^, <, V

[The Chapman]

^ I drive, and get paid by the hour not the mile, and am almost never in the shop, so the answer is a lot. Personal errands, reading the paper, taking pictures, pretty much anything I can get away with without arousing too much suspicion I'm wasting time.

> Today I checked out the harbor in downtown Kenosha, WI, because one of my deliveries was within, oh, five miles.

V Passing along, please, it's a fun question.

[Silkie McDonough]

^ not much, some internet/pub time if there is time.

< Slowly recovering from Strep throat ...lord I can't wait to eat solid food!

V What can YOU get away with at work ...it's a good question.

[Cheeky Actress]

^ I have the ability to search and 'surf' the net when the 'boss-lady' ain't around. I can manage my accounts, shop, write letters, find information about Pyrates and historical clothing. The computer at work is 10x faster than the one I have at home. I am pretty much an independent worker, though I wish I had private cube like everyone else. Though, little does the 'boss-lady' know I keep tabs on her and her doings (letting out methodical laugh accompanied by intense suspicious music) - Okay people...that's part of my job, too...don't get any wrong ideas here!

< Sorry to hear about your strep throat, Silkie. Hope that you're on the road to recovery. Don't you just love those 'horse pills' they give you? Or did they give you something else?

V Again....passing along the question, "What can YOU get away with at work".

[Hetha]

^ Not much, very little. My work is pretty involving, an' there's never a "not busy" moment. I can get away with a few jokes to lighten the mood, but that's pretty much it. It's a very demanding job. Everyone "needs" something, an' scramble to get t' me, t' get whatever they "need," "gimme,"

"I want", and "where's my..?" I call it the "four-headed hydra"

< I hope Silkie is feeling better. Sorry t' hear ye've been so ill.

V Changing question slightly..Wot can you NOT get away with at work?

[Capt. Sterling]

^ I work with children, not much I can get away with, not that I would want to..

< Explain the law to a fifth grader and boy will they run with it!

V What do you love most about your job?

[Silkie McDonough]

^ that my supervisors trust me to do my job and do it better than most in the office. That there is less management around because I work overnights. That the pay isn't bad for what I do but now that i am tireing of the job it won't be hard to replace! I also like the fact that each call is a new chance to make someone smile.

< I am touched by all the kind thoughts from my pub mates.

Yes Lilly, I have the horse pills. in fact it was so bad I take 2 of those blasted things twice a day.

V What is your next Pirate event, when is it, and are you ready for it?

[Capt. Sterling]

^ Port Washington, too soon and no, but then I never am....

< Do feel better soon, Silkie (yes the Captain is a clod when it comes to social graces)

V your worst habit?

[Salty]

^ procrastination

< did someone say hands in dirt?

V do you have a hobby, besides pyracy?

[CrazyCholeBlack]

^ sewing, but that dovetails with the reenacting/pirate thing pretty well.

< I learned to sew as a kid, but it never *clicked* until 3 years ago. It was like a light bulb, just one day it all made sense when a day before it didn't. I had the same experience with math in school, and later went on to teach it.

V what was your biggest "light bulb" learning experience?

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ Probably coming here...blends the creativity and the craziness with a lot of people who would actually "get it" has been great so far.

< Never knew you all existed..glad ye do!

V Pass the Q

[Jacky Tar]

^ How different everyone can see the same event, even when we're all seein' it t'gether.

< I was at the Ojai spring event t'day, and enjoy it a lot. I enjoyed workin' the gate and invadin' peoples' personal space (that is always eye openin').

V Can ye deal wit' folks invadin' yer personal space (in jest or in real life)?

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ Sigh I am assuming you refer to security...no I don't like it but we have to get used to it.

< or maybe I missed yer point..

V How much o yer personal space will ye allowed t be invaded?

[Hester]

^ None. I'd probably be happier with an arm's length force-field bubble around me -- at least in crowds of strangers.

< That said, I do at least try to keep the neuroses under control, and push past my comfort zones occasionally.

V What are some of your neuroses?

[Jacky Tar]

^ I'm willin' t' share space wit' some pirates.

^ Neuroses? Aye, I like new red roses. I find in pirate garb, I have few.

< At the gate I jumped in front of unsuspectin' mundanes an asked 'em if they had a good time an would come again. People never quite know wot t' do when a total stranger starts talkin' t' em or standin' 'tween them an the exit.

V So, do ye talk t' strangers or keep on walkin'?

[Hester]

^ Had a long "chat" with a rather odd fellow at English Country Dancing yesterday. He was wearing plaid trews AND a kilt (of a different tartan), a headscarf with a button that said "Kiss me I'm Irish" on it ... and jester bells somewhere on his kit. I think he was off his meds, because when I say "chat", it was more of a continuous frenetic monologue on his part. I did try to be polite and tolerant and open-minded, but eventually just got overwhelmed and excused myself to go to the washroom. I didn't want to be rude or hurt his feelings ... but I just couldn't cope.

< Dance class today, but it'll just be the Jane Austen tea party set.

V Mother's Day today -- are you ready?

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ Aye..takin MUM t' lunch already bought her some Spring flowers o her choosin for the garden

< Braver in garb eh? Try that in NY. People get really wierd when you talk to us..we don't talk much here..

V Where would ye sail to right this moment?

[Hester]

^Oh, the Caribbean! Through the Great Lakes, up the St. Lawrence, then down that eastern seaboard and off to open sea.

< Pestering the angelic Mr. H. to buy us a sailboat. Ocean cruising size prefered, dinghy with a dagger-board acceptable.

V Passing the Q back to ya...

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ The Caribbean for sure..

< Just how angelic is Mr. H? Aww

V Who is the craziest person you know (have known)

[The Chapman]

^ A guy I'll call B.

>When I managed SSI apartments I went to one of the buildings to find B, one of my tenants, chopping up the parking lot with an axe, prying chunks out with a giant bowie knife, and placing them in a shopping cart. When I asked him what he was doing he replied, "I'm digging for gold, my spacemen friends told me to, and it's going to fix all my problems".

I went inside and called his caseworker, who panicked, screamed at me not to go near him, and called the police. They sauntered up about two hours later, by which time B was long gone. I never saw B again. That's not really the craziest, but... some of the others nobody really needs to hear about.

V Who is the most talented person you've ever been friends with?

[Morgan Dreadlocke]

/\ Could not say. I believes 99% of the human race would be considered talented in some way, iffins they had the gumption and oppertunity to find out how. Too many be tryin ta mearly survive an far too many are just slackers not givin a ratzazz.

< Not at all happy wi' the lack 'o piraty shenanagans in Tucson. Need ta start a folky pirate band or organize raids or SOMETHIN!

\/ Ever organize a raid? How'd it go?

[William Brand]

^ Yes and it went well.

< I'm having a very good day today. Just an honest to goodness, blue skies day.

V How many times have you mowed the lawn this year so far?

[Alder]

^ Twice, maybe three times. Drought here is slowing the turf down significantly.

< The smoke from northern fires has cleared and I am enjoying the great outdoors.

V How did you honor your mother this day or that of your children?

[Hetha]

^ sent my mom a card, a mother's day pillow,(scented) and a picture frame of us kids,(my brother and i) called her, then turned around and talked to my two kids. (they live far away,as do all my family) nice day though, despite all that's happened to me..

< my arm is itching horribly from being wrapped, next week comes the cast.

V Passing th' question on...

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ Took mom to the nursery and bought her plants of her choice for her garden..helped weed it..and we (kids) took her to lunch..it was a nice day..shes a one of a kind mom. Who encourages my piracy woagh!! MOM!!

< A blue skies day here too

V What are you doing for Memorial day? (It's coming!)

[Jacky Tar]

^ No plans yet fer Memorial Day.

< A busy day fer sure. Flowers and cards fer Moms and aunts seemed t' be the order o' the day.

V Pass the question along.