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OK - so we know you're not one of 'em. :)

It would seem that an exquisitely organized group of civilians is helpful in creating the trash atmosphere. Is it because it's easier to see it as clutter if someone else puts it there?

Wax museums are sort of an endangered species all their own. Sort of a dark ride you could feel better about seeing because it was "educational." I wonder how many of us, after a couple beers, would...

That's what I meant about being OK with the stuff getting ruined. Personally, I would do what you did and make it part of the impression. On the other hand ,carrying a wad of stuff around that you...

Welcome to our particular flavor of madness! Remember that it's a hobby; it's supposed to be fun. Also remember it's a process. You learn a little, experiment a little, discard a little. Always leave...

Laundry hanging out. It's not trash but it might be considered "clutter," and it's easy for one man to rig up. That pile of cans would be pretty portable too.

Sam Watkins says several times that he carried his musket worm in his pocket. I started doing that because I lost 3 worms stowing them elsewhere in my gear. I believe in using the pockets of your...

I used to have a Springfield 1863 that would fire with as little as 35 grains. My newer 1861, however, really doesn't fire with less than 70 grains. I stick to a 60 grain measure, but I'm a little...

I used to bugle sometimes, and really enjoyed it. I'd second all Henry's suggestions for useful calls. Especially "Attention" and "Officer's Call." I think, realistically, field musicians have to...

Wow - I don't think firing at a range of 10 yards can ever be considered a safe distance! Is this a simple typo that escaped the proofreader? "30 yards" be a reasonable standard.

A number of years ago, I read about a phenomenon that I believe the author called "museuming." Essentially "museuming" is the mistaken impression that the past was cleaner and neater than the...

Wow - I'm stunned. I've spent my life there. We used to go there when I was a child and it was one of the few air conditioned places in town. On a hot summer day, that was a draw all its own. I...

I always thought it would be kind of fun for everyone to bring several pieces of reenacting junk with them to an event: old tables, broken chairs, boxes, assorted pieces of wood planking, violins,...

That's a pretty complete answer, but I have to admit I thought "troll" when I read that bit about chairs too. It made me go back and look at roger's other posts. Got a brand new Enfield last year,...

"Rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel..." They're a favorite on "A Prairie Home Companion" too. Great sound.
The best 2 cigars I ever had in my entire life were 2 Cuban Punch cigars that I bought in...

I used to be chaplain for a signal battalion. Some of the hardest working troops I ever saw were the linedogs from our wire company. Now it might just be my years as a tank platoon leader talking,...

I've owned 3 pairs of their shoes. 2 of them wore like iron. The leather on the pair which did not ripped out just above the left heel after about 10 months. I called the company and explained. Their...

I don't mean to sound dumb (I was a DAT after all) but where do they train Marines? If it's at Quantico, make sure you visit the new Museum of the Marine Corps. It's so awesome it made me want to...

Slightly OT - I so wanted the ukulele to be period! Small, easy to pack, great accompaniment instrument. As I understand it, though, it was invented by a couple of Portugese brothers in Hawaii in the...

What a great photo of a black unit, too!!

What! The Army was full!?! :)
Best wishes to him. HOOWAH!

That's the funniest thing I've seen since the Geico Caveman. Hat's off to the unit participating - I think it's good for reenactors to be able to laugh at themselves. Sometimes we can be sooooooooo...

Stan Lee likes to remind cartoonists "Every comic is somebody's first." While a lot of us on this site are old hand reenactors, some are not. I don't want to ignite the old "buy it right the first...

Actually, you are a reenactor. Your area of interest is in firing period firearms. You have indicated that the level of authenticity your costuming requires is not what might be termed "museum...

I'm just a nothin' little infantryman in the ranks, but I sympathize with all the leadership who tried to get this event off the ground. I sense the heartbreak in every missive. I'll offer neither...