Ear Candy for the Musically Hungry

VIEWER BEWARE.

YOU WILL SPEND OBSCENE AMOUNTS OF TIME DEVOTED TO THE PIANO GUYS. YOU MAY DEVELOP A NEED TO PLAY THE CELLO. YOUR FAMILY MAY NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN.

ENJOY!

 

 

Royal N.S. Int. Tattoo: I laughed, cried, and wanted to steal their clothes

Yesterday I feasted my eyes on one of Nova Scotia’s most famed attractions in the company of family and friends. Behold: the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo! I have no time to tell you my somewhat embarrassing reactions to these marvelous acts, but I’m sure you understand.

It seems awful that I’ve lived in Nova Scotia my whole life and have never seen the Tattoo. As my dad jokingly said, “You’re deprived.”

He’s right.

With all the tourist-y pomp and circumstance that Halifax is known for, and the self-deprecating humour that Canadians are born with, I was slapped in the face with all sorts of things I love. Bag pipes, fiddles, spectacular costumes dating from 1812 to 2012, humourous acrobats, Mounties, and hunky sailors were all displayed in one grand show of music, dance, art, acting, acrobats, comedy, fireworks, and muskets.

The cast hailed from Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, France, the UK, the US, and of course, Canada, and the audience from just as far (or close.)

As the title says, I laughed (parody of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by an all-male acrobat group), cried (surprise wedding between two former Tattoo participants; reenactment of the RMS Titanic), and wanted to steal their clothes (the feathered caps and the dresses and the jackets and the shoes and OOOOH, won’t you please take your clothes off so I can have them?).

But I’ve rambled and gushed enough. Here are some poor quality photos (flash photography was strictly prohibited.)

Surprise wedding!

GIVE ME YOUR HAT.

*humming to self*

Gunner race!

Titanic reenactment…again with the fabulous clothing. Give me.

-Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Website

The Ice Breaker

With so many new followers stemming from Claire’s guest post, I thought it might be fitting to re-introduce myself!

My name is Libby, and I’m a Tudorphile and pleasure writer (write for my own enjoyment) living in Nova Scotia, Canada. Despite my extreme desire to tour England and other European countries, I love my little rural community and it’s hard to fathom someday leaving it.

I’ve been writing short stories and poetry for nearly as long as I can remember and am currently working on my first ‘serious’ novel. No, it’s not about the Tudors, but the Tudor era is a large influence on the culture in the world I’ve created — especially the art and music components! Lately I’ve been listening to ‘Greensleeves’ to help me visualize. Here and there I’ll be sharing bits of my writing and my writing process.

I first became interested in Anne Boleyn and her sixteenth-century fellows when I saw a commercial for the show ‘The Tudors’ in 2010. I had to know more about the women the commercial portrayed — how many wives did this guy have, anyway? I wondered. Turning to Google, I was introduced to the six women who were married to Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn immediately commanded my attention, and I practically ran to the library and borrowed every book they had on the Tudors. At first I thought my interest in Anne was a phase, like my short jaunt with the Salem Witch Trials or Irish hunter horses, but it’s been two years and my intrigue is not waning in the slightest. My other two special Tudor friends include Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder and Anne of Cleves. My friends and family often are infuriated with me because I generally talk of nothing else, but they are probably at least twice more educated about the sixteenth century than anyone you might ask on the street!

Not only am I a Tudorphile, but I love clothes. I’m not sure why, exactly, because it’s a fairly recent interest. Fashion is an art, a way of expressing yourself without words. It can make strangers catch a glimpse inside your head as you walk by. It can make people point and laugh, or complain and grumble. The grumblier the better, I say. Once I sported a polka-dotted flowy tank top with a plaid shirt with a half-dozen necklaces. One of them was a Christmas ornament in the shape of a bird attached to a string. And earrings! I LOVE earrings: feathers and bangles and beads, oh my! I do have short hair, which I adore, and strongly recommend it for any woman or girl who is fed up with the uncooperative knot that is long hair.

One of my recent interests is the story of Tristan and Iseult/Isolde. It’s among my top five love stories (others are Peter Pan and

Tristan and Isolde/Iseult as depicted by Herbert James Draper.

Wendy Darling, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and Shakespeare and his pen) and is just one of those tragic, yet adorable, things.  

Other interests of mine included the friendship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and the cricket team the Allahakbarries. I enjoy classical, pop, folk, country, and Gaelic music, and respect any one with a remotely musical ability (because I have none!). When I’m not writing, I’m reading: history books and fantasy are the two genres I dwell the most in, but I’m always trying new things. I’m a Harry Potter and Hunger Games fan. Someday I would like to get a tattoo, though I’m not sure I’m brave enough!

I’m still a new blogger, so bear with me while I get grounded securely into Blogland. Thanks to those who are following me, and I hope you continue to do so!

So, that’s a little about me. Feel free to introduce yourself and break the ice, I want to get to know you!