Ye Battle of Lexington

It's Patriot's Day! What, you didn't know?!? Well, in fabulous New England it is. Today, on Patriot's Day, we celebrate the first colonial resistance against the foul British swine and their fancy pants and haughty hats.

I'm too lazy to tell you the story, so go read it here.

This morning, Jenine and I had the pleasure of waking up at 4am to drive up to Lexington to see the annual re-enactment of this important event. The battle, though important, was far from legendary in scope or brutality. Only eight minutemen were killed, which explains how the town of Lexington can afford the cost in lost human lives necessary to play out the scene accurately every year.

Jenine is now telling me that they don't actually fire real musketballs -- damn their trickery! I want my money back -- oh, wait...

Anyway, we slogged up to Lexington in those wee hours and then waited around for an hour, as the field of battle slowly lightened, only to have the eerie drum sounds of advancing Redcoats rudely interrupted by a news helicopter flying circles over our heads. (I'm pretty sure the helicopter wasn't part of the recreation, but maybe back then they had a news donkey, or something of that nature, circling the field instead.) Also getting directly in the way was a woman who was probably a good 4 inches taller than me.

The costumes were neat, as were the firing of muskets and the subsequently shrouded field. Pictures!


Our colonial rabble line up in shabby defiance.


A lesser known fact is the common use of the lightsaber during the revolutionary war.


Pretty good for 5am.


The giantess dwarfs us both (Note poor Jenine at far bottom).


How many furry forest creatures had to die to make these captains look pretty?


The better dressed (and fed) imperial troops prepare for the slaughter.


"Oh, it's already been broughted!"


The victorious British troops relax and wait for pancakes.


It's a hard life. Yarr.


The victors gloating over their spoils, which included a tree and a red pickup truck.


Way too nice to kill colonists.


Down with imperialism!