When one thinks of Appalachia-Monkeys don't usually come to mind.
Although I must admit-I do live with 2 Monkey Girls.
Back in the day when I had big hair and Paul was like way cool, we had a funny Monkey experience. Jeff, one of Paul's buds from school was always telling far out stories that were mostly lies. But he was a fun friend to be around and Paul liked him a lot.
Paul regularly shared the crazy tales with me so I could get a good laugh too. One day Paul came home telling Jeff's latest story.
It seems Jeff had been seeing a Monkey around his house. He had seen it several times-just swinging through the trees and chattering. Paul said Jeff described it in great detail and seemed to truly believe he had seen a real life Monkey. Paul and I both got a kick out of the story and wondered if Jeff really thought folks believed him or he just liked goofing around.
A few months later, I was hanging around some older guys from down around where Jeff lived. I had totally forgotten the Monkey story until I heard them laughing about some guy who was offering a reward for his lost Monkey. I couldn't wait to tell Paul there really was a Monkey after all.
Of course this made us wonder if all Jeff's outrageous tales were true. But we decided probably not-cause by then Jeff was telling how he had killed a turkey out of season, had it for supper and inadvertently ate the wildlife beeper that was attached to it-which brought a Game Warden to his front door.
In Paul's grown-up life, as a Language Arts teacher, he frequently gives the students an assignment of making a parody or spoof of a song, movie, play or story. About 2 years ago he realized he had never done a spoof with the students and thought he would give it a try. He took Elvis's Heartbreak Hotel-and turned it into a Monkey Song.
For this week's Pickin' & Grinnin' Spot Paul's "I've Been Such A Monkey."
Before you start the video, go to the radio and pause it by clicking the first "button" starting on the left under the title. You need to do this-so you can hear the video. If you have dreaded dial up service (like I do)-I would suggest you click the button to start the video and then go do something else until it loads. Once it has downloaded then you can start it back to the beginning and watch it through.
Hope you enjoyed the Monkey song!
Tipper
Paul, the girls, and the monkey all did a great job on the video.
Love your pic. By the way, who taught the monkey to play guitar?
Posted by: Beckynsc | July 27, 2008 at 04:50 PM
I'm baaack!! L.A. did not grow on me. Nope. I sure am happy to be home with my simple life, my darned socks, and my garden.
This post sure is refreshing! I love your blog (or hadn't you guessed?) and feel just rotten that I've missed so much. I didn't have internet access while on the West Coast because the hotel didn't have a media center. Bummer.
The did have HBO -- I'm still traumatized. WOW.
Blessings!
Lacy
Posted by: Razor Family Farms | July 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Very nentertaining series and commentary. Great Job! Have a great day!
Posted by: Michael Ivy | July 26, 2008 at 08:23 AM
This was too funny. Paul has such a great voice and his talent at writing shows in this parody as well. Chitter and Chatter cracked me up in the background. My granddaugher kept making me play this over and over...."Play the monkey song gramma". Cute!
Posted by: Egghead | July 25, 2008 at 05:07 PM
I watched this over at Dana's when you submitted it for the quilt contest, and I CRACKED UP!!! It truly was my favorite of all the videos. Not only was it hysterical, but the girls look so cute in the background, and your brother really sounds like Elvis!
Posted by: Renna | July 25, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Funny! Great 80s hair, too, mine looked exactly like that!!
Posted by: Jennifer in OR | July 25, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Hello Tipper! I needed to stop and take a deep breath before posting. I was rolling. The story, the song, your daughters' performances! Bravo! It was fun and uplifting. Tell Jeff not to forget to feed his monkey cottage cheese, raspberries, and bananas!
:)) p.s. btw, your photo immediately reminded me of Naomi Judd. Uh oh! I have to mind my compliments! Have a wonderful wekend!
Posted by: petra michelle | July 25, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Tipper,
I had to laugh about the big hair and way cool remark. I think you look exactly the same, just sans the big hair ... and I think Paul is still "way cool." Language Arts Teacher? Way to go Paul!! Now I feel like he might be grading me every time I write something. Just kidding, Paul. :)
The video turned out very well and it looked like a lot of fun. Had me giggling at the lyrics too. Very original. Thanks for sharing it with us. xxoo
Posted by: Carolyn A. | July 25, 2008 at 01:06 PM
that was HYSTERICAL!!!! my boys and i ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!
Posted by: christina | July 25, 2008 at 12:01 PM
this is too funny! and the video is even better! oh and by the way your hair looks fabulous! perhaps the style may come back someday! LOL! fashion has a way of doing that.
Posted by: nicole | July 25, 2008 at 10:27 AM
I love the monkey song and that video CRACKS me up!!
Posted by: dana | July 25, 2008 at 08:13 AM
Tipper: What a great video on a fun song. Chitter and Chatter did there job all the way through. Loved the musical solo by the monkey, he was doing some great picken for the song. Tell Paul I enjoyed the song parody.
Posted by: Fishing Guy | July 25, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Wonderful post, Tipper. You sure had fun! I enjoyed the music very much, too.
Posted by: SandyCarlson | July 25, 2008 at 06:09 AM
Fun post! I think we have all known people who like to weave tales :)
Posted by: Amy | July 25, 2008 at 01:31 AM
Great job on the Monkey song. Very creative!
Posted by: writerlady | July 24, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Love the song and you're monkey girls are beautiful!
Posted by: Dejoni | July 24, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Love it, especially the banana-back-up dancers! One of the best concerts I've ever attended ~ HA, I think I've probably attended 4 in my entire life ~ but of those 4 one of the best was a group called The Chenille Sisters. They sang mostly parodies or spoofs, and my favorite was when they put the words of "Amazing Grace" to the Gilligan's Island theme song. It works marvelously and is a hoot ~ go ahead, try it while no one is listening! :) I bet Paul would love it, too!
Posted by: Sarah | July 24, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Those monkeys and Chitter and Chatter have been busy this week. I'm sure I saw them at Old Red Barn Company too.
Keep up the woderful postings.
Osagebluffquilter
Posted by: Osagebluffquilter | July 24, 2008 at 10:43 PM
What a neat story. When I was about 5 I lived in Texas and spent the summer with my aunt and uncle in NC. This is the truth now. There was a monkey in the trees around their house. It liked chewing gum. I wanted to catch that monkey so bad but he was too fast for me.
I was so disappointed when my uncle said the monkey belonged to a neighbor, I was so sure that he was a wild animal and that if I could catch it I could keep it!!
Posted by: Miss Cindy | July 24, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Ha...now I'm laughing...about eating the wildlife beeper thingy...that's hilarious and I'm sure a lie...so, so funny though.
Posted by: noble pig | July 24, 2008 at 09:52 PM
This is excellent!!!! I teach in and elementary school and we certainly don't have enough creative teachers like this.
Posted by: Farmchick | July 24, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Awesome post, and awesome monkey song! I think monkeys are just funny naturally. We love monkeys over here at our place - even have a few toy monkeys around the house. In fact, I'm writing a short fiction book, and I just wrote a bit about a monkey yesterday. Yay, monkeys! Thanks for the song!
Posted by: City Mouse | July 24, 2008 at 07:39 PM
I love the monkey video - the girls are so cute! I saw it on The Old Red Barn giveaway!
Posted by: Debbie | July 24, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Back in the blog saddle again. Thanks for your kind words of concern during our recent bout with the hurricane. This is a hilarious post. Tell Paul I'm impressed with his parody. I'm sure the girls fit the bill too. See you soon. Pappy
Posted by: The Texican | July 24, 2008 at 05:51 PM