Talk Like a Pirate Day

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. I also have my newly formed Family Storytime. Librarians love this type of coincidence. So I chose a pirate theme, I already had the storytime prepped. It's one of my favorite storytimes. I also emailed the official web site and had my event added to their list.

A few days later I get a call from a reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal about my event and pirates. It was an article for their teen section and appeared today. She used my quote, even if she did promote me from a humble children's librarian to youth director. Oh well. Link below.

No Ocean? No problem on Talk Like a Pirate Day

You have to register to read the article, so here is the full text. Now who actually gets this paper in print and can get me a paper copy? I'll try to post my secrets to a pirate storytime later.

No Ocean? No problem on Talk Like A Pirate Day

by Talory Atkins
The Capital Journal, September 19, 2006

Ahoy, Mateys! Today be International Talk Like A Pirate Day. It's a day to start an adventure, take to the sea and fill up on hardtack and salty cod.

Unfortunately, for Kansas pirates, Lake Shawnee isn't exactly the Pacific Ocean, and hardtack? Enough said.

But don't walk the plank just yet. Elizabeth Moreau, youth director at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library, said Pirate Day is more than just big boats and bad food.

"I think it's the pirate spirit of always being free or going wherever the wind blows you that's appealing," Moreau said. "There is a lot we can do to be like a pirate."

Moreau will be holding a Talk Like A Pirate Day event at 7 tonight at her library, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. For buccaneers who can't make the voyage to Kansas City, you can find ye' inner pirate close to home.

If hardtack doesn't sound appealing tonight, Red Lobster, 2011 S.W. Wanamaker, has a Shrimp Lovers Tuesday, that lets you choose from three kinds of shrimp for $11.99.
And if you are short on gold, make pirate grub in your own galley. Pirate recipes, such as Pirate Pie, Pirate Sticks and Key West Pirate's Cake, can be found at www.cooks.com.

For pirate fun, look no further than http://www.talklikeapirate.com/. The Web site is the official International Talk Like A Pirate Day port, maintained by the day's creators. The site has pirate shanties, both to sing or download, a pirate advice column by Capn' Slappy and every lonely scallywags' favorite -- pirate pick-up lines.

If you still haven't gotten your sea legs, you can sit back, relax and watch other pirates wo set sail on the silver screen far before Johnny Depp. Check out "The Princess Bride," starring Cary Elwes and Robyn Wright Penn; "Hook," starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman; and "Treasure Island," starring Charlton Heston and Christian Bale.

somewhere I can say what I want to say

I've been thinking about librarian issues more lately. They creep up more often in my personal blog. A place was needed where I could express all those things. Here it is. More will come later to this space. I worked for nearly 12 hours today (and I thought a librarian would get to keep normal hours, silly me).

First there was a KCMLIN Children's Koffee (it is their decision to misspell coffee not mine). That was an amazing experience, a great time to talk about how we are working with the schools. We had people from St. Louis, MO to Louisburg, KS and everywhere in between. It was at my home library, but I got to see quite a few of my former coworkers. Then of course I spent (over) a full day at work. This leaves me tired and ready for bed. So naturally I started a new project. It gives me something to tinker with instead of sleeping.