While I still have one more monstrous update for Lumpy and Leaky, I’m taking a boob break today. Instead, I’m revising this post from last year, in honor of tomorrow.
(originally published September 19, 2016)
Avast ye Landlubbers! Next high tide’ (aka tomorrow) be International Talk Like A Pirate Day!
Wha’ be it, ye may ask? Here’s part o’ th’ tale from On Talk Like a Pirate Day, Landlubbers Arrr Shouting ‘Ahoy’
One day in 1995, two Oregon natives faced off in a particularly boisterous game of racquetball. For reasons that neither John Baur nor Mark Summers can precisely recall, they began trading insults and encouragements in the lingo, tone and syntax of stereotypical pirates. “Arrr!” one exclaimed. “That be a fine cannonade!” the other hollered. Lapsing into swashbuckler slang proved so addictive that the two friends decided a new holiday should be devoted to the activity.
For the next seven years, the men celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day as something of an inside joke, choosing the birthday of Summers’ ex-wife as the obvious date for its observance. But in 2002, they shared their idea with the syndicated humor writer David Barry, who promoted it in a tongue-in-cheek column that described Baur and Summers as “visionary individuals.” The holiday went viral, and now landlubbers across the globe spend September 19 shouting “Ahoy!” to their mateys, pouring noggins of rum and denouncing lily-livered scallywags.
‘n a wee bit from th’ tale, Arrrrr! Talk like a pirate — or prepare to be boarded, that lit th’ powder keg –
Every now and then, some visionary individuals come along with a concept that is so original and so revolutionary that your immediate reaction is: ”Those individuals should be on medication.”
Today I want to tell you about two such people, John Baur and Mark Summers, who have come up with a concept that is going to make you kick yourself for not thinking of it first: Talk Like a Pirate Day. As the name suggests, this is a day on which everybody would talk like a pirate. Is that a great idea, or what? There are so many practical benefits that I can’t even begin to list them all.
Baur and Summers came up with this idea a few years ago. They were playing racquetball, and, as so often happens, they began talking like pirates. And then it struck them: Why not have a day when EVERYBODY talks like a pirate? They decided that the logical day would be Sept. 19, because that — as you are no doubt aware — is Summers’ ex-wife’s birthday.
Since then, Baur and Summers have made a near-superhuman effort to promote Talk Like a Pirate Day. As Baur puts it: “We’ve talked like pirates, and encouraged our several friends to, every Sept. 19, except for a couple where we forgot.”
Be sure t’ check out th’ special deals (like a free bar of gold Deep Fried Twinkie at Long John Silver’s) ‘n other fun stuff o’er at th’ official site, peruse th’ Pirate TV show puns from ’14 o’er at USA Today, an try yer hand at pirate speak at th’ site responsible fer translatin’ this post.
‘n here’s a pirate chantey t’ get ye in th’ mood –
“We’re the Lords of the Sea”” from Galavant
Galavant | Song: We’re the Lords of the Sea
Watch Galavant: We’re the lords of the sea ? except we’re not at sea. video at abc.com
EDITED TO ADD – For my friends across the pond, try the following link on YouTube instead. However, since The Powers That Be tend to remove pirated stuff (HA! See what I did there?) on a regular basis, it might disappear without warning. If it does, try searching for “Galavant We’re the Lords of the Sea.”
“Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is?
Read the inaugural post which explains
the idea and how you can participate too.”
~ Melissa S. Ford, Stirrup Queens
September 19th be Talk Like A Pirate Day. Avast ye Landlubbers! Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day! First, this is not a passive voice. Next, I am writing in an active voice. Therefore, my SEO will stop telling me how to write. Furthermore, these sentences are also shorter than twenty words. Rather, stop being so controlling. September 19th be Talk Like A Pirate Day. I will keep going while until you turn green. I can’t believe this is still orange. Finally, it has turned. Success! First, this is not a passive voice. Next, I am writing in an active voice. Therefore, my SEO will stop telling me how to write. Furthermore, these sentences are also shorter than twenty words. Rather, stop being so controlling. September 19th be Talk Like A Pirate Day. I will keep going while until you turn green. I can’t believe this is still orange. Finally, it has turned. Success! September 19th be Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Because I live in another realm, I wasn’t allowed to watch the video, which was a shame. Who doesn’t like a good pirate song? I could do with the practice, as I’m going to a pirate party soon.
Dang it! Try this link, April – since this one is YouTube, and not the official site, it might make it across the pond. I try not to link to these though, as TPTB tend to make them disappear.
Oh, and while there’s not a ton of pirate-speak in it, it does feature Lord Grantham… *grin*
https://youtu.be/dwJPDtR2IAo
Brilliant. Thank you. I don’t think of him as Lord Grantham, though. He was in something very funny about the BBC and that’s how he lives in my heart now.
I view the International Talk Like a Pirate Day to be my pre-birthday celebration. This year, hopefully I’ll have a chance to make some arrrrrrrrrrrt!
LOL! I hope yer pre-birthday celebration comes t’ pass, ‘n ye make tons o’ arrrrrrrrrrrt!
Arrrrrr me hearty! I love the idea, they should have been given some pieces of eight for their idea! 🙂
I completely arrrgree, Judy!
Thank you for the reminder!!! I consistently miss this one. Bring on the arrrrrs!
Ye’re mighty welcome, Cristy!
Arrrrgh, avast and away ye matey, I totally missed it! Thanks for the reminder and the giggles!
Ye’re mightily welcome, Jess!
Whenever I hear pirate talk, I always think of Pirates of the Caribbean. 😉
I always reckon o’ it too, Risa. 🙂