Cascabel

What you need is called a hat stretcher, or hat jack. They are commonly available on ebay. Get your hat well steamed, and while still hot, insert the stretcher and adjust to stretch your hat. You can increase the size quite a bit. Leave the stretcher in place while the hat drys. You can easily make it too big, but just re-steam, and make it a bit smaller if you need to. Felt hats are quite forgiving of multiple re-stretchings. >>>> Cascabel

I remember seeing a reproduction printing press many years ago, and the guy had used the screw shaft and threaded block to match from an old piano stool. >>>> Cascabel

Aye.... Hildekitten's piratey styling would blow all of 'em out of the water !!! >>>> Cascabel

I was given one of the Beta copies. I tried using it, but I'm not familiar enough with games of this type to figure out how to make it "do". There were no instructions or guidebook of any kind, so I got frustrated trying to understand how to make things work and make my character do things. I have not tried it lately, but perhaps by now they have incorporated some sort of "player's guide" for people like me. >>>> Cascabel

Aye... I've been doing PiP since '98. I believe that was the second year of it, but I'm not 100 percent certain. It did indeed begin on Marathon, and continue in Key West. I remember in '99, it didn't happen at all, and Julie revived it in 2000, and has been a driving force ever since. There is a tremendous amount of money and effort expended year after year that very few are aware of to keep it going. I used to enjoy the various venues around town that hosted parts of it, but it does not seem to get the support that it once did from the various businesses. Hopefully, that will change for the better after this year's success. I have always supported Julie and Capt. Finbar's efforts to make it a fun event for all. Unfortunately, I was not able to spend a whole lot of time this year at the fort, as I was needed elsewhere. I tried to spend as much time as I could meeting all the new-comers, and making them feel welcome, so if there is someone I didn't speak to, I apologize to ye, and hope to see you next year. I never even got to hang out with me good shipmate Patrick Hand, who is one of my favorite people. >>>> Cascabel

..........And we really don't need our people blowing booze breath in children's faces when talking to them. I have always felt that drinking while we are "on duty" is very un-professional. After hours is another thing entirely. >>>> Cascabel

I have not yet checked the schedule, but it's usually on Saturday night. Goes right down Duval St. Pretty sizeable parade. >>>> Cascabel

I think any banner type of thing would be welcome. You would need to see about some sort of pole or something to carry it. There may be suitable long wood in the store rooms of the fort. We need to check with Harry on that. >>>> Cascabel

Apparently, for better or worse, at this time, organizing for the parade has fallen on me. Of course, final say-so rests with Harry. I have in the past had my open pick-up truck with me to fill with pirates, but I won't have it this year. If anybody has an open truck, it will be welcome for those that don't wish to walk. A banner would be good. I usually have my 10 foot jolly roger attached horizontally to a pole for carrying as a banner. There has always been a spot where the parade forms up, but the issue is getting there on time. They DO close the streets off. We'll get it all figured out after we get there, and see what we've got...... >>>>>> Cascabel

No problem. You just have to buy it in 25 pound lots. Get together with a few shipmates, and share an order. $300 for 25 1 pound cans, mixed grades, or all the same. Braze and myself stocked up a couple of months back. Maine Powder House, delivered right to your door. Check your local ordinances about storage of explosives. You never know who might think it is their "duty" to call the authorities on you. Some people simply CANNOT mind their own business..... >>>>> Cascabel

I love it !!!!! Nothin' in the world more fun than playing with your kids. It keeps ya young. Thanks for sharing this.... >>>> Cascabel

NIGEL !!!!! Glad to hear from ye, lad.... I thought some un-kind fate had befallen ya. See ya at PiP. >>>> Cascabel

Ya done GOOD, Patrick !!!!! >>>> Cascabel

Aye, 'tis true, and Key West itself is quite unique. Nothing else quite like it..... PiP gets my vote. >>>> Cascabel

ebay item. Check out the workmanship !!! http://cgi.ebay.com/HALF-BASKET-HILT-SWORD...1QQcmdZViewItem >>>> Cascabel

I would definately not recommend Gasparilla. It's just a Mardi Gras type drunkfest, and not very "piratey". Possibly PiP, or the Hampton Blackbeard Fest, and Ojai is a lot of fun for a Faire type event.... >>>>> Cascabel

I found it on ebay a couple of years ago. It came out of Brazil, but is not a bootleg copy. Was dubbed in Portuguese, so you had to go to the menu in order to select the original english language. I am not sure if it was ever released on DVD in the U.S., but Brazil apparently uses the same DVD format. >>>> Cascabel

......And the wigs !!!! >>>> Cascabel

Aye, I always enjoy hanging out with him when I get the chance. A great shipmate, and always willing to be free with information without being pushy or judgemental. A tug of the forelock to ye, Patrick !! >>>>> Cascabel

Well.... I have been doing events for nearly 40 years, and I have never YET heard of anyone being busted on weapons charges of any kind when they are in garb, and very obviously part of an event. We all carry swords also, which are very much over the legal length for "knives" in most jurisdictions. Of course, after the event is over, if you go bar hopping with all your weapons, you are on your own..... >>>>> Cascabel

It must always be kept in mind that NONE of these recoveries would be made at all without some heavy funding from investors. Investors will not provide funding without a reasonable expectation of a return on their investment, and their return comes from the sale of artifacts. Investors usually don't support pure archaelogical endeavors. Just some cold, hard facts of life, Boys and Girls.... However, I believe proper documentation should be done if practical, (which it often isn't due to circumstances of depth, condition of the site etc.), and a certain percentage of the "goodies" should be reserved for display in museums. If government entities did not get so greedy about things that they made no effort to discover or recover, perhaps the secrecy would not be so much of a problem. >>>> Cascabel

Check this one out, Shipmates !!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/18th-century-English-S...1QQcmdZViewItem >>>> Cascabel

Aye, no wonder yer ship's cat is looking at you strangely..... Lookin' good, Shipmate. >>>> Cascabel

Right.........., What HE said..... >>>> Cascabel

Nahhhh... The lass just went thru the line more than once !!! Because of her some other ladies didn't get their fair share.... >>>>> Cascabel