Back in 2021, Mardi Gras was cancelled due to the pandemic. As a result, houses were being decorated and called “house floats.” Alicia and I were brand new in the house but still wanted to participate. We needed a clever theme, since most houses had a pun or reference.

Brainstorming over drinks, we narrowed it down to something sloth related. We were also still nervous about when we’d get vaccines for COVID-19. We decided it was a like a slot machine – you’d have to get lucky to get your vaccine first. Thus, the “Sloth Machine” – a sloth themed slot machine that gave out vaccines if you win.

I rented a truck and drove to Lowe’s and bought large sheets of thin plywood, as well as paint. Over the course of two weeks, I constructed it from scratch. I hand painted everything, using a cartoon sloth from the internet as inspiration.

I still can’t believe I had the energy to make this thing. In hindsight, I should have used foam or cardboard instead of plywood. I would have also hung it from the roof instead of making it rigid and lean against the way. The back-lighting worked on paper, but the street light in front of our house really prevented it from sticking out and glowing.

After Mardi Gras 2021 was over, I deconstructed it and hung the major pieces of art on the fence in the backyard. Eventually, hot New Orleans summers and heavy rain broke down the plywood and it shredded apart. Now, only memories (and a glittery 7) remain. It made great backyard art, though!