Plastered Primates--or--Where Did Those Photos Come From???

I had a question about the monkey photos, and it is a story worth repeating. First off, because it was in the day before political correctness and secondly, it will prove how utterly immature I am.

These photos are of my Aunt and Uncle, and no, the monkey is neither, though I have to admit I would have rather been related to the monkey.......I am not sure what year they were taken, but it had to be the early '60's I am guessing, or the end of the '50's at the very earliest.  My Uncle is in the photo on the left, my Aunt is the woman in the photo on the right. Every New Years Eve, Gary posts the combo of these to the Base website as a warning not to drink and drive.

Anyway, the backstory.....

There was a bar in a small town called Mexico, Indiana, not far from where I live now, and the owner had a pet monkey. As I recall, and this is iffy---it's been a long time---the monkey was always with the owner and was a regular at the bar. There was also a family room, or maybe at that time they were allowed to serve food to minors if accompanied by an adult. No matter, I remember being there because the chimp grabbed my hand one day and we escaped, running as fast as we could down the road! I loved that chimp! (mother was less than impressed, but that's how mom's are, right?)

Fast forward to me graduating from high school, picking a college and going there. I receive a letter from my Aunt (they were my godparents, and all my life I had heard how they had started a Christmas Fund so I could attend college, etc, I mean, I heard this A LOT...). I open the letter and a single dollar bill falls out. Within the text of the letter was the following, which is paraphrased, due to the shock of reading it and me being rather annoyed and throwing the actual letter away while on a volatile swearing spree:

".........You have been such a great disappointment to us. You have embarrassed us, haven't done what we wanted, you have bad friends, so here is all you are getting of your college fund.

Have fun with it.

Don't spend it all in one place.

Love, Your Aunt Lena"

Well, that was a shocker, to say the least. I considered them a great embarrassment to the family at large and there were always rows when they would come during the Holidays, etc. It got ugly indeed. They were two exceptionally cruel people, fueled by each other's company. And the letter was the straw that broke the camel's back for me, and talk about trouble, oh yes, I had a marvelous time finding different ways I could mortify them......and I never finished school.

Fast forward again: both have passed away and I was the sole heir due to Tom being the last to die. The lawyer says, "There's a little money left....I'm sending a check out." Well, *little money* to me means $20-$50....right?

Wrong.

It was enough to build the studio. It was, more than likely, the Christmas Fund that I had never seen other than that one, single dollar bill.

And so I built the studio, and have made art, and have been happy and had success. And I am thankful every day for that. And I share as much as I can, know what it is like to have something you want so badly dangled in front of you and snatched away. And, being humiliated in the process.

So once a year, I have to revert to the snotty little child, the hurt teenager, the young girl who had done nothing to earn that letter and the pain it brought, and the bad decisions that arose from it and I post pictures of them--Tom and Lena--drunk in a bar, with a drunk monkey, and send the photos flying into cyberspace.

And somehow, it eases the doubts that still occasionally arise and I laugh because truly, I am having the last laugh on this one!

There. My secret immature side is revealed for all to read. Dear gentle readers, I hope you can laugh at this with me, because they truly were the *holier-than-thou* sort of folk one loves to do something like this to........and it proves you can't pick your family, but you can certainly pick your friends!

And I still would rather be related to the monkey!

And so, after that heartwarming story, I wish for you success, and cheer, and the good things in life.......

And yes.....

Pax.

A fast peck at the keys

Today is hurry up and hit the road for a few meetings and I am hoping that by this afternoon I can get back to the box canvas. I have to admit....there were several steps I did that I did not photograph. I was too busy trying to get things done (all at once) such as change the oil in the John Deere, do laundry, clean the kitchen, mow the acre and head to town to paint on the Circus Banners. And that last one is making parts of the body recently operated on most unhappy. I just keep forgetting I am NOT Wonder Woman. I'm sure it's just because I can't squeeze into those satin tights anymore....... ;) .......probably all that yummy pizza and Abita beer! From New Orleans, you know!

At any rate, if you all will bear with me, I will get some sort of art posted this week. I have no idea what at this point! I am hoping for the box canvas to be DONE by Wednesday evening, to take to Co-Op and show----not that it has anything to do with the theme we picked, "Peacock". That's the Mr. Mel piece that will go to Jan that will be shown. But I absolutely MUST show the other one off a bit!

And when I do post it, finished no doubt, there will be a lot of pics so it will have been worth the wait. I promise! Or I'll eat dirt. And even with my more-than-healthy appetite, I don't want to eat that. Now, a nice pot of crawfish, ahhhhhh, different story!

At least it appears we will have a sunny day here today for all my running and then home and try and think what I want for dinner. (something I don't have to cook---that's what!) I could have put a lovely outdoor picture up today, but you know me and monkeys....this is much more *me* except his desk is less cluttered!

So for everyone else, have a good day, have some creative time and enjoy yourselves! Don't let this be a typical Monday.......

Make ART!!!!!

Make creativity happen!

Have FUN!!!!!

Yesterday's Delightful Surprise!

Yesterday, in between studio time, I came up for a snack and drink and thought I would go check the mail, which occasionally runs a little early on Saturday. I open the box and what do I see inside but this delightful package, and before I look at the return address, I know it has had to come from Bernadette, because--well--because! It looks like a stamp she would own and she is one of the few people who would take the time to do this to a wrapper.

The wrapping was too good to tear, so when I got it inside, I carefully opened the back and then proceeded to open the little silver box inside, and again......attention to detail and presentation!

I turned the card over before unwrapping the tissue and found this note:

"Anne, this is a gift to you from Jan Brattain. (can we clone her?) Love, B."

At that point I was pretty excited, because I was *hoping* it would be one of the monkey pins Bernadette has on her Etsy site, and sure enough, there it was! This wonderful little shrine that has the most minute detail one can imaging and Mr. Monkey, with the heart swinging from his tail!!!!

Jan---

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! XXXXOOOO!!!!!!

Bernadette---

It never ceases to amaze me how you do the work you do--the infinitesimal pieces, all smooth and lovely and no glue showing, like the creation sprang into being from the half-shell that Venus stands upon!

To both of you---you don't have any idea how wonderful the gift is and how much I appreciate it. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!

The generosity of friends is worth more than anything else in the universe. The thoughtfulness, the consideration......I could ramble a while, but you both know how I love this piece.

Mr. Monkey is mine!!!!

It was a VERY GOOD DAY!!!!!! ;)

P.S. These pins are worth every single solitary CENT. I cannot photograph the detail good enough for you to really see how much work this was.

On New Year's Eve....

.....party till you're Monkey-drunk!!!!

Then call a Chimp-mobile to take you home!!! Have a safe New Year's Eve, and if you're in high spirits, for heaven's sake, STAY OFF THE ROAD!!!! Go swing from a tree, or a chandelier, or just pass out.

Now for the back story. These photos are from years ago, and the man in the left photo is my uncle, who would be duly MORTIFIED if he knew this picture was out in cyber-space, where basically anyone can see it. As I recall, there was a small bar in Mexico, Indiana and the bar owner had the pet chimp. This was in the day of treating the pet just like a human, and the little guy liked his beer! I recall being there once (I was VERY young--maybe 4?--monkey size?), and the chimp grabbed me by the hand and off we ran down the road with my irate mother following. I thought it was great fun!

Anyway, if ANYONE knows anything about the name of the bar or who owned it, I would love to know more to fill in the mental gaps!

Have a happy one tonight y'all!!!