Tada! I made it! All by myself!
Ok, my friend Phil helped too, and my daughter lent a hand every now and again (though, I don't know if I'd call that helping). And, if you want to get technical, all the wood was pre-cut and drilled and delivered to my house... but it was still a LOT of work. In total it took 3 Saturdays, 3 weeknights, and I got 3 sunburns - you'd think I would have learned after the first one - but now I have a fabulous play set, cheap babysitting, and a super sexy farmer tan, yeehaw!
I was talking on the phone to my mom last week and I told her that I was going to put string and cans up between the play set and the house so that we could tell the kids to come in for dinner and things (because yelling out the back door is way too hard). She told me that string phones don't actually work. For her and all the other doubters out there, check this out. HowStuffWorks.com never lies!
This did get me thinking, though. Maybe I do need to be a little more high tech - this is the 21st century after all. I could easily put a microphone and speaker out in the tower and run wires back to the house. Even cooler, I could do it wirelessly. While I'm at it, why don't I set up the play set as a node in my home wireless network. Along with the IP intercom, I could put a temperature monitor on the slide (yes, it does get hot enough to burn little bums), strain guages on the support beams, and a swing speed monitor to slow down enthusiastic swingers.
Hmm, maybe that's too high tech. Perhaps I should just start with a flagpole and a jolly roger and work from there. After all, my kids can't seem to figure out how to work the accesories they already have.
PS
Check out these other super cool play sets and tell me what you think I should do to bling out mine - yes, I have considered a paintball turret.
http://www.cedarworks.com/refer.php?src=GL&qw=playsets&gclid=CK7W28-WmpICFRTNiQodIDKppQ
http://www.danielswoodland.com/
http://www.rainbowplay.com/index.php/swing-sets/package/metropolis/
5 comments:
Okay, that rainbow, metropolis one is pretty sweet but I have to say the cedar works one is my favorite. That thing is pretty sweet. And you can design your own. What more can an engineer ask for. Also, I think you need to install some sort of elevator where they can turn a wheel or pull on a rope to lift themselves up. Obviously it needs to be rigged so that they aren't actually pulling their whole weight up, but so they feel like they are. And I like the wireless intercom. Then you just need a trampoline so they can jump from the top of the playground to the tramp... okay...maybe they are a little too young for that.
You're never too young to tempt death by jumping from high places onto things.
I like the elevator idea. I was also thinking of putting a water spigot up next to the slide and putting the kiddie pool at the bottom. Although, sliding down into mud sounds fun too.
I'm surpised nobody has suggested putting in a big TV so that the kids can play Guitar Hero up there. Come on, where are all great ideas?
In my old apartment we ran a can and string phone to the girls apartment that was on the other side of the parking lot. They totally work!
Too bad they weren't very cute. :P
You know, I always felt slightly cheated as a child that we didn't have some cool play thing like this, or at least that the local park's play equipment was nearly fun enough.
Just buy her a cell phone. You know she'll be "needing" one soon anyway. Then whenever you need her (if she's on the climbing set, downstairs, whatever), you can just call her.
THAT'S why they invented technology!
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