hurricane

Shay had to remind me of my real world responsibilities (I'll get you back, Shay :). I'm always amazed that my clients seem to know I'm about to leave town, as if it's a sixth sense. Always before PiP I get slammed with new client projects. I never tell them I'm leaving, but the S**T always hits the fan before PiP for some reason.

It takes a yeoman's effort to get this all done - I know that Fayma, Lily, Sterling, Julie (PiP Festival Director) and I have had our share of fires to fight and issues to resolve. But it makes it worthwhile when we get to see everyone having a grand time together and really enjoying the amazing camaraderie this event affords. It truly is a labor of love. We could probably write a book about all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes, some of it extremely hilarious. I think this one's going to be the best yet, given all the volunteers who have stepped up to take over parts of this festival that only two or three have been handling since the beginning. Makes it that more enjoyable for all, and that includes all our pirate volunteers who spend their vacation time and hard earned money to make Pirates in Paradise what it is. A big thank you in advance to all of you.

Yeah, about that not responding....you knew I would. You'll have to wait until I get there to roll me into a log, better make it a BIG tree. Just think of the feet the squirrels will have with all us nuts down there. Animal Geez, I just got my nuts back. Ain't having them rolled again... ever.

We are pleased to announce that the new competitions have lots of great news. First, the trophies have arrived. For first place in the National Walk the Plank Championships as well as the Tall Tales Competition and Freestyle Tall Tales Invitational, winners will receive a trophy and a $50 gift certificate to Fairavilla. Second and Third will each receive engraved medals. The winners of the Buxom Wench and Bad Ass Pirate will also receive a gift certificate to Fairavilla. We want to thank them for their generous donation to these events. Here's a sneak peak at the trophies: Here's the details for this year's Walk the Plank Championship: http://www.piratesinparadise.com/walktheplank/index.html Here's the information on the inaugural Tall Tales Competitions. http://www.piratesinparadise.com/talltales/index.html Space is limited for all of these this year, so if you want to guarantee a spot, email me at hurricane@piratesoftehcoast.com ASAP. Time's a wastin'.

The official entry form is up. We will be limiting the number of entries this year so you want to make sure you're at the Truman Waterfront by 3 p.m. to enter this year's contest and earn the first trophy ever (suitable for mantling)... http://www.piratesinparadise.com/walktheplank/index.html

Let's see... Teach Animal the new songs I decided to add at the last minute (sorry Animal, may be one more today to add). Come up with all the "person, places, things" for the Tall Tales Freestyle. Get the stage information to the Montessori kids doing a presentation on Wrecking Saturday. Make sure all the awards are correct. Coordinate the PA system for the stage. Make sure my dozen crew members know where they're going and what they're doing. Finish the sailing schedule for the WOLF. Clean the guns. Create the stage poster for the entertainment schedule. Make the last updates to the PiP website. I think that's it off the top of my head.

I have at least three or four of yours, Willie. You mean I only needed one?

The differences a baroque "guitar" and a modern guitar are many. I think this article really explains it well. http://www3.uakron.edu/gfaa/stalking.html Cuisto alluded to many of the differences and this article does a good job or going a step or two further. As any guitar player knows, there's a huge difference in playing an instrument with 10 gut strings and tied frets and a six string fretted instrument that is tuned in a standard tuning, which previous instruments didn't have the benefit of. It's akin to the differences in playing a tenor banjo and a plectrum. Very different animals with different results.

I think the main challenge Willie is the budget. I think the festival is already way over and in the red, as always, it seems. So many good ideas and never any money - the story of our life, eh? --

And while it was off, I took it, like a good Pizza Pirate would. And sadly, I can't think of a pizza joke that works a hat into it. Anyone? Beuller? Beuller?

As used by Italian pirates, no doubt !!!! ;) >>>>> Cascabel I can see the book now - Peter and the Pizza Pirates... Searching for dough on the Seven Cheese...

It's a pizza paddle, Cascabel. Thought you would have recognized it.

Given regulations, it's probably more restrictive today. A tavern in Washington State, for instance cannot serve hard liquor, only beer and wine. A restaurant lounge can serve anything, but you have to serve food in order to serve hard liquor. I would agree with Mission, you carried what your customers wanted and what you could lay your hands on. Availability was probably the biggest determinant, particularly in the Caribbean.

Thank you sir. It will be much easier to create the Wanted For Pyracy posters for Duval, now.

I need to stop in and see you. I have been looking for a new belt. I love the one the Jekyll the Hidesmith made me some years ago, but want to have a second belt as well. We'll talk.

You will love Searles. I wish I could remember who made my chargers. Shay and I have the same ones. I'm going to try to make it back to Searles next year. Enjoyed my time there.

She would have too.

After five years of anxious waiting, I'm proud to announce that this year's championships actually have a trophy for first place and medals for 2nd and 3rd. And you get to keep it! The same is true of the inaugural Tall Tales Competition and Freestyle Tall Tales Competition. I know, I know, this is beginning to look a bit legit.

What a great time at the Pirate Gathering. It was great seeing everyone again at, as Caribbean Pearl put it, Mini PiP. I had the pleasure of driving Powderkeg up to St. A to meet up with Michael and Jamaica. His stories were amazing. Everyone should get to know him - a huge resource of information on cannons and gunpowder. Love him! Now I want one of his cannons. :) Fortunately, they will be Cyren's and my guest for Thanksgiving so maybe I can talk him into bringing one of his cannons off so we can rack it off on the beach and demonstrate them to you all on video. The rest of the festival was great... good friends, good beer, lots of time jamming with other musicians and singing my favorites over with the Pirates of the Treasure Coast folks and in the tent. Never even managed to make it over to the period camping - just too much to see and do on the field. Perhaps next year. But got to meet some of my favorite campers on the field, including Jeff and Melissa. Good seeing them again. Thanks to the organizers, especially Mia and gang. Well done and a big "five cutlasses up" as a rating. Beween the Gathering, Stuart, Searle's, John Levique, Ft. Myers, Amelia Island and of course, Key West, Florida is certainly a great place to be for pirootin'.

I hope to finally get the presentation I did at PyrateCon 1 on Port Royal narrated and up on a site for others to see. Just got a Snowball mike to do the recording. So, that's on the list. Second is to get my nautical music in order. Would like to add a new song every two weeks over the winter. And, perhaps, get the band to finally do a CD. That should keep me busy enough. I also have a couple stage shows to write for next year's festival season. Glad I don't have any sewing to add to my list for a change.

That is worth every penny and then some. Wish I had a few extra bucks right now.