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Traveling Monkey

The traveling Sock Monkey is at it again! Sock Monkey is heading out for Key West this afternoon for a week of soaking up the sun and playing. Hopefully, he'll also learn a little history while he's there, but I'm afraid to hold ny breath~lol

Sock Monkey's Cruising Adventure

So Sock Monkey decided to get away for Spring Break with my son Max for a 2 week cruise on the Celebrity Cruise Lines Ship Mercury. He left on March 30th and flew to San Diego, CA to catch the cruise ship Mercury for a trip through the Panama Canal and then back to Florida to make port in Fort Lauderdale on April 13th. Here's how the trip went:

After a drive to Orlando, Sock Monkey and Max took a stroll near the lake, since they had several hours before getting on the plane to start their cross-country flight. Eight hours on a plane with a crazed Soc Monkey and a 10 year old could get a little scarey, so it was decided that they were going to use every bit of spare energy before hand!

Sock Monkey already trying to escape his handlers!

Sock Monkey convinces Max to try and make an escape!

When escape proved to be imposible (thanks Trisha!), Sock Monkey and Max settled in to begin their long flight. Here's Max and the traveling monkey at the Orlando airport waiting for their flight to be called.

Sock Monkey aboard the plane.

As you can see, he has a seat all to himself. Maybe they need to seat-belt him in?

Max and Sock Monkey were invited into the cockpit with the pilots to look around. Talk about lucky!

Finally, out of the air and time to recuperate! Eight hours flying is enough to push a monkey (and a 10 year old) over the edge!

Once on board ship, Max and Sock Monkey went exploring. There was so much to see! Sock Monkey was soon spotted climbing all over the ship!

Sock Monkey, not being a shy monkey at all, soon started making new friends with members of the crew. Everyone loved Sock Monkey and were more than happy to have thir pictures taken!

There were a few tense moments when everyone relalized that Sock Monkey had no real understanding of the escalator, but all ended well when a nice man saved him at the other end. They took the elevators fro then on!

Max, being the excellent big brother that he is, even took Sock Monkey swimming!

Sock Monkey and Max were invited to a dinner to celebrate a new friends birthday. This is when they discovered Sock Monkey's cousin! Imagine, a long lost cousin sharing the same ship! Sock Monkey was SO excited!!

Well, it's time to take Sock Monkey for his afternoon walk. I'll be back soon to finish posting the photos and I'll even include a few of the scenery.

Sock Monkey Makes it Home

Well, Sock Monkey has finally made it home from his grand adventure aboard the Cruise Ship Mercury. Not only did he make wonderful new friends and see fabulous sights, but he also found a long lost cousin from Mexico, Chango de Calcetin! He has promised to keep in touch with us and send us information about his adventures there.

Later today, I'll get all the photos posted for everyone to enjoy!

Sock Monkey on Vacation

For those of you who have been looking for Sock Monkey lately, he's on vacation. Yes, I KNOW he lives in sunny Florida, but everyone needs a break sometimes. He has left sunny Florida to vacation in an even sunnier place~lol Sock Monkey has decided to travel on the Carnival Cruise Ship Mercury from Califorina, through the Panama Canal to Florida. It's a 2 week cruise with stops in Mexico, Costa Rica and Columbia.

The ship is scheduled to land on Monday, so photos will be coming up soon afterwards.

While on vacation, Sock Monkey has found a long lost cousin that lives in Mexico, so we truely hope to kee you updated on him in the future as well.

Updated by the Keepers of the Monkey....Pam and Graham

Sock Monkey Meets Buddha and Cookie

So today Sock Monkey went to Expressions with us while we set-up on the patio to show our artwork. Yes, we are a glutton for punishment, but we decided to take the chance that maybe he would behave. Talk about getting lucky! He was content to sit in the tree and watch everyone coming and going for most of the day and only ventured away from the tree a couple of times.

Sock Monkey made a couple of new local friends during on of his brief visits down the tree. Buddha and Cookie are 2 adorable pugs that were more than happy to visit with Sock Monkey for a few moments. Of course, I had to pull out the camera and snap a few shots.

Cookie

Buddha and Cookie

Sock Monkey Playing with Buddha and Cookie

He did hop down and play with the cutest baby ever (sorry, no photos of that one) also. Other than that, he was a perfect little angel. Maybe he's learning to behave finally? NAH! I'm sure he'll be up to his same old tricks before we know it!

Hanging at the Mill Top

So it's mid-afternoon on an over-cast day and we have no idea what to do. Well, not really~lol We headed to the Mill Top (on St. Gearge Street, across from the fort) for a plate of nachos and a cold beer. Of course, we can't venture through the streets of St. Augustine without our little buddy, so he got to throw peanuts at the squirrels while we ate. After our snack, I loaded Sock Monkey up in his new carrier (well, it's not really a monkey carrier, it's a backpack that my brother rigged to carry him around) for another walk. Nothing like walking around with a monkey on your back....literally! I'll have to get photos of him riding around to post soon.

Riding the Brummer on St. George Street

So everyone asks if Sock Monkey is the only pet we have. That's a big fat NO! Between my family and my brother, we also have 4 German Shepherd Dogs (Brummer is my brothers) and numerous fish (both salt and fresh water).

Sock Monkey especially likes Brummer though. Brummer is nothing more than a big, hairy puppy and he's always up for letting Sock Mokey hitch a ride on his back, As you can see, they have no problem strolling down St. George Street in the evenings together.

Sock Monkey Meets Another Pirate!

While out playing in St. Augustine, Sock Monkey appened upon yet another pirate! Tiger Lee (the pirate), while rather fierce to meet, actually turned out to be a great guy! He does have a rather frieghtening scowl and wicked looking blades, but he was a nice as can be after Sock Monkey got to know him a little better.

Tiger Lee runs a little shop on St. George Street (near the corner of Hypolita at 100 St. George, Suite 1) called Pirate Portraits N' Treasures. This place is wonderful! Not only can you get your photo taken in pirate garb, but Tiger Lee is a fount of information. He even has a piece of the Black Pearl (from Pirates of the Caribbean) in his shop!

On the second Friday of every month, Tiger Lee offers an In Garb Pub Crawl to benefit different charities from 7 pm until 11 pm. It's a great time with pirate camaraderie, storytelling, song and drinks. Well worth the $5 (IF your in 16th-19th century pirate garb) price. It's $10 if you don't dress-up, but what's the fun in not dressing? Stop by Pirate Portraits N' Treasures to book your reservation!

If your in the market for period clothing, then Tiger Lee is the one to know! He has everything you need, including weapons (no weapons on the pub crawls allowed).

Sock Monkey Visits Expressions Art and Gifts

I decided t be brave and take Sock Monkey to Expressions Art and Gifts while I set-up my work for the day. Talk about a "wild" experience! He was into everything!

It started out innocently enough. Sock Monkey was happily sitting in the tree watching everything that was going on. But then...he was off and running!

I tried to catch him as he climbed the awning, but the slippery little devil was just too fast!

He swung down from the awning and climbed the displays inside before either Trish (the owner) or I could catch him. Graham was useless, all he did was laugh and keep taking pictures!

Sock Monkey hanging off the sun catcher display. BREAKABLES!

Trish and I thought that we'd finally gotten him with promises of a banana and the promise to play with a Magic Dragonfly (the coolest little toys around~available at Expressions, of course). We did get him settled on the counter, but he wanted to climb again. At least he stopped on something "non-breakable"....temporarily!

Sock Monkey with a Magic Dragonfly. This balancing toy is SO cool!

It didn't take long for Sock Monkey to get bored and he was off again. This time onto the pirate ship that holds the wood ornaments for Expressions. UGH! Is there no end to his shenannigans?!?!

Yes, there's the brother standing around while Trish and I are trying to catch Sock Monkey. No help at all I tell you!

Well, I finally gave up the chase and what do you think happened? That crazy little monkey came back to the tree and scampered up behind me and settled in. He HAD stolen a tiny wooden sword and was playing pirates, but what the heck, he was content and quiet and not getting into any more trouble!

Sock Monkey Meets Gorilla

My brother took Sock Monkey to play with Gorilla on the SV MISTRESS with Kathleen Joest. When they decided to step off the boat and grab a bite to eat, Sock Monkey and Gorilla really "let loose"! They never realized that the Cat's Paw Marina security cameras were picking up their every move...

I'm going to let Kathleen tell the story in her own words:

"As previously mentioned, Skip got me Gorilla for Valentines Day. Most often he is a well behaved Gorilla, however, yesterday he received a visit from Sock Monkey and while the adults went out for a bite to eat these two decided to have some fun. How do we know this? Upon our return we were informed by the good folks here at Cat's Paw Marina that their security cameras picked up some shenanigans aboard MISTRESS. This is what we found."

"Gorilla with tongs in hand grilling up some bananas. Sock Monkey is apparently playing lookout with no idea security cameras are watching."

"Gorilla then chased Sock Monkey all over the rig."

"Even DOODLE (the dingy) got in on the act and here we see Gorilla at the helm with Sock Monkey bow riding. "

"We arrived back at MISTRESS just in time for this is what we found. Did they really think they could take MISTRESS out? Fortunately, the dock lines held."

Needless to day, Graham was a little upset over Sock Monkey's bad influence over Gorilla. He immediately out Sock Monkey into "time out" below deck, but it didn't last long. Who can resist those adorable little faces?

**Graham and I want to express our thanks to Kathleen and Skip Joest for allowing Sock Monkey to come play with Gorilla on SV MISTRESS. Not only did Sock Monkey have fun playing with his new friend but Graham was in awe of the beautiful work that Skip has done in the rebuild of this beautiful schooner. If you have never seen the MISTRESS, then you really need to take a look at the website. She is gorgeous!