Aye, it is true Ms Traveling Pants has learned to speak Pirate. All that was needed was a visit to the Bounty in Palm Beach, Florida this past weekend with a bunch of me mateys! Our crew of Captain Jack Sparrow (as you see below) as well as other pirates led me ever-curious landlubbers aboard the Bounty, which is probably best known for its usage in not only Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest, but also the classic Brando film, Mutiny on the Bounty.

So let’s cut to the chase. Let me mate, Cap’n Jack Sparrow, and I give you a lesson in how to talk like a pirate starting with a short list of commonly used terms….

Ahoy – a greeting; “Hello”

Arrr – a word that can mean many things, from “yes,” to “maybe,” to “I’ll think about it,” “I don’t know,” “That was good,” “That was bad,” or “That hurts”

Aye – Yes or okay.

Aye Aye – I’ll do that right away, or “Yes, I understand”

Booty – Loot, treasure, spices, jewels, or anything taken illegally.

Grog- generically any alcoholic drink, but most likely rum

Jolly Roger – a pirate flag usually showing white skull and crossbones on a black background.

Lad, lass, lassie – a way to address someone younger than you.

Landlubber- Land lover,  someone not used to life on a ship.

Lily-livered- faint o’ heart

Matey – a friend and/or shipmate

Me- my and/or mine

Mutiny – a revolt against authority

Plunder –  robbing or raiding.

Scallywag – a bad person; scoundrel.

Shiver Me Timbers- an exclamation of surprise, shock, and many times of fear

Sprogs – untrained recruits

Thar- the opposite of “here”

Walk the plank- no need to define this one… it’s bloody obvious.

Wench- a “lady” (typically a working girl a.k.a. a pirate’s barmaid or hooker)

Yo-ho-ho- pirate laughter

Watch out you scallywags! The Bounty has turned Ms Traveling Pants into a multi-lingual, grog drinking, sailor in search of treasure. Don’t mess with me or me mateys otherwise I will force you to walk the plank.

With or without the Pirate speak, you know I am always up for either a good time or to turn some NOT so good times into good stories.   So pass the grog or some rum, and let’s yo-ho-ho together on more of me and me mateys’ stories.

Where in the World is Ms Traveling Pants Video Series makes another appearance. This time it is not at 35,000 feet mid-flight, but celebrating Father’s Day 2009 at the world famous Fort Lauderdale Beach. It was a beautiful day, rather hot at a record breaking 98 degrees. However, as my father enjoys sailing, it was a great opportunity to take a Hobie cat out for a nice spin.

Since much of my childhood was spent on the port or starboard side of a sailboat, I thought it was quite appropriate to celebrate Father’s Day this way. I often joke with my family that instead of a babysitter they bought sailboats, one of which was a Hobie cat.

Regardless, the Hobie cat is one of my favorite boats because it is close to the water and you don’t need much wind to move. Fort Lauderdale, Florida is an ideal place to enjoy a cat. Especially now, when the ocean is almost like bath water.