Hester

Thanks, Jill: I know the Traditional Medicinals brand well, as I try to keep their PMS tea on hand. I've never tried their Cold Formula tea though, but I'll definitely pick some up next time I'm out shopping. I'm feeling equivocal today. I'd really like to go to my dance group tonight, although this cold is dragging on. If I slather myself in hand sanitizer before each dance, my partners should be safe enough. But I'm concerned that all that aerobic activity will drive the infection deeper into my respiratory tract and delay my recovery even further ... and I want to be totally well for the ball on Saturday (more dancing). Decisions, decisions... Oh sigh, Hester

This month's edition of Harper's Bazaar notes that designer Anna Sui's Spring collection takes inspiration from pirate garb: You can see the whole collection on Sui's website: http://www.annasuibeauty.com/site/fashion_shows.htm The video of the runway show is particularly good, as the soundtrack starts off with Bow Wow Wow's "Louis Quatorze", suggesting Sui was probably inspired more directly by Vivienne Westwood than Jack Sparrow. And the final song is Johnny Thunders' "Pirate Love". Brilliant! I wish I could afford this stuff and had a place to wear it. Instead, old punk that I am, I'll probably just give a nod to the style on a more street-functional level, cobbled together from the consignment shop and the notions department. Cheers, Hester

of dragon stench across

The January edition of Glamour magazine has a nice spread on what to eat to stay slim, with appetizing-looking meal and snack suggestions: [sorry the text is a bit tiny -- bloody Photobucket shrunk the images.] Cheers, Hester P.S. Notice there's no rum ration included in the calorie count!

Hey, Alyx: Lovely clothing! As for belly-dancing pirates, the wonders of YouTube never cease: Cheers, Hester

Warm and cozy, although slightly ridiculous, fashion-wise. I'm wearing my baby pink jolly roger hoodie sweatshirt, over my blue flannel nightgown patterned with butterflies, over top of a pair of flannel pyjama bottoms - bright red with black silk-screened moose motifs! On my feet, I have fuzzy pink house socks and carmel-coloured corduroy slippers. This is the uniform of the house-bound fighting off a cold. I shall look for Jill's suggested Gypsy Cold Care tea next time I'm out shopping. (Although, alas, being an inveterate tea-drinker who knows those shelves well, I suspect it's a "not available in Canada" brand). Despite my cold taking a bit of a turn for the worse today, I'm feeling quite relieved, as I was well enough yesterday to sing at my class recital. My airplane drugs conquered the shakes I get from stage fright, and I even seemed to synch up tempo-wise with the mystifying jazz accompanist. Cheers, Hester

countenance. Leather wings unfurled...

Okay, call me a Luddite, but I thought this thread would involve chocolate! Cheers, Hester

darkened ominously. Thunder? Or...

Indeed, so it seems only natural that she should pair up with Norrington now. ['Cause now that he's bad, he's lookin' really, really good:] Any fanfic of that ilk out there? Or do I have to write it meself? Cheers, Hester

According to this well-researched food history site, turkeys had made their way to Europe via trade routes during the early 16th century, and were a popular banquet food in England as early as 1541 (i.e. during the reign of Henry VIII): http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodmeats.html#turkey And "savvy" comes not from the Apache language or the wild west of Gunsmoke, but from the Spanish/Portuguese word "saber", meaning "to know", which was corrupted into "savvy" in English via maritime pidgin languages developed for trading purposes in the 17th century: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin#Sabir Cheers, Hester ... wondering how this got into a porn movie thread, instead of Captain Twill

pawprint in the sand

Someone needs to make a pirate-themed work-out video for us. Y'know-- Will turner leading us through swordplay choreography, and Cap'n Jack demonstrating how sit-ups can be useful to reach the rum bottle when you find yourself flat on your back. Barbossa could do the nutrition segment, "An Apple a Day". Cheers, Hester

Quoting subject header: >>>Singing on to a ship<<< Well, drat, I thought this thread was going to be about a ritual shanty sung to welcome new crew members aboard. ... Still, interesting info on the articles. Cheers, Hester

Well, perhaps not utterly unyielding... "I've been known to yield given the right persuasion", says Adam Ant.

Mussels in Garlic Butter broth, (with added chopped tomato): Thank you Captain Highliner! I figures the garlic be medicinal fer me cold, like. Cheers, Hester

[For fear of grinding this thread to a halt, I'll take another turn.] Look! On the horizon

that's mixed with water ~~~~~~~~~ Hey, this is my 666th post! Do I get a promotion for reaching the number of the beast? Oh ... "Hello, Beastie!" Uh... never mind. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Quoting the subject header: >>>The Great Loose Weight Thread<<< Yup, that's the problem -- weight that's all loose and jiggly. Cheers, Hester

Oh, bugger -- the hand sanitizer didn't work (I guess I wasn't diligent enough) and neither did touching wood (oh -- maybe that's where I picked up the germs)! Came down with a cold last night. It started with a wicked sore throat that really hurt when I swallowed. Yikes! I have a singing recital on Monday (and my rehearsal version was crap enough while I was healthy)! Happily, today the pain in my throat has died down and I just seem to have a mild cold. My husband will credit the Cold F/X he shovelled into me: http://www.cold-fx.com/ "Official immune enhancer of the NHL!" [Didn't seem to help the poor Habs, though. They succumbed to gastroentiritis last week.] http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Montr...3257321-cp.html Wow, glad I've only got a cold! I'm spending a day in my flannel nightie with magazines [the belated July/August 2006 edition of No Quarter just fell through the mailslot today], a Robin Hood porn (ahem "romance") novel, tea with honey, more Cold F/X, lots of Vitamin C, hot soup, and of course... Hot Buttered Rum ... purely fer medicinal reasons, savvy! Feeling a bit agitated though, 'cause yesterday I saw a gown at the consignment shop around the corner that I think I could alter into a Regency style for Queen Charlotte's Ball next week http://www.claviersbaroques.com/QueenCharl.../CBQCBB2007.htm ... maybe if I'm well enough this afternoon, I'll pop out and buy it before anyone else snaps it up. Cheers, Hester

My condolences to you, Lady Snow. I am very sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Hester

My plan is to lose 20 lbs (nearly a stone and a half), by Labour Day --when I have to go visit the in-laws again. What works for me is walking about 40 minutes every day, and eating lots of fish and fresh fruit and vegetables. Trouble is, it's awfully tricky trying to fit my rum ration into a reasonable calorie allowance. Cheers, Hester

^I dreamed I was at a large party and was having trouble following the conversation (social anxiety nightmare). < Matt asked: "What can you teach other people to do?" And Jenny answered: "Travel intelligently." Oh, teach me, teach me! I'm useless at travelling. I have panic attacks in airports and on planes. I get motion sick. My luggage is always slightly overweight (kinda like its owner). However, I'm a great navigator with map and compass, and I love researching out-of-the-way places beforehand and planning a uniqe itinerary. I'd love to travel more extensively and see exotic parts of the world (although I'm not temperamentally suited to adventure). V Like Cinderella, I'm going to a ball next week, set in the Regency period. What balls or lavish formal events have you attended? Descriptions are great and photos even better!

Here's a band that does 18th century fife & drum music, plus a wider range of traditional folk styles: http://www.ginlane.com/GinLaneHistory.html They started off as re-enactors at historic forts. Cheers, Hester