comments

1. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 3:36 pm

   Wait a minute. These people saying a monkey was my grandma?

2. Carole Corlew on February 18th, 2011 at 3:59 pm

   Oh my. I guess the waning popularity of the sock monkey helped to do in the button factory in Washington, IA. The Iowan’s mother kept old bikes in the little garage, the ones without gears and trimmed with front baskets. A certain ritual had to be followed on these trips. Take out the bikes, pump up the tires, then ride by the defunct button factory, the railroad tracks, the big old house with the wraparound porch where the five kids were raised. I will post a photo of that house eventually, it just says Iowa.

   We were there for the homecoming parade a few years ago. Girls in evening gowns rode on floats and in convertibles/trucks, waving with gloved hands. Other paraders threw candy to the onlookers, bunches and bunches of candy. I had never heard of that. In Hazel Green, the “royals” felt those waves were quite enough reward, thank you.

   What a shame, the many things I can blame on the near-demise of the sock money.

3. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 4:04 pm

   The sufficiency of the Hazel Green wave is testament to the South’s aristocratic traditions.

   In the Midwest, we believe you got to give people something tangible. You got to earn your royal status.

4. Deron Bauman on February 18th, 2011 at 4:05 pm

   Holy shit, I need to get on a bus or a plane.

5. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 4:12 pm

   It’ll be monkey-licious.

   They sell sock monkeys. I think they show sock monkey films. Maybe they stage sock monkey puppet shows.

   I’ve got to get there for this year’s monkeyfest. You get yourself to Chicago, Deron, I can get you to Rockford.

6. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 4:13 pm

   We could also go look for Rick Nielsen’s house and ask him what’s the big delay with the Rockford casino he was going to open.

7. Carole Corlew on February 18th, 2011 at 4:17 pm

   Good point, Shelia. Most real royals wouldn’t last long in Iowa. They would have to tassel corn at the very least to earn their keep.

8. Carole Corlew on February 18th, 2011 at 4:18 pm

   Shelia, why don’t you take your little friend. I imagine that would animate the little guy. Deron could be his press agent. Or the bouncer. Or both.

9. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 4:20 pm

   Featured this year:

   Affordable food and snacks available all day from Burritt’s Meat Products

   . The Fifth Annual Sock Monkey International Film Festival (short fun films with sock monkey themes running all day long each day)

   . Ms./Mr. Sockford 2011 Sock Monkey Pageants (youth and adult categories) on Sunday

   . Sock monkey crafts for children

   . How to make a sock monkey ($20 fee). Call to register & reserve a time slot (workshops are offered at 11:30 am, 12:00 noon, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm & 3:30 pm each day). Allow one and a half to two hours to complete your monkey.

10. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    Oh. My. God.

    Carole.

    That is brilliant.

    I really need someone to be with me and encourage me to be as loony as I’m capable of being.

    Introduce the Doll to assorted Monkeys.

    Yes.

11. Deron Bauman on February 18th, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    Sheila, if you are serious, I think I might.

12. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    Deron, let’s talk.

13. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    Y’all, can I come along for the ride? If it’s feasible, I would like to.

14. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    I’ll do what I can to make it happen. Meeting anyone. Picking anyone up at an airport or train station or bus station.

15. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    I had no idea sock-monkeys came from Rockford. Then again, perhaps I am one.

16. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    Oooo, I just saw the date. Phil’s supposed to be in the states then. Perhaps we can coordinate. I don’t want to miss his visit. And whether we would have funds for me for a ticket to Chicago.

    It would be glorious if things can mash out.

17. Deron Bauman on February 18th, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    Rick, hell yes, but also, the dates just occurred to me as well.

18. Carole Corlew on February 18th, 2011 at 6:15 pm

    I am all about inspiring the loony, Shelia. It is a natural gift. Ahem.

19. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    Inspire me to Rockford, girl.

20. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    Inspire us all, girl. I talked to Danny about it. ‘Course, this time might spell woe to me, taking time off in a crucial part of the season. Still, a weekend. Just an overnighter? I would love to meet you, Sheila and Deron, for this thing. It might not be the be all and end all, but I have a sense it would be something we might not want to miss. Danny said, “We could find a way for you to be there.” So, do you really want to? It’s okay, if not. If obligations speak louder. Mine are ringing loud.

    Commitments to such things are difficult. We have no idea what we’d see, what we’d do. It would add up to magic. Maybe lame magic, but magic nonetheless. What say you?

21. Sheila Ryan on February 18th, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    Rick, I can play it as it lays. Phil’s upcoming visit to the States clearly takes priority; if his plans and schedule bump into Sock Monkey Madness — well, I’d hope you and Deron would stay put in Missouri and Texas in order to be around for him rather than tear up to Illinois! After all, I’m in Illinois a good deal of the year. And sock monkeys are eternal, or at least annual.

    That said, my work (and my life generally) still have a degree of give, so let’s all of us check in with one another off-site and see can we figure something out.

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