William Brand

This year we're looking at a number of events for the Mercury crew. I'll gladly take suggestions. Fort de Chartres is the first weekend of June, so mark your calendars.

Dorian has offered to play a 'Master Gunner' which suits me just fine. After all he has years of experience on cannons at Pennsic, Fort Niagara, Lockhouse, Fort Taylor and other gatherings, and he stepped up and did an excellent job as a safety Officer just two weeks back. As I said before, go with what you know.

Thank you, Captain. I wish that recent years had not kept you away. As for my birthday, it plugs along at a nice pace. I've had several unexpected visits. Is it weird that I forgot about presents? My brother showed up with an armload of presents from my parents and I had an 'Oh yeah' moment. He convinced them that I needed a new 24" LCD monitor for the computer. Holy Visual Real Estate, this thing is BIG! I feel dwarfed by my monitor. I also got a box of panda licorice and an antique folding table from Tracy and Lindor Truffles.

Ohhh...that's pretty. I love the shorter buss.

Wind! Where will I put it... And to you. Hoping to meet you in the coming year. Thanks, Lily. Looking forward to the next year. Many, many events. It's been great so far. I'm being inundated by friends and family. Aye. Caught, but not hanged. I read that as California at first glance. My brother brought bacon pizza for lunch. I only get in trouble when they're watching. The rest of the time it's just vacationing with benefits. Thanks, Brig. I'll use the rum to by favors and loyalty.

The gag is the history and history is the gag and...and...I don't have any idea what that means.

Thanks, Jon.

Awesome.

thanks, Pearl and John. Great stuff.

Yes, next year in Barce...wait what!? I'm not getting hanged on my birthday! Thank you. I've got enough love already by email and phone that I've moved some love to my spleen and part of my appendix. Thanks, Mark. Hmm...people keep wishing me wind. And to you, sah. Happiness I got. I'll take wealth next.

Thank you, love. Having the kids pile into the room was a great way to start the day.

Great stuff. I passed Matt on one of my many trips running to catch up on something I had to do and never found him again long enough to talk shop, so this profile was particularly fitting for me.

Ok, I happen to know it - it's somewhere on Little Rabbit Key. (Rabbit Key! Camping! Docking! Secret buried fictional pirate histories!) Um...nuh-uh. Actually it's true about Sterling and Brand. You really have to understand the history to understand the relationship.

Yeah, it was a great idea. I've seen but one small image of it as he went into the brink.

I only saw it in passing at PIP. I want pictures!

Good heavens... (slap hand over eyes in exasperation) The Auction House of Brand & Chrispy does not NOW or has it EVER accepted stolen goods of any kind! THAT'S POLICY! I should have been a clergyman...

Those are very nice pieces. What do you think of the French cutlass? How's the weight and balance if it?

Is it possible that you are oh so wrong while being ever so right?

I look forward to that. It's nice to see that with all of the kit improving across the board, flags, jacks, pendants and the like are all improving right along with it. There were some very nice pirate flags and privateer jacks at the events this year. We're getting more and more colors on each side of the line and they look great in pictures and as presentation pieces for the public.

My apologies to everyone. I'm too often zealous in matters of my friends and too proud to shut up when I should. The three of us have replied privately to one another and the matter is being resolved and removed amiably.

Captain Sterling is correct. It did reside in at least two other places. I wrapped myself up in the flag to keep warm the first night on the ramparts, and several night after. It was also safely and graciously sheltered by the crew of the Archangel for a time.

Three days on the flagpole at Fort Taylor. http://picasaweb.goo...064637707FLAGS#

The blanket is mine. It was a last ditch effort to get my luggage under weight.

A very happy birthday to you.

I said it before, but it bears repeating...Awesome traveling exhibit of the common sailor. A classroom in a snapsack.