Ransom

GET OUT! LOL Well, better late than never...but, sheesh. Did they say where they have been holed up all this time?

This has me all excited...I could make a LacePunk costume for my horse! LacePunk Highwayman! Stand and Deliver!

I think it sounds like great fun! Makes me think of Dr. Who "Girl in the Fireplace" or, even Adam Ant in lace and warpaint. Where would you dress the part? Steam Punk events?

As a woman who most of the time dresses like a man, I can only give my reasons. One, at NorCal I spend most of my time working on the schooner Aldebaran, helping sail, and firing cannons. Impossible to scuttle around a tight ship in a skirt and corset. And I agree, male attire is much more comfortable. However, for evening parties and dancing I change into a corset and skirt. And on some occasions, if I am not going to be running around firing weapons...such as at the upcoming Portland Pirate Festival...I will also wear my corset, but with pants and boots, not a skirt. I'm just more comfortable playing pirate in male attire—and it is more appropriate for my persona of Ransom, who helms her virtual gaff-rigged schooner, the Rakehell.

Mine will be sailing your way on Friday. Yeah, I know. A day or two after the deadline...sorry.

Hurricane is probably right. This was scripted by some guy totally removed from any info concerning what his assignment was, and got most of it from the internet, rather than talking to an actual reenactment group. However, I don't understand the need to insult any group, who may also be using the parks with family and friends when not reenacting. I also agree that the majority of folks using the NPs are not reenactors or living history buffs, and that as a tax-funded government agency, the majority should have the most influence over what happens on public land. That does not include insulting groups who play a bit differently than campers, boaters, skiers, hikers, and fishermen. I do understand the reasoning behind having some places reserved as "sacred ground." They are symbols of what happened there, and a place for people to visit, remember, and pay their respects. They are part of our history. Think of them as outdoor churches or shrines. Otherwise why not just put in Wallmarts, build condos, and make parking Iots over everything. I don't think you need to reenact a battle on the actual site the original battle took place. The reenactment doesn't lose anything by being in a similar, but not the exact, place. My suggestion would be to contact the NPS, politely inquire why they felt it necessary to insult reenactors over Living History groups. Instead of complaining about a bad situation, find a way to resolve it. Maybe you can't, but ranting about it won't change a thing....it never does.

I LIKE the new colors. I was never a fan of the blue...nothing piraty about it. Now, if someone could just put in some pyraty icons, instead of those generic quote marks, for each forum, that would be perfect. 'Cause visually, compared to some other sites, the Pub is pretty tame. It needs to look tougher and rougher.

Recently finished "Charles Jessold, Considered As A Murderer" by Wesley Stace Almost done with "Founding Gardeners, The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation" by Andrea Wulf. Next in the line up is "The Unruly Queen, The Life of Queen Caroline" by Fiora Fraser. Ya gotta love the library!

As the Rakehell glided slowly into the strange bay, Ransom looked around, taking note of the new surroundings, on alert for danger. She saw nothing but fishing boats and dugout canoes. Three larger vessels were being careened on shore. No flags flying, so no telling who was in charge. She hoped it was a free port, or so off the chart that no major power thought it worth watching. They anchored safely offshore, then a jolly boat was lowered. Ransom turned to Africa. "Come with me, and you as well, Colard, and get Jimmy. We'll row over and see what's what. Colard, you ask around about careening, I'll find out what our food options are. Africa, you guard the jolly boat. Any sign of trouble, you let out the signal, and we'll come running back. Got that?" Africa nodded, then called out, "Jimmy...to da jolly bout." Soon the four of them were rowing toward shore, while the rest of the crew stood at the rail peering down at them. "See if they've got any rum for sale," Tunny shouted, and got a laugh. As the jolly boat got closer to shore, Ransom looked over at the dock and saw a small boat that looked familiar. "No, it can't be," she muttered.

Yup, you're right...it's been awhile. Count me in. R

I like it. Easy, visually, to see where everything is.

I think everyone, including Stynky, agrees that the events forum is a mess, but no one so far has come up with a way to fix it, and make it useful. As for NorCal, most of the communication about that event takes place between the West Coast pirate groups on their own forums, or on FB. There wasn't much said about it last year, as Stynky blocked the events forum right after NorCal weekend, which killed any discussions. He brought it back on line, but by that time it was too late. Kinda sad, for an event that draws 35K people in two days, it has never gotten much PR on the Pub. As stated, most of the planning and talk about that event has moved to other places on the web.

Wow, looks like everyone is busy this summer. Blackbead, bummer that you couldn't find any interesting beads/findings during your stay. I would have thought you could have found some wonderful things. Ah well. Welcome Captain B. Yup,this is the place to brag about your wares. No selling...that's for Thieves Market...but bragging...oh yeah, we do a lot of that! Now that I'm back from NorCal, I have another commissioned necklace to do, so after unpacking, will get started on that. So, since the temps have started to climb...finally...iced tea, sandwiches, and cookies for all.

Very good, suh! So glad to have you back among us, safe and sound.

I've been hanging around the Pub for quite a few years, as you can see. And yes, over the years there have been slow times and busy times. The event season, as stated above, is one reason, and FB another. Also, since it is so much easier these days to set up your own group FB/yahoo info page, most of the pyrates I hang with keep in touch there instead of here. With a few exceptions, to me the Pub has become like a nice research library. People post things of historic interest they have found, pictures, etc. I do miss the casual banter that went on before, and I miss the many story threads we had going, but like any forum, the Pub keeps evolving, so in another year or two, who knows what it will be like? I plan to hang around to find out, even if I am involved in other things right now, more than I am in pirating—and that's largely due to logistics. No pirates where I live, but lots of SCA horse folks. So that's where me and my beasties do most of our playing these days. That's why I'm sooo looking forward to NorCal. It's the only pirate event we do now, and the only time I get to hang with the Tales gang, crew on the schooner Aldebaran, and be piraty.

VERY nice! I love to see pictures of other artist's work. From what you say, it seems you are having success with them. Good for you! If anyone is interested, you can see my things by clicking into the "Found in the Ruins—Unique Jewelry" link in my signature.

Way to go, Lady Cassandra! Just got another commission for another necklace. Like I said, I'm doing better at word of mouth right now, than anything else. Thinking of doing ankle bracelets for summer.

Just saw the movie today. Overall, I liked it. I was glad to see it wasn't buried under a ton of CGI stuff, and was more like the first movie, which I still thing is the best. I think they could have left the zombies out. They didn't make any sense. Also, I'm not real sure why the devout christian was included, other than as a love interest for the mermaid. The mermaids were perfect. The QAR was a bit over the top. All that fire on a wooden ship?...I don't think so. I also think the BB character could have been just as menacing without the magic sword. But I liked Ian McShane in the role. One, quick little scene I loved was Capt. Jack in the coach with Dame Judy Dench. Quick, but priceless. As was the voodoo Sparrow doll going over the cliff. Bottom line, I liked it a lot better than the last two. And I'm still a sap for Capt. Jack.

Woa, it's been a long time since anyone dropped by. How are you all doing? What projects/plans do you have in the works? Me, I just finished a commissioned necklace, and recently sold another. Gotta confess though, it's been slow. Not many sales from the Etsy site lately. I've had better luck with word-of-mouth. So, sit a spell. The tea and coffee are hot, the orange/currant scones are warm, and the chairs comfy.

Ransom sat at the small desk in her cabin, slowly turning the large emerald within the grip of her thumb and forefinger. The stone was only real gift Jacky had ever given her, other than his trust—and that had been tenuous, and easily lost. She thought about all that had happened to them, from the first moment they had set out on this quest — the island with the amazon women, the storm, the loss of crewmen, the night in Havana, especially the one night in this very cabin, and the disaster in the Gulf where the Spanish had attacked them, the strange phantoms in the waters they had just left, and the mysterious disappearance of the Relentless. And all she had to show for it was this green crystal, which she needed to sell to pay for repairs to the ship. So, what had it all been for? What had she gained from this grand misadventure? Nothing but memories. A knock on the cabin door interrupted her reverie. "Yes?" Tunny poked his head in. "I'm to tell you, Ma'am, that we're coming up on an island. Looks to be a safe harbor. Busy too, by the looks of things. We might be able to make our repairs there." "Any idea what island it is?" "No, Ma'am, but...well, Collard says we don't have much choice." "All right. Take her in. We'll take our chances." With a nod, he closed the door. Ransom took one last look at the stone, then put it away in a secret compartment. "God speed, Jacky. Wherever you are." Then she went up on deck to see what kind of situation she needed to deal with, for without the Rakehell, she was nothing.

A most grand and happy natal day to you, Patrick. Hope to see you at NorCal again. Oh, and tell Col. Patterson that I am still hunkered down in the outback fort in the State of Jefferson, wielding the Thunderbuss to great effect.

The taking of the sloop had been easy, but at least it let the men blow off steam, and the few items worth the taking, other than supplies, could be fought over for weeks. MacTavish was satisfied...for the moment. However, the stores taken from the sloop weren't much, and MacTavish already had a hold full of goods stolen from another vessel, that needed to be sold. He decided they wouldn't linger in this Godforsaken part of the Caribbean any longer. Turning to his helmsman, he shouted, "Turn her beak tae the South. We're heading back tae Port Royal." This decision earned MacTavish a round of cheers from his crew.

A MOST GRAND AND HAPPY NATAL DAY TO YOU, GERTIE....... And, see you at NorCal...Hopefully we'll get another chance to dance to Black Spot! LOL

Sorry Commodore, this book has already been published. Maybe next time?

Very sad news, Bess. Condolences to his family, and I really hope someone has a cannon that can shoot his spirit to the stars. ;=}