Red-Handed Jill

How about copper sheeting? That looks good when it's pounded. (And if you make it to NorCal and Jackie and Wheezer can find it in their garage, some is available for you.)

Patt - I've got some amazing stuff you can use to build your blunderbuss. (No really - some really nifty brass and copper parts and tubing and stuff.) It's in Jackie and Wheezer's garage somewhere, but if you're going to NorCal, they can give it to you then.

I'm in agreement about the 1970s Three and Four Musketeers movies. They seemed to have a touch of realism in them, particularly with the use of other props during swordfights. Underscored the fact that they were, in fact, fighting for their lives and used whatever was handy to survive.

Tales will, as usual, be attending the Northern California Pirate Festival - June 16th and 17th in Vallejo. That's right - Father's Day. Because nothing says "I love you, Dad" like hanging around with a bunch of scurvy pirates. We will be hosting some of the original piratical actors from Pirates of the Caribbean and have all sorts of mayhem planned for that weekend, so stop by if you're in the neighborhood.

Well, and you should decide what kind of reenacting you want to do. The east coast does tend to have a lot more events and they do tend to be more accurate in terms of dress. The western events are a bit more of a mixed bag in terms of dress, with the full range of authentic to fantasy garb, but there's a much greater chance of the piratical events involving an actual ship - that you have an outside chance of being on. So it's a matter of what floats your boat. Oregon has, in recent years, become the venue for a number of piratical events, both in the northern and southern parts of the state, so it is worth another look if you have lived there before and liked the experience.

Baking soda also works pretty well. It's a mild acid and very good at removing organic smells and stains.

It means that any swords or knives need to be secured to the sheath or belt so that they can't be drawn. My guess is this is due to too many drunken louts swinging their swords about or some such nonsense. At any rate, how you do this depends on your sword and sheath. But essentially, you want to tie the handle of your sword to its sheath or your belt with a bit of rope or anything that will secure it properly.

What? You're not going to Portsmouth? I recommend it in a BIG way.

Not only in China - also in Ireland. And, as Ransom said, some of us reenact by sailing. I do, which is why I'm usually in men's sailing gear. I did one sail in woman's garb to see if I could and that was the first and last time I ever tried that.

It's not surprising, since I live so close to the water, that the local streets are named accordingly. The neighborhood abounds with nautical-sounding streets, but a couple have been given names that are a wee bit more creative: So, does anyone else have any interesting street names near them?

Welcome back! We were wondering if you were okay - glad to hear that's the case!

Gah - late! Hope your birthday was a blast - literally and figuratively!

Yep - I flashed on the Jersey shark attacks too.

Thanks! And yep, that can be confusing. That other ID has created more issues than just the birthday confusion - is there some way to delete it? She hasn't posted in years.

Many thanks for the birthday wishes!

Wow - your own theme song. That is, as they say, WAY cool.

What - you mean this outfit?

Congratulations! Well deserved!

Hope you're having a good one!

Pieces of eight Cutlass or boarding axe?

Your pirate cove just keeps looking more and more awesome!

From childhood? Except for two of them, they mostly occurred during my adulthood - methinks this is aimed at a younger crowd... Nice that there were so many pirate movies for the young 'uns! My childhood was filled with the James Bond movies (the Sean Connery ones.) Oh, and the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns. And Night of the Living Dead (gotta love Creature Features!)

Here's hoping for fair winds and following seas on your natal day, William! (Had to get "wind" in there somewhere...)

Happy birthday. Now go out and have more of 'em.

Hope you're able to celebrate it in proper piratical style!