Port Washington Pirate Fest 2008 – Part 4

Breakfast with the pirates was a lot of fun. This time around I managed not to drive any kids to tears (that i know of) and managed to get a number of laughs, and good interactions from them.

One of my favorite moments happened Sunday when the breakfast area became so full that Captain Jack (TJ) and I moved to the entrance / bar area for some fresh air. When we got out there there were a number of people waiting for their tables. Not being ones to let a captive audience go to waste, we immediately started playing with them. At one point we had asked about what they wanted for breakfast, and a kid replied pancakes. At that Jack interjected with “Don’t ya mean Flap-Jacks mate”. Seeing an opportunity for fun and audience participation we took it and ran with it. “Oh, come now Captain, ya can’t go around renamin’ everything after yerself ya know…” Captain Jack responded with something to the effect of “Oh, I think I can mate, I’m the Captain after all” “Fine fine, yes.. well ya know we pirates are all a democratic sort and what not, so what say you to a vote! Who amongst ye thinks they should remain pancakes” most of the group raised their hands. “1, 2, 3, 4.. 79 HA! Oh I think ye be out numbered cap’n”. Jack responded with a “We’ll see” “All in favor of renaming the breakfast item currently known as the pancake, to a flap-jack in honor of Captain Jack Sparrow raise yer hands.” About three people raised their hands. At this Captain Jack trained his pistol on the audience and of course they almost all switched their vote “1.. 2… 3… 84 I win!” So at that ‘fair’ vote… I raised myself up to full height, puffed out my chest, and began to proclaim; “Here upon this day, by fair vote of all present, it is hereby decreed by the power vested in me by Captain Jack himself, that the breakfast item formerly known as the pancake is to now and forever be known as [mock disgust] the flap-jack …sigh… in honor of the great Captain Jack Sparrow” then muttered under my breath “but I liked the name pancake…” People seemed to get a kick out of it and were definitely smiling. We then mingled a bit more, and this time when asked what they were planning on having for breakfast the responses were quite comical. We had defiant people who insisted on having pancakes, which got them looks from Jack, and the occasional self corrections of “panca… er… flap-jacks!” After a little bit more interaction we decided it was really getting far to crowded in the restaurant for all of us pirates and the people, so TJ, Ian, and myself left the restaurant to continue our fun outside.
So people of the world, if for some reason the name pancake starts disappearing off the breakfast menu, and is replaced by “flap-jack”… You can blame TJ and I… 🙂

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Port Washington Pirate Fest 2008 – Part 3

This weekend presented many many opportunities to interact with people. Some interactions such as the invasion cruise, and the breakfast with the pirates events were scheduled, others were not. When not scheduled to be anywhere specific I wandered the festival grounds, as well as the main street in town. Originally Sunday was supposed to be the day of the parade. Due to inclement weatherthe wrath of god part 2 the parade was canceled. During the time of the parade I had gotten word that a number of the performers were performing at the nearby holiday inn. I decided to check it out, rather than take the short route that also provided more cover from the rain, I decided “ehh, I can’t really get any wetter than i already am” and as I took the longer route down main street, where the parade would have gone. As I turned the corner onto main street I discovered that at least some Wisconsinites don’t let rain end a parade. Huddled under a few awnings, and door openings, wearing parkas and rain gear was a collection of kids and adults apparently waiting for the parade. “Look there’s one, there’s a pirate!!!” I sauntered over to them and asked them what they were doing… “Isn’t there supposed to be a parade?” one woman asked. I responded, that yes, under normal conditions there should be a parade, but sadly it was canceled due to the rain. At that the kids in the group looked rather downtrodden. “Lookin forward ta the parade were ya?”, I asked the kids “uh huh” came the response. “Well, I’ll tell ya what, I can’t get you a full parade with floats and everythin’ but what do you say to having yer own personal private pirate parade?” They looked at me like I was from mars… “No, really, how about I give ya yer own personal private pirate parade… wow thats a mouth full isn’t it?” the kids chuckeld. “Oh, its funny is it? let hear the whole lot a’ ya say it” the kids stared blankly… “Right, let me hear you say ‘I want my personal private pirate parade!'” The mother was the first to say it. then with a bit more encouragement the kids all asked for it. Fortunate for me, at that point two patrons dressed in their pirate finest came by with umbrellas… “Alright then, if these good pirates wouldst indulge me for just a moment, I now give ya your own personal private pirate parade!” At that the 3 of us marched down the street in front of the ‘crowd’ , waving I made sure to over exaggerate my steps and used my paddle as a baton ala bozo’s circus, and shouting “I love a parade, a personal private pirate parade…” After we marched past the group I broke off from the patron couple who continued on (i assume happy to get away from my insanity) and returned to the group. I then handed out my mini messages in a bottle to the kids, and informed the whole group that there were things still going on at the festival site, and that there were also things happening at the Holiday Inn right down the street from them. At that they all made their way down to the hotel, and joined in the group there who were being entertained by the Jolly Rodgers, Bounding Main, and Jock Stewart. I followed along behind slowly.