The Observation Deck

*

Sorry for the late reporting! Last night I was witnessed to another great event in Lakewood that grows every year. The New Year's Eve Burning Monkey Festival and Cotillion Ball.

As most of this is unapproved, and possibly, illegal, Steve Davis thought I should change the names to protect us. From this point on we will use Brian and Tom...

In it's fourth year, (1st year was canceled no permit, 2nd year was canceled, I brought a live monkey by mistake, and no one would light it!, 3rd year we had a mechanical monkey, but no matches) we decided to just keep the word monkey and work on the flaming ball. * *

This year Brian and Tom worked with others (not on the advisory board) to put together a nice flaming mixture of asbestos, old "Super Balls" melted down with Benzene, and white gas. This was then applied to a framework of magnesium and asbestos.



At 11:45 Brian and Tom entered Rozi's Wine House, which just happened to be opened and serving wine and great food from Perko and friends. Breaking the lock to the roof, Brian and Tom were able to establish good visibility, and noticed the crowd outside was orderly.



As we, errr, they took out the official pocket fisherman, and applied the 15lb test filament to the 60lb flaming ball, physics and rocket surgery was mentioned and discussed. Would the ensuing flames lift the ball enough to compensate for the filament plastic line? Would it fly away? Would it melt.



At 11:59 it was lit and lowered over the edge to the cheers of all that had gathered.

Quickly the line breaks, and the ball goes flying.



Like an out of control comet, it heads to the concrete below, as onlookers cheer, and toast the new year.

As it smashes into the sidewalk, it is an old custom to also let go of the hopes and dreams from 2007, realize that it is over, and create a new list of things not to accomplish in 2008. It is tradition.



Happy New Year To All

* Photos have been altered to bring out the flavor of this event.

* * Very few monkeys were actually hurt in this event. Last count 1 monkey, 4 handlers.

The BMF&CB is by private, invite only.

You have to know someone to get in.


.

Sorry I missed that!

I love monkeys!

Next year: the Burning Barrel Full of Monkey Fun?

dl meckes wrote:Sorry I missed that!

I love monkeys!

Next year: the Burning Barrel Full of Monkey Fun?

DL

I wanted to make sure you, and everyone that wrote or called, could see that no live animals were used in this part of the event.

As the monkey got close to the door going upstairs, he started to freak out, possible remembering two years ago. He was left below doing monkey things.



You can see, no live monkey on fire.

This photo was taken seconds before the filament broke.

UPDATE: 1 handler was hurt, monkey stabbed him with a pen taken out of the handler's pocket trying to get him on the roof. 3 of the crew suffering minor burns. At least no animals were harmed!

It is an old saying that if the BMF&CB brings on hard cold winds, they will carry the dreams of a new year for the city!

If anyone else has photos please post them.


.

Y'all are silly.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

You can see, no live monkey on fire.

Not for lack of trying.

Steve

stephen davis wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

You can see, no live monkey on fire.

Not for lack of trying.

Steve

I cannot believe how deep that monkey was able to stick that pen!

Owwwwwwwwww!

I am still laughing.

Funniest line of the night, "Does PITA represent humans too."


.

Jim O'Bryan wrote: Funniest line of the night, "Does PITA represent humans too."

Some thing PETA = PITA...

Jim O'Bryan wrote:UPDATE: 1 handler was hurt, monkey stabbed him with a pen taken out of the handler's pocket trying to get him on the roof. 3 of the crew suffering minor burns. At least no animals were harmed!

It is an old saying that if the BMF&CB brings on hard cold winds, they will carry the dreams of a new year for the city!

If anyone else has photos please post them.

Below is an artist rendition of the monkey before the attack.

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:UPDATE: 1 handler was hurt, monkey stabbed him with a pen taken out of the handler's pocket trying to get him on the roof. 3 of the crew suffering minor burns. At least no animals were harmed!

It is an old saying that if the BMF&CB brings on hard cold winds, they will carry the dreams of a new year for the city!

If anyone else has photos please post them.

Below is an artist rendition of the monkey before the attack.

Matt

Seconds later at the door it was not such a pretty picture.



With that red hair, looks a bit Irish!

Should have known.


.

Something has been bothering me and I couldn't understand why.

I know now.

dl meckes wrote:Something has been bothering me and I couldn't understand why.

I know now.

As you can see, I know how the little guy was feeling.

So much for intelligent design, at least in my case!

Scarry!


.