Blackeye Susan

Haven't posted recently, but I'm just starting to learn how to knit and crochet and I'm looking for a pattern for a pirate flag, either skull and crossbones or the Jack Rackham. Anyone know where I could find one? It's kind of a joke novelty prop for my crew.

* *

blackeye susan

I worked at NYRF for 7 years as an actor and musician...miss it terribly and plan to make a glorious return some day. If you haven't been in a few years I highly recommend a visit...new blood, new director, and new standards for buidings that make them look less like lean tos and plywood cutouts. They're still working on it, but it gets better every year. I'm gonna go and have a good nostalgic cry now.

-blackeye susan

Ah movies can be tricky things. Never be offended if someone thinks a movie you liked was crap. I remember when the Avengers came out I thought it was marvelously entertaining...told a bunch of my friends about it right before this older friend showed up and panned it like a stir-fry. I was feelin' all insulted for about 5 minutes until I realized that the bits she didn't like were t he bits I really liked so screw her.

Then there was the girl I once heard proclaim that "...the best movie of 1995 was Clueless." Same year as Braveheart came out. We all have our different tastes and opinions an' were going to subject others to them whethere they want to be or not.

* *

blackeye susan

An this be a problem? Wake me when we get to the gallon!

* *

blackeye susan

Update on my instruments. Never did start on concertina or hurdy gurdy, but I have started mandolin. FUN! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to pick up a string instrument. Plus it has a nice little classical repetoire if I ever want to play it in early music ensembles (even Beethoven wrote for it!)

So now it's trumpet, cornetto, recorder, madolin (getting there) piano (used to almost be there) bodhran (not really there) and a whole slew of band and orchestra instruments (there if 'there' means should be registered as a deadly weapon). I don't think I'll be adding anymore to the list for a while. I'd rather get good on what I've got.

* *

blackeye susan

I do this a lot, but I thought I should do it again. It's time to plug the best celtic rock band you might have never heard of if you didn't read this post.

Curious? Just go to Kilbrannan.com and click on the multimedia link. There you can enjoy Kilbrannan radio which plays their CDs continually for free! If you like their music, buy their CDs. These are musicians that could actually use the money. I'm sure we all know a few of those. Anyway, go and enjoy songs of love, war, drinking and the sea!

* *

blackeye susan

Are these songs and poems traditional. What I mean to say is are they public domain or do they belong to someone else? If the authors of the book wrote them then I might be interested in a vague way. If these are collected traditional sea farin' words, then post as many as you want. I'm always looking for lyrics to write music to. I'm lazy and don't always like to come up with my own lyrics.

-blackeye susan

I'm temporarily in NW Ohio getting my masters. I visited the OH faire last summer and might go again this year, but Michigan is actually closer at this point.

* *

blackeye susan

I could do without the creature comforts. In 25 years of living I've spent 1 with an air conditioner that kind of worked. I have a TV, but not television and I could eaily do without that (wouldn't be time to watch anyway). I'm not troubled by rodents or insects. I don't mind being smelly and could adjust to the lack of bathing. However I'm a tiny person and would have had a hard time with any work that required bulk. I don't fight and I can't stand to see others in any kind of pain (physical or otherwise). Also, though I could probably pull off disguising myself as a man (I've acted plenty of masculine parts in my time) I would not deal well if I were ever discovered for I do not take kindly to unwanted advances and I doubt I could hold off an entire crew of horny pirates.

I think I could survive in the 18th century, even knowing what I know now (though probably not on a pirate ship). There's no chance in hell that I would ever want to, mind you. I'm a pirate in mind, not in body.

* *

blackeye susan

Here's the best source if yer lookin' fer something specific. http://www.mudcat.org/

If yer be wantin' soggestions I could go on all day. Here be a few...

The mermaid

The Caviar song

10,000 miles away

A Sailor's Prayer

High Barbary

Drunken Sailor

Old Maui

Spanish Ladies

The Golden Vanity

Whiskey in the Jar (just fer good measure)

Barley Mow

If these aren't to yer likin' and yeh be wantin' more, just let me know.

**

blackeye susan

It all depends on the pirate says I. Some pirates look best with long, others with short. If yer not sure which yer are, ask a nearby lass whose judgement ye be trustin'.

-blackeye susan

In case yeh missed it in the edited version of me earlier post, that site was ...

http://www.pendragoncostumes.com/Merchant2...ry_Code=bodices

Pendragon costumes are a beautiful thing. I drooled over the coat they've got with the Grace O'Malley outfit for a long time before I found a great $10 substitute at the Goodwill.

* *

blackeye susan

Been there meself. Ulster County is not too far from where I grew up. Almost ended up signing on to some theatrical medieval feast deal they were plannin' in that buildin' but me red flag was blowin' about quite a bit, so I passed. Nice lookin' clothes but out of my price range and I've been told to check the seam strength on them. Most of them I hear are quite fine, but sometimes they be a bit weak.

* *

blackeye susan

Here's another site. Not completely piratey and much too expensive for me plunderin' rate but definitely worth droolin' over. Click on a drawing that interests yeh and pass the mouse over the drawing to see the actual bodice. Gorgeous work.

* *

blackeye susan

Oopps...sorry here's the link which I forgot to post but am posting now...

http://www.pendragoncostumes.com/Merchant2...ry_Code=bodices

Does the song have to end happily? There's always Willie Taylor...about a woman who dresses up like a sailor to find her true love who was pressed to sea. She discoveres that he took up with some other woman and shoots them both early in the morning.

There's also "If I were a Blackbird," and "10,000 Miles Away." I could probably think of a few others about love at sea, but that would take thinking.

* *

blackeye susan

If it was only in Ohio. I miss improving and performing and letting a few of my multiple personalities out. The closest renfaires wouldn't pay me enough to fill my gastank to get there and being a poor student with no boat and no pistol (read as: very few employment oppertunities) I'll be spending even more time not lettling the insanity out. Sigh.

-Blackeye Susan

There's something odd about a nearly two-foot-tall staring doll that makes noises when you walk by it ...

Or maybe that's just me. ;-)

Ah but worth its weight in gold when you set it upon an unsuspectin' three year old! Does it wave a sword?

-blackeye susan

I don't know any silly pirate songs...none at all.

blackeye susan

My good old fiddle! Well, I be sellin' a friend. Havn't been using it the last year and am planning to sell it to a good home. If'n I don't get a bite here, it'll be ebay next. It's a Lewis & Sons, David Model 168. It was made in 1995. There are a few small cosmetic scratches. Otherwise it's in great condition. This is a good model for a serious student. It comes with a fiberglass bow and one of them fancy featherweight type cases. I'm selling it cheaper than music stores would sell it for. If you're interested, please email me at cornettokid@excite.com and I'll give you more info.

-Blackeye Susan

I'll go with burgundy or green. They've always been my favorite colors anyway. Quite striking.

-Blackeye Susan

Have you tried mudcatcafe.org yet? I'd look for you, but they seem to be down at the moment. They have more songs than I can count and midis for a lot of them. That's where I'd suggest you start.

-Blackeye Susan

As always I have to plug Kilbrannan:

www.kilbrannan.com

Kirk's solo CD, Eye of the Storm, is available on their website and is sea themed. A lot of traditional tunes and a couple of great originals. Seriously...check them out.

* *

blackeye susan

I play the recorder meself though on that particular instrument I tends to play by ear as oft as I play by score. Drunken Sailor is an easy one to learn and it can go on for ages. If there are any songs ye'd like to learn, I can send you the note names or fingerings if'n ye already know the tune. Otherwise, play around with the thing an' you'll start to get the idea.

-blackeye susan

What be this philosophy ye speak of. T'the deep with it. I'm gonna go take a nap. Then I'm fer drinkin' and thievin'.

-blackeye susan

This is a topic to my liking. Started my musical life on the trumpet when I was short and annoying. Got my undergrad degree in music education so I also play trombone, tuba, violin, flute, oboe, cello, bass, snare drum, marimba, kettle drums, and piano...all very badly. I don't think I remember most of them anymore. Now I'm working on a history degree so I play recorder and cornett(a 16th century trumpet/recorder hybrid). I'd like to relearn the violin, and learn sacbutt(no really...it's an instrument) and concertina...and hurdy gurdy...this is why I play everything badly, I can't choose just one!

* *

blackeye susan