Monday, May 30, 2011

Outlander Chat is Canceled Tonight

Chat is canceled this evening in observance of the Memorial Day holiday in the United States.  On Memorial Day, we celebrate those who have fought and died for our country. 

I'd like to share a link - to the Old Tennent Church in Manalapan, New Jersey.  The church was used as a field hospital during the Revolutionary War, after the Battle of Monmouth. 

Many years ago, I visited this church - on Halloween of all days.  My husband and I stumbled upon it...and were fascinated by all the graves and how they were in surprisingly good shape for being over 200 years old.  Today - while looking for a New Jersey Revolutionary War link, I stumbled upon the Old Tennent church's website and was floored to learn that it was started in the late 17th century by Scots who were either sent here as indentured servants...or came to escape persecution by the Stuarts.  (Yes, you read that right; by the Stuarts.) 

"The congregation was formed in 1692 by a group of Scottish Dissenters who had fled their homeland to escape James II's severe persecution for their beliefs.  It has occupied its existing building since 1751, and the structure has undergone little fundamental change.

This lovely church once served as a hospital during a celebrated engagement in the War for Independence -- the Battle of Monmouth -- which raged around it on June 28, 1778.  In that encounter the Colonial troops, under Washington's personal command, forced a withdrawal of the enemy which virtually ended Britain's military effectiveness in the northern part of the country.  See also:  More Historical Information and Stories of Old Tennent Church."




Sunday, May 29, 2011

A Shoutout to Joanne in Connecticut!

Yo Yo what's UP Joanne???  I am at my house hanging with my friend Lauren...and FOREVER ago she mentioned to me that her friend Joanne is an OUTLANDER fan and knows of our silliness over here at My Outlander Purgatory. 

Soooo...Joanne...you ROCK and I can't wait to meet you and discuss some JAMIE FRASER, girlfriend! 


Wednesday, May 25, 2011

AMAZING Articles about Scotland from The Guardian

Just got two amazing articles about Scotland from "Read the Book".  One compares modern day Scotland to 1707 Scotland...and the other gives amazing info about how the Scots language is coming back.

You do NOT want to miss these.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Great Chat!

Great chat last night lads and lassies.  I was even keeping up pretty well for a while there!

For those who weren't able to attend...we elaborated on a current discussion over at Compuserve.  Apparently people have been pondering the 19th century Fraser and Mackenzie tombstones at Lallybroch.  We also discussed people we are not fond of...and this is always fun because people disagree vehemently.  We had lots of simultaneous love and dislike for Roger...and lots of both lovin and hatin' on Jenny.  Lorddddd there's always plenty of lovin' and hatin' on Jenny!

All in all a fun time was had by all (I hope!)  See you next week!!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight y'all.  9PM Eastern.  See you there!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Outlander Wiki Page

WOW have you ever checked out the Outlander Wiki page?  It's quite extensive and yet still needs work. 


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Monday, May 16, 2011

Another Great Outlander Chat!

Thanks to everyone for a great chat tonight!  I especially want to thank Lord John's Gal Pal for reminding me of a great phrase in Outlander "unflagging joy" - and I am so sorry about my giggle fit!  It truly is a beautiful line and it absolutely makes the scene - and I hope you don't think I was being a wiseass!  You are so right - it really is the kind of comment that can make you say to yourself "Yup.  I'm in.  And I'm in it for the long haul."  :)

A Discovery of Purgatory

OK y'all - I have taken my "A Discovery of Witches" conversation over to a little side blog called "A Discovery of Purgatory".  There are spoiler alerts - so don't be shy.  If you're reading it, come ponder with me (no spoilers, please!)  And if you haven't read it, make sure you come visit if you decide to in the future!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight y'all.  9PM Eastern.  See you there!

Outlander the Musical Update

Received this today from Mike Gibb of "Outlander the Musical" fame:

Delighted to announce that New York based writer Jill Santoriello is to join Kevin Walsh and myself in developing the libretto for a stage version of Outlander The Musical, based on the hugely successful series of books by Diana Gabaldon. Diana is also very happy to welcome Jill aboard.

Jill Santoriello is best known as the writer of the book, lyrics and music for the Award winning musical A Tale of Two Cities, which was staged at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Broadway in 2008 and which recently enjoyed a two month run at the Hale Centre Theatre in Salt Lake City

For further information on Outlander the Musical and to hear song samples from the concept CD go to www.outlanderthemusical.com. The web site for A Tale Of Two Cities, where you can listen to samples of the music, is to be found at  www.talemusical.com

Mike

Sunday, May 15, 2011

We interrupt this Outlander blog...


Just have to say a few words about A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy). If you have not read it, dinna read further...because I am terrible at intelligently reviewing a book and I wouldn't want to accidentally talk you out of reading it! If you HAVE read this book, please don't post any spoilers!  I am a freak about spoilers.

Just starting Chapter 13.  I'm dying to read Diana Gabaldon's take on this book over at Compuserve...but it's full of spoilers and...yeah.  See the above statement for clarification.

I AM enjoying it.  Truly.  It's right up my alley.  But I must make the following statement:  WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG?!?  Jesus - when the main characters, Matthew and Diana finally get their vampitch on, it better be effing AMAZING.  Diana's looooong days at the Bodleian library at Oxford are about as warm as her relationship with Matthew.  OK so she finally had him over for dinner (smoked salmon and raw venison, my fave) and he finally kissed her (thank GOD) and it was purdy hot as I am already pretty stuck on Mr. Clairmont...but let's get this show on the road already.

The book SHOULD be the perfect storm for me:  Vamps, Tudor history (not as much as I'd like) and yoga - all mixed together.  (Yoga at the hot vamp's circa 1536 mansion for the love of all that's holy!  I get misty just thinking about it!)  And it is very much intriguing and beguiling.  Unfortch, what should be the trifecta of Carol's interests is just sitting here...teasing me...and making me beg for ACTION.  Which then, in turn, makes me feel like a 7th grader hoping for sneak peeks at Judy Blume's "Forever" (which I have yet to read as PattzR banished it from our house the second it came out.)

In short - I am enjoying A Discovery of Witches - but I am not (yet) bowled over.  But again - I'm only starting Chapter 13...and at that point in Outlander, we were just setting out on our journey with Dougal and Jamie if I recall...so I haven't thrown in the towel yet. 

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Outlander blog...

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Paoli Massacre

Just came across this video and wanted to share it with all of you.  This is the battlefield where the "Paoli Massacre" (which is mentioned in "An Echo in the Bone") took place.  It is special to Tracey and myself because we grew up in Paoli; it is our hometown.  




Monday, May 9, 2011

Outlander Chat TONIGHT!

Outlander Chat is ON tonight! 9PM Eastern! 

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Camelot Strangeness

OK so I'm sitting here watching Camelot...and the Outlanderisms are freaking me out a bit...and I just had to share.

When I saw Arthur and Guinevere traveling on horseback, along the river, amidst a breathtaking mountainous landscape...I said to my husband "Wow...this is so Jamie and Claire".  But I figured it wasn't enough to blog about.

When I heard Guinevere telling a story and mentioning the name "Artemis", I thought "Wow, 'Artemis'...huh."  But I figured it probably still wasn't enough to blog about.

But when a group of men stopped to look after a pained Philip Winchester - the best fighter in the group who was sitting and holding his shoulder - and one of the men had to relocate it?

I said "HOLY SHIT, I HAVE TO BLOG THIS!!!"

No...Philip Winchester isn't one of my top Jamie candidates these days.  But just like "Thor", this show is starting to make me salivate for an Outlander film. :)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Forty Five Project

All of you Outlander-loving lads and lassies - SIT DOWN.  Wait until you hear about this amazing project called "The Forty Five Project".  It is run by a woman named Judith Crow who wants to tell the story of the Jacobite uprising in a major motion picture...starting with Charles Stuart's arrival in Scotland in 1745 and ending with his fleeing the country in 1746. 

What a FANTASTIC idea.  Not only could this be a good, solid film...but it could also bring awareness to the Jacobite uprising of 1745 and the mass genocide of the Scottish Highlands that took place after the Battle of Culloden. 

Let's help Judith spread the word!!!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Brenda Novak Fights Diabetes and we ALL Win!

As the wife of a kidney donor and the sister-in-law of that kidney's recipient - all due to DIABETES - I am thrilled to share this wonderful story about author Brenda Novak with you. (Oh yeah...and there is a lunch with Diana Gabaldon. NOT TOO SHABBY, Y'ALL!)

SUGAR is now on Facebook and Twitter!

Hi Lads and Lassies!  I have some off-topic news today...but wanted to share with you all since we have so much fun over here in Purgatory...I thought you might like to know.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that have been working with the folks over at the upcoming feature film, "SUGAR".  I have recently been creating some online marketing for the film and would love it if you would come check it out and follow us!

Click here to check out SUGAR on Facebook...and click "like" if you are so inclined...and if you are on Twitter, you can follow The Sugar Film as well!

I now return you to our regularly scheduled OUTLANDER blog! :)

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Scottish Clans and Castles

Check out this awesome blog post by "Scottish Clans and Castles LTD" about the real Dun Bonnet.  And while you're at it, check out their post about last month's anniversary of Culloden

Glenrific!!

Sassenachs...seriously...you MUST watch Monarch of the Glen.  It's such an awesome dose of Highlands methadone...you willna believe your eyes and ears.

Tonight - in only two episodes - I have not only heard my fill of "wee", "och" and "aye"...but I've also heard stories about Bannockburn...The laird's ring (which - if lost - belongs to the clan that finds it)...and RED BONNET (Not Dunbonnet...but still verra cool).  Red Bonnet was thought to be a fairie who "steals into houses in the dead of night and leaves you a clue to what treasure is to be found...and then returns the next night to claim some supper as a reward."

There's even a fellow named Duncan who wears a kilt every day.

I PROMISE you, you will run screaming through your house saying "I LOVE SCOTLAND!"

PS - they also mention "The Big House"!!!

Win a Free Trip to Scotland!!

Carla has informed me that Frommer's is giving away a trip to Scotland!  You can enter once a day for the entire month of May!  Get crackin' sassenachs!!!


Monday, May 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Jamie...Video!

I am posting this against my better judgment.  It is - by far - the most ridiculous and sad little video we've ever made.  We spent much of it with a bad connection, delayed audio and subsequent talking over each other...but it was made with good intentions, right??  The last five minutes are the best in my opinion...and there mayyyyy be an appearance by a famous Facebook fellow.  Gotta watch to find out. ;)

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat is ON tonight! 9PM Eastern! 

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Happy Birthday Jamie!

Happy Birthday to James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser!!!!!