Wet, Wooded and Woolen : A Rabble in Arms 2004 AAR
Humbly submitted by your favorite Welshy
Taffy
August 23th, 2004

Friday evening saw us late starters escaping Hurricane Charley Lite while trying to leave our common metropolis and escape into the sublime wooded hills of the Vermont countryside. Lightning crashing all around us the nimble HMS German Crash Test (aka my VM Cabrio) managed to pull into the grounds of the LCMM at around 12:45 Saturday morning. To our dismay we found the entire camp (an amalgamated Brit-Doodle camp) totally asleep. Not knowing where to set up our tent we starting heading towards the most obvious location of the Somerset crew - that being the local pub.

Not surprisingly, we were correct and after passing a test verifying that we were in fact Aaron and Laura and not two robotic fill-ins (this required us to sing several 80’s classics and play the ever popular - "catch Pete before he hits the floor" game. PS: Laura got High Score). Our identities confirmed - we were told that they had (intelligently) placed the Somersets by themselves on the opposite side of the parking lot. And so we went and so we set up our tent in the rain with the kind help of Shane and Kelly. To make a short story shorter - the drunken crew returns, people fall down, it rains, Greg shows some girl his "Baggywrinkle". (PS: Greg- next time a girls asks you to follow her into the ladies room - just do it.)

Somersets - 2
Vergennes - 0

A late start in the morning prompted by a continual downpour kept the crew in the hammocks until late in the morning. Without fire, the crew opted for muffins and danishes for breakfast. A segment of the crew split off and headed towards town to find a diner. Pete, Tom and Greg found the rigging set up and busied themselves while Aaron and Dave Valentine (from the Richmond) spent their time in the rain, on the water, getting soaking and trying not to capsize Dave’s newly-built 16ft. Bateau. More rigging, more rain, and then Aaron is offered to help do some lofting (which he had been eyeing all day). Aaron can now be safely removed from the rest of the AAR as he spent the next day and a half glued to half-hulled models and colored pencils.

(PS: The mystery of boatbuilding is solved- Measure to the thousandths, mark with a crayon, cut with a chainsaw)

It is also at this point that Aaron has realized that he is now referring to himself in the third person.

So the Aaron was spending his time lofting when Darth Vader appeared with 7 evil dwarfs and a drunk Princess Leia. Seeing his opportunity he quickly pulled out his phaser and placed its setting on "Disco". Princess Leia quickly...

Errr- wait...

Anyway. The rest of the crew finally returned and coincidentally the sun broke out and stopped the rain when Kelly came back to camp. Suspicious - I should say so. So no rain and a full crew and the Somersets taking command wherever they were. A group of them decided to take a break and let others play too. So it was fishing time. Hours upon hours were spent matching the combined brain power of several highly skilled and critical minds against the fishes of Lake Champlain.

The fish won.

An AMAZING dinner was provided by the WONDERFUL LCMM and then it was drinking time. A fire was started and beers were consumed. Late into the evening a segment of the crew headed out toward the pub while others remained by the warmth of Kelly’s - err - I mean, the fire.

I would now like to interrupt this AAR for a short play entitled "It’s Yours!"- a rousing drama told in one act.

ACT ONE: a dimly lit and crowded bar in farm country.

Mary Ann Sarah Jennifer Molly Johnson (an ambiguous waif)
Hi Greg, remember me? From last night?

Greg - (a fruitful young man and part time Main Mast)
Umm - oh yeah. Hi

Mary Ann Sarah Jennifer Molly Johnson
So yeah, I would like you to meet my father.

Greg
Your what?

Mary Ann Sarah Jennifer Molly Johnson
Dad - this is Greg. I’ve seen him naked.

Mr. Johnson
Ah yes- big isn’t he??

Mary Ann Sarah Jennifer Molly Johnson
(astonished) DAD! How did you know!!

And now back to your regularly scheduled program.

A late night and then an early morning as Sunday saw bright sunny sky and four pounds of bacon. A hearty breakfast and then more fishing and other random acts of mortar fire. Overall, it was a leisurely, if wet, weekend and I (as I am sure many of us) learned quite a bit.

Up the Somersets!!

Taffy

And now for the Shippies (Somerset’s versions of the Oscars)

Award for Crewman who most resemble a part on a ship -
Goes to:
Greg - the Bowsprit - long, pointy, and right above a maidenhead.

Award for Crewman who receives the biggest THANK YOU
Goes to:
Kelly - Benches - like always Kelly is hauling up the most wood

Award for Crewman who was most dedicated to an activity
Goes to:
Pete - Fishes - and for not showing anyone your worm

Award for Crewman who most skillfully handled his dietary restrictions Goes to: Bob - Lactose Intolerant - *- I had to delete this joke. It was too bad. Insert your own.

Anyway - that’s all until next time.

Hasta la Pasta

Your Motha