Thursday #38 - Monkey Party

[momoffuzzyfaces]

OK! I know it's only Wednesday but I couldn't wait. Tomorrow starts the Chinese new year - The Year of the Monkey.
Here's a toast to the new year and Thursday's own monkey boy - MARIO!
Frist round is on me!

[RICHARD]

L.A. ape reprises escapes


By Ryan Oliver
Staff Writer


A 17-year-old chimpanzee named Gracie escaped from her enclosure Monday at the Los Angeles Zoo for the fourth time in recent years and roamed free for 45 minutes, forcing the evacuation of 9,000 visitors.

With television helicopters hovering overhead, zookeepers finally cornered Gracie and fired a tranquilizer dart gun, but it only grazed her. Still, a short time later, she returned to the exhibit on her own.

"We have one individual animal here who happens to be an escape artist," said zoo director John Lewis. "She managed to bounce from one wall to another, and she got a handhold over one of the walls."

Security staff quickly separated visitors from the chimp and led them to the front of the zoo before deciding to shut down it down completely.

Gracie never strayed far from the chimpanzee enclosure after her escape around 3:30 p.m.

Irene Lopez of Norwalk was standing near the enclosure when she saw one particularly active chimpanzee leap out of her view.

"It kept trying to jump on top of some rocks," Lopez said. "It finally went over and out of view. It suddenly disappeared. We didn't know it had escaped at first, but when we saw everybody being evacuated, we got nervous."

One of the visitors who saw the escape said the other chimps "went crazy." Visitors said they thought the chimps might be cheering for Gracie.

But Lewis said the other animals were just excited.

"It was the excitement of something being different. They know that is not an area where they go," Lewis said.

The zoo was more crowded than usual on a Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Many visitors were unaware of just what had happened while they were ushered to the front of the park and news helicopters swarmed overhead.

"We thought maybe they were looking for somebody, or a mountain lion escaped," said 37-year-old Sandra Worsfold of Covina. "We had to ask somebody what happened."

Worsfold, who went to the zoo with her sister-in-law and six children, said she was not afraid to return to the zoo despite the chimp escape.

"I'm an animal lover," she said. "They're probably more scared of us than we are of them. It's just a little chimp."

Lewis said he did not know if Gracie would pose a threat to visitors, but he noted that chimpanzees are very strong for their size.

The escape was Gracie's fourth from the chimpanzee habitat since it was opened 1998.

In the past, the Los Angeles Zoo has come under criticism after animal escapes, including the brief escape of a 270-pound gorilla in October 2000.

Lewis said the chimpanzee exhibit had been modified repeatedly because of Gracie's earlier escapes.

"Each time, we've made corrections based on her abilities, and she's found another way," Lewis said. "We've got 14 other animals (in the habitat) -- none of which have been able to get out of this exhibit.

"What we normally do is look at the average ability of the animals ... being housed, and obviously Gracie is above-average."

Lewis said Gracie appeared to be in good condition. After her return, she was placed in a special enclosure Monday to prevent another escape.

"Gracie's fine," Lewis said.

Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge, who represents the Griffith Park area where the zoo is located, arrived shortly after Gracie's escape.

"The zoo director and his staff are going to investigate to make sure this doesn't repeat itself," LaBonge said. "But Gracie does like to climb."

Lora LaMarca, director of marketing and public relations, said other animals were frightened by the media helicopters, but Gracie appeared to be having a good time when she got out, visiting the penthouse area in the exhibit where other chimpanzees are kept.

"You've got to love her," LaMarca said.

--------------------------


dotd???


Banana Daiquiri

1 oz. Rum, 3/4 oz. Creme de Banana, Splash of Sour mix, Dash of simple syrup, 1 Banana

Blend with ice until smooth, Serve in Hurricane glass, Garnish with fresh fruit


Of course!!!!


I'll be in and out today.......I like money but I hate work....

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by RICHARD

--------------------------


dotd???


Banana Daiquiri

1 oz. Rum, 3/4 oz. Creme de Banana, Splash of Sour mix, Dash of simple syrup, 1 Banana

Blend with ice until smooth, Serve in Hurricane glass, Garnish with fresh fruit


Of course!!!!


I'll be in and out today.......I like money but I hate work....

and featured dessert: banana split!!! YUM!!

[lbaker]

Made with Chunky Monkey ice cream of course! I have some very ripe bananas, I can make some loaves of banana bread for the morning arrivals. Maybe Gracie heard about Marios adventures at Thursdays last week and wanted to meet him. Remember the scene in the Clint Eastwood movie when he and Clyde escape the female from the zoo in the middle of the night and she & Clyde end up at a motel. KEEP THOSE MONKEYS OF THE CEILING FAN!

[luckies4me]

Hey Mario and I are here. Tray said I could borrow him if she couldn't get here on time. Well I will try to keep him out of trouble........for at least a little while. I have to save Willie a seat next to the fireplace so make sure to leave a space open.


I'll have a drink of the day please Richard.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by luckies4me



I'll have a drink of the day please Richard.

DONE!

i pulled the circuit on the fans....we are safe.

[slick]

Work is busy for me too Richard. Whenever you return I'd love a monkey drink. Laurie, thanks for the PM. 25 days, but who's counting

[Dogz]

And I'm another monkey!


The one and the only--


Minnesotan Monkey!




A Dr. Pepper for M.M please!

[mugsy]

Some fru fru drink will work this week for me!!!

Did you hear in Taiwan the government told the people to act like monkeys in honor of the Chinese New Year???

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by mugsy
Some fru fru drink will work this week for me!!!

Did you hear in Taiwan the government told the people to act like monkeys in honor of the Chinese New Year???

lol,

are they gonna fling poop at each other???

Slick and Mugs,

DONE!


Dogz,

DONE!!

I bought a 12 pack on the way to work today!!!

Really!

[Dogz]

Originally posted by RICHARD
lol,

are they gonna fling poop at each other???

Find Cover!

-sends the poop flinging monkeys over to Richards house-

[luckies4me]

Does anyone want some chicken enchiladas? I set them on the table. I made some for when Dan got home but I made way too much and have extra. Feel free to help yourself.

And so you know, they are chicken, cheese, and mushroom with cream sauce, not red sauce.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Oh, there is a batch of monkey's-on-a-stick in the freezer. That's frozen bananas covered with chocolate and rolled in nuts.
Mario told me he likes those a lot!

The chicken enchiladas are yummy, by the way!

[catland]

Q: How do monkeys get down the stairs?

A: They slide down the banana-ster!



One DOTD please Richard.

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
Oh, there is a batch of monkey's-on-a-stick in the freezer. That's frozen bananas covered with chocolate and rolled in nuts.
Mario told me he likes those a lot!

The chicken enchiladas are yummy, by the way!

Thanks!

I think I will go try a monkey on a stick. They sound sooo good! I love nuts!