Our brother Sean Egan, a drummer with the Mariners since the early nineties, passed away a few days ago. Sean was prouder than any man I know to be a drummer in the Mariners. Another Mariner captured our collective feelings well by saying that we ‘will miss your company, your drumming talent, your BRUTAL sense of humor…breath easy my friend!’
 

The Christmas Muster is this evening and the Mariners are beginning to prime the pump, so to speak.

 
I spent the morning at Dan Hornstein’s firehouse, which often serves as a place of respite for wayfaring Mariners. When I showed up this morning there was one planted firmly on the futon.

 
One of the things I love about Dan’s home is the great collection of Mariner paraphernalia. The photo below actually measures in around 20″ by 30″. Classic picture of Cliff Haslem, Norm Ott, Howard Hornstein, Kevin Brown, Toby Lazor, Eddie Testori and a variety of other Mariner legends in the background.

 
Some of the Mariner things lying around his pad were handmade by other Mariners such as this Dead Fish by Larry Donahue

 
And this Fasnacht placquette was created by Mariner Pascal Kottman.

 
Other things are built right into his firehouse such as this compass rose that lights up. It is a table top that is built into the bottom end of a banister.

 
Here is another great picture. This one is of Roy Watrous, our floundering founder.

 
I just liked these.

 
Here is another nice carving.

 
Flask. mmmm.

 
Mugs. mmmm.

 
Here is an especially nice bit of scrimshaw done by Steve Chomka that I found lying on a desk. Steve’s son Eric, incidentally, is also a Mariner and has been vacationing with the Old Guard as of late.

 
So, mission accomplished. Primed. See you at the Christmas Muster.

Here is a funny story…

So the Mariner Christmas Party was last night and a good time was had by all. Though to most this appears to be a fairly ordinary, fairly yummy bottle of Jameson’s, it’s route to the Firehouse was somewhat roundabout.

 

The Mariners have a goodie/gift raffle at this party that has become nothing more or less than a bottle grab, mostly of beverages to be consumed late that night or at the Christmas Muster in Old Saybrook the following day.

Our very own Roger Hunnewell had the good fortune to win this bottle, neatly wrapped and safely stowed in a showcase tube. Roger was pleased, as the mystery bottles are often not so yummy. To our horror, he was adamant that he was neither going to open it that night nor share it. Dick and I were well lubricated, if not yet over-served, and we might have been a tad envious, as Boston Bob Terelak’s bottle of Tullamore Dew was approaching levels not seen north of Lake Lanier.

While Roger was distracted, which was almost constant that night, some dick removed the important contents of said display cannister and replaced them with a collection of salt and pepper shakers removed from the par-tay tabletops. Dan’l was reminded NOT to leave the contraband Jameson’s stashed at the soon-to-be-demolished VFW.

In the end, Bob went home with an empty bottle, Roger went home with a tube full salt and pepper shakers, and well, the Jameson’s is on it’s way to Old Saybrook with me. Thanks Beav.