Sarah Slean

Saw Sarah Slean play live last night, at the arts centre on campus. Her current tour is called the "Books & Ballgowns Tour". How could I not love that?! (And indeed, on stage she wore a very fetching teal taffeta cocktail frock, complete with chiffon "wing"!)

I've always liked her music (some of which can be heard here), and am glad I went to see her show. She's quite the kook, though adorably so. Her opening act, a guy from her band called Royal Wood, was good also. I'd recommend you go see her, but Halifax was the last stop on her tour!

Speaking for Herself

Just finished listening to a CBC radio interview with Cherie Blair. She's got a memoir coming out soon, Speaking for Myself, which I first read about in the Globe a few weeks ago.

I'll be picking that up, I think. I've always admired Cherie, despite (or perhaps because of) her general excoriation by the media. Must be difficult to be a fiercely intelligent, ambitious person in your own right, but knowing that history will forever view you in the shadow of your spouse.

Fleet and Garrison Ball

Went to the Fleet and Garrison Ball last night down at CFB Stadacona - the first time we've attended in several years. It was a good time - only about half the numbers of 2005, but a nicer atmosphere. This year's theme was the 1940s, and the organizers did a great job. They had reprints of interesting wartime posters up in all the rooms and corridors, a screening of Casablanca in the chill-out room, and copies of old Halifax newspapers on all the tables in the dining room (many of which I surreptitiously filched at the end of the evening, to take home and peruse at my leisure). Even some of the guests made an effort to dress according to the theme, which is always fun - although two or three ladies seemed a bit confused about fashion history, showing up in Flapper-style dresses and sporting feather headbands.

Dinner was sumptuous, as is to be expected at mess events - though whether we'd have been offered such dainties during wartime is debatable. ;-) We had:

Spiced Grilled Quail
White Asparagus Soup with Truffle Oil
Blackcurrant Sorbet
Beef Wellington and Lobster Thermidor
Caesar Salad
Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee

Afterwards, though there were two bands and a DJ on offer, we spent much of the evening in the ballroom listening and dancing to live swing/big band music (which seemed fitting, given the evening's theme). Later on, we had cocktails in the Bridge Bar at the top of Juno Tower, which has an outdoor terrace with a stunning view of Halifax Harbour.

All in all, a lovely evening - and of course, I always love any excuse to get dressed up and indulge my inner glamour-puss.

It's "Point and Laugh at Timmy" Time!

Went downstairs to a pretty funny sight last night. We'd let two of our rabbits, Fawn and Timmy, out of their cage for their usual evening runaround, and Timmy - inexplicably - managed to up-end a plastic basket over himself. So when I walked into the room, I found this basket scooting around on the floor, seemingly of its own volition. Luckily, my camera was handy:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pzUL5o6NXI

Poor Timmy. He's got a big heart, but his lack of brains meant he never did figure out how to extricate himself from beneath that basket. We had to remove it from him, once we'd finished having a giggle and decided the poor fella had had enough. Bless his demented little heart.

The Producers

Last night was our last show of the season at Neptune. My mother joined us for the weekend, and we saw The Producers. It was great - one of the best all-round musicals I've ever seen, and certainly the funniest. It was so politically-incorrect, yet so OTT, that I found myself cringing and laughing hysterically in turn. There were blatant stereotypes aplenty (Nazis, gays, Swedes...), and the show-within-a-show, Springtime for Hitler, was the craziest, most offensive and yet hilarious thing. You can't imagine the setpieces. A kick-line of goose-stepping SS officers! Chorus girls in glittery head-dresses shaped like pretzels and wurst! A cameo appearance by a tap-dancing Stalin! Awesome stuff. And a good thing, too - since next year's Neptune musical is going to be dismal. The playlist for the 2008-09 season was just announced a few weeks ago, and the choice? Disney's High School Musical. Oh gawd.

Afterwards, we dug deep into our pockets and went for dinner at Bish, on the waterfront. As it's been quite the trendy place for the last few years, I wondered if it might be more style than substance - but I was happily surprised. Both the food and the service were really very good, and it wasn't quite as expensive as I thought it might be. Would definitely return.

Sea Change

So, a significant development in our work lives over the weekend. On Saturday, A. tendered his resignation at the clinic where he has worked for the past four years. It has been a long time coming, and although it's a sad development, it's really for the best.

Fortunately, lack of income will not be a concern. Until A. finds a new position, the army will be happy to give him a desk job, and he's also planning to do some locum work with another vet. Hopefully, he'll also have time now to finish the landscaping work he began last fall, in the garden. All of this is good - and we're both looking forward to a better work arrangement for him, in the future.