Hey, Hey, It's a Monkey

Think about it. The Monkees have a lot in common with the monkey. Both were/are entertaining. Both were/are known for their antics. Both were/are brown-haired. Both draw crowds. Both get older. But only the Davy, Peter and Mickey Monkees are touring this summer - and I missed them in Chicago when they were here. Back in the day, I was a huge Monkees fan! My babysitting money went towards purchase of their singles, and when enough was saved, I bought some of their albums.

As far as which Monkee was my favorite, I had two: Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith. I liked Peter because he was a total cute goofball, and I liked Mike because he seemed so much more mature than the other Monkees. He had confidence to wear a green hat. Davy was everybody's favorite due to his keen wardrobe, British accent and prowess wearing knotted scarves around his neck.

Mickey was cute and animated, but he just didn't float my boat.

My parents weren't thrilled about my choice to follow this group, and I had to sneak to watch their afternoon TV show. I believe they called this show "trash."

Well, that was all decades ago, but with the resurgence of their current touring (3 out of 4, no Mike), I wanted to stitch something as a tribute to their important part in my adolescent growth. What better to make than a SOCK monkey? (It helped that I cleaned my sewing closet and found the red-heeled socks I had purchased to make for the kids, yet never did it before they left home.)

Here I goofed. I made the legs out of the part that was supposed to be the head.But, no worries.I worked it out another way.

Here we see Mr. Monkey with no appendages, one ear and no eyes.

And here he is all completed. But missing something! Now's the part done as my tribute to Mike. Michael. Look closely at the picture and note that Wes wore a belt just like theirs when I met him.

And that Mike is wearing his signature green hat.

So Mr. Monkey got a green hat.

Plus a Fez hat to mark the silliness of Peter.

They just don't make 'em like the Monkees anymore...do they?

As for you, dear reader, did you have a favorite Monkee, and if so, who?

Note to Sandi - we're waaaay overdue for our Monkee stroll down the halls of RHS, no?

Snapshots of Celebration

Colorful gerbera daisies Clever seating chart

Groomsmen with the new Mrs.

The other "moms" from the library

Table Seven

Awaiting the wedding party at the reception

MOB and FOB making an unconventional entrance

to the reception

FOB reading an essay the bride wrote in elementary school about love. The first observation:

"Love is...disgusting." (Guess you changed your mind, huh, Liz?)

The speeches and toasts - clink!

Dinner menu

Custom pasta bar

And a cake that was 0h-so-delicious!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. J! All the best to you as you begin your married life journey!

Magnificent (Mile) Marilyn

See her? Right there in the middle of the picture? She's dressed in white and attracting viewers just as she did in 1955 after coming out of a Manhattan movie theatre in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH co-starring with Tom Ewell. Yes, it's Marilyn Monroe. This time, she is a 26 foot sculpture by Seward Johnson. On Friday, she was unveiled at Pioneer Court just north of the Michigan Avenue bridge on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. And I knew I had to drag Wes along with me to see her. Apparently many others had the same idea! Yes, she does show some fancy under-garments. Modest by today's standards, thank goodness, but I still felt a little embarrassment looking up there. She brings a smile to your face as you see hers. Just like a real girl, her pedicure is showing a little wear and tear from all the traffic. In my estimations, one toe is about the size of a woman's foot, if not longer.

Loyal blog readers and co-workers might remember that in 2007 I "channeled" Marilyn for the Ms. Millennium pageant and won. (Go to the http://www.iluvsnacks.blogspot.com/

December 20, 2007 for a refresher.) And head on downtown for a glimpse of this most intriguing sculpture. Art for art's sake, anyone?

Call Me MeMo

Grandma, Gramma, G-Ma, Yaya. Nanna, Grandmama. Grandmother. Granny, Grammy, Gaga. Mimi, Mormor, Meemaw. What would Ellie decide to call me?

I knew I was not a fan of "Grandma." I knew Anne was not a fan of "Yaya."

The Swedish "Mormor" would be okay, but if you are a language purist, you would know that the name would work for Anne's children as I am truly Mother's Mother. But, John's children? They would need to call me "Farmor" (father's mother) and confusion might occur as one grandmother has two different names to her grandchildren. For me, this just doesn't seem quite right. Add in the Morfar (mother's father)) and the Farfar (father's father) and the poor grandchild has four grandparent names to remember!

So, the dilemma - the drama - of it all was weighing itself in my heart. What's in a name? Plenty!

I can now report that, happily - the situation has resolved itself. Ellie came up with her very own name for me, and I love it. She calls me MeMo which rhymes with the word "Nemo" as in that Disney fish who goes searching for his father after becoming too tired of the routine. Just like someone else I know.

As for Wes, she has come up with "Papa" and he is thrilled with her choice as well.

Question: What names did you use for your grandparents, or what names are your children calling their grandparents?

Combined Ages of These Pirates: 168 Years! (*P*S*C* #39)

Shiver me timbers, maties, and stand clear of these birthday pirates! And be warned: this Pirate Baby will steal your heart as well as your loot! Take special note of the two retired pirates in the middle in the teal and red bandanas.

Pirates like cupcakes.

And especially liked the cold cash and jewels found in these boxes.

Happy Birthday to John, Jed, Kari, Anne and Wes who celebrated their birthdays together (five birthdays in three-and-a-half week time span) and were thrown the annual party at the White Stag restaurant near Rhinelander, Wisconsin. As usual, they humored the hostess by wearing silly costumes and being surrounded by table decorations quite tacky in nature. They should have made her walk the plank for this one.

Care to make a guess on the ages of the birthday celebrants that add up (combined) to 168 years? There could be a booty reward for a correct guess!

Chillin' in the North Woods (But Bring the Bug Spray!) Pink Suitcase Chronicles #39

Poor Pink. She was barely home for less than two weeks when whisk she was once again pulled from the nice, quiet closet to be packed up for yet another trip! This time she went to the North Woods in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the annual 5-way family birthday party...more on that later. All seven of our immediate family were in attendance, plus Wes' parents. Having Ellie cooling off with us was a true delight. We certainly did beat the heat that was going on back home, but there was a price to pay - and the price came in the six-legged variety known for its ability to extract blood from animals and humans. Ah yes, the mosquito. Very annoying and ever-present, but we sprayed and tried not to fixate.

Cooling off in the new (to us) boat was such fun. The former Captain, once again, ruled supreme in the seat on the right of this photograph. It wasn't long until he slid into the seat on the left to

cruise the waters on the lake.

The usual chilly early July water was warmer than usual.

We all found ourselves enticed by its clear, refreshing power.

Twenty eight years ago, the little girl on the dock was Anne, and the mother in the raft with outstretched arms was me. It is oh-so-sweet to be watching the younger generation carry on what was started by Wes' parents, then us. Life is good.

And Wes and I even made the rounds on the "tube" behind the boat - just for old (geezers) time sake!

Here's to you keeping c-o-o-l during these hot, hot days. Perhaps this post has helped you just a wee bit. As for those mosquitoes, we hope they have no interest in crossing the state line.