Florida Building Code - Building 2001, Section 104.1.1 When required:

"Any owner, authorized agent, or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy or occupant content of a building or structure, or any outside area being used as part of the building's designated occupancy (single or mixed), or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the technical codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Building Official and obtain the required permit for the work."

I have to contact the Building Division at 321-953-8924 on Monday. Some of their forms are on-line so I have to read fast because it's Saturday, football starts at 4 PM and I have to finish picking the brains of the Florida builders I've been quizzing all day. My naked backyard has me ordering samples from BuildDrirect.com while driving my set creators crazy. We've decided if we're going to do something interesting with all that wasted space behind the house we better start designing something useful for the buildings department to approve.

Yeah... there will be before and after video because we all know how easily amused I am. Since the boys have The Den and The Man Cave the girls want a womens retreat out back where we can spar on an outside kitchen deck without getting ants in our pants when we give each other the smack down (evil grin).

My kids have been measuring the yard, planting potters and sticking little pegs into the ground where they want stuff. As soon as we find out where all the pipes and electrical lines are we are going to Feng Shui the backyard (LOL).

I have to fly into NYC to pick up some equipment and drive it down with my gal pals. I figure by the time I get back my stone, tile and floor samples will be here. When I get the rest of my tools out of storage the kids and I are going to be building some custom furniture in The Man Cave. I miss my wood working set, need to set up the workshop because I've been itching to carve something interesting and really want to finish putting my office together... I have one framed sketch leaning on a table against the wall. I need to start framing and hanging stuff...

If we're going to start installing stuff to play in and on, state law requires jurisdictions "to provide comprehensive building code enforcement services, including plan reviews and site inspections" so I am picking every helpful brain I can get my social media hands on to figure out how to design the best amount of play area for the buck. I have very talented friends I'm dragging down from SC and NYC so I have to make sure all of our paperwork is correct so we can do something cool with the house. Build Direct, Home Depot and Lowes are my fave on-line places to be right now.

I have approximately 8 minutes left before hubby gets back from his sister's house and I start waving my laptop at him again. Next week we have to rent a 10 foot box truck for me to drive. I'm very excited about that and don't need a commercial license for it as long as I only haul my own stuff. Looking forward to it (LOL). ;-)

Life With Wee People: The Planter Expedition...

Noah the Net Geek is on-line playing World of Warcraft while Stephen the Minion Blur is lining up the gardening tools for some fun. We asked Mike to stop by Wal-Mart for some potting soil and a planter. We have most of what we need and figure by the time he gets back three out of four will be planted. :-)

Mr PDD-NOS is getting really good at measuring stuff. Cooking and planting gives Shorty an opportunity to get his math on. We are going to keep moving the plants around to chase the sun and figure out the best spot for them. When Spring comes we will to have to transfer his plants into the ground so I have to give my Guy Pie a lot of time to make up his mind how to arrange the bird/butterfly garden.

When we get finished making a mess in the drive we're migrating to the backyard so Shorty can peg where the patio or deck needs to be and we can chat about what type of pavers to buy. He's looking forward to tapping sticks into the ground and running amok with the tape measure and string. ;-)

Drafts

Finally got around to reading some e-mails and turns out I left my last post in draft mode but gave peeps the link. They couldn't read it all day. My apologies. I'm obessing over the writing projects and forgot to switch modes. Yeah, I know... bad mommy blogger (LOL).

We're dirt digging today. I shall update you guys in a few and promise not to inadvertently leave it in draft. I'm explaining the differences between the grape vines to Shorty. He wants to pot them until they get bigger. We're about to have a water hose fight so I gotta go get messy with the wee one before dinner. ;-)

Writing, writing, writing...

I'm in One-Track-Mind mode and have been typing like a lunatic on my laptop for hours. Banging out chapters and scripting is time consuming and I periodically find myself gravitating towards working during the wee hours of the morning. I usually have to do it between wee people activities and was on lock down for most of yesterday. The shorties were pretty cool with it because it afforded them the opportunity to repeatedly raid the pantry for snacks and it's kind of fun watching them wipe out our Twix and Oreo stash.

My 5 year old believes going to the bathroom during the wee hours of the morning requires a reward of hugs, kisses, cuddles and/or snack-age. I'm waiting for Shorty to put in his request so I can get back to writing, writing, writing (before I hit the gym).

Life With Wee People: The Autism/PDD-NOS Yard Survey

So I'm in The Man Cave hanging with Mr PDD-NOS chatting about the fact that Mr Autism is turning 10 in a couple of weeks. We want to throw him a small party. Ever try having a conversation with a 5 year old riding circles around you? It's a fascinating experience because Stephen, the Minion Blur will suddenly decide we need to go for a walk in the middle of it. Translated: he rides and you jog through the neighborhood (LOL).

Turns out he wants to look at other yards and see what the neighbors have done with their seating arrangements. Shorty has concerns about a party disturbing our birds. He's taking planting the yard very seriously. The picnic table we wanted to get for the drive has been discontinued by Home Depot so we're back to square one (sigh).

The neighbors on the left help feed the birds and put three spikes in our tree by the garage. One has a little bird bench to hold food and we usually sit in The Man Cave watching them eat. It's one of our fave quiet time moments.

Noah decided he wants a bird and butterfly garden so we're researching tasty plants and trees. These are going to be fun to add to the wee people landscaping list:

Stephen was adamant we had to have a lot of red and blue flowers.

My kids think Home Depot is da bomb diggety. So do I. It's going to be a blast getting Noah's birthday presents from there. The boys asked Mike for watering cans today. They're insisting they each have to have their own set of gardening tools to tackle The Naked Yard.

I can't wait to dig in the dirt with my kids. They're mad funny to work with and rarely play in the back yard so we're gonna pimp the front yard first. (silly grin).

Having all of this empty space and not using any of it is making me crave Black & Decker tools. I happen to love power tools and know how to use them. My Mom's Dad was a very cool grandfather. He was a carpenter and let my sister and I hang out and help when we were kids. Then I took sculpting on Saturdays at Cooper Union and started messing with my Dad's tools. Now I have more tools than Hubby (LOL). ;-)

Did I mention my kids love Realtors and Bob the Builder? They're visual learners and also like books with lots of pictures.

Yup. This is definitely going to be a fun birthday gift. Mr Autism and Mr PDD-NOS will be pegging the yard tomorrow to let me know where they want their stuff. Then we have to go high-jack Daddy (poor Mike - LOL). ;-)

Life With Wee People: Stalking the moon...

We just got back from exploring Indialantic and Melbourne. Hubby was a sweetheart and let me be a pain in the a$$ back-seat-driver chasing sunsets, stars and generally running amok with the shorties in tow. Our late night objective? Stalking the moon...

The kids had a blast because we love exploring piers and strolling beach side. It's hard counting stars in NYC but there's plenty of open space down here to give it a go.

We had dinner here... Stephen, the Minion Blur wanted to be two doors down chillin' at Starbucks. He was quite vocal about it (LOL). I shall be updating Diary of a Five Year Old Yuppie shortly. After that insane parking lot debate how can I not? (silly grin) We owe Little Man a Tazo Tea and a Lemon Loaf. ;-)

It's kind of fun playing with the kids on the boardwalk. Listening to the ocean waves and stalking the moon is a Noah, the Net Geek thing. He loves taking pictures of the sky... We also cloud watch. Lately, I've been shark and jelly-fish watching but I'll save that for my next jogging on the beach post (wicked little grin).

We've been running the streets almost all day and scoping landscaping and picnic benches for our front yard (happy sigh). Chillin' beach side for the evening was a neat treat but now I have to get back to writing because my Editor is waiting... 

The wee people are working on their books as well. While the kids edit their audio tracks I'm gonna be stretched out on the floor with my chapter print outs, a couple of sketchbooks and black pens scribbling away. Hopefully the cartoons in my head will misbehave enough to keep me entertained, drawing and writing.

The wee people are all set to help out tonight. They also have their side amusements set up to spark their creativity. Their trains and hot wheels are lined up on my sleeping bag and since Mikey is hanging out next door my butt has literally been designated a Thomas the Train hill tonight (LOL).

I bet you wish you were a fly on the wall for the boobies conversation. Apparently, Shorty thinks they're just another set of hills to drive on (LOL).

Sponjetta Parrish Ten Dollar Pizza Hut Song on Facebook...

I have waaaaaay too much fun in social media. Seriously... (LOL)

I am supposed to be in Facebook leaving a message for my borther Cedric but instead I'm instant chatting with Sponjetta Parrish and watching a cool contest with Pizza Hut on Facebook. Everybody is making videos of the $10 Pizza Hut song for a chance at being selected for a commercial so go vote and/or upload your own song. 

People are having a lot of fun doing this. I'm cracking up over here... OMG - some of the videos are pretty creative. Others, not so much (but very entertaining - LOL)

I'm spoofing my a$$ off instead of jogging beachside but will be leaving shortly after I view some more video and may get my kids in on this later (evil grin). They love watching real people YouTubes so this will probably get them laying down more Autistic/PDD-NOS audio tracks. I may have to hide the camera (LOL). ;-)

Dear Laura C...

Okay. You win. I'm blogging (LOL) ;-)

Went to DMV and had a silent cow because unlike NY (a) FL does not have Enhanced Driver's Licenses (that let you drive into Mexico and Canada without a passport) and (b) they don't have Commercial Chauffeur licenses either. I had to give up a perfectly cool commercial license for a regular drivers license and must now go to school for an A, B or C if I want to drive commercial vehicles (sigh). Can't get appointed as a Notary if I don't have FL state ID so I handed it over and tried not to cry...

I'll need it for the real estate license too (sigh). Guess this means I'll finally apply for a passport, eh? I may have to start another To Do List.

Kids are on their school buses, Mike is munching in the kitchen and now I have to shop on-line  to find a driving school for the motorcycle designation, then another driving school for a bus/16 seater minimum vehicle plus I have a FL CDL book to memorize. I'm nervous because I'm reading a stat that states approximately 50,000 people fail the FL CDL a year. Jeez...

I've driven small trucks, limo, 12 and 14 seaters so this should be interesting... I'm oogling big truck pictures thinking my kids would like that (so I really need to pass this test - LOL). My brother is a truck driver. I may have to FB him and see if we can Skype later. I'll need pointers on those hydraulic air brakes. There are a lot of diagrams in this book I need to memorize and I'm thinking a trip to SC is in order. I'd like to learn his technique for pre and post trip inspections (and I need a military duffle bag of tools, fuses, emergency equipment, the correct CDL extinguisher and those orange triangles truckers have). ;-)

I'm going jogging. Will share some beach pictures when I get back and update you on the home office exploits. I've been a good little author in training editing my book and my kids have been mixing and mastering audio for their childrens' stories (LOL). Their version of dictation requires 99 tracks of unreliable narration and musical interludes of wee people mayhem (silly grin). ;-)

I also have to write a Dear Cindy T post. I've been keeping my gal pal on the phone for HOURS and I promised to clean my house of the toy explosion and take updated picks of the Living/dining room. She's going to help me do something useful with my unfinished space and naked yard so I need to brave the bugs and go out back to walk the fence line and pick her brain. I also have to finish the guest room so she can visit and we can gang up on Mike. If Jen and Cindy both come we can have an Asian Invasion cook off in my kitchen.

I love doing sleep overs with my girlfriends. We like cooking together. I can't wait for Emelia and Nydia to come for a visit as well. The girls are mad fun.

My house is their house (and it's mad noisy over here - evil grin).

Laura, will let you know when Mike and I are coming up to NYC. We have a house and minion sitter. Will see you soon... We have to plot an ActiveRain get-together when I get back. I owe Jesse dinner and have got to go see Josef (and my cousins). ;-)

Life With Wee People: The 7 Olives Rule

The kids have been fascinated with our popping in and out of the gym. Sometimes they'll try and get rid of us by telling us we need to go exercise then shove our butts towards the front door as if it's chubby people steering (silly grin).

I've been trying to explain why I sometimes go twice a day. I made the mistake of trying to do simple calorie math by whipping out a jar of olives as an example. Noah, the Net Geek thinks it is insane that 7 olives equals approximately 30 calories. If you do the math that means you have to stay on an Arc Trainer for 15 minutes to get rid of a pizza topping (LOL).

I've been paying the kids in M&Ms, cookies and milk for helping me make Ambassadors of Chaos blog post logos so now they're demanding to know how long they have to exercises to work the fat off... Have you seen my kids? They are mad skinny because they rarely stop moving (LOL).

I told them we should skip the gym math and play with the guitar instead. Stephen's response? "Here, have a cookie, Mommy..." (which will cost me 50 crunches later - LOL)

The shorties are down for a little beach-side music mischief. We're gonna Skype the girls, lay down tracks and make more music blog logos (silly grin).

After great debate we decided what "The 7 Olive Rule" should be: "Eat, enjoy your meal, be happy in foodie-moderation and don't sweat the small stuff or you wont enjoy your pizza..."

Out of the mouth of babes, eh? ;-)