Rats

Yeah.. we'll back track...

So there we were getting ready to do the Saturday battle, when sudden'y we recieve word that there are to be hurricane winds. torrential rain and tornados!!! Everyone I can proudly say pitched in and started pattening down the camp. We even had folks from our crew start running to other camps and start warning them, even before the rangers did. AT around noon there was a black cloud bank to our right, that suddenly stops and turns right toward us. I grab our two snotties and head to the fort. Yes... Rats and children first!! but seriously I'll be damned if I'm going to let anything happen to our kids on my watch!

Right as we get to the fort the storm cuts loose!! The vendors do whgat they can to cover up. But most scamper to the walls and the catacombs.

Before we know it, ol rats brings out the dice and the gambling begins!!

It was certainly the best battle I've ever been in - but we're skipping a few days, aren't we?

Since Mark has that Commodore Norrington look to him, I'd like to set him up like that or kind of well to do!

Hmmm.... I think I have a shoot idea for both Donna and Mark. I will also use Brian with his FOP outfit and a wig aND PERHAPS another fop or two???

We can set up Mark with whatever he needs.

ALright my dear! You asked for it!!

We also need to get Mark into the mix!! Does he have a wool jacket and wool hat? Perhaps something more forma??

As always, very nicely done ~

Wish I had the ability to be in more than one place at a time ~ I would have loved to participate.

You rock my dear!!

First you looked elegant while touring the cannon line. Then you did a damn good job with your blade!!

What more needs to be said!!

Agreed ~ Mark didn't sleep so well last night, as he told me... something about me sword fighting in my sleep...

wI have to say that the Sunday batt;e was probably the best orchistrated pirate battle that I have ever seen. It was perfectly coriographed and the communication between all elements were both consistent and safe!! we even managed to time it perfectly with the arrival of the Wolf!

from behind the scenes, I have to say that everyone looked great!! The cannon crews were unstoppable!! and though we only had two british with small arms. The hand to hand was perfect and spaced out so that it looked like a well controlled chaos!!

I also loked the bathing beauty/water arobics we did without the water!!!

To be fair, I think everyone would admit that they really got the kinks worked out by Sunday - that was an AWESOME battle.

I just remember how the children cried and yelled, "You shoot like poop! I hate you Mr. Pirates" But nothing was worse than that little girl with the cute little pigtails who yeled "Losers! next time we're going to the frickin' Renfair!"

I know something had to be done... But after that, I was a broken man....

Oh, yeah! I had just blocked it from my memory, is all. You mean the battle where no one really knew what was going on and nobody died and the little children wept because the only casualty of the skirmish were their dreams of adventure and excitement? That one?

Yes... I froze! I was wet and shivering and clicking my heeles wishing to be back in kansas... And I'm not even from friggin Kansas!! Then you guys go and get blankets from Lilly... AND FORGET TO TELL ME!!! I froze my yahoo off!!See! It's not there anymore!! Stupid 12 pounder got to sleep with two heaters around him!!

I feel so used!!

Should we talk about the 1st battle or should I not??

Which day did I play mumblety peg?

Oh, yes, that first night was awesome! Of course, I was the only one who brought anything resembling a blanket and a mattress bad, but that wasn't an issue until the third night when the monsoon struck, and flooded out Rats on the east side of the tarp, and then snuck around and drenched me on the west side of the tarp, and left us both so cold and shivering that we both thought we had woken up reenacting prisoners in the gulags, or perhaps dickensian orphans dying of the consumption. But Brian, aka the infamous 12-Pound Richard Beam, woke up warm and dry and not a care in the world. Rats and I decided to rectify that by snoring loudly, making noises similar to a bull being molested by a creepy crocodile. All that really accomplished, though, was to keep each other awake because of the other's unbearable snoring, while Brian, who is from Northern Illinois, slept soundly, bull-on-crocodile marital violence being a common occurence in Lake County, IL.

I love your new avitar!

And no probs with the bible thingy, just trying to help me mates!

BTW: I found a hard covered bible for your steward personna!! Its actually a weathered gold cover and the perfect size for carrying around or fitting in a haversack!!

cheers!

Great photos guys, im so glad to have been exec...i mean included......i must say some of the shots are weird for me to look at.....but cool all the same lol......we should definitely do video in the future........

Huuumm if your refurring to the voodo bible cut think for israel cross the carpenter, i think i wont actually use a real one, though the steward, being the opposite of myself, would probably be a devout christian, which also fits well with getting along with the captain.......

Whatta you mean?! I had him right where I wanted... OK so I was drunk and fell asleep on guard duty then got me arse kicked!! Like that never happens to us badguys!!

Great photos guys, im so glad to have been exec...i mean included......i must say some of the shots are weird for me to look at.....but cool all the same lol......we should definitely do video in the future........

I love the way you kick Rats in the face! And if we do video, I'll make a foam rubber club for you to hit me in the throat with.

You Mr. Bottles are an evil and wonderful man....!

I remember my first Reenactor Fest, when Jack, Brian, and I all showed up, and Brian had the 1706 ASC contract coat that he made, and I was hand-sewing the button holes on my ASC ticken waistcoats, and Jack - well, what more can we say about Jack? - had a hand-dyed, hand-sewn silk frock coat, and Maddogge took all of us be the noggin and pretended to knee us in the head in turn, and he said "jack, you f@#k!ng b@$tard!" And then he turned to me and said "And you're a French b@$tard." And then he said "you're all FBs!" And we laughed and drank up his shame, it was so delicious and cold and pure.

Again....All of which we are very thankful for! Life is a good thing!!

Felix the cat! The wonderful, wonderful cat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHj-t6hw7Bk&feature=related

*mutters something about felix the cat boy shorts and unruly skirts*

BTW: I found a hard covered bible for your steward personna!! Its actually a weathered gold cover and the perfect size for carrying around or fitting in a haversack!!

cheers!

Great photos guys, im so glad to have been exec...i mean included......i must say some of the shots are weird for me to look at.....but cool all the same lol......we should definitely do video in the future........

Yes and for all the men present... I also want to thank all the "BOOM BOOM GIRLS!" That will definately not be easily forgotten... What a lucky cannon!

Darlin Jess!

You have no clue as to the flood gates you have now opened!

You see it's kinda like enviting a vamp into your house... Once you agree to a photo shoot with riff-raff like us, all brakes are off and there's no avoiding it. Not to mention the fact that you get hooked and as Mr. Cross puts it... We become "Camera Whores"!!

You and Sweet Kate were perfect! I've worked with professional models who may have looked good, but had not a grain of common sense or were able to follow even the most basic of directions. Yet you guys knew exactly what I wanted from you and made it happen... Without killing yourselves or falling down stairs to do it....

Speaking abuot falling down stairs.... I heard someone fell down a spiral stair case.

Anyone got those pics??

I look forward to it then! On the last day, as I was making the rounds and saying good byes, Papa told me that last year I Was pretty reserved and sort of stayed in the background, so that he was glad to see me let lose more this year. For my 3rd ever event, I figure I am on a steady enough curve! lol

The ones I took were with Kate's camera. The others were on MADdogge's, I think?

Also, I was not quite awake enough to write the thank yous when I did, because I left out TONS of people. Like Fayma and Papa and Lily and Spike and everyone else that put in all the time and effort to make this all go as smoothly as it did. To Rats for teaching me some basic swordplay (and MADdogge and Mickey for the use of their swords). Callenish for the hot showers and Salty for the delicious breakfasts. And to the other BOOM BOOM GIRLS and all the cannon fellows, for being awesome and keep safety our priority!

YEAH! Stupid.. stupid Mad Dog!

i dont remember last years...i was still pissed off at Jack from the year before....

That would be me you big dumb lummox... Stupid M.A.d'Dogge

Darlin Jess!

You have no clue as to the flood gates you have now opened!

You see it's kinda like enviting a vamp into your house... Once you agree to a photo shoot with riff-raff like us, all brakes are off and there's no avoiding it. Not to mention the fact that you get hooked and as Mr. Cross puts it... We become "Camera Whores"!!

You and Sweet Kate were perfect! I've worked with professional models who may have looked good, but had not a grain of common sense or were able to follow even the most basic of directions. Yet you guys knew exactly what I wanted from you and made it happen... Without killing yourselves or falling down stairs to do it....

Speaking abuot falling down stairs.... I heard someone fell down a spiral stair case.

Anyone got those pics??

Much thanks to Callenish and Salty for again giving me a place to lay me head. Also to Mickey & Kate for last minute seamstering and for getting me dressed (and undressed...and dressed....and undressed....and dressed....). To Rats and Matty and Israel and Brian and Mickey and Kate for the photofighting. To Mission for the wonderful dinner with Mickey and Kate in the city proper. To Mary Diamond and Captain Sterling for helping me with me shoes. And to each and every pirate in attendance for being utterly brilliant fun to be around!

Patients my dear Mr. Cross. Patients!

I'm just giving brother mad Dog and Matty Bottles a chance to catch up.

I have to say that after 10 years of a commercial photog, that you were the easiest recruit for camera whore I have ever met!!!

I ofcoarse mean that in the very best possible way!

You my friend are a natural!

....why oohh wwhhyy was i not there for the shark feeding!!!!!...oh and rats you forgot the part that we all become camera whores....lol

Oh I get it... and here I was trying to pick up darlin Shay instead of the gun!

Maybe I got me priorities all confused and such??

I will agree with you mate, it is a pretty gun.... Yet a prettier lady!

So say's I

i was timed...how long i could hold up her musket to my shoulder....1 minute 3 sec...and my shoulder is still out....tho later Matty Bottles does presently hold the record...at 1 minute 32 sec

many a man was embarrassed to say...they couldnt pick it up level the first try...until Miss Shay showed em how!!!

damn pretty gun

So we arrive at the camp and start setting up... Oh did I mention that I recieve a phone call stating that I'm supposed in court to testify on Friday (The next day!)back in Wisconsin!!!!! I then proceed to start playing phone tag with work on and off for the next day and a half!!!!

We also find out that brother Mad Dog, who left his truck at his sister-n-law's house also recieved a phone call... Only his call was from his darling wife... asking if there was anything valuable in his truck.

Did you catch that?

WAS there anything valuable in your truck?

Aye mates!! Ol Mad Dog had his truck stolen right outta his sister-n-law's driveway!!! So he gets to play phone tag a bit and deal with that headache. All this on the heel of what was apparently a pretty cool video shoot.

Sounds like stupid MadDog and Keith got to be in the filming for an episode of Dinner Impossible!!

Stupid Keith.... Stupid Mad Dog!

Sounds like this went excellent and I'll let Mad Dog chime in and tell his lies!!!(this is actually the que for Mad Dog and keith to chime in and tell what happened on their end!!! Hint hint hint!!) It actually sounds like all the behind the scenes and the out take stuff were more fun than anything. especially with the producer actually thinking hat Keith was actually getting drunk the whole time and worried that he would passout!!!

So needless to say the arrr-ival and greetings from our family of friends was enough to make even the toughest of riff-raff tear up and wanna..... (how does Mad Dog say it?) Oh yeah....cuddle!

The next morning...Thursday?

we woke up to find we were on the sothern most tip of Key West! All I can say is that you will never be able to appreciate it until you see it and feel the wind hear the surf for yourself!

I wake up and smell burning wood and frying bacon!!

Already our darling Lilly, Keith and the early birds from the crew are making the camp buzz.

Now this is where I have to give complete and humble thanks to our darling Lilly for everything she did to not only take care of our crew's camp, but also to help ensure that clean up and the necessary jobs were done with the rest of the camp. I have to be honest and say that this venture would not have been the succes it was, had not this increadible woman been willing to pull her hair out and eventually knock herself out with her ledger board.

So to be honest, waking up with this host of friends in a Key West, was kind of like waking up on Christmas morning surrounded by your family... And not the family that you only tollerate or really don't like or even kinda hate because they broke your toys or kicked your dog..... Yeah you know the ones you I'm talking about!

OK how about some help here you guys??!!I'm sure I'm missing some stuff!!

You haven't seen anything yet!!

We've been shooting storyboards for years. I always felt this was an excellent tool for eventually planning video and film projects.

Do you know much about audio and editing?

Maybe I'll start a site for our planning. I have about 3-4 scripts either done or roughed out for the Tyburn series i have planned. plus with the photos we have already, story boarding would be a snap!

Which camera do you use for video?

Which camera do you suggest??

Maybe we can start a thread on the AA crew site so we don;t pyrate this one??

Cheers!!

Thanks Rats. Also making a video wouldn't take that much more time than these photos for sure.

I don't know darlin'... every hero needs an arch-enema... or is it enemy?? Besides then there would be no Rats and Maddog for a crime fighting team... Coarse he always wants first billing or he pouts, acts like a girl and throws a tizzy...

Stupid MadDog!!

Stupid tizzy throwing Maddog!

Though very fitting. I agree that your real name is perfect!!

Here's to you Miss Diosa!

Rats - You're so nice! I'm loving how complimentary you are to me... Don't hang around that Dogge guy or he will make you mean.... :)

Put Sgt Johnson (Jeff johnson) down for the Buccaneer camp.

I give Diosa a hearty HUZZAH for taking on the lofty role of "meeting circuit" person...the Buccaneer camp thanks you.

It's my pleasure to take care of you guys when it comes to meetings and such! Bring on Meat Fest 2010 at the Buccaneer Camp!!!!!

So do I!! I wish you could have gone with us to diner, that would have been perfect! we could have used you in a few instead of me everywhere. You also would have been a better doctor, instead of having me play a thug and then a doctor later..... That's alright though brother. we need to talk about my plans for the videos!!

This next year might be some good film work!!

Man I wish I could have had some fun with this. That is so awesome.

I think I'm going to make a groupsite for just pics... so that we can plan and post our photos and keep em in order. What's great about the albums is that when you watch em in slideshow they can keep rolling in order and easier to watch!!

What says you??

Hmmm? maybe we should just restart the archangel groupsite??

Mr. Isreal Cross....on Holiday....a photo expose

I love these pics!!

I have to say that staging these photo series is one of my favorite parts of this entire event!!

Just wait til you see what Mad Dog does to Matty and Brian!!

Maybe we can also add what happens to Matty, Brian and Rats???

I think we should go early next year and just stage pics!!

I couldn't agree more! I also have to say that after working in commercial for 10 years, Mr. Cross (who claims not to know how to act and such) is an absolute natural! For a first timer infront of his guy makes some of us old camera hogs look like chum in the water...

Stupid old age... Turn 40 and all the young turks start showing up!!

Yeah...yeah... I know... Out with the old and in with the new!!!!

But seriously, wait till you guys see the pressgang photo series we did for Mr. Cross and also the Brawling Barmaids with Sweet Kate and Red Jess!!!

BTW: why did Mikey get to be the guy in the middle???

Stupid...stupid Mikey!!!

Wow!

The event seems to get better and better every year. I am amazed by the collective attention to details.

I doff my floppy hat to all of you.

Isreal Cross looks great... I am digging the stitching on the inside of his short jacket...

Smokin'