CyberMinions.net

 

Life With Wee People: The cell phone diaries of minions and mayhem...

If your home is always tidy, neat and clean then God has truly blessed you with time on your hands because mine is usually messy and we're always busy doing something else besides housework (LOL). We do get around to it eventually but my kids have a way of making it seem like you haven't done squat in four hours. It only takes approximately 15 minutes for them to wreck the place so sometimes we leave their toys alone and simply enjoy the fact that the wee people have room just to be little boys playing.

My babies love their solid oak bar stools and can be frequently found twirling in circles at the kitchen counter when not obsessing over the computer, music, art, movies, books, toys and going outside to play. They also have a thing for Walmart... Half of my cell phone conversations usually begin with hubby stating they are shopping in Walmart (LOL). The little minions are becoming really good at getting their dad over there. Kudos to Walmart for catering to the little people with a stellar food and toy section. It's key to getting the kids to drag their parents in there (LOL).

In New York we lived in BJs and Target. I still do so I shall have to remind my mini Floridian transplants there is more to shopping nirvana than Walmart when I get back down there (LOL). ;-)

I kinda understand why my kids think Walmart is king. Sometimes, there are spaceships in my hallway parked outside the den door where little people pop up, down, in and out pretending to be monsters. Stellar moments like these are usually brought to us by shopping for things we don't need but definiately decide we do want while wandering around in Walmart.

We are all pretend monsters in my household and even have names: Daddy Monster, Mommy Monster, Noah Monster and Stephen Monster (Noah was very practical and efficient in naming us - LOL).

We usually emerge from our respective caves and spend our time chasing each other about while launching towel attacks and running from Stephen Monster (who likes to throw DVDs as if trying to live up to the "Off with his head" mandate from Alice in Wonderland - LOL).

When he's not launching plastic attacks Stephen, the Minion Blur can usually be found macking the remote controls to the only two televisions in the house (brought on sale from Walmart - LOL).

Poor Noah has been relegated to watching YouTube and Netflix on hubby's computer because Stephen must have control over "the big" TVs (which really aren't that big but big enough).

A little "Thomas The Train" or "Dispicable Me" will never do (unless we're in bed with the laptop - he really, really likes the laptop - LOL).

One of our favorite parts of the day is when they exhaust themselves to the point of falling out on a couch and napping. Stephen also spends a lot of time camped out on the floor on top of his Sponge Bob blankie. Like Susan Mangigian, he has discovered the value of chilling out in the sun spot (LOL). Normally, they rarely nap because they hate to miss anything but sometimes we luck out.

I kinda know how they feel about not wanting to miss out. I've been missing out on a lot of things while handling business up north. I am due for a run down south but I have to finish my paperwork first. I am looking forward to trading in my virtual cuddles for the real thing.

Watching my kids sleep always brings a stupid grin to my face. They cuddle a lot and are very affectionate when they're not going to war over a hot wheel car (LOL). I think they are amazing little people because battling Autism and PDD-NOS is not easy. We are going to have a lot to talk about when I get there. My trunk is already packed with a bunch of their NY toys so I may get ignored for a couple of hours after I land (LOL). ;-)

Stephen is very opinionated and Noah pretty quiet. Noah chats when he has something to say, unlike Stephen who periodically likes the sound of his voice and will sometimes sing and chat all friggin' day if the mood suits him (LOL). He frequently engages in echolalia while watching movies and can script sections at a time. Unlike Noah, who can phonetically sing and script in other languages while engaged in the habit, Stephen's echolalia is strictly limited to English (which I find absolutely fascinating - LOL). 

Stephen will also tantrum faster than Noah because he cares for every hot wheel car while Noah only obsesses over the computer.

Stephen also periodically has footwear issues (LOL).

Ever try telling beach minions they can't have their toes out in school? Noah (who suffers from Autism) was cool with putting his shoes on but not Stephen. The Minion Blur gave hubby a run for his money about that. As a parent you do not want a tantrum riddled PDD-NOS kid refusing to get on the bus at 7AM (LOL). I will confess to being very happy to have missed that particular melt down (although I did get to hear some of the screaming in the background when I called to check in with the shorties before they got on the bus). Poor, poor Mikey... You must keep hubby in your prayers because it's touch and go when battling with the learning disabled. ;-)

When they are not melting down over some trivial, inconvenient detail (like parents saying "NO!!!" - LOL) the wee people are marvelous little minions to spend time with. Noah the Net Geek was student of the month and received a lovely certificate for March 2011.

Noah also discovered he likes being up to his neck in things... literally (LOL).

Did I mention they're water rats? Not being able to swim I prefer them as rug rats (yes, my parental bias is showing - LOL). I guess I'm going to have bite the bullet and eventually learn how to swim since the shorties have an expectation of living part of their day in the ocean...

In case you haven't noticed we go out of our way to fulfill those wee people expectations (within reason). As parents discovering how to parent on a daily basis our kids make our life an interesting adventure.

I am looking forward to getting mixed up in what ever the wee ones decide our agenda is going to be.

While I'm handling business in New York my gorgeous guy pies have been keeping me up to speed with lots of cell phone pictures regarding their Florida adventures.

I am about to go on the hunt for some eye candy to bring them up to speed on my New York wanderings. I've been mad busy and up to my neck in paperwork so my phone has been off for three days while I've been on lock down getting ready for the next gallery show. I am almost afraid to check my messages. As usual I am in e-mail hell so be patient while I sort through them and answer a few questions later on... maybe... (LOL).

Will chat with you guys later. Gotta shower and go jogging then get ready for a presentation this afternoon. ;-)

 

Life With Wee People: Diary of a 4 year old yuppie... The Park Chronicles

OMG - I'm still cracking up with laughter...

I am supposed to be doing a slide show but instead I'm simply captivated by the expression on Stephen, the Minion Blur's face while on his park macking, candy munching, face painting, Noah chasing play date earlier today.

Little man is turning five next month. We have to plot some sort of milestone celebration. Being a cyberminion means it will have to be someplace interesting with electronics to oogle and lots of hot wheel cars involved (LOL).

Five is a big deal. I am hoping he wants to do something else besides go to Walmart. We usually try to give them what they want but lately all he wants to do is go to friggin' Walmart (LOL).

My kids virtually live in Walmart. It makes their little hearts sing (which freaks me out on soooo many inarticulate levels which are just not right - LOL) I like the store, don't get me wrong, I just rather live in Sam Ash or Lee's Art shop, but I digress... In the eyes of my small shoppers Walmart is KING. You can buy just about anything at the Walmart near our FL house and "I want to go car shopping," is Stephen's favorite conversation. He doesn't care if it's 2AM, if he wants to talk about cars homeboy will wake you up in a New York minute while driving one across your forehead as if parking on your eyes is no big deal (LOL).

If shorty wakes up with that as the top of his wee people agenda look out baby because he will bring you your shoes and car keys insisting it's time to go shopping.

My kids have a daily bucket list they mentally check off and can drive you crazy with their singularity, tenacity and purpose of mind. Being anal retentive myself, I kinda get that and don't hold it against them much. ;-)   

I love this cell shot from hubby. I'm thinking that expression would make a fun album cover (LOL). I have to go write a song just for my baby. He is turning 5 next month. Mama has to make him a special present and pick out a Noah shot for my next post. Noah the Net Geek has been very busy. We have lots to chat about... ;-) 

For those of you who never got to see the minion fields, here they are. At some point you are going to see the shorties with their Dad going down a walkway at a potential school. From that point on you've left SC and are hanging with the wee people in FL. As usual, when asked what they want to do, the shorties usually say, "Lets go outside..." (LOL) ;-)

I need a FL cell phone for vacation. Truck flips over, I speed dial 911 and get New York. My "duh" moment for today (LOL). Being a blogger, of course I had to run and fetch my camera... Will post Christmas pictures later. ;-)

Fan Exclusive: Free Music Download

If you scroll down on the My Band tab on the Tann Starr Facebook page you will discover the single "Turkey Creek" is available for a free download for fans who join my ReverbNation.com mailing list. My way of saying thank you for the kind words and encouragement. :-)

Here is the YouTube link to The Sushine State featuring the single Turkey Creek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTACBPd9Dhg

Here is the link for the Turkey Creek free music download:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tann-Starr/141541312537132#!/pages/Tann-Starr/141541312537132?v=app_2405167945

We are in the studio mastering a new track so don't forget to visit us in iTunes. ;-)

 

Life With Wee People: Do not feed the alligators... it's a felony...

Only a New Yorker would spend the entire time on a gorgeous nature walk in a fabulous sanctuary contemplating the stupidity of people feeding the alligators (LOL). I was completely distracted for two miles imagining all sorts of Saturday Night Live scenarios... Needless to say, the cartoons in my head had a field day with this. :-)

Knowing there were critters anticipating a possible meal kept my fight or flight switch flipped the entire time we were wondering about without a map. Ironically, it also resulted in my taking 181 photographs and film clips as I habitually zoomed in to scope out creepy sounds and interesting bends in the path. Every time something surfaced in the water I was capturing that puppy whether it be a black garbage bag, a bunch of turtles or an unidentified floating object...

I shall confess to making my children run away on a whim a few times I didn't like the sound of something while traveling down a narrow path. It was fun and slightly creepy so my hair standing up on the back of my neck mantra to the kids became, "Creepy sound, creepy sound, go-go-go! Run, run, run! Stay with Daddy!" Mike, bless his soul, would never question me. He'd start jogging, the kids would start runing and I would bring up the rear ready to stomp the crap out of anything that came near them. If Stephen was too slow, Mikey would give him a ride, which caused Stephen to want to run all the time (LOL).

If you take stress or heart medication, go sit yourself down on a scenic pier and enjoy a tranquil sunset. No hiking there for you sweetie pie. It is really quiet and we saw very few people. Once you start down the winding paths you have to finish your journey because if you try to back track after going too far in you may get lost. The directional signs are spaced out. We got lost near the exit sign and discovered a lovely picnic spot we wish we would have known about before we started (LOL).

Stay on the marked path. The marked path is your friend... There are unmarked paths there. True to form, the wee people kept wanting to go off the path to explore the jungle. Seems the paths without the signs were always more interesting to them.

Here is as sneak peek of the type of eye candy to come. I shall YouTube that puppy for you tomorrow so you can take a tour of Turkey Creek to see if you'd like to hike there. It's gorgeous and a wee bit creepy... :-)

 

 

Life With Wee People - Indian River

The little minions go beach hopping up and down the Indian River to collect some Club Chaos Eye Candy. Noah and Stephen begin their day at Sebastian Inlet and watch the sunset at Melbourne Beach. They make 5 random stops in between where ever they spot a public beach access sign. My kids are really getting into the "lets take a ride" game (LOL). Mapping recreational places is a lot of fun when you let the wee people play TomTom.

Are you ready for some Florida eye candy? We have a lot more coming. The shorties love parks and I have to keep them on their after school schedule even though we are on vacation. Their routine means a lot to them and I usually have mad fun exploring communities with them in New York. No point not doing it while we are here. :-) 

 

Cloud Watching... and other neat things to do in Florida...

The National Weather Service is a mandatory digital stop if you are running amok during hurricane season. Actually, it's mad useful no matter what you are doing (LOL).

http://www.myflorida.com is the official portal for the State of Florida. We are clicking all sorts of links looking for places to go, things to do, government officials to bug with our New York questions (like how to get a FL gun/hunting permit and fingerprinted for a FL real estate license - LOL).

If you want to go to the Brevard Zoo where we filmed Stingray and ZooTrain click this link:

http://www.brevardzoo.org/

Since I'm learning the state while vacationing with the wee people I thought I'd pass along a few other useful links...

"Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 as an overlay of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center. Consisting of 140,000 acres, the Refuge provides a wide variety of habitats: coastal dunes, saltwater estuaries and marshes, freshwater impoundments, scrub, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks provide habitat for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals." http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/

Brevard Art Museum "is a gathering place, a visitor attraction, a landmark, an anchor, a catalyst for change; we exist to educate and to deliver a message that will encourage people to think differently about their relationship to others and the world; a center of creativity, the Museum collects, displays and interprets all aspects of the visual arts, particularly women artists, in ways that relate to the past, to the present, and to the future. The Brevard Art Museum is a community cultural bridge." http://www.brevardartmuseum.org/

"Join Captain Rick's personalized, interpretive eco-tour as you look for alligators, native and migratory birds, and other Florida wild life on the St. Johns River. Climb aboard “Grasshopper”, a state-of-the-art air-boat, custom built for a comfortable and safe Florida air-boat ride, promising you an educational and fun wildlife experience. Captain Rick (friends in the know call Captain Rick the Florida Authority). A lifelong Floridian and fully licensed and insured U.S. Coast Guard Master, will narrate your exciting 90 minute air-boat eco-tour. You will enjoy optimum wildlife viewing being seated in elevated, cushioned seats." http://www.airboatecotours.com/

Did I mention we are having a lot of fun in The Sunshine State? Working on some more eye candy for ya while we figure out where to go and what to do next...

The kids have got to take their showers... Aunt Mona is coming over to take the shorties to the pool, which means I can create some more music between cloud watching and observing them work on their tans (LOL). ;-)

 

Free E-books by Project Gutenberg

Wanna read the classics? Here's a good spot to poke around and re-discover titles you may not have touched since grade school (LOL):  http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

While I wander off to get comfy to create a new YouTube to share some wonderful ocean views, go peek at their top downloads and see if there's something worth your while to bring you some recreational reading pleasure.

I lost my copy of The Art of War during college and am looking forward to getting reacquainted with the text.

How To Analyze People On Sight is ripe for a Wordy C spoof. My five senses are a wee bit quirky but I am game for the social experiment to discover if the advice is sound (LOL). I bet there's a real estate book in there somewhere... Let me know if you find a title. ;-)