William Brand

By interesting I mean...cold. Very, very cold. And the wind was up.

^ I'd have a space program. < I will get into space. Oh yes. V Would you take a one way trip to Mars if offered?

I showered buck naked in the cold showers on the beach at 2 in the morning. It was...interesting. Now, back on the subject. Captain Sterling does make a good point and so do others. If you are only planning on using the tent at PIP, then you need not worry about fireproofing. The watchwords of the festival are common sense. We don't expect a fire problem because all of the camps will have water buckets and patrols of some sort, so it shouldn't be an issue. However, if you are inclined to fireproof your tent, then it certainly wouldn't hurt, and it might even broaden the use of the tent over time. However, it is a personal decision as touching PIP.

Wow. With Hurricane's projected numbers and some of the people attending who aren't accounted for by name, we have over 50 people coming so far. I am liking these numbers.

Is it a period drawing? If so, you need that speaking trumpet as well.

Don't worry about watching this thread too closely. We have time yet to buy them and I want to give people a change to budget it in. I'll PM everyone when we have plenty of people to save on the shipping.

^ Weighed down like a treasure galleon. < I need a back-up external drive in the worst way. V Have you ever wanted to kill anyone and hide the body?

Rolls are not necessarily raw. My favorites are cooked, such as spicy shrimp tempura rolls.

We'll add your order to the Careening Camp and ship them directly to the fort to await our arrival. Once we have enough confirmed orders, I will tally up the overall caost with tax and shipping and let people know what they need to send.

Today's special is Maki-zushi...

^ I worked on a pig farm for awhile. A far cry from graphic design I can tell you. And a foul cry. < I now eat more bacon than ever. Bloody pigs. V I'll pass the question too.

Steady...

If enough of the Archangel Crew wants to order, you may wish to do your own group order and have it delivered there to you. Then you can use the lanterns at events throughout the year.

July 29, 2704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Alder Wenge collapsed into his hammock with the smile of a man pleased with the day's labor. He had managed to complete the supporting timbers for the new Starboard quartergalley on the Watch Dog. Old and new beams had been married together so well, that a coat of paint would soon make them impossible to distinguish from one another. Soon the planking and framing would follow and the 'Dog would be just another frigate on the water, whole and complete. It was a Carpenter's sole delight to work so well, that no notice of the work should be evident when complete, but for the completion itself. In the Ward Room, Jim Warren was enjoying the benefits of his temporary Captaincy. A bottle of wine, a plate of cheese and some hot soup from the galley sat on the table by the many tapers which burned there. He drank and read a selected volume from the stern bench library. A little rain came in at the incomplete quartergalley, but not so much. For the most part, the room was comfortable, homey, and most importantly, private. Jim had of course been a Captain once himself, having commanded more than one nimble ship in his lifetime. The wheel of the 'Dog was just one helm in a long line of helms, and there would probably be many more, but he liked the 'Dog. She was large enough to be grand and small enough to be comfortable. Sealegs Constance came in while Jim was still reading, and she served him coffee and scones, freshly baked. The Ship's Mess Mate poured a large cup and set it out, excepting Mister Warren's thanks with a nod, before making her way into the rain to serve hot drink to the night watches. She had never minded the rain, and after the hot galley, it was a pleasant shower of cool water. She didn't even bother with an oilskin, for her clothes were in need of a good soaking and she meant to let them drink a bit. By the time she had served all about the weatherdecks, and passed invitations for each of them to stop by the galley in turn for fare, she looked like a drowned cat. She returned to the galley and stripped down to her underclothing, laying her clothes over a chair near the cook fires. Then she girded herself in a fresh nightshirt and an apron and continued to work into the night. Patrick Hand stood at the forecastle deck all the while, smoking a pipe in the deluge. He managed to keep it lit despite the downpour, having practiced the art of a good smoke by rain for many a year. He was utterly covered in water, but otherwise untouched by it, having some of the best oil skins to be had aboard. He prided himself on his ability to handle all kinds of weather and rain was no exception. Patrick had never been seen by any aboard to be truly wet, truly scorched or truly unprepared for anything which occurred aboard the 'Dog. He was an able Able Seaman, and no one could ever say different. Down in the holds, Murin McDonough and Nathan Bly were sharing stories of their "lives before". Nathan was amazing Murin with the many adventures he and Bill Flint had passed through together, including their most recent plight on the water and on the shores at La Margarita. Murin was able to empathize, having been a castaway herself and at almost the same time. They laughed when laughing was called for, they nodded when mutual understandings were reached and they were serious and sober when their narration called for it. They sat by the weak and solitary lantern and talked until the candle within snuffed out in the dark. Between three and four bells of First Watch ~Starboard Watches on Duty~

I have spoken with Historic Enterprises on the matter of buying their brass lanterns at a group rate. The lanterns are 4 3/4" x 11" with a horn pane window. See image below. They said they'll give us a 10% discount on the purchase of 12 or more lanterns. The price per lantern would be about $26.96 each with the discount. This makes group buys very simple. Hurricane can do a group buy for the buccaneer group in the 1680 Port Royal Camp and have them all shipped to him for distribution among his crew, while I can handle the 1720 Mercury Careening Camp orders. We can save on shipping as well by sending the lanterns directly to PIP for distribution among the crew members when they arrive. As for the Sutlers Camp, they may wish to purchase their own for use as personal items or wares for sale. Thoughts? http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.ph...tail&p=216&c=35

We have some lovely rice milk with a hint of vanilla.

I'd best get you some milk...

William and John were pressed into an establishment sooner than expected when the rain blowing in off of the Cul du Sac Royal forced them to take refuge. They didn't mind this, for both of them were soon dining in Le Saint Heureux, a comfortable inn tucked between a milliner and a wine merchant. Here they found meat, cheeses, hot soup and fresh bread, in addition to the rum which seemed to be everywhere in Martinique. John was in such good spirits that he begged the favor of paying for their meal and William allowed him the honor of the request. When the inn became crowded with the press of wet men and women coming in from the weather, they ordered their food brought up to a private room on the second floor. The room came complete with its own fireplace and table. It was modestly furnished, but very comfortable. They were soon joined by too tired, but friendly looking women from the kitchen who brought up additional dishes. John was so taken by one of the women that he asked the proprietor if they might stay awhile and dine with them. A coin or two helped the man make up his mind for him and the proprietor allowed the kitchen maids to remain. The women were polite, if a little taken aback by the unexpected freedom from work. They were cautious in their conversation at first, but soon found William to be less daunting than his appearance. Soon, the four of them were talking in a mix of English and French that warmed the room more than the fire and William was glad for the company. Outside, below, and unseen by the dinner party, the woman doctor who had tended to Captain Lasseter, passed by the inn. She was already wet through and destined to wait beside a sickbed much of the night.

As mentioned above, 2005 was very comfortable. The humidity was way down and the bugs were almost non-existent, so it's Russian roulette with the weather and bugs.

^ Sushi. < I went to a sushi making class over the weekend and learned to make a few items. V Sea urchin or no sea urchin?

July 29, 1704 - St. Louis Four bells of the Second Dog Watch The evening wore on at the shop under the tree, and with night quickly approaching, William's thoughts began to drift. He was more than once distracted by the entrance and departure of Adélaïde Molyneaux, who carried with her a grace and perfume that fed his imagination in ways that would have offended Monsieur Molyneaux. She bore herself with a practiced, but altogether natural poise, which reminded William of younger times and distant locations. It was as sweet a distraction as it was distasteful. William was reminded of his waking mood and it served as a bitter reminder. Thibault Molyneaux interrupted these many wanderings of thought by sliding a piece of paper across the desk. William plucked it up and scanned the figures for a moment or two. Then he took up a quill and dipped it, scratching an alternative sum before passing the paper back to the Jeweler. Monsieur Molyneaux contemplated the new amount with the art of a card player, all stoney and business. He too scratched a new sum and sent it back again. Now William had grown up in the bazaars and market gardens of many a Middle Eastern town in his travels with The Mahdi. He had seen and participated in the dance of bartering so many times, that the art had not been forgotten. In fact, William had a knack for it, as had his teacher The Mahdi, so William crossed out the second offer and scratched a new one again. Monsieur Thibault Molyneaux being a man of wisdom and experience, was fully aware that he had not yet come to the agreeable price. Martinique was brimming with the wealth of the Sugar Trade, and the noblemen of the island, if noble they could be called, were willing to pay more money for merchandise, for they could afford almost anything of value and Martinique was isolated in the world theater. The goods which Captain Brand had brought to him would fetch a price on the island that was far above any they would demand on the mainlands. Items of quality were rare enough here in the new world, but on Martinique they were rarer still, and Monsieur Molyneaux could see that William was no fool of economies. "Here is a Captain appraised of exchanges." the Jeweler thought, and he penned what he hoped would be a final figure. William took up the paper and scanned the final offer. Then he went down the page, item by item until he was satisfied that the agreement was as fair as it was thorough. He smiled then a little, his only true tell, and he passed the paper back with a nod. Monsieur Molyneaux laid out fresh paper and quickly catalogued the inventory. He drew up a contract of payment, lending but a small amount out in coin, for the hour was late. William had expected this, and he called for John McGinty to witness the signing of the contract in the amount of 20,400 livres. If William's small smile had been a tell, then McGinty's was an absolute cannon blast. He looked startled by the numbers on the contract as he watched Monsieur Molyneaux and then William sign the papers which guaranteed the 'Dog the total sum in parts. He was grinning like a fool all the while and trying and failing to figure out his own share in his racing mind. He stooped so much to look that William paused, fixing John with a look that said, 'Do you mind?', for the marine was shadowing him in an almost embarrassing fashion. John straightened again at once. Adélaïde Molyneaux, who stood across from John, standing for a witness to her father, showed no emotion whatsoever. She was her father's daughter in every way. Then, with the paperwork signed, some coin exchanged and their business concluded, Monsieur Molyneaux filled two large glasses with but a third of amber liquid which was as sharp and delicious to William as the figures in the tucked parchment. They drank a toast to one another and their futures. Monsieur Molyneaux invited the two men to stay to supper, but William politely declined, wishing to escape his own imaginings on the jeweler's daughter. Dinner would be a poisonous event of sorts and William was craving music and night air. . . . They left the shop for the warm darkening air of Martinique. They were but a few minutes under the dimming sky when John McGinty interrupted the silence. "Sah...might I ask a question...?" Sensing the nature of the question, William said, "Roughly fifteen-hundred pounds, Mister McGinty." John whistled. He couldn't help himself. "May I ask another que...?" "An approximate share would be seven pounds, ten shillings." John nodded this time, too delighted to even whistle. William was looking straight ahead the whole time they walked, but he smiled. Then William fished into his pocket and drew out 30 pounds sterling, passing it to the surprised marine. John thanked him many times. "You earned the shares in battle, Mister McGinty. If you remember." "Aye, Sah." John agreed. "Just the same, Sah..." William nodded, for he understood. The realization of wealth is always surprising, no matter the expectations. "We see our fortunes so much clearer in coin." "Aye, Sah." ~Starboard Watches on Duty~

Here's a start... Pirate Crews of Florida ACME ROGUE AND RUFFIAN RECRUITERS http://www.arrrink.com/ BLACKWOOD'S BUCCANEERS (High Springs) seadogprivateer@aol.com THE BLEEDING ROSE http://www.theebleedingrose.com BROTHERS OF THE COAST http://www.brothersofthecoasts.com THE DEAD PYRATES SOCIETY P.O.O.P. (Pyratical Order Of Precedence) http://www.angelfire.com/blog/deadpyrates/ FERNANDINA PIRATES http://www.fernandinapirates.com/index.html THE FISHBROTH SOCIETY (Fernandina Beach) http://hometown.aol.com/floridaseaman/tobu...dutchboatl.html HENRY MORGAN CREW http://www.henrymorgankrewe.com HIS MAJESTY'S PROVINCIAL NAVY schooltea49@yahoo.com PIRATES OF THE COAST http://www.piratesofthecoast.com PYRATES OF THE GULF COAST (Naples to Clearwater) http://www.pyratesofthegulfcoast.com PYRATES OF TORTUGA http://www.pyratesoftortuga.net/ RUSTY CUTLASS (Central Florida) http://www.rustycutlass.net/ SCURVY FEW (Fort Lauderdale) doubloon@bellsouth.net THE TORTUGA MUTINEERS http://www.thetortugamutineers.net WEST COAST MUTINEERS http://www.westcoastmutineers.com YE ROYAL KREWE OF CHARLOTTE deBERRY (Ruskin and Tampa) KCar55022@aol.com

Olympia National Forest...mmmm. I wish I could say that I do live in your area. Welcome aboard.

My Dad is a leading instructor in his field. He's probably forgotten more than I will ever know, and yet, he still amazes me from time to time by demonstrating fresh wonder at new things he has discovered in a field he has followed most of his life. The tall and short of it...one is a Master who is content to continue mastering. Anyone who believes they have learned enough has not learned at all.

But of course... ...meringue in spages.