A Party, the Old Ken Way

Sometimes it is not only nice but necessary to have a party. What is your relation to the enterprise of partying? Do you have any kind of over-arching philosophy by which you abide?



Well, for Old Ken, there is a key word: costumes! At a recent shindig (or record-hop, or jamboree, depending on how you like to say it), a special table was set out with different costume elements with which guests were encourage to accessorize. To the left, of course, we see Mr. Chris in what can only be described as a fuschia, cheetah-print, felt-textured pimp hat - - one of several gems yours truly found at Claussen House upon a recent visit. Now, I'll confess that said hat was originally intended as a gift for Mr. Postie, but the prospect of transporting such a delicate item cross country while navigating two airport visits with it, seemed a little to much to ask - - even of a Man from a Place who knows a thing or two about a fine chapeau.



Senor Cyril, to the left, was able to enjoy a hat of a different kind, as this plush, blonde wig was another Claussen House find. To Old Ken, the wig, upon its discovery, had smelled a little pissy. I would not want to hazard a guess as to how it might have acquired that distinctive odor; indeed, the mind boggles at the prospect. Nonetheless, with a little bit of cleansing, it was perfectly fit for sartorial integration - - a task Cyril has certainly pulled off to fetching effect.




Now, it's certainly all well and good to have friends of the human persuasion at a party. But what about animals? Should they be excluded? What about those proverbial "party animals" - - do they work to blend species boundaries in a transgressive and yet fairly non-threatening way? Well, the consensus at this recent event was that animals should be encouraged to enjoy themselves too. So, while Jen (in black in the foreground of the picture at left) brought along her small dog, Brie (in green at back) kept her small kitten upon her shoulder.




Inspired by the contagious spirit of this menagerie, Old Ken donned his famous costume and, like magic, became Gary the Cat. A little backstory here: many moons ago, Old Ken was required to attend a Halloween party in a city in midwestern America. Wanting to combine his congenital attachment to haunting realism with conceptual flair, Old Ken first envisioned a costume that sought to identify and replicate the distinguishing features of Stefania's female cat, which is mysteriously named Gary. As you'll remember, Gary is a big butterball feline with huge, protruding nipples. Recognizing that quintessence of Gary could thus be captured by mimicing the visibility and distinctive patterning of these nipples, the Gary costume was born. Please, go on: bask in its glory!