Resolutions, Sunday not-7

My review for Homicide in Hardback is up at Reviewing the Evidence

( What I got done (or not) in a month )

( Sunday (not) 7 )

Today I have 3 USF reviews to write, pay bills, return a phone call, do laundry, clean the house if I can stand long enough on my sore feet, and buy cat food.

Team Wench Privateer Feast 2009: Save the Treasured Chest

Last night was Team Wench's 8th Annual Privateer Feast, a raucous fundraiser for breast cancer research. The food was good, the entertainment (what I heard, because I was mostly in the raffle room) lively, and the take was FABULOUS: $11,000! That's only a grand less than last year's, and in this economy! *Kermit flail of joy*

Not enough compliments can be given to the food. Perfectly done rare roast beef, rosemary roasted potatoes, sauteed onions, mushroom ragout, and meltingly good chicken. There were over a dozen different desserts from puff pastries through lemon tarts to these mindblowing chocolate and kahlua shooters. (M was laughing at me, because at one point I had one in each hand and I'm not usually the drinking type at all. But OMGsogood!)

The entertainment was something that happened mostly in the other room; what I caught I liked (especially the "not Faire-appropriate" verses of "We Did, But We Don't Anymore" from the Pyrates Royale). Singers included Darcy, Ship's Company (tamnonlinear talks about them at the shantey sings), and the Pyrates Royale. I think there was another group, but I'm not positive.

Our raffle mistress this year did a mind-blowingly good job ( at organization )

(It went even faster on the second pull when everyone was moving as part of one quiet, efficient machine, although it was more *fun* on the first draw when our independent observers started us all singing old advertising jingles.)

I'd permitted myself a very small flutter on two things in the raffle, mainly a large black beltpouch. Although I hadn't been that attracted to it when our raffle mistress held it up in her living room, on the night, wearing a previously won pouch that was too small and realizing this one was large enough to be a hands-free knitting bag, I suddenly wanted it very much. At one point, M dropped by and asked if I could loan her a $20, and I said "yes, if you drop a ticket in the bag for that pouch." I was thinking "...out of that $20" but she dropped a single in right then - and she won! She was the biggest winner of the evening - even more big ticket stuff than Chort!* - getting the pouch, a moonstone necklace, something I don't quite remember (another piece of jewelry, I think), and one of the most-desired items of the evening, a 3/4 length purple wool cloak. People kept petting it as she carried it triumphantly off.

Because the pouch I had was purple and green, I told her I'd trade it for the black bag.

The evening ends with an announcement of the general size of the donation to be made and the Sailor's Hymn, with lyrics that have been particularly poignant for the last years:

We pray that the wars, and the tumults might cease,
For the greatest of gifts is a sweet, lasting, peace.



( * 'Chort'? )

(no subject)

The small weirdities of a reviewer's life: this year's Agatha nominees include a book I keep trying to read and not liking, a book I did read and didn't like, a book I adore in capslock, a book I bought and haven't read yet, a book I keep hoping I can get a free review copy of before I buy it, a book I would only take as a free copy, and a whole bunch of books I've never heard of.

Please Let This Be True!

prof_pangaea pointed me to this Telegraph article: The 37-year-old Dr Who actor and the entire cast of the RSC production are preparing to make a film version of [Hamlet] in June.

PLEASE GOD YES HOW CAN I ORDER A COPY RIGHT NOW?

I can't believe I'm this thrilled about Hamlet. I still don't like the play.

ETA: But is Andre the skull reprising his role?