Posts Tagged ‘Pirate’

So last weekend was PyrateCon, and yeah, I’m just getting around to putting it up now. Unfortunately, now that I have a real job I couldn’t go hang out for the conferences, which was especially a shame since it looked like there was some really interesting stuff about the local pirates. Still, we did get out there to see the wench auction and many of the costumes.

And what costumes! There were the traditionalists, of course, like last year- the ones who make their own buttons and such, but there were also a bunch of what I assume were locals, who just worked with what they had around. You know, like we do here, because there’s always something going on, so best to keep a few feathers around the house, maybe a boa, and you’re on your way. Thankfully, with another year between us and Pirates of the Caribbean movies, there were somewhat fewer Johnny Depp wannabes, though the young girls still loved them.

PyrateCon had much more of a street presence this year, too. They’ve jumped ship, leaving the CBD and mooring in the French Quarter, taking over part of Bourbon Street- including the block that includes the Funky Pirate bar, naturally.

I heard there was a bunch of in-fighting amongst the pirate community (to be expected, I suppose; organizing pirates has got to be like herding particularly well armed cats) and some splintering, but this year’s event seemed considerably larger and much better organized than last year.

I’m always amazed at the ways that growing up in the 80s continues to affect me.

I had a very different idea of what “prom” was, even though I blew my own off. Growing up in the era of John Hughes movies it always seemed like PROM, not prom.

Apparently, at McGehee, it’s clearly more of the latter. After much running around, Alison chose a not-exactly-prom-dressy prom dress, and flats. Flats! It’s hard for me to wrap my head around, since it wasn’t so long ago that the higher the heels, the more she adored the shoes. She’s a quick learner.

(Kindly please ignore the office mess around her…click for bigger version)

But we did have some John Hughes-style drama when her date canceled around 11am. She was upset, but not crazed- apparently, again, prom. It seems that at this girl’s school, the boys are more of an afterthought.

The whole prom seemed like an afterthought- they forgot about the Queen’s tiara and bought a $5 Hello Kitty toy crown…but that one Alison couldn’t stand for, especially since she’s friends with the (correctly) presumed Queen. A proper tiara and scepter set was obtained from our inventory, and eventually much oohed and ahhed over.

But in the end, prom was supposed to run until 10:30… by 10 everyone had gone and they were just cleaning up…and there wasn’t much to clean up. It was all pretty low key- I saw no limos, no over-the-top dresses, nothing to say this was a big deal at all.

I haven’t decided if I think this is a good thing or not. Taken on its own, it probably is, but I can’t help but think that overall, “Pretty in Pink” was a better message than “Gossip Girl.”

Friday afternoon Charlie came back with me. I’d bought him a frilly shirt and he felt like an ass. He wasn’t really excited about it…he even went out the house’s side gate into the car, and made me promise him that he wouldn’t look like a moron. I promised him that if he felt like an idiot, it would only be because he’d feel underdressed.

We went to the last seminar of the day, which was given by Tony Swatton, who is a majorly amazing artisan who’s done the weaponry, props and armor for just about every movie you’ve ever seen. Plus he’s a really nice guy.

He made/maintains the armor for this pizza chain in California. He said it’s a lot of fun but always comes back a mess:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SyDLsRWexw[/youtube]

Then it was off to dinner. I’ve got video and such also but haven’t had a chance to get through it all, but here are a few of dinner.

We knew we were in trouble when we got there and there was a sandwich board outside that said “Locals love us and you will too!” We took a look at the steamtable pasta and jambalaya and had dinner elsewhere, but it was a really beautiful night, and a huge kick. Tourists walking by would stop dead in their tracks, staring up openmouthed at the balcony.

see more crazy cat pics

Looking forward to Friday!

The original plan was to go hang out in the French Quarter for the big, free festival this weekend, but it didn’t quite come together.

Friday things kicked off downtown, and while I was getting dressed, the local news was covering the opening, including all of the new stuff for kids- special musical acts, crafts, and very excitingly, costumed characters to walk around and entertain.

Up pops this guy:

Who, along with his parrot starts singing a bastardized version of “What can you do with a drunken sailor-” he’d made it kid-friendly by turning it into “What can you do with a crazy pirate?”

Still, I was only watching with half an eye as I herded puppies, yelled at Alison to get it in gear, etc. But the further he got into the song, the more excited he got by it, until his head was really bobbing and weaving, the cap’s beaded fringe swinging and swirling…

I’ve become really attuned to annoyed birds and his sun conure was showing all the signs of peevishness spiraling toward snapishness. He glared suspiciously at the hat as it swung around…until the inevitable happened.
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