Capn Bob

In my Reale Lyfe situation, I am a guardian and preserver of knowledge, wisdom, and learning. All of which simply means...I'm a librarian. And you know what they say about librarians...we are underpaid, oversexed, and stacked. Altho being of the masculine persuasion, we can rule out the "stacked" bit in my case. We can also rule out the "Guardian of Wisdom" when it comes to stocking Danielle Steel and such like titles. But thats what I do.

As I am now back from Walt Disney World (and back at work in the Land of Ice and Snow...blech), I shall relate unto ye me Xmas goodies, Pyratically oriented. First off, and it seems to be a popular choice, I got a copy of the Crichton "Pirate Latitudes". Also, got me copies of "Blackbeard And The Queen Anne's Revenge", by Jean Day, and "Pirate Round: Early Eighteenth Century Maritime Navigation During the Golden Age of Piracy", by Richard Rutherford-Moore. But what is most meaningful to me was a book I laid hands on a couple days after Xmas. As mentioned above, I was at Disney World last week, including, of course, Pirates of the Caribbean. For those that don't know, there's a "pirate market" (as I like to call it) next to the ride. Usual stuff...t-shirts (I got a couple new ones), tricorns (cheap types...the straw hat I wore is much better), action figures, shot glasses, etc...and books. I thought their selection of books was sharply reduced this year, but looking over the selection, what did I find but..."General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates", Lyons Press 2002, intro by David Cordingly. Not what I expected to find...they didn't have it last year... And personally, I think Capn Charles Johnson was not Desperate Dan Defoe at all, but none other than Henry Avery. Thats what *I* think, and ye may lay to that!

Nothin' right now, but I'll be eating at Azteca when I get off work...Mexican place close by me palatial residence. Can't say yet what I'll be gettin', tho. But if ye be curious, I just found out...they got a website! So here it be... http://aztecaohio.com/

Okay, reckon I should be adding me two shillings... For me, its the British (original) Time Team...in fact, I'm downloading as much as I can from the internet, cuz its a real pain to lay hands on dvds, and they'd be coded for Brit-land, anyway... 'Allo 'Allo...British WW2 comedy whut takes place in Fro...errr...France (occupied). Easy enough to get the dvds for this series, and I've got a couple requested for Xmas... Whose Line Is It Anyway...again, I'm downloading this from the i-net...the US version, that is. And looking way back into the past? Wild Wild West, the Prisoner, Wonderful World of Disney (in Color), and...Dark Shadows. Ah, Angelique...why Barnabas chose Josette when he could ha' lain soft o' nights wi' Angelique, I just don't understand...

In the spirit of the season, as we rapidly approach Hogswatchnight, I've begun that holiday classic, Hogfather.

Aye, it be no fun at all here in Northeast Ohio in the winter, ye may lay to that. I got me a copy of "Latitude Hooks and Azimuth Rings", and I'm planning on tackling some of those projects during the long, cold winter months.

I got me copy...but I'm a-savin' of it...for a certain excursion to parts southern and semi-tropical at the end of Dec. Aye, and Sutler John be knowin' whereof I speak... But for them as don't, I'll be takin' me annual tour bus (Anderson Coach and Travel, Greenville PA, if I may dare to plug) trip doon to the Mouse Empire, aka Walt Disney World. And I'll be takin' the mag with me, to give me something to read.

Currently reading several titles concurrently...I just hope I don't get them all confused, belike... In pursuit of my planned winter activity, I've got a library copy of "Navigation in the Age of Discovery: An Introduction", by Duane Cline. (am thinking of buying it thru Celestaire, and wanted to see if it is worth it...) In pursuit of my planned end of Dec vacation, "The Complete Walt Disney World 2009" After five previous trips to the Mouse Empire, I hardly need it, but it's got very nice photos. Reading as well "We Are Doomed: Reclaiming Conservative Pessimism", cuz I'm bloody tired, so I am, of people, organizations and institutions telling me what I am supposed to "feel" And reading Terry Pratchett's "Soul Music"...just because. I *would* be reading Fraser's classic "The Pyrates"...but I can't seem to find my copy!

The above is all very good advise, I'm sure, but what ye really need to do is remove the mast, mount a ram, find yeself some galley slaves, then back out onto the lake and terrorize the local fishermen...

A-HA! So now we know who to blame, mateys! Scupper his hide!

Aye now, Broadside, I'll be addin' me own well wishes for yer health...and if ye ever need a bit of pirating advice, why, ye just up and ask one of us. We bein' all honest pirates, we'd *never* lead ye astray. Trust us!

This here be Mad Capn Bob, bloody well boozin' again. Bein' a pirate can be thirsty work, d'ye see, wi' all that plunderin', pillagin', lootin', and a-swashin' o' buckles. And that belayin' pin is a genuine Sutler John Belayin' Pin...why, the gore just washes off neat and clean. Sorry about the glasses...can't do much about that. My prescription is pretty heavy duty, and the notion of deliberately putting something into me eyes (contacts) makes me cringe. Maybe when I get a sizable deal more money togehter, I might see if its even possible to get lenses of my strength inserted into period frames.

Just had me a little thought here. What if it's only "civilization" that comes to an end...as the utterly boring Y2K was supposed to do? Me, I'm a pyrate and a flintknapper both, so I'm not worried. In fact, we should agree on a meeting place where we can gather should that eventuality occur, where we can lay our plans to take over the world! Or at least the sea lanes. ("Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?") ("I think so, Brain...but burlap is *so* chafing!")

That "Empire of Blue Water" is a good read, Joe...I've read my copy through several times...very often while eating bbq chicken wings. Having finished "Compass", I've once again taken up into me hands Jon Latimer's "Buccaneers of the Caribbean: How Piracy Forged an Empire" Our good friend (Sir) Henry Morgan features it as he does in "Empire".

I ain't worried...I've been thru more world ending events than I've had hot meals (we all remember the horrors of Y2K, right?) I recently read a Nostradamus prediction book by Rene Noorbergen, and got many good laughs from it. I'm still waiting for that asteroid to smack into us, as was predicted in the aforesaid book...which was published in the early 1980's, and the heavenly body was due to bang into us and start World War 3 off...back in 1985. It amazes me how the "researchers" find relevant "predictions" only after a given event has taken place. Aren't predictions meant to...predict? What would you call ex post facto predictions, anyway? As for music...well...why not Journey of the Sorcerer, by the Eagles? Doug Adams used that for Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, which started off with the end of the world.

Just started reading me all new, *just* got in today copy of "The Lo-Tech Navigator", by Tony Crowley. Also reading "Compass : a story of exploration and innovation" by Alan Gurney. Come the dread, dark, dreary and baleful winter, I might try making up some of the items in the Lo Tech Navigator. I also have "Latitude hooks and azimuth rings" on order and should be getting it sometime soon.

I remember one Halloween when we were stationed in Germany, and since my sister was doing teaching in Hawaii, my mother thought it a nifty idea to dress me as...o, the humiliation...a hula girl. Me *own* mivver, look'ee, making me cross-dress! And at the innocent age of 10 (I think...it's been so long ago...) And to make matters worse, she doesn't even remember doing it! No, I don't have photos. I know the way you lot think, and ye can't be blackmailin' me over wi' out photos.

Huzzah for ol' Nate Bacon (bit of a hothead, he), and fie and boos upon the eyvil Gov. Berkeley! (this here pyrate was born in Virginia...)

I'm bookmarking this page for future consideration...I just might be interested. Would make a decent Xmas present to meself, yes? But geez...those blasted merchants complain at the least little thing!

I been a busy lill pyrate here...302 posts (including this one), which makes me now a "Plunderer"! Aye, if only that were really true, I'd be livin' in a place a bit more tropical than Northeast Ohio now...

*Very* old fashioned... Pay heed to this link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/food/20091013_Penn_archaeologist_recreates_ancient_brews.html "Penn archaeologist recreates ancient brews"

Tonight? Not nuffin! Couple days ago, tho, I made up some Panama Pork Stew in the slow cooker...its got a mild bite to it... And this morning I made up some brownies...no, there's no giggle-weed in it. Not even catnip.

There's times when one's hunger can be relieved by nothing other than a plate full of bbqed chicken wings and a tall glass of Dr Pepper.