Mission

There was a thriving industry in home medicine kits in England during period. that definitely looks like a home kit. Bottles would most definitely have been corked like that.

I can fix any 17th century health problems you have with some nice 17th century remedies.

I also resolve to stay out of Starbucks, which is particularly easy since I dislike French roast coffee.

Eh? I always try to link to things related to the text of my journals when I can. What have I missed?

I dunno about anyone else, but I was only recently commenting on how much my outfit (with the large Patrick Hand original planters hat and the flaring of my waistcoat) looks like one of the Spies in The '09 Columbus Journal (see the last page in particular - I put a lot of work into that stupid picture to make appear accurate to Prohias' work ). In fact, when I was editing the PiP '09 journal the other day, I found a photo of myself that made me laugh out loud it looked so much like one of the spies. So where is this creative venture of which you speak?

Hmm. I have a feeling that either the forum software doesn't like the way the link is constructed or Kass's site (being a secure site) doesn't like the way you're coming into it. Either way, if you want to see all of the articles on her site, you can always begin at the main page and navigate using the menu there. https://www.reconstructinghistory.com Her signature bar is also hotlinked to her site like mine is. Once you get there, you'll also find she's added lots of new articles to that one including the one on seamen that she mentioned back when she posted that.

For tactical pirate and privateer info as well as an outstanding reference list, I highly recommend the book The Sea Rover's Practise: Pirate Tactics and Techniques, 1630-1730 by Benerson Little. The first couple of chapters are a bit wordy and know-it-allish, but once he starts getting into the tactical info, it really picks up. The appendices alone would be worth your time.

Thanks to everyone for helping me with that one. I figured out who the guy is. He is with the BIBs and his name is Jose Santiago de le Muerta. (It was in last year's Surgeon's Journal. How about that? Anyone know any of the others in the photos I posted?

Here are some others of Patrick, although I believe they are from the same day. And this one is much better than all the others I've seen for some reason:

A few more...what is this chap's name? I believe he's from England, does anyone know where in England he's from? Who is Deadeye Rick talking to in this photo?

Uh...right. Hey, I have some serious questions for anyone who can answer them from the photos. First, what is the name of the guy who was running the Forge? He's in this pic with Scarlett. What group is he with? ___ Who are these folks -- especially the girl in white and the guy in the sleeveless denim blue shirt by her? What group are they with? ___ What's the name of the guy with no shirt? I think he's with the BIBs. Who is the girl in the straw hat, grey pants and white shirt squatting in the background? Group? ___ What is FM Matt's wife's name?

Sure, anything to promote the sport.

People might steal our stuff. I don't have a blog, I have a web-site. All my success stuff is here. The Baby Lion travel notes (which are sort of for Grace Thatcher, who is now 10 years old) start here. (I have another one to put together once I finish with the PiP Surgeon's Journal.) And the links to all the completed Surgeon's Journals for various re-enactment events can be found on this page. The one for PiP '09 will probably be done next week or the week after. (I'm about half finished with it and it takes about a day to do each page.)

A dental tip from John Moyle's Chirurgus Marinus: or the Sea Surgeon (1693): “CHAP. XLVI. Of the Tooth-ach and Gums. Various things are used to stop an Aching Tooth, or asswage pained Gums, but sometimes they take effect, and sometimes not. You must know that there is a cold Rheume, and likewise a hot Rheume [a watery mucus discharge], that are causes of the Gums and Teeth pained: besides the rottenness and hollowness of the Teeth themselves, that letting in the Air, and Crums, cause pain, hurting the tender Nerve within the Tooth. I know most of the ways that men use in this case, but I will content my self to write only the very best of things, and what I have experienced. If it be a cold Rheume that is the cause, (as you may easily know) then use only a small pellet of Lint dipt in Olium Garioph. [not sure] and with the end of your Fleme put it into the hollow Tooth, and let the Patient lye down on that side, but be sure first to pick out any Crum that may be in the hollowness of the Tooth; and this usually gives ease. __ And if it be a hot Rheume, take only Laudinum, {grain}ij. dissolve it in a Spoonful of Sack [Wine], and dip a small pellet of Lint in it, and put it into the hollow Tooth, and let the Patient swallow the rest, and go and lye down warm upon it; and that is a sure remedy. But if the pain do return to rotten and hollow Teeth, as often as the Air gets into them and offends the Nerve, or Crums get in and hurt the Nerve, in this case you may try to cure it by actual or potential Cautery; the actual is heating the small end of your Probe red hot, and so applying it into the hollow of the Tooth to burn or Sear the Nerve, but let it be done with care, that you touch not the Mouth or Gums with it. This hath done with several. The potential is Ol. Vitriol [sulfuric acid]: put into the Tooth on a pellet of Lint; and here must care be taken too, lest it touch the Mouth or Gums. This hath likewise often taken effect. But if all these ways fail, and the rotten or hollow Teeth still torment, you have no better way left than to draw them out.” (Moyle, p. 242-3) Actual cautery is heating up some piece of metal and applying it directly to the flesh. Potential cautery is using acid to burn the flesh. I'm not sure why they refer to it as 'potential' other than as a way to differentiate it from applying hot metal.

Hey, it's skullwench's birthday again! Everyone celebrate by raising a glass to this girl tonight, say, around midnight. AFAIK she hasn't been on the pub in years and knows nothing whatsoever about this post. In fact, she's probably forgotten the site even exists, let alone what her password is. Someone should draw a picture of her so we can make missing posters. Whereever and whoever you are, here's to ya', lass! I love your user name.

Well there's your problem. You're trying to think about this post. If you start thinking, its essence eludes you...

I am still using my Lily Alexander original bag as a surgeon's battle tote and a way to store certain prized instruments when stowed. It lost a button after two years of abuse, but I actually like it all the more for that.

Hey, I specifically took several of you. I don't know if I posted them all, but I posted some of them. Your garb is interesting at a different level.

I put copyright info on my Success articles (By having written something, I understand that you automatically own the copyright if you can prove you wrote it. This is not nearly as strong as registering a copyright, but the truth is that even if you want to pursue a copyright infringement, you need to have some serious coin for the legal costs.) So I figure...why worry about it? If it's actually worth stealing, maybe you should find yourself a publisher. There's more words where those came from.

Pm Stynky on that one. Are you talking about your profile photos or the gallery? Make that clear to him.

Oh, it's certainly also rewarding when other people read it and like it. But if you're writing stuff so that other people like it, they most likely won't. Write because you have something to say and you enjoy it. To be quite honest, I'm surprised a lot of people even get half the stuff I write in an alleged humorous vein. (Well, other than Duchess and Stynky...when he reads it. Oh, Stynky claims he reads my stuff, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't read much of it. However, if he did read it, he would usually get it.)

I always figured they did that to show how out of touch Mr. Burns was.

I have yet to consider myself a blogger, although some people have accused me of such. Truth is, I love to write. It's rewarding when I read stuff I wrote and find I like it. Sure, I occasionally whine about finishing the Surgeon's Journals or my monthly success articles, but I keep doing such because on one level I really, really enjoy it. I've been writing since I was a kid, so it's obviously some sort of core skill/love of mine. Plus I find myself enraptured when a string of words or phrases I put together sounds particularly funny or clever or concise or...well, any of the other fun things you can do by combining words. The English language has an astonishing variety of words; finding them and putting them in print (or ether) is great fun to me. Whatever you decide, if you're going to write something (whatever you want to call it, however often you want to do it and whatever it's going to be about), you should write it because you like to do so. Writing is an exercise and like any other exercise, you get flabby if you don't keep at it. Writing is also a skill and like any other skill, the more you do it, the better you become. (At least that's what I tell myself - especially when I'm editing my stuff. )

Colonial Boy was a name given to me by someone at the art fair. Once you've seen my presentation, I don't think there can be much confusion as to my role.

Ok, you're in. Was Caribbean Pearl working at your shop this year? I believe she was working at one of the shops, and I'm trying to figure out which one it was.