Blackbead

"The Buccaneer" in downtown Charleston is the sister restaurant of the "Queen Anne's Revenge". I met one of the owners the last time I was there and he loves us! There's "The Pirate's Landing" down in Port Isabel, TX. Never been there but I hear it is an excellent stop if you're ever down that way. They have a "pirate ship" that will take you on a dinner cruise at sunset. You can check out http://apiraterestaurant.com/index.html for the beginnings of a list and some reviews.

Since that puts me on deck, how about this one: "Are you the police?" "No, ma'am; we're musicians."

Ah! The Texas mosquito! I remember back when I was a kid and we were down at the beach, on the Bolivar Peninsula, we used to talk about the fact that only the males make noise and only the females bite. You could tell, of course, when one had landed on you just by the weight of the things. Eight or ten pounds they were - the size of small dogs with these huge, billowing wings. I remember hitting one with buckshot from a 20 gauge - it hesitated for a moment and then headed off for a Volkswagen that was motoring by.

Is that one from The Mask?

When: May 1-2, 2010; 11:00 to sunset both days Where: Middlefaire, 5 miles outside of Hillsboro, TX What: $12 for adults, pirate tales and poetry, pirate songs, pirate games, a pirate costume contest, pirate vendors, pirate food and drink, pirate camping, pirate reenactors with cannon and black powder blazin'!, and lots and lots of pirates! I'll have me market open there and will let ye all know the possibilities. Blackbead

Bringing humor to the table is ALWAYS a plus; ask any woman and she will tell you she loves someone who "makes her laugh." The problem with that is I'm always wondering what they are laughing AT!

My wife is the same way about spiders. I keep trying to assure her that 99.9% of all spiders are helpful - they clean your house of vile little creatures that actually do damage. But, she wants everyone she finds out of the house or dead. Hmmm, now there's an interesting slogan - "Out of the House or Dead!"

Aye! That it is! Your work will be show this year at the Centennnial Celebration of the Fort Worth Poetry Society; Books 'N Authors 'N All That Jazz at Weatherford College; The Texas Pirate Festival; Middlefaire; Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival; the Granbury Pirate Invasion; Pirate Days in The Colony; the Texas Renaissance Festival; and the Middlefaire Fantasy Faire! I'm going out to Scarborough Faire this weekend to try and arrange a book-signing there. Who knows? May be the RIGHT person will see it and THIS will be the year you can retire!!! God bless; Happy Birthday; and a BIG hug! Blackbead

Ransom, I had some success with doing home parties in friends' houses. I gave the hostess a small percentage (15%) of the PROFITS and a hostess gift. I never made as much as when I do one of the shows like Rumba is suggesting but sometimes you find people who want to come back and buy again and again. Blackbead

"Daddy Longlegs"? "Galliknippers"? "Mosquito Hawks"? I wasn't in on the original conversation but you have me intrigued.

I've been so involved in the books that I haven't made anything new in months. I need to get back into the jewelry mode, soon, because we are going to start doing shows again. Thanks for the poke in the ribs! Stick with the wire - whenever I make something with wire and beads it will not stay on my shelves. The very first thing I did was pretty bad but I put it out at the very next show and it was snatched up. There are LOTS of good books out there that give you helping hints. I have some at the house and will try to remember to send you the titles. Blackbead

Well, they were blind enough to take my check and I am scheduled to show me wares at this year's Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival! I'll have everything but me t-shirts! That means the most beautiful jewelry ever plundered, treasures from around the world, pirate toys, replica flintlocks, books, CDs, bumper stickers, magnets, buttons, and more! See you there? Blackbead

The Iron Hand of Mars by Lindsey Davis; The Poe Shadow by Mathew Pearl.

If you need the perfect pirate Mother's Day card, check out my website at www.Blackbead-jewelry.com and follow the links to my MOTHER'S DAY CARDS!! Blackbead

Go'bless ye, Captain Keys! Keep the rum flowin' and ye'll awlays be welcome! Blackbead

Congratulations! May you and your growing family have fair winds, cool grog (or warm milk!), and a full treasure chest, ALWAYS! Blackbead

By the grace of God and all that is Holy! Has it been another year? I send you joyous felicitations on the annual celebration of your birth! May the sea smile upon you for many more years and may you receive all that is your heart's desire on this special day! Fair winds, cool grog, and a treasure chest overflowing with love, light, good friends, and happiness! And may I FINALLY get to meet you and that amazing husband of yours before another year passes us by! And now, in honor of this special day and the promises that it brings, for YOU, Red Bess . . . Shifting Axis Flashing by like the cars on a distant highway, I barely felt the passing of the years As a child, As a teenager, As a young man. But now, over fifty, I feel the rush of time Flying by me like an eighteen wheeler at ninety MPH As I stand, fixed, by the side of the road. With so many feelings left to be felt, So many thoughts left to be thought, So many mountains left to be conquered, So much love left to give, I, like all before me, find the sands of time Slipping through my fingers Like water out of a cracked, old bucket; The cracked, old bucket that my hands have become. And now they tell me that I have lost 1.26 microseconds of every day Because the axis of the Earth has shifted. The mass of the planet has been redistributed As the giant pieces of the world we ride on each day Slammed against each other in just one more Of Nature’s eternal struggles. The photos of the devastation are heart-breaking. But as I look at the picture of a survivor, Her feet clad in red shoes atop the cassette deck That has become the threshold of what she now calls “home”, My own axis shifts. Looking inward, I believe in my heart that There is still time to be who I want to be; There is still time to try to do what is right. Looking at the face of that survivor, Feeling her anguish but inspired by her humanity, I draw from her portrait of fragility The strength to survive my own shifting sands. Rising, turning my face into the rushing wind of time, I suddenly know without any doubt That this cracked, old bucket can still carry water To those thirsty enough to drink it. Stephen Sanders ©2010 Drink deep, me hearty! And continue to pour out the gifts your spirit and hands provide to all of us on a daily basis. For someone who I have never met face to face, I am thankful for knowing you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Blackbead

By gum and by gar! A pox on me for not thinking to send out signals of my imminent approach! On the other hand, the "Captain" had me jumpin' from weather to lee the entire trip! We even had events after hours for all but one night. I plan on returning in the future and bringing me lovely wife as well. I should have more time to mingle when it be a pleasure trip. Hopefully, i can see you all then. Blackbead

A most EXCELLENT tale! Keep writing, Brother; one of these days we're going to have to name a "Pirate Laureate" for this here Pub! Who knows? It may be you! Blackbead

Ahoy, shipmates! I just returned from a business trip to Charleston, SC, and had a wonderful time! I wound up organizing an event at "The Buccaneer", a local restaurant with a pirate theme. It was an excellent evening full of tales of Vance, Bonnet, and Blackbeard and the history of Charleston! If youa re ever in the Charleston area, I recommend a trip down to the old town area and an evening of food and drink at this place! I was there for St. Patrick's Day and had a great time at $3 a Guinness! If you want more info, check out their website - http://www.thebuccaneerrestaurant.com/! Blackbead

Ahoy, mates! Check out Cindy Vallar's review of "A Night at Devil's Tavern" - http://www.cindyvallar.com/tavern.html - she said some very nice things and gave us 5 Stars! If you'd like a copy, they're $6 a piece, drop me an email and we can haggle over who's going to pay postage! Fair winds to ye all! Blackbead

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday, dear Angel of Death, Happy birthday to YOU! Blackbead

Looking for some piratical t-shirts to wear when you aren't in garb? Check out the sale going on at Blackbead's Treasure Chest! Navigate over to www.Blackbead-jewelry.com and follow the links to the buy t-shirts. Take a look at what we got and if you find anything you want, use the code 4OFFPATTYTEE when you check out and you'll get $4 off ANY t-shirt! We got "It's In Me Blood"; we got "Just Get Her in Range of Me Long Nine!"; we got "I AM the Booty!"; and many more! Come see! Come shop! Come save $4 a shirt!!