Red Cat Jenny

Oh My Gosh!!! Where where!! Hide me!!! LOL but not fer th reason ye think...... Welcome aboard!!

Kass, everyone has their own personal feelings about stuff. Maybe we just look extra um..difficult as your convictions about not dressing in boys clothes are so strong. That is NOT meant as an insult. We're pretty stuck on OUR opinions. I will go out on a limb and quote myself here {My opinion is that education is about reaching out to people. I think it's commendable to be interested in history and preserving, educating and enjoying it at all, especially these days. I would rather encourage it. I think the clothing questions come from a desire and enthusiasm to learn and participate and not necesarily specifically portray. Maybe some just want to drop in the historical dressing room and try on the past and walk around in it a while. So they may take a few small (within period) liberties mixing and matching..If there's a chance for them to share what they learn than so much the better.} My folks took us to a colonial village restoration when I was about 12. There were some women dressed as male farmers and some little girls dressed as little boys. They were having a great time and from what I remember were very enthusiastic about teaching... not to mention knowledgeable about what games wete played, how a horse was shod, spinning cotton, etc. As a member of the "general and less educated on absolute authenticity public" I never really noticed or considered the gender difference. Instead the facts fascinated me. The clothes fascinted me, and seing both girls my age and women living history made me feel that I too could learn, and someday try it out. I suppose I am beating a dead horse here but once again I will repeat.. {This is current times and being more educated and desiring perhaps a more powerful role (again - personal opinion) would like to portray extra crew or sailors. If they are dressed authentically, (not like the girl in one of the PIP pics with the stiletto boots and pink bustier - take that to the strip in LA lady..) and can educate the public about camping, crew roles, weapons etc, what would be the difference if under their clothes - say with a plain braid and no makeup if they were actually female This will be as others mentioned an endless debate. Oh well...also to say again (and with due respect-not trying to insult here either) that just because a few of us may want to wear boys clothes doesn't mean we want to run about with captain hook boots yelling Arrr. I have little experience with reenactment compared to you all. So I could be speaking from ignorance. However, it seems kind of sad to exclude people who genuinely want the rare experience of learning and passing that on to others.... .seems gender isn't what the lesson would necessarily be about. but again that is my opinion. I can't make the rules. I grew up with two brothers maybe that's the answer .. lol!

Bilgemunky...you're welcome The reading was my pleasure! BlackJohn, I am right behind ye wit that New Years resolution! What a great idea! ...and we WILL get that story from ye..heh heh hmmmmm For rum novices, mix. I still find plain old Capt Morgan mixed in diet coke tastes just like cream soda. So much so that one day I...... well let's just say oops that was embarassing! I like trying the odd little ones. Barbadian, West Indian...something with a deep dark secret. I love going into a good liquor store that has wines divided by country and that cage of rare and expensive vintages. It's fun just to window shop and every now and then you find something really good. Usually those are the guys who will expound you with a huge amount of info if you ask.

Palm trees..... I love palm trees

Wooooagh!!!!

Ah.. let me clarify that... I believe I'll linger at the table here for lunch...that is as long as you're cooking. By the way my room is lovely.

Thank you for the breakfast fare... and gracious! I think I'll stay for lunch.. the dishes are very nice Sir.

After reading both threads on this subject, I think I'd like to try to clarify some things because it seems perhaps that some are misunderstanding where the others are coming from. 1) Some are looking at posts here from the point of view that: People want to re-enact wearing their personal interpretation of clothing. They rightfully have a problem with this and are defending being historically correct. I can agree with that. After all if you are portraying say, George Washington, you wouldn't think of changing his hair or clothing. -- I think perhaps those people looking to justify some personal (within period ) choices, were not necesarily intending to portray a specific historical character in a re-enactment for public education. In other words, they didn't specify what their activities would be. -- 2) Nor did the above make it clear till a bit later on, that their issue was with accurate portrayal of a specific person or for educational purposes. I had my own moment of clarity over this. It was like "ooohhh , wait a minute, I see where we are passing each other on the road here!" -- 3) That said, I could be completely wrong. But I have a hunch I am at least partly right. -- Now. Blending the modern day into the historical one. I think some are dead convinced there were almost no female pirates and since theres not much evidence then there's no place for them. Anywhere. Perhaps not being well read enough to agree with this yet, I have my doubts. Yes.. partly from personal desire, but you know, if you read a lot about current research, they are always saying in the news "now we've reeealy found the oldest skeleton, really...we mean it this time..." yeh... and the stuff they thought was extinct, and the other things that have been proven as mistaken in more recent history.I wonder.... just how much research has been put into this one fact in question? Perhaps it wasn't deemed important enough to dig into. Or I could be wrong. As I said, haven't read that much yet. -- Back in real shakespearean theater didn't women portray men because they weren't allow to act? Didn't men portray women even in Roman theater times? I ask this because there seem to be many of us women who aren't necesarily shunning womanly clothes or roles completely, but that's not what we are after at the moment. Why order grilled cheese when ya want a burger? (sorry trying not to be too serious here) This is current times and being more educated and desiring perhaps a more powerful role (again - personal opinion) would like to portray extra crew or sailors. If they are dressed authentically, (not like the girl in one of the PIP pics with the stiletto boots and pink bustier - take that to the strip in LA lady..) and can educate the public about camping, crew roles, weapons etc, what would be the difference if under their clothes - say with a plain braid and no makeup if they were actually female. Why not expend some effort on finding out what these women want to do in their gear? Why not perhaps see if there might be some sort of place for them as a compromise? Or maybe they just want to stop by reenactments or festivals or what have you and raise a few with all of you good people here. That would be ok wouldn't it? I think this is just a misunderstanding on all our parts about who was aiming at doing what. ---- Of course everyone has a right to his or her own opinion. Someone running a re-enactment has the right to make their rules. -- My opinion is that education is about reaching out to people. I think it's commendable to be interested in history and preserving, educating and enjoying it at all, especially these days. I would rather encourage it. I think the clothing questions come from a desire and enthusiasm to learn and participate and not necesarily specifically portray. Maybe some just want to drop in the historical dressing room and try on the past and walk around in it a while. So they may take a few small (within period) liberties mixing and matching..If there's a chance for them to share what they learn than so much the better. I think perhaps this is input - or an idea those of you most familiar with all types of events could really help out with. But....I ramble, it's late and I'm at work and I'll probably read this tomorrow and do one of those "slap your head V-8 things:

Oh heaven forbid! Ink? a....liquid? on an....airplane? You're lucky they don't make you spit in a bucket before you board these days. I feel for all those poor folks I see doing "the strip" on the security line each day. However, what can you do in todays world? It's necessary.

A bit of RUM history for you ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The precursors to rum date back to antiquity. Development of fermented drinks produced from sugarcane juice is believed to have first occurred either in ancient India or China, and spread from there. An example of such an early drink is brum. Produced by the Malay people, brum dates back thousands of years. Marco Polo also recorded a 14th-century account of a "very good wine of sugar" that was offered to him in what is modern-day Iran. -- After rum's development in the Caribbean, the drink's popularity spread to Colonial America. To support the demand for the drink, the first rum distillery in the colonies was set up in 1664 on current day Staten Island. Boston had a distillery three years later. The manufacture of rum became early Colonial New England's largest and most prosperous industry. The rum produced there was quite popular, and was even considered the best in the world during much of the 18th century. Estimates of rum consumption in the American colonies before the American Revolutionary War had every man, woman, or child drinking an average of 3 Imperial gallons (13.5 liters) of rum each year. The popularity of rum continued after the Revolution with George Washington insisting on a barrel of Barbados rum at his 1789 inauguration. (I KNEW there was a reason I liked this guy!-actually one of many..) (To interject some info here... a lot of the Pirates on Long Island where I live, were involved in some Rum Running..more on this history to come on my website which is in process at www.theredcat.net) now back to our regular broadcast.... Eventually the restrictions on rum from the British islands of the Caribbean combined with the development of American whiskey led to a decline in the drink's popularity in the US. Until the middle of the 19th century most rums were heavy, single-distilled spirits, considered less elegant than the refined double-distilled spirits of Europe. In order to expand the market for rum, the Spanish Royal Development Board offered a prize to anyone who could improve the rum making process. This resulted in many refinements in the process which greatly improved the quality of rum. AAAAND before you discount Bacardi..One of the most important figures in this development process (above) was Don Facundo Bacardi Masso, who moved from Spain to Santiago de Cuba in 1843. Don Facundo's experiments with distillation techniques, charcoal filtering, cultivating of specialized yeast strains, and aging with American oak casks helped to produce a smoother and mellower drink typical of modern rums. It was with this new rum that Don Facundo founded Bacardi y Compañia in 1862, and the great rums of the 19th and early 20th centuries date from this time. -------------------- Now for those of ye with deeeep pockets I have found a place a while ago which specializes in rare liquors for purchase I don't share me plunder wit just anybody! A remarkable cache of rare Fine Old Jamaica Rum circa 1870-1890 Also has anyone found the following Aussie rum Bundaberg Rum Black Label - discontinued, extremely rare, 40.0% alcohol, 80 proof Drink responsibly, watch yer drink so no one steals it!

I heartily agree! BlackJohn is as well an excellent choice. He is a man straight out of history! and one of my favorite people here. That thought crossed my mind last night and I must admit I felt a bit guilty for not mentioning him. Categories would make a lot of sense as you said. Many contribute on different levels. Perhaps even regionally.

THANKS! The more the merrier. I like to see the whole picture" and to really get yourself immersed, you need to see life from an authentic point of view. Which includes all aspects of everyday life. I think the more you understand about what ones life was like, the more you would be able to think from their point of view. I'm sure this isn't news to most of you. I see experience, even if it's just in thought (ah daydreaming on the way to work again) as sort of a unique window on history. Strangely it's like getting down on the floor to understamd what the house is like from a dog's point of view - something I did as a kid and it always stuck with me as bizarre as that may sound...it was a lesson in mental perspective,

Kass, I agree with you about not adding "non period items" as I stated "dress like you live the actual life with those things that would be available to you " This gives I think an opportunity to immerse yourself in the "providing for yourself" part of things and perhaps better understand, or if you're real lucky discover a deeper understanding of what it may really have been like. I wasn't talking a hook, or big boots etc. Yes, I like the boots - but I wasn't talking about em here. I like the shoes too! I was more agreeing with the "Don't anchor yourself to what isn't necesarily fact" opinion about drawings. Actual artifacts and written info are one thing. An artist's illustration may not always be true unless it is backed up somewhere. However, your educated input is always appreciated. You go to a great deal of effort and that's admirable. But ye don't need me ta tell ye that

William, I am hungry.. have you any muffins and coffee?

Why can't you search for Rum? Because it's always gone come on now...you KNEW that was coming..lol

Well start yerself off with a tune... She's fuddled my fancy, she's muddled me good I've taken to drinking, and given up food I'm buying an island, somewhere in the sun I'll hide from the natives, live only on rum I'm selling my memoirs, I'm writing it down If no one will pay me I'll burn down the town I'm buying a ticket for places unknown It's only a one-way: I'm not coming home She's swallowed my secret, and taken my name To follow my footsteps and knobble me lame Then stop by Bilgemunky's rum page. It's fabulous! His reviews alone are worth savoring over a tankard "Jamaica Plantation Rum is good, but not in a benevolent way. It will kick you in the face and call you sally with such an intensity of brilliantly rummy flavors that will suck you in and tear you to shreds. Respect it, enjoy it, fear it. " - Bilgemunky.com I like Pyrat, Bacardi, Capt Morgan and I've tried Pussers but I think ye'll find tasting is the only route. Ok now there's a book called "And A bottle of Rum" A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 10 COCKTAILS {“And a Bottle of Rum is a fascinating tale of cultural metamorphosis, tracing rum’s remarkable journey from colonial rotgut to SoHo cocktail.} Like a great barroom raconteur, the author of this engaging treatise regales his audience with piquant opinions, colorful trivia, lush rhetorical turns ("the first taste washes over me and brings to mind the scene in Wizard of Oz in which the black-and-white world suddenly bursts into color") and an exalted, occasionally inflated, sense of liquor's place in the greater scheme of things. A travel writer and contributing editor to Preservation, Curtis follows rum's checkered 400-year career through various incarnations, from the cheap, caustic "kill-devil" that fortified 17th-century pirates (Blackbeard was said to enjoy a glass of flaming rum mixed with gunpowder) to today's mojitos, made from palatable, if bland, mass market rums. His profiles of rum-based cocktails (with an all-important appendix of recipes) serve as starting points for excursions on such topics as slavery in the West Indies, the temperance movement, Ernest Hemingway's epic daiquiri binges and the rise and fall of the tiki bar. Curtis's grander pronouncements ("Rum embodies America's laissez-faire attitude: It is whatever it wants to be")are true only in the groggiest sense, but readers who come along on this charming barhop through cultural history will toast them nonetheless. I'm sure this is the first of what will be many, many well educated responses *hic* I for one look forward to reading them. Huzzah for a great topic!

AYE

Bein calmed by the pirates warm hug, Red Cat shakes her sobering head and unpeels herself from poor Jacky with a sheepish grin.... "Aye Jacky me Cat nap was grande and er...thankee, sorry 'bout accosting ye there, I could've sworn I was just up inna pub an Ray an Siren were thar" Looks about seein all her mates an countin em one by each. Ransom be stirrin, Chloe 's sizin up th cage n Eyes is fishin in his pockets fer summin..

Waalcome t' th pub where ye'll find many friendly faces. Tradition begs ye buy a drink here at th pub for all it's welcomin members.. I'll have a rum if ye please

1) I agree the English Admiral looks like he could turn Pirate without a problem, he seems to be saying "and THAT was just for breakfast!"-------------- 2)I am inclined to agree with Aurore. I think as long as the items are period or (older - within reason - who doesn't have a 5 year old item in their closet?) one could assume any combination of clothing would be possible. It could come from sailors on ships from all reaches of the world if those ships were taken, or from any ports sacked and any thing traded or gotten along the way. I would think since many fell on hard times, they would grab whatever they could to cover themselves. From the other point of view, there would have to be some aspects of dress that could be assumed if the person were not a novice to sailing. One would assume from experience and example there would be certain items of clothing desirable or advantageous to life at sea. So this could lead you to guess at certain basic articles. Also, if these women wanted to blend, you could speculate that they would have done their best to dress as similarly to their peers as possible. Anything outlandish or at least very different might stand out to disadvantage. That said, being the individuals that they were, and obiously not afraid, this might not apply. I figure "think like a pirate/privateer - dress like you live the actual life with those things that would be available to you if this were true. If you feel authentic, you look more authentic. But that is just my most humble opine.

Is there one for the poor lad getting hit on the noggin with a chair? LOL Seriously, there were a few questions in "TWILL" we had been discussing on various medical issues...perhaps when you come across any info pertaining to them you would be good enough to post an update?

ZZZZzzz *pop!* "gasp!" RedCat awakes again, but now back on the lower deck of the mysterious ship ... "WOT!?" she could've SWORN she was just droolin on th bar upsatirs sount asleep.... still not fully awake she leaps up n attaches erself ta a surprised Jacky Tar almost knockin th poor bloke over onta th others. "Jacky lad..." she says in naught but a rum soaked whisper...tiny jingles comin from inside her coat as she be tremblin a bit.. "W...whar we be?.....reeealy?"

Yes I was wondering.. the poor amputee looks none more than annoyed, and is apparently wearing some sort of surgical cap? Why would no one ele have one. I don't think they had these then? Gracious, looks painful!

A happy arrangement. Glad she trust ye with her knives..lol

Ray nice ta hear yer so enthusiastic about gettin th pub ready fer New Years! I believe we celebratin on the (Pirate Hunter's smarter brother ) thread in this section?