Ahoy, Me Maties!

September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!  A day to enjoy your own wee adventure on any one of the seven seas -- or -- to read about someone else's.  Of course, a seafaring adventurer needs the right vocabulary to get into the spirit -- so here are a few phrases you might find useful:

• Avast me hearties!  (Look at this, fellas!)
• Batten down the hatches! (Prepare for trouble.)
• Look sharp, we're comin' about.  (Heads up, we're changing direction)
• Arrr, a great foolish bilge rat, ye be!  (This is a serious pirate insult.  Probably best not to call anyone a bilge rat.)