BlackDianae

Been markin' me calender, countin' down the days 'til the Festivities begin! I'm right fired up, armed an' ready fer this year! Especially ta partake of the ThanksTaking celebrations!

HUZZAH!!

Now here's a movie that will be drawin' a few groans from the lot o' ye!

Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) UK

Also released in the USA as;

The Fearless Vampire Killers or: Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck, (1967)

Quote: "The old bat researcher, professor Abronsius and his assistant, Alfred; (play bumblingly and hysterically by the movies own director, Roman Polanski), go to a remote Transylvanian village looking for vampires. Alfred falls in love with the inn-keeper's young daughter Sarah. However, she has been spotted by the mysterious count Krolock who lives in a dark and creepy castle outside the village..."

It's one o' there rare finds that ye need ta have the fun o' watching Just Once!

In one of my many wanderings through a book warehouse, I found an interesting collection of short stories written by the likes of Patrick O'Brian, C.S. Forester, Kenneth Bulmer, Richard Butler, Herman Melville--just to name a few.

The title, "The Mammother Book of Men O' War: Stories From the Glory Days of Sail." Edited by Mike Ashley.

Isbn 0-7867-0696-1

And then there's Tomyris, Queen of the Massagetae, who ruled not only over the Volga River, but parts of the Caspian Sea. In 529 B.C., she promised Cyrus the Great 'enough blood to sate your gluttony, which she fulfilled when her Massagetae warriors slaughtered roughtly 200,000 Persians--including Cyrus himself.

When Cyrus lay dead, Tomyris set up a skin filled with human blood and, tossing Cyrus' head into the macabre broth, aid, "I have fulfilled my promis. You have your fill of blood." (Pizan, Herodotus)

For another interesting read, I would definitly suggest the later half of the anthology, "Bandits at Sea, A Pirates Reader", edited by C. R. Pennell.

Ahoy Captain Cronus!

If ye can find someone who has a tricorn, I'd suggest ye borrow it and a reflecting glass and see how it looks before spending yer hard-won coin. With a tricorn, ye don't have as much protection from the sun--but it definitly funnels the rain away from the back of yer neck! And ye do have a bit mor surface for adding fancy bits and fair favors to dress yer hat up. Just some thoughts on the matter.

Good luck at finding the hat best suited to ye!

Make sure ye leave enough room in the frock coat's sleeves to remain comfortable with the puffed and laced sleeves of yer fancy shirt! Now, what color is yer coat gonna be? I think it's a fine start fer yer fancy shore-leave wear!

Aye, a pretty piece for looks. But I wouldn't trust me life to just looks.

Such a mercantile offer, but I'll pass, thanks!

Indeed, especially some of his quick sketches. Reminds me of Pyle and the intensity of his illustrations.

Another artist that I enjoy be Richard Becker, publisher and editor in chief of Pirate Tales!

http://www.pirate-tales.com

Aye, that's the long and short of it! Especially the KA-BLOOEY!

Took a quick look through the listing for some of those wood/metal models. Those are the same quality I've seen in museums! Saw some real beauts!

Thanks for the Link!

Ah...That be one o' the fine, lusty songs that Blind Geoff so loves to limber his sing' pipes up with! A fine song to be sure!

At present , I'm doing my usuall reading of 2-3 books at the same time. Just finished up the Patrick O'Brian, "Master and Commander". A good introduction of how Jack and Stephan first meet. And then the other is the highly informative "Bandits at Sea: a Pirate Reader" edited by C.R. Pennell.

To quote, "Bandits at Sea provides the first comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to piracy. From history to geography, economics to sociology, sexuality to politics, Pennell's anthology brings together the best of current scholarship."

--Peter Galvin, Indiana University.

I'll drink to that!

Ahoy Mad Maudlin!

Pay no heed to the jealous ones.

That handsome rogue who's caught yer eye happens ta be none other than Louie Sanschgrin, indeed a member in good standing with the Port Royal Privateers.

Fer a wee bit of trivia, he helped crew the "Lady Washington" clear from LA Harbor, down through the Panama Canal and worked the ship--including some screen time--during the shooting of "Pirates of the Caribbean". He does know his way around a ship!

Perhaps ye should try a hand at "Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Henry Dana, JR.

I've just unpacked my copy of Master and Commander, so will be offerin' me comments in a day or two.

Here's some more superstitions that have been around the Horn and back:

It's considered lucky:

1. for Sailors to have tattoos.

2. to hurle old shoes after a vessel leaving the harbor.

3. to touch the collar of a sailor.

4. for a child bo be born on the ship.

5. to have children on board.

It's considered unlucky;

1. for a bottle not to smash when launching a new ship.

2. to change the name of a ship.

3. to meet someone with red hair, a clergyman, or a cross-eyed person on the way to the harbor.

4. to sail on a green boat.

5. to step aboard using the left foot first.

6. to see rats leaving a ship.

7. to have a dead person aboard.

8. to cross an area of sea where a wreck has occurred.

9. to lose a bucket at sea.

And that's just a sampling!

Considering what some have reciently bought off of E-Bay, I can picture the bidding as fast and furious! A genuine Booger from BB himself! Imagine!

The duck's foot pistol was never really ment to be a precision shootin piece but more of a deck sweeper . And it was meant to be used at close quarters so aiming wasn't really all that important. A real nasty piece of work , that is if it fired.

Aye Crow. That was the main drawback to the duck'sfoot. Would she fire, mis-fire or just blow up in yer face--which was more common. Even with with single barrel pistols, you had the difficulty of dealing with moisture getting to the powder, debris or the over-stress barrel blowing up.

At least ye could count on cutlass, boarding axe and belaying pin to not mis-fire!

Ye've just open the flood gates, lad.

I can't believe no one has mentioned the extremely fine pirate fantasy novel "On Stranger Tides" by Tim Powers. Set in the Caribbean near the end of the Golden Age, it's chock full of sea battles, plunder, Blackbeard, voudun, treachery and a little true love for the gentle-hearted (but it's not a romance, so the big strong men needn't turn up their noses. :) )

Aye, I've been hunting the local book hucksters here and about fer that one. A fine read from what I've heard. Another from Tim Powers if ye've a mind fer brew and imbibing. 'Tis called "Drawing of the Dark".

Here's another book to add to yer list of referance material:

"The Rigging of Ships in the days of the Spritsail topmast, 1600-1720" by R.C. Anderson

Dover Books

ISBN 0-486-27960-X

Fair Winds to yer sails!

Indeed, Patrick O'Brian writes a rollickin' tale in the time o' the Napoleonic wars. And there be a mate who, even he enjoys reading.

Next time ye be passin' by a book store, library or some such, have a look-about for titles written by James L. Nelson. He has two series of books. One is "The Revolution at Sea Saga", and the other be "The Brethren of the Coast" series.

Fair Winds to yer Sails!

Aye Rosalinda,

'Tis a hard thing growin' up land-locked, all the while feelin' the pull of somethin' wild, untameable in yer blood and never quite knowin' what it be....until ye saw the Great Mother Ocean.

Ye know ye've cross the Tide Line. That which marks the difference between a landlubber and those who hear the Ocean's Song.

I've played some both above and below Her briney surface. Did ye know that there be 'seasons' below the surface, just like we have on land?! A marvelous revelation, that!

"Mother Mother Ocean,

I have Heard your Call.

Wanted to sail

upon your waters

since I was three feet tall.

You've seen it all...

You've seen it all..."

Hmmm, I don't know....

Oy, Capt'n Luigi, ye think it might have somethin' ta do with the water 'round that bit o' land? Or possibly the Banana Winds that be blowing outta the tripics that inspires such 'reckless' behavior?

But I'll be liftin' me full tankard to all those who sign their Articles o' Marriage, as well as them that renew their pleges! HUZZAH!

aye..i'll 'ave ta be a pirate without a few flintlocks...*shakes head*

Cheer up, Jennifer lass!

Them pistols could only shoot once, then they were used most times as a club. Ifn't ye want somethin' useful--and doesn't go "Bang" as yer mum be contrary to, try fer a belayin' pin! Guaranteed not to misfire or explode in her hands! Another plus that should appease yer mum, 'No pointy edges!' And it were a weapon used by seamen an' pyrates alike.

Fret not, Jennifer. Ye'll be comin' o' age soon enough an' can make yer own choices. But I'll agree that it's a bloody bugger in the mean-time!

Fair Winds to yer sails!