Big Monkey's House is rockin' on New Year's Eve

These three amigos are living it up with some sparkling grape juice and noise makers. From left to right (Farcus, Big Monkey, and Billy the Engineer)

Candy Cane, Chocolate, Sammy, Reege and Lollipop are having a swinging time at Big Monkey's shindig.
Someone always gets a little carried away on New Year's Eve. That's why Officer Po Po is on duty. He caught this party animal conducting himself in a disorderly manner.

Meanwhile our new President Elect, Basock Obama, is celebrating Hawaiian style. He's saying "hau'oli makahiki hou" which is "Happy New Year" in Hawaiian. Here's to better times in 2009!

The Story of the Monkey Brothers

The Monkey Brothers (pictured below) are fraternal twins. They were adopted from Pet Supermarket several years ago and will squeak if you squeeze their bellies! Laura was given a tip from a friend about their existence, so she went to Pet Supermarket to purchase one.

At the time, Laura and Mark used to canoe / boat on the Homosassa River, which is about an hour from our home. One of the feature attractions on the river is an island called Monkey Island. There are currently 5 spider monkeys who are residents of the island. It's right off the shore of the Homosassa River Resort. If you click on my link, you can check out the monkeys activities in real time via the live monkey cam.

Laura and Mark thought it might be nice to bring something to the residents of Monkey Island, and the Pet Supermarket squeaky toy seemed like a perfect gift. Laura purchased two monkeys - one to keep and one to give away. However, she got attached to both of the little guys and imagined what the spider monkeys might do to him (his head might be ripped off immediately). She called them the Monkey Brothers and did not have the heart to separate the two of them.

To make a long story shorter, the spider monkeys did not receive a Monkey Brother. They were given a substitute gift of a rope toy with a tennis ball center resembling a monkey's head. It had to be something that wasn't so cute!

The Monkey Brothers have adopted a south of the border lifestyle, donning sombreros and sipping margaritas ever since Laura bought the sombreros as souvenirs from a cruise several years ago. One of the Monkey Brothers enjoys wearing fruit of the loom briefs.

In fact, he is so proud of his undergarments that he designed this fancy Christmas postcard to send to his friends.

The Monkey Brothers have another brother named Kringle (see center of picture below). Kringle works for Santa Monk as an elf and helps to fabricate toys all year long. He has one week off to visit his family every year (between Christmas and New Year's). Here are the three brothers catching up on a year's worth of stories.

Big Monkey's big adventure at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary

Yesterday Laura and I visited the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, which is just a few miles from our home. We had a fantastic time! The sanctuary, which was previously known as the Chimp Farm, is run entirely by volunteers. They care for chimpanzees, orangutans, monkeys, baboons, etc., that were abandoned as pets, former research animals and television stars! In fact, Cheetah the chimpanzee from the Tarzan movies has called the sanctuary his home for the past 50 years. He is now in his 70's. The sanctuary has been closed to the public for at least 8 years for a rebuilding project. Mark and Laura used to be frequent visitors prior to that. The long anticipated grand re-opening happened earlier this year.

I am preparing a slideshow which will include all of my photos from our visit, but I was anxious to make a blog post. Here is a preview, and my slideshow will be featured in future post.

When Project Rebuild was in full force, the sanctuary utilized various fundraisers to make up for the lost income of daily visitors. Laura purchased a brick as a donation to the animals. We think the brick is at least 6 or 7 years old now. It is still in great shape. She had our cats, Megan and Karl, listed on the brick. It should have been my name, but that's OK.

This is one of the spider monkeys. His name is Blue because he has such brilliant blue eyes! He looks really cute, but spider monkeys can be quite ornery. He stuck his tongue out at me when I took this picture.

This is Baby Bob. He was born at the sanctuary about 4 years ago. He is such a cute little guy and is quite a ham! Most of the time that Laura and I observed him he was hiding under a giant bucket. He would stand on all fours and walk around with the bucket covering everything but his legs. It was difficult to get a good picture of him because he is such an active little chimp.

One of the sanctuary volunteers took us into her office to see this picture of Bob when he was a baby boy. You can barely see it, but he is wearing little monkey diapers! Ha ha! Isn't he adorable?

Christmas Day - Part Two - Gifts

They say that humans and chimps share 98% of the same genes. Some humans are more chimp than others. Mark proudly displays his new Christmas shirt while having an unexplained urge for a banana.
Do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the Red Nosed Deerchimp had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows (and blinks)!

Laura is fulfilling her lifelong dream to become a giant sock monkey. Check out these awesome sock monkey pajamas with feet!

Everyone made out like bandits on Christmas Day. Santa Monk even left something special for Officer Po Po under the tree. What could it be?

Yea! Po Po got a new rifle! It's just what he wanted.

Christmas Day - Part One

Christmas Day was very fruitful in terms of sock monkeys. Here are the new additions to my family. Any suggestions on names?

My brother, One Eyed Jack (left), Billy Ground Hog (center) and Henly (right) are sporting their festive seasonal sweaters.

One Eyed Jack and Santa Monk with Goliath Monkey, who looks quite dapper in his Santa hat and holiday scarf.

Santa Monk with the mini monkeys and their mini Christmas tree!

Santa Monk and his old friend, Mr. Hanky, who plopped in for a visit. Howdy Ho!

There will be more pictures posted very soon, but Santa Monk has had a long day. It's time to sign off for tonight. We hope that you had a very Monkey Christmas!

Look Who's Dancing Now!

Uh Oh! Uncle Bill got caught dancing country style with Big Monkey and an elfin friend.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

We're all lit up for Christmas!

Julius the Monkey snow globe is happy to make his first seasonal debut.

The fireplace and mantle are aglow with Mark's LED expertise proudly on display. The monkey stockings have also been hung with care in hopes that Santa Monk will fill them with goodies!

Those are some bright LED's. Freckles and sleigh friends are enjoying their time in the spotlight.

The four glowing Christmas trees are Mark's creations. They actually change color every few seconds. Very nice!

Dancing Elves

Click on the play button below to view a Dancing Elves video starring me, Mark, Karl, Officer Po Po and Farcus.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Pictures with Santa by the Christmas Tree

Santa and his helpers will travel via sleigh to visit all the good girls and boys this Christmas.

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, I'm telling you why. Santa Monk is coming to town!

Santa's faithful elf Freckles chopped down this tree and pulled it home in his sturdy red wagon. See how it glows!

Kids...here comes Santa Monk, here comes Santa Monk, right down Santa Monk Lane.

He's making a list and checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice. Santa Monk is coming to town!

Way to go Steelers!

The Steelers pulled through once again with a come from behind victory in the last minute of the game! My buddy Chipped Ham Sam missed it all because he passed out around halftime after drinking too many Iron City's in his mugstein. With today's win, the Steelers clinched the AFC North and have a first round bye in the playoffs. Could it be that I may get to witness my hometown team playing in my current home on February 1st?

Girls' Day Out!

Here are the BFF's (from left to right - Mr. Monkey, Sockette, Miss Pearl, Sassy and Princess Monkitha). These ladies are enjoying a bright sunny morning hanging out in a tree at Crystal Beach.

The ladies are taking a break on a pretty pastel bench.

The BFF's pose around this now defunct fountain in Live Oak Park.

What a nice place to enjoy the view - on a park bench surrounded by flowers!

Introducing Miss Pearl

Miss Pearl just arrived in Crystal Beach, but she didn't have to travel far. She's originally from Wesley Chapel, FL, which is only about 40 minutes away. Isn't she pretty as a picture? She got her name from the pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings which are her trademark.

This little lady wasted no time upon her arrival. She's already climbing the best trees that Crystal Beach has to offer.

Big Crazy Moon

Last night we saw one of the brightest full moons in years. Some say that the full moon makes monkeys a little crazy. Here I am pointing out the glowing orb.

The next morning, Crystal Beach experienced an extremely low tide. The sailboats below, which are permanently anchored out in the gulf, are now stranded.

This has nothing to do with the moon or the tides, but it is my favorite tree out at Crystal Beach.