Blackbead

A stocky figure clad in slops and shirt enters the pub; his concentration all on a necklace of glittering glass beads wrapped in gold wire. Seeing the newcomer and the pouch of spilt coin, he smiles . . . and ambling up to the stranger, stuffing the gee-gaw back into his shirt, he says, "Well, well, glad I am to see someone generous enough in this scurvy place to stand a man a drink!" Ducking a punch thrown by a loyal patron of the pub, Blackbead steps up, shakes the hand of Mr. Pinon, slaps the bar and declares, "A mosquito, if you please, barkeep!" For several seconds, all within hearing, including the barman, simply stare at him. "Damn your eyes, man, you know what I mean . . . one of those drinks with rum and mint and lime and . . . A MOJITO! That's the thing!" As the publican walks away, Blackbead turns to Mr. Pinon and says, "Blackbead's the name, Master of the Adventure Fantasy. Welcome to the Pub and God bless you with fair winds all your life. What brings ye to these here parts?"

Either pair, the answer is the same for me: why do we always think of "either/or"? "Bring on both of 'em at the same time," says old Blackbead! If we're going to fantasize, let's SUPER size that fantasy!

ROTFLOL!! I love the story and I'll try the recipe. With Mojitos becoming so damn popular these days you can find them almost anywhere. There's even a mint rum that you can buy and just add some Sprite if you want the "flavor" of the original. It's not too bad but I have a problem finding the Sprite . . . too many damn Pixies and Nyads around me island! A fair wind and a fat merchantman to ye! Blackbead

Now, see . . . I'm all messed up here. I thought for sure that was Eddie Izzard but he was never a member of Monty Python. Hmm, funny . . . like "Mystery Men" or the Magna Carta.

Merrydeath . . . do you have a favorite "Blackbead's Favorite Punch" recipe? Favorite "BFP" story? I recently went to an Olive Garden and ordered one and the bartender had no idea how to make them. He and I spent some time putting ingredients together and he made me a couple for free because I had taught him how to make a new drink. He wound up serving a couple more to a couple near Captain Jasper and meself. Spreading the love, I says, spreading the love . . . Blackbead

Mojito, schmo-hito! I'm going to call it "Blackbead's Favorite Punch" and drink several more thousand of them before I'm done! Not all in one night, however . . .

"Roll playin'," eh? Sounds like more fun than a barrel of undead monkeys . . . top that. I wish ye great fortune in your endeavors. Now, do ye have enough fortunre to buy me a sweet dram of rum? Welcome aboard, mate . . . start drinkin'! Blackbead Master of "The Adventure Fantasy"

Ahoy there, Miz Diamond! Welcome to the Pub and I be thankin' ye fer the potable! Make mine a swig of rum with sugar water, lime juice, and some crushed mint in it. I'm thinkin' of discoverin' a new drink - anyone got a name fer this? Ye've found a lively bunch here, Miz Diamond . . . 'ware yer "valuables" don't ye see! Especially after a few of these new . . . whatchamacallits. Blackbead Master of "The Adventure Fantasy"

Ahhh, the Red River Renaissance Fantasy Faire . . . killed by a hurricane! But, me friend, don't forget Middlefaire down in Hillsboro! If ye like smaller faires where the people are friendlier and the setting more primitive, then come to Middlefaire in October! Check out www.Middlefaire.net for the dates and ticket info. Come to see my vessel, "The Adventure Fantasy," a two masted caravel, permanently docked at the Middlefaire harbor! I plan on building a permanent structure this year for a booth and it should be ready by October, 2007. It's going to be a reproduction of a sailing vessel where you come aboard to peruse my plunder and see if there's anything you wish to buy. I MUST finance that next voyage to the land of the Hindi, don't ye know! See you in the Middle! Blackbead

A pair of me best mates made me flag fer me - they used something black and cheap, I think some kind of cotton and then they painted me skull and name on it. I'll try to put a picture of it on here . . . Now I know this be cheatin' but they used a trick that if ye can get ahold of the necessarys it'll make yer job done easier. I put my logo on a clear plastic sheet and they tacked the flag up on the wall and used an overhead projector to cast the image on the flag afore they painted 'er. Worked like a charm and was extremely necessary 'cause the flag they made me was 4' by 6'. Not as big as they were 'istorical-like but it'll do fer me. Blackbead PS: Check out me website fer a picutre of me flag: www.Blackbead-jewelry.com

Appalled I be to see one of me favorites missing from this here list - whether it be the lovely Maureen O'Hara in "Against All Flags" or the voluptuous Jill St. John in "The King's Pirate," either outclassed "Cutthroat Island" AND "The Crimson Pirate"! I suppose I have a soft spot in me heart for gorgeous redheaded pulchritudinous forms but these movies were missing in my mind. Blackbead

I WOULD say that you seem "familiarly strange" . . . but I neither know you that well nor have I been around the Pub long enough that you know . . . well! Whatever, welcome back! Now, what was that about rum? Blackbead

Beautiful work, Hurricane! I can't wait to see it in person! Blackbead

Hurricane, Well met, me bucko! What do ye sell? I carry jewelry primarily but I also sell replica flintlocks, treasure chests of different sizes, and various piratical toys and the like. I'm considering hats but I'm pretty well stretched to the beam in me finances. See ya in Nawlins! Blackbead

Carmina, I paid me tariff and got me receipt certifying me as a paid up vendor! BUT, when I was first contacted by phone there was mention of a map of the facility so's I could be choosin' me berth. The words "first come, first served" were used. The problem? There was no such map. Is there another way we can do this or is there a record being kept of when who paid so that I can make me choice in the proper order? Any information would be a pleausre to receive! Blackbead

If ye be lookin' for custom, handmade beaded jewelry then I be making excellent deals for the Christmas Season! How about a turquoise necklace with sterling silver block alpha beads that says "Dread Pirate" for $45? Or one made of black, red and silver plastic beads that says "Got Rum?" for $4.50? Or how about one with pink, silver and SKULL beads that says "Pirate Princess" for $5.40? Just email me with your specifics and I'll send ye a photo for your approval before it your order goes in the mail! Order quick to make sure that it be in your hands by Christmas! Blackbead 817-896-2570 blackbeads_tc@yahoo.com www.Blackbead-jewelry.com

THE WEBSITE IS OPEN!!! Check out www.pyratecon.com for all the news on the event. I hope to be one of the first vendors to sign up! See ye there! Blackbead

More info on this NEW Texas crew: The correct name is "Brotherhood of the Gulf" and the founder/Commodore is Paul Delacroix, the owner of Middlefaire, in Hillsboro, Texas. Local crews will be forming in Fort Worth, Austin, Hillsboro, Salado, Beaumont, and Trenton. The initial sailing of the group will be PirateCon 2007 in New Orleans. For more information, contact blackbeads_tc@yahoo.com.

By the blood of my twelve apostles! Well met, indeed! It's been a long, long time since that fateful day in Muenster, standing under the fly of me tent, talking of life, death and everything in between! How have ye been? Life has taken a tenfold measure of greatness for me and mine! I look forward to another meeting and a pint or four or five! I'll have to tell ye all about Middlefaire and me plans to build a 35 foot, two masted barque to be "permanently docked" in Hillsboro! Till we cross mugs again, my friend! Blackbead

Ahoy, me hearties! I be lookin' fer "people of fortune" interested in joining a pirate crew headquartered in Hillsboro, Texas, with members in Fort Worth, Waco, San Antonio, Houston and Beaumont. The articles of this band will require that ye be ready for adventure, loads of fun, and periodic charitable events. We'll be doing everything from convoying to PirateCon I in New Orleans in April to entering a team in a Relay for Life. If ye have the will to party and the desire to spread some goodwill and ye live in the greater Texas area (well, hell, wherever you live!) then drop in on www.Blackbead-jewelry.com or write me at blackbeads_tc@yahoo.com and ye can be a founding member!! A fair wind to ye! Blackbead

Ahoy there, me hearties! After months and months of being marooned, BLACKBEAD RETURNS!! And just in time for this auspicious occasion! Let me be the first to step up and ask for a vendor application! And for more info on me, check out www.Blackbead-jewelry.com. I have the finest movable pirate's market in the world! I sell the most beautiful hand-plundered jewelry, the most realistic looking replica flintlocks, the most incredible treasures from around the world, and I'll sell ye a treasure chest to put it all in! Drop by me website to order your "Middlefaire 2006" t-shirts, as well! See you in The Big Easy!! Blackbead

Be that "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to The Forum"??

Well done, Master Dorian, well done! I secured a copy of this old, over-looked film and have enjoyed it ever since the first time I saw it . . . in a theater! "Muriel Pritchett" was a clue as that was the name of Ms. Davis' chracter in "The Accidental Tourist." Now let the field have a gander at yer quote and sees if we can come up with the correct answer!

Okay, it be hints you're needin', eh? Other stars in the film included Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley, Jr. It was set in modern times but featured some "classic" monsters. The movie owed as much to the movies of the 30's as it did to Glenn Miller's music of the 40's. Look for a performance by a "Seinfeld" star before he was famous. Enough? We'll see . . .

Okay, okay! Here we go . . . in the same "vein": "Hurt you? No. Bite you? YES!!" (Hint: Muriel Pritchett never looked THIS good!) BB