CaptCat

Hm... a local event.... Thanks, Paisley!

I have not yet seen the new Pan, but have heard it's great and look forward to it. I read some terrible film reviews in London over Christmas, but I think they were written by people who don't know the book. They complained, for example, that Tink was "bitchy." I was thinking, "And you expected?" They also complained that Pan was "a little creepy." I think anyone who never thought that before can't possibly have read the book. They also thought it was "weird" that the same actor was playing both Mr. Darling and Hook! Excuse me? Hasn't that been a stage tradition from the very beginning? (With both practical and interesting psychological motivations, I might add.) Idiots...

I'd like to throw in another endorsement for Sabatini's Captain Blood. Fun pirate fiction, that. I also liked Treasure Island, of course. Some fellows have written "prequels" and "sequels" to Treasure Island, but I haven't read any. They include Porto Bello Gold: a Prequel to Treasure Island by Arthur Howden Smith, Dead Man's Chest : The Sequel to Treasure Island by Roger L. Johnson, The Curse of Treasure Island (sequel) by Francis Bryan, Return to Treasure Island (very "loosely" a sequel) by Jack Trammell, Return to Treasure Island by Denis Judd, Return to Treasure Island by John Goldsmith, and perhaps many more. There's also some which may or may not be related to RLS' book, like Back to Treasure Island by Harold A. Calanan--I don't have enough info about some of these. Weirder options include "Treasure Island": According to Spike Milligan, which, according to Amazon, includes all the familiar characters plus Groucho Marx! I'm interested in hearing about good pirate fiction too, if people have more suggestions.

I must say I'm not absolutely wild about Cordingly's Under the Black Flag, which I have read. Too dry. I personally find the older stories much more interesting-- like A General History of the Pyrates by Capt. Charles Johnson and The Buccaneers of America by Alexander O. Exquemelin. Less academic, more adventure!

I once considered shopping at Captain Rick's (horror of horrors!) before discovering 826 Valencia. That would have been a grave mistake. Captain Rick's firewood, for example, is like some kind of material that won't burn in a fire. The firewood from 826 Valencia, by contrast, actually burns. Don't even consider going to Captain Rick's; go directly to 826 Valencia. (BTW--You should also be aware that Captain Rick's fish will not calm your soul!)

I like the idea of Jim Caviezal & Oded!

I've been polishing my cutlass' blade with furniture wax (following the directions on the container). Real furniture wax, mind you, not wax-alternatives (nor car wax). This was recommended to me by the folks who made it. Also, I don't keep it in the scabbard unless I'm wearing it.

"Black cats are considered good luck and will bring a sailor home from the sea." This one's easy for my crew!

My avatar is the "Calico Cat," my own flag design. (Thanks for the compliment, Mad Maudlin McCrumb! Mine's not scientifically accurate, but it works for me! ) Please don't confuse my flag's name with my own name, which is "Black Cat." You may see a larger version of the Calico Cat on the Matriarch's official website.

I've also been reading some of Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd by Richard Zacks. Non-piratey books this summer include re-reading Tolkien's Return of the King, skipping about in Tolkien: a Celebration edited by Joseph Pearce, The Wheel of Great Compassion by Lorne Ladner, Buddhism for Beginners by Thubten Chodron, various short stories by Flannery O'Connor, Christian Meditation by Hans Urs Von Balthasar and Living the Jesus Prayer by Irma Zaleski, passages of Betty Friedan's Feminine Mystique and The Second Stage, essays from Pro-Life Feminism: Different Voices edited by Gail Grenier-Sweet, excerpts from the Green Party 2000 platform, and of course my favorite magazines: No Quarter Given and The American Feminist.

Well, my friends, count yourselves very lucky... Neither Disney Stores (e.g. in malls), nor Walt Disney World Merchandise, nor even DisneyLand Direct have any POTC movie merchandise (t-shirts, toys, replica coins, etc.) available (except a few pricy print-on-demand pictures at the last merchant). I called allof them, and all the operators expressed profound regrets. So if anyone finds a place where I can get POTC movie merchandise (other than posters), please let me know.

Yes, but where do we get them?

Pirate Molly wrote: "not only did all the medallions have to be returned, but everyone who was there when the cursed treasure was first disturbed, must be present when the curse was lifted. Since Bootstrap no longer existed, they needed a representative from his bloodline." Molly's right. They needed to return every piece of gold and spill some blood from each crewmember (as some kind of expiation or penance) to lift the curse. My gunner and I were disturbed by this, because the rest of the crew, as long as the curse lasted, were "undead" and not killable. Does that mean that Bootstrap (to whom the curse clearly applied) was chained to a cannon at the bottom of the sea alive (or at least undead) for all these years? LOVED the movie. Want to see more.

Is there going to be any official POTC movie merchandise? I don't mean props from the actual film, I mean t-shirts, action figures, replica gold coins, and other such stuff. Anyone heard anything?

Here's stuff I found for South Carolina: There's some pirate-based stuff in Charleston, SC (where Stede Bonnet hanged), like Charleston's Pirates & Buccaneers: The War Against the Pirates, but I haven't tried it, so I can't give you a positive or negative review. Tours of Charleston (phone 800-854-1670) apparently competes with its "Pirates of Charleston" walking tour. In nearby Mount Pleasant, SC, you might try the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. Though probably a bit too far south, there's a "Pirate's Walk" in Savannah, Georgia. There ought to be somthing in Georgetown's historic district, much closer to Myrtle Beach, but there may be nothing. For Myrtle Beach I found: "Pirates of the Carolinas" located at Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach, SC; phone (843) 918-8737. This is described: "Another new attraction, Pirates of the Carolinas promises fun, adventure, and mystery. There's an interactive dark ride featuring pirates, sea dogs, and a chance to win prizes. Right next door is a restaurant opened for lunch and dinner that serves up a smorgasbord of Good ole' American food. Located in the Carribean Village, this is something the whole family can enjoy. " The actual Myrtle Beach post, from a while back, included a link for the "War Against the Pirates" thing in Charleston.

Stynky Tudor-- Sounds great. If you want to arrange something, just send me a note.

The Flogging Molly logo with skull and crossed swords looks exactly like the drawing on the back of NQG's Pyrate Prymer. I mean EXACTLY. Check it out here and here. Have you seen this, Jamaica Rose?

No, it applied, so you were speaking truly for me. No worries :)

Hey, I live in Virginia! I wouldn't mind getting involved with other pirates to see what they're up to and collaborate a bit. And I have to tell ya, the Matriarch crew is actually spread out around the country, and the levels of crew participation in pirate events varies substantially (my Quartermaster's in a convent--she doesn't get out much!). I wouldn't mind getting involved with other crews for extra-Matriarch work.

My chief gunner is planning to get a pair of the Mary Jane shoes with skull buckles. We love period stuff, but we also like to collect everyday piratey gear as well! I put my "kiss me I'm a pirate" patch on a black BDU jacket I like to wear around. The ID name tapes on the jacket say "Black Cat" and "Matriarch"

True enough!

Cascabel-- you were awesome. I was very happy to see ya'll there. As far as I was concerned, you guys made the event--no exaggeration.

I coulda done with more trinket shops (esp. pirate themed!), food, and drink as well. To make matters worse, many local shops were closed. The Tortuga Mutineers, as you say, were very accessible amiable. We enjoyed their demonstrations, and my chief gunner enjoyed being hit on!

I took my chief gunner to the Hampton event this year. We enjoyed it, but it seemed poorly organized. Some of the scheduled events either did not happen at all or, perhaps, happened in a different time or place than listed in the program. Was anyone else there?

Jamaica Rose-- I would apologize for suggesting we steal your button ideas, but hey, we're all pirates here! I have to say I don't favor the "my wife" sticker... make one that works for the women as well as the men!