Cap'n Pete Straw

Well, whaddya know? After all my griping, they came through. Crammed into my mailbox yesterday was a package clearly hand-labeled "DO NOT BEND", which was folded almost completely in half (fault of the illiterate US Postal Service, not Pirates Magazine.) Subscription problems aside (these remain to be sorted out) I am happy with the magazine itself. I agree with many of the comments already posted. Yes: perhaps far too many full-page glossy pictures with little or no text. But I found these interesting to look at. I may change my opinion on a second run-through... Too many ads? I disagree. I see where the complaint has merit, but if you pick up a copy of almost any other specialty-audience magazine (and I compare this to a copy of "Kittens" magazine which is sitting on the coffee table, and is almsot one-half ads), I have seen far, far worse... I personally feel the balance is not at all out of proportion. At least these are PIRATE product ads. Again, it could be worse. I have read very little, but on cursory examination, I am quite pleased with the magazine. I, too, found multiple articles on advertisers, but as a consumer, I would prefer to see continued reviews on pirate-merchandise vendors, whether they are also advertisers or not. In this regard, I would cite comparison to "Guns of the Old West" (I subscribe), which is rather product-review heavy, and cites vendor sources for each item reviewed. Very pleased with "Calendar of Pirate events." First glance? Two thumbs up. Oh, sorry -- one thumb up and one hook.

Nope. I stand by my recipe. Please let me clarify... Someone else pointed out the same thing earlier, and you are correct. Please understand: I have modified, not replicated, Vernon's recipe. I have come up with what I personally believe is a superior tasting rum martini inspired by an authetic nautical drink, NOT a drink which approximates the original authentic weak recipe itself. My goal was perfecting a martini, not trying to re-create what is already recorded in history (thus my strong insistence that you use Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum and not, for instance, Bacardi) My Grogtini is NOT authetic "grog," nor do I claim it to be. Served chilled shaken over ice, I claim that it is an excellent and refreshing drink. Besides, after two or three of these, you really begin to feel like sacking and pillaging. Or taking a nap. Yes: if you follow Vernon's recipe closely, you can drink twice as many before getting sloshed -- I fully agree with you. But I started with those proportions and was entirely unhappy with the taste ("Why is all the rum gone?"). My report? Not as good. Level of fun to be had? Well, that's entirely up to you. My suggestion: YOU try it both ways. If you like it my way, great. If you like it weaker (not everyone like strong drinks), then that's AOK. I do NOT like the weaker recipe, and I confess I have not even tried white Bacardi rum (which is probably more authentic than with Morgan Spiced Rum). I originally started this whole thing by trying to find a non-alcoholic version that tasted like "real" grog. But then I hit on my proportions, and was so happy with that drink, that my original research stopped.

13. The only cutlasses in the movie are 1967 Oldsmobiles.

Panties in a bunch

Still tentatively planning on this event. However, since the entire family is involved, the helm is not entirely under my control, so we shall see...

He should carry a camera... hint... hint ... Indeed. Also: Collection of most pebbles. Plucking of most plant life.

A Ball on Saturday night? This is sounding sweeter by the minute (Okay, I confess, I committed myself to going last February when I could not attend the first one, and have not even bothered to look up any information). I now have several "Wanted" posters adorned by my visage. I could not resist the challenge...

Oh, Dear... I fear I have created a monster... Update: I am unhappy with my progress in staining every page of the journal... It has loosened the binding far too much for my taste. The paper fibers expand upon absorption of the moisture and do not return to their original flatness when dried -- a desired effect -- but some of the pages have ripped themselves from the stitched binding in the absorption/expansion process -- quite undesired). So on my way home yesterday, I went back to the same Border's and picked up another journal like the first one. I am not scrapping the stained one, however. It will be used somehow. (By the way -- I can get these blank journals here, and can price them out for you ... but then you still need to get them from me, and the neccessary postage may render the sale price moot. Just tell me if you want to explore this possibility. And I do not know how long the sale will last.) Capt. Sterling: Last night I learned Borders also sells unlined cloth-bound hardcover sketch books (like the "Book of Shadows" I previously mentioned). They have a variety of color covers and sizes. I picked up TWO of the larger size for myself. (Now I am expanding my vision... this may turn into multiple logs. I still want to create a book of sea maps and charts -- I cannot recall offhand the proper name for these.) These sketch journals are 8" x 11.25" (European "A4" size?). I did not take notes (so don't hold me to these colors), but colors included burgundy, dark blue, dark green.... I purchased both a black-bound and a goldenrod one. Once at home, I noticed that the black one has white pages, while the goldenrod one has ivory pages (sweet! ivory!). I, too, have many years experience in using pen & ink. I plan to do most of my lettering with a C-5 nib; and the illustrations with crowquill and other fine drawing nibs. As far as ink is concerned, I will probably use Sable, not Black, which imparts a very old ("faded") look. Kidd Ddreadd (rather a fan of Double-D's myself): I think using your late sister's pens can only add to the value of the project for yourself. In that light, I have a collection of my father's nibs (from the 50s & 60s) and will pull some appropriate ones out for this project. Yesterday I gathered some of the photos on which I will base my illustrations, and have made multiple photocopies of them for ease of transfer (oh dear, this is another technique someone will want to learn... later.) With the "new" journal in hand, I am really ready to begin...

I am using a journal with lines... just very faint ones. That was what I was looking for, and that is what I purchased. If you want one without lines, you might want to look for a professional artist's sketchbook, which is usually much more expensive, and would be found in a finer arts supply store. I have seen hardcover (black fabric covered) blank books sold in Wicca supply stores (don't ask me what I was doing in these stores)... these are sold as "Book of Shadows" (also: look on eBay under this name). You cannot buy them sight unseen, as some have a possibly unwanted pentagram or other symbol on the cover (or perhaps you are piloting a Pirate ship through the Underworld, then this may be a bonus...).

Yes... did you read my posts in that thread? As a matter of fact, that is what brings me here now. This is either a good idea or a bad idea... Following my tried-and-true method of staining paper, I am actually treating every single page of the journal before writing in it. It is stitch-bound, and not glued (water soluble!), but the tea none-the-less settles into the binding and greatly weakens the paper there. If you try this, use great caution, as the wet paper will tear very easily until it dries out. Of course, the pages will all have to be thoroughly dried before I can start inking (applying ink on wet paper is a beautiful Japanese artform, but not at all conducive to writing legible log entries). The pages, when dried, are uniquely stained and wrinkled (!!) which gives the journal a very, very used look, and greatly enhances it visual appeal, IMHO. Again, I have yet to ink a single entry into my log. But my worked and re-worked (and re-worked!) draft text now has 39 separate log entries waiting for me to enter. Lots of work to be done. And... YES. When this starts coming together, I will absolutely post some pictures of the more favorable pages.

Once when I was at the Faire, I actually saw two men making out. What's worse, they were pirate men. Disgusting...

Yes, yes, that's the one I orginally had in mind... then I started remembering others... so many others... "Robin"? You remember her name? I am terribly sorry, I was concerntrating on getting numbers. The challenge was not how many names you could collect.

(1) Forgot all about it. You all looked so incredibly great when I met you that this "unforgettable" vision was wiped from my mind. Seriously. (2) Yeah... I cannot explain this one, because I saw her several times again throughout the day. Chain mail top (you know that already), red hair (!), red "Fairy" wings, skirt composed of a few different materials, black fake rubber shackles hanging off the back of her belt. No excuse. Sorry.

...Wait... I just re-read your post... Which "young lady"? "Rock On"? Was this the goth girls down near the jousting field who were HOT for pirates? And when I suggested they go to some other more interesting area, they asked if there were "any hot guys over there?" Or was this the two girls near the exit, and I crammed into a chair with them together for everyone to take pictures? So many women... So many blackmail opportunities... So little long-term memory retention...

The picture I have of all of us was behind the large stage in front of the ratty wall (the really GREAT back-drop). The gentleman who used my camera also flubbed the shot on my camera -- it was so blurry, I already deleted it. But I had asked him to take a second one while he was still holding my camera, and I am so glad I did: it turned out great. Photos to be uploaded to CD this weekend, and then several to be posted here. I remember the girl who could not find her parents (I was 99.99% of the way to actually getting her phone number to win the non-bet... But I didn't really need nor want it.) Alas, I have no photos of all of us on that stage. Yes: there were dozens.. nay, scores... Nay: Hundreds of superb photo ops for us through the course of the day. And my camera seemed to stay in my pouch the whole time -- what's up with that? We should have hired a professional photographer to follow us around the entire day. I have a great photo of Rats & Lizzie at the Falcon show. I have another one, straight up at the bird's butt, which should be aptly labled "Look Out Below!" And a few at the Armoury, with Rateye, March, and the Captain handling weapons. But not too many more... Watch this space...

... Must ... Not ... Respond .... ... Must ... Exert ... Rare .... Self .... Control ...........

Yes, you see, thus my comment "I hope the hotel has lifeguards on duty..."

You really should excuse yourself, woman, whenever you "bump." I mean, you know, polite company and all. Regarding October... my birthday is on the 2nd (same as Sting, Don McLean, Groucho Marx, Confucious, Ghandi... all the great thinkers). A good traditional Irish Tavern sounds good for a raid, in my opinion. I have a really great shot (with me in it!! yay!!) from Bristol of the crew in my camera. These things typically take several days... I will definitely post it here very soon.

Wife cooked spaghetti... I'm still getting off easy.

potted

...Don't mean to post back-to-back in this thread, but that immediately brought to mind... Paulina Poritzkova

Rick Ocasek

Ye all bring tears to the eyes of this humble novice... "Shackles," eh? I can live with that. Kind of beats "Peaches." Or, did we not discuss "Peaches?" Please forget I said anything about it. Thank you (all!) for the assorted PMs I received... Regarding out-of-state events, I will seriously consider them. I fear that my four consecutive weekends (this month) of pirate and/or Civil War events, as well as the probability of a work-related trip to Egypt & Jordan in December leaves me rather weak in the Leverage Department at the present time to lobby the Missus (typically so generous in this area) for an out-of-state pirate event. Making the commitment now for advance tickets, for instance, may not be a possibility. We Shall See. RF2, however, is a Must-Do. Based on previous discussion (above), last night I was considering creating an antique-looking "Wanted" poster with a fake woodcut of my own grim visage (with some trumped-up charges) for your ease in posting at the gates to keep me out. I'll even bring my own shackles to make the job of capture that much easier. Them's drinking words -- I wholeheartedly agree.

Threw a freaking frozen pizza in the oven. When the heck did this topic thread pop up? Jeez, I have posted some really good recipes here in the Pub... you're simply going to have to wait until I feel more creative and am not exhausted.

chalupas