Carol and Tracey Freak the Freak Out

OK so earlier Tracey called to make sure I knew Diana had commented on my birthday post... and we were both on the phone giggling and congratulating ourselves on being masters of the universe (totally ganked that line from Titanic.)

And we were still on the phone when we realized Diana had linked to My Outlander Purgatory on her links page. You have no idea how exciting that is for me. A year ago I found out my neighbor's mother in law had done some work with Diana in Arizona... and I had hopes that some day Diana might just hear about the blog. Just HEAR about it. And I freaked out then, saying "Oh my gosh - maybe some day she'll hear about the blog!"  So today... to see her comment...AND to see that she thought enough of us to link to us on her site... wow. Just... wow. 

And I figured I'd never be able to explain to you how excited I was. And Tracey was. Until Tracey sent me this picture of herself freaking out at work. And until I realized my 6 year old son, Ian, was wandering around the house, making a video with his new camera. And do you know what that means?? It means my freak-out was recorded. Complete with my daughter yelling "Be quiet! Be quiet!" SO funny.

So without further ado... I give you... myself... sounding like.... an IDIOT!

PS - Please ignore my messy house! Had I known we were filming, I'd have spruced up a bit!

NEW Diana Gabaldon Website

Hey lads and lassies! Quick! Get over to Diana Gabaldon's totally re-designed website pronto! It's verra cool indeed.... and guess who made the links section??

WE'RE NOT WORTHY! WE'RE NOT WORTHY! WE'RE NOT WORTHY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANA GABALDON!

Just want to throw a monstrous HAPPY BIRTHDAY out there to "Herself" - Diana Gabaldon - founder, author and patron saint of the Outlander series.

We hope you have a fantastic day... and we will totally understand if you need to stop writing for a little while to celebrate your big day. :)

Là breith sona dhuit!!!!!!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat Tonight - 9PM Eastern! I may be a few minutes late - trying to make a meeting in my town tonight at 7:30...but hopefully I'll be back with time to spare! See ya then!

We Interrupt this Outlander Blog...

Methadone SPOILER Alert: Dinna read unless you have read "Green Darkness" by Anya Seton.

I finished "Green Darkness" by Anya Seton today... and I just have to talk about it. How I made it all the way through the book without ranting is beyond me. I thought to do it a few times and then thought "This is an Outlander blog! They don't want to hear about this story!" But now that I'm finished, I do want to post my synopsis for those of you who have already read and love Green Darkness.

Seriously - if you haven't read the book - but you plan to - don't read this. This book would not be nearly as interesting if certain things were revealed. I stumbled upon one of the historical aspects which totally gave away a large part of one storyline... but luckily it wasn't too upsetting because it made sense and was sortof a natural progression. But because the very plot of this book is so suspenceful until the very end, I fear it would just make the journey so much less enjoyable.

OK - on to my synopsis...

I loved it. Absolutely LOVED it. Yes there are a TON of historical characters described. Some are described in two sentences... while others are described in two pages or more. But Anya Seton was a stickler for factual content - and did a ton of research long before the internet was available. And I was amazed to find so many locations that still stand...  from Ightham Mote... to the Spread Eagle Hotel... to Cowdray House... they're all there... exactly as she described them. Well some more upright than others...but still. These places were/are real.

I really enjoyed most of the storylines. While it seemed a bit off that Celia and Richard lived at Medfield Place... while Stephen never lived there after he was a boy... I finally accepted it and realized how poignant it was. Why? Because that's where Celia and Stephen belonged. During the last quarter of the book, I kept hoping that Julian was going to be able to change the past... and get to Stephen and Celia in time to save them and save their undying love for one another. And I kept thinking how wonderful it would be if they could go to Medfield... live in a little cottage near Tom and Nan... and raise their baby amidst family... and love. Although that was not meant to be... it WAS meant to be for Richard and Celia... and for that I was extremely grateful.

I was thrilled that Edna bit the dust in such a horrible manner... however it should have been Emma...and I felt a bit robbed. But better late than never, right?

I loved that Igor was Simkin... figured that out as soon as he started telling Celia "oh no you di'nt" when she was suggesting red and gold (I think?) for her dress.

Although Ursula got on my nerves a few times (girl PLEASE... you have to make poor Celia marry that bag of wind when you found her with Stephen?) I always understood her motives (c'mon now Celia... t'isn't decent to be rolling around with a monk in the 16th century, know what I'm sayin'? Many people could be offed because of your actions.)

I knew Magdalen was Myra - so that was no shocker. But am I the most ignorant dumbass on the planet that I couldn't figure out Anthony was Harry?! That truly threw me for a loop! Most likely because Anthony had such a huge role... while Harry was barely mentioned. Wow. Just...wow. 

When did I cry? At the end of Part 2 - when Stephen and Celia were dead. Not because they were dead, oddly enough... but because Julian left Ightham Mote with Tom and did absolutely nothing. I thought he was a spineless turd at that point. You KNOW she's in the wall.  He should have done something to get her out of that wall... or told as many people as he could... or die trying. Spineless, I say. And that Tom Marsdon, as well. He knew damned well something was up... and he did nothing to find out what. About his own BROTHER... who never got the chance to live happily every after with the woman he loved like YOU did, Tom. Oh no... Stephen was the one who had - HAD - to become a monk! You know what, Tom? Complacency can be a sin in my book. Run and tell THAT down at the pub.

What didn't I like about the book? Ok - I'll admit - I wasn't happy with the ending. I felt we, the readers, deserved more than just a quick little description of their remarriage in Medfield. I wanted fireworks. I wanted a profound scene of crying and snarfing and pronouncing undying love for one another. And I didn't get it.

Everyone who reads Green Darkness will warn you "there isn't much romance"... and they are telling the truth. Yes, there is a totally star-crossed, undying love throughout... running in the background... like MacScan has been running in my MacBook's background the entire time I've been typing this. But there is not much in the way of communication between the two star-crossed lovers... and not much in the way of nookie, if you know what I mean. Clearly my love for Twilight shows I am perfectly fine with little to no hay-rolling... providing the characters are able to be together and you can feel their undying love right through the pages. And there wasn't much of that, either. But for some reason, I was OK with that. Most likely because I had a ton of respect for Stephen's convictions... and it almost would have soiled the book - or made his undying love for the Catholic Church seem less great - and that would have been a great detriment to the plot.

Lastly (I think) I would have liked to have seen more from Stephen's POV. There were times when I felt Celia was spinning her wheels and he really didn't care. Until girlfriend stood there topless after Wyatt attacked her (yes, Thomas Wyatt) and, well... let's just say Stephen must have been a boob man because Jesus and the Saints sortof fell out the window at that point.

OK - I must wrap this up. Here is what I have to say. If you love the historical aspects of Outlander...and you love Tudor history (namely the reigns of Edward, Mary and Elizabeth)... and you love star-crossed love... you will love, LOVE this book.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Friends in Diana

Check out this article about book clubs in Crofton, Maryland... and friends who met through their love of Diana Gabaldon. Doesn't that just warm your wame?

R.I.P. Gerry Rafferty

My Outlander Purgatory friend, Carla sent me an email about Gerry Rafferty's passing - and included this song (along with Baker Street...and he also sang "Stuck in the Middle with You").  I hadn't realized Gerry Rafferty was from Paisley. That's where my husband's grandfather was from - and his family still lives there. Gerard Butler is as well. It's a great town; it was our home base on my last (and only, sob!) trip to Scotland.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat at 9PM Eastern, y'all! See you then!

Outlander Methadone: Where in the World is Roger Mac??

Spoiler Alert: Dinna read unless you have read "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" AND "An Echo in the Bone". 

I canna TELL you how much fun I'm having, reading "Green Darkness" by Anya Seton. I'm thinking Diana would definitely approve this for her Outlander Methadone List.

 What I'm finding most interesting, are the clues I'm getting about Roger, Buck and Jerry's whereabouts. Right now I have reached a part about  a group of people who are traveling from southern England to "the North Country" in the 16th century (Edward Tudor is in power...but not for long.) Check this out - this is when the group reaches "Cumberland",  just after crossing the "Trent":

Ursula felt only loneliness as they plodded miles without seeing a human, or even a shepherd's little stone cot. What houses there were had all turned gray and forbidding. There were no more luxurious inns - no accommodations except dearly bought garret floor space in farmstead. The language became incomprehensible, the food altered.

Wow. You should have seen me when I got to this part. They're worried about being robbed and no one speaks anything remotely close to the "King's English" they're used to. And all I can think is THIS IS WHERE ROGER IS!!!!

OK so let's review. This part of England is where Jerry was when he crashed...and when he walked through those standing stones, he time-traveled back to _____.  And then Roger went through and was thinking of Jerry (just like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man) and ended up there because of it. And speaking of standing stones...  I'm reading about some right now on page 248 of the paperback. Check this out:  They crossed the Eden by noon and continued North until they came suddenly upon a huge cluster of standing stones, many stones grouped by a huge pointed one, eighteen feet tall. This particular group of standing stones was referred to as "Long Meg and her Daughters" and it's really neat to read about online... so dinna forget to click that link!

OK y'all - I'm going back to reading now. I canna tell you how pleased I am that I've finally committed to reading this book. I'm enjoying it immensely during our long, winter's hibernation between Echo and Book 8.  I have also revisited the Dragonfly audio - and accidentally re listened to a section yesterday - but was glad because it made me pay attention to the fact that Jared looks a lot like his cousin, Murtaugh. Well howd'yelike THAT?! Maybe Angus MacFadyen could play Jared if ye dinna wish him overmuch for Murtaugh. Just sayin'... ;)

Auld Lang Syne from the Scottish Parliament

This is really neat. Even old Sean Connery, himself!

Happy New Year, Sassenachs!

Just wanted to throw out a big, ol' HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!!

I hope the upcoming year is full of good things for all - especially good, Outlander-related things!

This (very old & terribly scanned) photo was taken during my 2000 trip to Scotland. It is a "Drovers Pass" and they used to drive cattle through it. Tell me that doesn't warm your wame? It was taken during a day trip to Loch Lomond and Lock Fyne...and the Inveraray Castle in Argyll.

My wish for 2011 is that you - and I - get to plan some travel to Scotland - and experience the magic for ourselves. If you build it...they will come.

And if Diana writes it...we will read it. (Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner, anyone?)

Happy New Year, indeed!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Hey y'all - we're a bit snowwwwwed in here in New Jersey - but luckily, that won't stop us from having Outlander chat tonight! 9PM Eastern! See you then!

East Coast Winter Storm - Take 2

Last night at 11PM:

This AM at 8:00

After a visit from Mr. Snowblower:

 My front door this AM: 

  My front door now:

Dodge Revolutionary War Commercial

OK so there's a car or three in the middle of this thing... but I still found it to be pretty cool to watch. (And I saw a pretty tasty candidate for Black Jack Randall, too!)

East Coast Winter Storm

Wow - Tracey and I were supposed to go to a family party today...and you know what that means. OUTLANDER VIDEO. Wine-laden Outlander video at that! COMMA HOWEVER - we are both being battered by this crazy East Coast storm.... so we are now considering Skyping later. Hope everyone had a great holiday - and I hope all you East Coasters are all safe and sound in this crazy weather! Stay tuned...

Here it comes:

2 hours in:

5 hours in:

Merry Christmas, Sassenachs!

Check out this tremendous read about George Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas and surprising the Hessians who had celebrated a bit the night before and had no clue what was upon them. These men crossed a river full of ice in small boats at night....and then marched 9 miles - on foot - in a driving snowstorm....to defeat the Hessians in Trenton. Absolutely humbling. I will now shut up about the snowstorm that's headed our way here at the New Jersey shore today.

I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas (even if you don't celebrate - I'm still sending you gobs of happy Christmas spirit!) from My Outlander Purgatory. The best of wishes from our family to yours!

"A Tribute to All the Brave Souls Who Fought and Died Defending Scotland"

One of the greatest things I have seen on the internet in a long, long time. Many thanks to Lolly S. for commenting about the music of Albanach on the last post. They're tremendous!! And thanks to HeatherMac320 on Youtube. Awe-inspiring video. Hear Hear. Check out her youtube page. Girlfriend loves herself some Scotland!

Great Scottish Bands

I've been youtubing a bit today... Haven't had a free moment for a few weeks... and a change of schedule afforded me that luxury today.

So what have I been doing? Listening to Scottish bands. Old habits... yeah yeah. Enjoy.

Travis - "Why Does it Always Rain on Me?"  This is one of my playlists songs. I hear it when Jamie's at Helwater... and Geneva has just made her proposal... and you know he's just like "Oh come ON! WHY canna I ever catch a BREAK?!?" PS - Hot Scots; gotta love 'em. There's even a kilt. Melt. <3



I'll put more songs in other posts. Too many youtube clips make for a very slowwwww blog. :)

Colonial City in Context Walking Tour Philadelphia

This sounds ridiculously cool. I'm thinking MOP may have to plan something in the Spring. Although geez... 10:00 - 1:00? I hope they stop for lunch! ;)

Methadone List: My Own Personal Brand of Heroine

Heroin...Heroine...get it? :)

OK... I have some questions for ya:

1) I just picked up "Green Darkness" by Anya Seton - again. I suppose the third time's the charm because I'm finding it pretty intriguing. My question is: Has anyone read this book??  There is a character who is reminding me of Frank. And I'm dying to pick someone's brain.

2) Has anyone read "The Winter Sea" by Susanna Kearsley? It's getting 5 stars on Amazon - but from only 15 people...so who knows. It's about the 1st Jacobite rising in the early 18th century - and a woman in modern times who is writing about it. Historical Romance, y'all. Again - I'm intrigued.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Chat tonight - 9PM Eastern - Tracey most likely willna attend - or will be super late - but I'll be there!

Food from Fiction

You all MUST go and read this wonderful post - "Food from Fiction - Voyager by Diana Gabaldon" on IslandVittles.com. You won't be sorry. You can almost taste the food right there at your computer. Seriously. And who can resist a little Jamie and Claire dinner conversation?! Not me!!

Voyager Musings

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read VOYAGER. 

So lately I've been reading bits and pieces of Voyager while waiting in my car at the school parking lot in the frigid temps. And I have a few things to say.

1) Ever been reading Outlander and all the sudden - Jamie makes a comment - and you hear it in your head like Mike Myers in "So I Married an Axe Murderer"? And then you have a good, hearty laugh to yourself because it's so completely and utterly ridiculous? Because I do.

2) I have never been THAT big a fan of Bree (lordddddd the bitchiness) but I think a novella from her perspective - during the time her mother was gone in Voyager, while she was doing her own research and planning her trip to the past - would be verra, verra cool. This came about because Claire told Jamie that Bree knew about him.. and he was somewhat verklempt... and I wondered what was going through Bree's mind once she accepted the fact that Jamie was her father. She found the info about the fire.... and started planning her trip to the past... And while I realize she loved Frank as her one and only Father, don't you think there was a part of her that was proud as hell to be the daughter of THE Jamie Fraser? A man who lived in a cave for 7 years and gave himself up (for all intents and purposes) in order to get money to the people of Lallybroch? I would just love to get inside her brain at that point of her life. She must have been very taken by the mere idea of him - which would have been so romantic since he was 200 years old (give or take - I'm not being literal).

3) How friggin HYSTERICAL is it when Claire is on the bed in the brothel - totally wrapped up in blankets - hears a knock on the door - expects to see someone who is about 5 feet tall - sees no one - and then discovers that Mr. Willoughby is crawling toward her on his hands and knees? How effing HYSTERICAL would that scene be on film? Oh my god I almost tinkle whilst thinking about it. (Did I just put "tinkle" and "whilst" right next to each other in a sentence? Yes, yes I did.)

4) OK so duh -  I KNEW something was up in Voyager when everyone gave funny looks and said odd things about Claire being back (Ian in the brothel, for example). But holy crap - I am just realizing that Mr. Willoughby kept saying "FIRST wife! FIRST wife!" Ho. Ly. CRAP - HOW did I MISS that??? I mean - I noticed it - but it didn't give me any kind of revelation, like it clearly SHOULD have now that I read back. HOW did I NOT say "Oh my god - Jamie is MARRIT!!!!!" What a moron I am! Are you a moron, too? Please say "yes". I'd feel a lot better.

TREMENDOUS Review of THE EXILE in USA TODAY!

Check out this tremendous, high profile review of The Exile on USA Today!!!

PS: Dear USA Today:  "Frasier... really?"  (said with a head tilt).

Updated Photo of Angus MacFadyen

This photo of Angus MacFadyen (middle - brown blazer) was taken on Saturday on the set of the "Sugar" film in Venice Beach, California. Look at his cute little ponytail. ROBERT the BRUCE, y'all!!!!

Outlander Chat Tonight

I am not able to attend chat tonight but Tracey will be there and I'm sure she'll have plenty to say about casting, CARTOON casting and the like. I will definitely stop in if I'm home before it ends! Have fun!!

Tracey's Outlander Casting Choices: Cartoon Christmas Style

Kris Kringle as Jamie 

Miss Jessica as Claire

The Heat Miser and the Snow Miser as Colum and Dougal Mackenzie

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas as Black Jack Randall

Hermie the Elf as Lord John Grey

The Dolly for Sue as Jenny

Karen from Frosty the Snowman as Brianna

Tante Kringle as Mrs. Fitzgibbons

Cindy Lou Who as Laoghaire

Frosty the Snowman as Rupert

Others who I haven't assigned roles to yet:

Mailman from "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Yukon Cornelius

The Abominable Snow Monster

Jingle and Jangle

Film Suggestions

I keep forgetting to post some film suggestions from My Outlander Purgatory friend, Carla. She knows her stuff, let me TELL ya!

Older films/series:

North and South - BBC Adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell novel
Dorian Gray (2009)
The Buccaneers (1995)
The Governess (1998)

Upcoming Releases:

Red Riding Hood - March 2011
Jane Eyre - March 2011

Outlander Chat Tonight!

Outlander Chat - 9PM Eastern - I'm thinking we MUST discuss some of the FABULOUS casting suggestions everyone has been making since my post about Angus MacFadyen - and anything else you feel like discussing! See you there!

ANGUS MACFADYEN in Outlander?!

Y'all need to SIT THE EFF DOWN because I have to tell you something VERRA cool, Sassenachs.

OK so I told you I'm working with Village Entertainment on the blog for the SUGAR film which starts shooting TODAY - in about a half hour, to be exact.

I just got an email that ANGUS MACFADYEN - aka ROBERT THE BRUCE from BRAVEHEART -  recently signed on for a role. Angus MacFadyen - from Glasgow, to be exact. The man ROCKED in Braveheart. Can you imagine how great he'd be in Outlander?!?

I'm thinking MURTAGH, y'all. Originally I'd have said Angus is too attractive to play Murtagh. But once The Exile came out, and we got a look at Murtagh... Well... do y'all remember my reaction? "Murtagh...you're pretty smokin'!"

So here is my question:

Who do YOU see Angus MacFadyen playing in Outlander??

Richard Armitage as Frank and Jack Randall?

My Outlander Purgatory bud Carla sent in this suggestion... and I think it's fabu as this fellow is pretty scrumpdillyicious.   Richard Armitage from North and South... Spooks.... and Robin Hood - all BBC series.

He definitely has the ability to play both dashing and evil... so that's a major plus, right?! 


Richard Armitage Reading North & South (Birthday Video) from Spikesbint on Vimeo.

Outlander Chat Tonight!

Chat tonight, y'all. I have a feeling we'll be talking about Frank. LORDDDDDDDDD will we be talkin' about Frank. We all need to take the gloves off and leave our egos at the door!!! BWA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!

Let Me Be Frank....

I've gotten a few emails and comments about my love of all things Frank (snicker)... so I thought it was about time I blogged about the man. You know... 'cause he's such a great guy and all. (wink)

Here's the deal. Nothing is set in stone. Ever. This is how I feel about Frank... and how I feel about what Frank "knew".

Do I think Frank warmed up to the possibility that Claire was telling the truth after living with her and raising her daughter? Um... of course? Frank knew Claire to be a reasonable, responsible, honest person.  And she was mentally capable of surgery - whether it was at the hospital on a heart valve of a 70 year old man...  or at home on a splinter of a 6 year old girl. A girl she loved more than anything else in the world.

At some point, Frank MUST have said to himself "Well... I really don't WANT to believe this...but the woman is as sane as they come! How can it NOT be true?!"

At THAT point, I believe Frank started doing research on Jamie Fraser. Now... we all know what happened after Claire went back to the 18th century; she built a life with Jamie Fraser in North Carolina. And had a few adventures along the way in the Carribean... NY... PA....etc. And there HAD TO BE SOME RECORD of her life with Jamie Fraser....and their daughter, Briana Randall Fraser MacKenzie. And at THAT POINT, when he found those records, Frank decided that he'd better get Bree ready for anything that might come her way in the 18th century.

COMMA HOWEVER.... Frank was kindof bitter about Claire's love for Jamie. How could he NOT be? I would be... that is for damned sure. Was he a good and decent man for taking her in after 3 years when she was pregnant? Absolutely. Did he still love her? Absolutely - as we all know no mere mortal can resist the charms of Claire Fraser. (She's like RPattz in that way. ) But did he say to himself "I'll be damned if I'm going to just tell her that Red Jamie Fraser's friggin Scots ass didn't die at Culloden? Not s'fast lass." What's that word I keep using? Oh yeah.... Absolutely.

And that's one of the reasons I don't care for him.

I get that he didn't want to lose his daughter - or his wife - by telling them they had a whole other life in another century. But I am one of those annoying people who is sickeningly honest and just doesn't have it in her to lie. If that were my husband - no matter how much I loved him - I'd tell him what I knew and let the chips fall where they may. I am a big believer in fate... as well as that "If you love something, set it free" bullshiz. It would eat me up on a daily basis to know I had information that could potentially change someone's entire existence - and not share it with them. But hey; that's just me.

As for the other reason I never cared for Frank all that much... I just hated the way Claire was never very important to him until she was gone and wasn't kissing his ass 24 hours a day. And I don't care that it was the 1940s and that's how they did things back then. I just never felt a great love for Claire on Frank's part... more of a love of being catered to before she left... and a sense of obligation once she returned. Don't get me wrong... Did he love her? Sure. Did he know she didn't love him in that way? Yup. Which is actually a point for him, seeing as he stayed with her. But I just don't think he and Claire ever had anything remotely close to what she had with Jamie... and I wish Frank would have stepped aside all those years ago and told her Jamie Fraser was still alive.

And yes... yes... that would have opened a whole new can of worms regarding Bree. They would have fought over her and Frank would have told Claire she wasn't taking her back, yada yada yada. But that didn't happen so we don't even have to ponder it, ken?

Sooooo... that is where I stand on Frank. As far as what he "knew" about Jerry... I don't think he thought a thing of the fact that his plane was found near standing stones. They were all over bloody Britain at that point. It would be like me saying "Oh my god his car broke down near a 7/11! He must have traveled through time at the 7/11!" At that point when Jerry disappeared, Frank was still at war and hadn't even come home to Claire yet. He didn't know doodley squat about standing stones - other than a possible rumor about the fairies he may have picked up along the way. And lord knows he wouldn't have believed it. I think he knew Jerry disappeared... and felt somewhat responsible (see the part above about Frank being a good and decent man) since he was the one who sent him on his mission. He went to see Marjorie out of a sense of honor - not because he knew Jerry was trekking around 18th century Scotland with Buck Rogers.

That is my opinion today. However... as I said before...

Nothing is set in stone.

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows VIDEOS

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

Tracey will be arriving today... to partake in some turkey... and stuffing...

MY OUTLANDER PURGATORY VIDEO!!!!

Be afraid...

Get FREE SHIPPING at the My Outlander Purgatory SHOP!

Hey all - the holidays are coming for a limited time you can get FREE SHIPPING when you spend $30 at the My Outlander Purgatory shop! (Starts December 1st and runs through December 14th.) Take advantage of this offer and get some Outlander merchandise for someone you love!

Happy Birthday, Karen!

Just want to throw out a "Happy Birthday!!" to Karen who is the section leader over at the Compuserve Books and Writers Community. Karen has been a great friend to us over here at My Outlander Purgatory... and she is also celebrating 4 years of being an Outlander fan!  I can't imagine how much work she does over at Compurserve (I shiver to think, actually) and she is always very helpful when we're completely clueless about anything from Claire's love of herbs to Jamie's new-found pocket change (which we discussed at chat last night) to historical accuracies and such.

Karen tells a great story on her website, Outlandish Observations...about how she found the Outlander series...and how she went from not knowing a thing about it - to meeting Diana Gabaldon - and becoming the "Czarina of Traffic" at the Books and Writers Community -  a title given her by Diana, HERSELF.

This totally reminded me of last year when I first started blogging and found out my neighbor's mother in law has done some work (reading to the blind) with Diana in Arizona. Knowing Jean might tell her mother in law about the blog, I said "Wow - do you think Diana might actually hear of our website some day?!" Bwa ha ha! Oh I'm quite certain she's heard of us now...not sure what leads me to think that... could it be my BIG, FAT NOGGIN on screen making a complete ASS of myself at ComicCon?! ;)

So please join me in saying CONGRATULATIONS Karen!  And we hope you have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! :)

Outlander Chat Tonight!

Outlander CHAT tonight - 9PM Eastern! Major discussion on A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows, y'all!!

40 Pages is NOT ENOUGH!!!!

Sigh. I am in massive withdrawal. I read the entire Outlander series - each book, back to back.. all 7 in a row. And then.... there was nothing. For months. And then, there was "The Exile"... and it rocked. But it was a quick read and not really full of DWG (Diana Wordy Goodness. ) Then came A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows... and at once I was transported into three drawn-out days of pure bliss. And now... now there's nothing. Just a blackness... a murky gloom that is darker than it was before the new book came out.  It is as if someone gave me one crack pipe - after I had just gotten over giving up my ten daily crack pipes....which I apparently smoked every day for 10 years. 

Sigh. And I'm having phantom reading pain. For instance, tonight, the Giants are Playing the Eagles... and I just realized my hubby will be in front of the tv from 8:30 until possibly midnight. And I thought "oooh I'm going to go upstairs and read 'A leaf on...'...sigh....nevermind".

OH yes. I am in withdrawal. Lordddddddd the withdrawal...

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - Part Deux

SPOILER ALERT: DINNA read unless you have read "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows". 

OK here's the thing. I didn't mean "Why didn't Roger go WITH Jerry through the stones". I meant - Why didn't Roger go through the stones a few minutes after Jerry, in order to get back to his own time. He and Buck were clearly running away the uber-second that Jerry went through. So they didn't want to go through the stones at that point; they wanted to stay in the past. Why? I'm with Tracey on this - I think they're still looking for poor Jem who is wandering around in the mine at this point.

And you know what? I don't necessarily know that the fact that Jerry disappeared near standing stones would have made much of a difference to anyone in the 1940s; stone circles were all over the place in Britain. And most people either didn't know about the superstition, or thought it was just that; superstition. So.. when Claire said she went through the stones, Frank probably never even thought about Jerry's plane being found near stones.

Now HERE'S something odd... last night I watched Tristan and Isolde with James Franco (who I could have sworn was English and is actually from California!) Wow - talk about star-crossed love!!! Truly good flick - I highly recommend if you dig period pieces about the British isles.  It was set in the Dark Ages...and the costuming was spectacular.

Haven't read Songs of Love and Death yet? What are you waiting for?!?! :)

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows (and my horribly cloudy brain.)

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read (and loved...and scratched your head majorly at) "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows".

WTF, Y'all?!?!?!

I am confused. AND LOVING IT. But confused. Am I correct in assuming that Diana has TOLD US THAT ROGER WENT THROUGH with Buck in Echo....and went back too far...and somehow knew his father was hiding....and helped him get back through the stones to his own time?!?!

Here's what I loved: Here Dad, take one of my gemstones... I've got a bunch here in my satchel.

And why didn't they go through WITH him?? Or - not WITH him, to the 1940s - but right AFTER him to the 1960s?? Why would they have stayed behind??? Maybe just because those people were chasing them and they wanted Jerry to get safely through... and couldna go at the same thing. And what were those hillbillies speaking?? It wasn't the Gaelic... because Jerry knew/had some.  Holy shit - maybe...no wait, never mind. I was going to say "maybe they were in another country" but duh... they went through in Scotland.

The ending baffled me. And only because I'm anal and once I've made up my mind to something, I have a hard time veering away from it. Like...didn't Marjorie DROP Roger in the tube station during the raid? In this, she handed him UP to Jerry. Maybe Roger just forgot (the kid was what, TWO at the time? Seems to me his memory wasn't the best. Or maybe MY memory isn't the best, which is entirely possible...and why I occasionally put things like stuffed animals in the refrigerator or the milk in a cabinet... but I digress.)

WHAT AN AMAZING READ. I miss new Diana/Outlander so much it hurts me to the core of my being.

And how sweet was FRANK to Roger and Marjorie when he came to visit?? Because he felt guilty, y'all. GUILTY FRANK - what a new concept...NOT. I was cracking up like "See? Even MARJORIE HATES FRANK". LOL  Kidding...I get it, I get it. He's a good soul, even though I want him to be nothing more than a womanizing cheater.

SOOOOOOOOOO - shall we expect Roger and Buck to be missing in Book 8 because they're wandering around Scotland in some past century? INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!!!!!

PS - CONGRATULATIONS to Lesley who just had a baby a week ago!! And I have to throw out another CONGRATULATIONS to our other friend and new mom, ANGELA, who I am way overdue in congratulating on the blog!  We wish you and your new babies all the best and hope they grow up to be Outlander fans! :)

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows".

Ho. Ly. CRAPOLA. OK so I go into this book thinking a) it's just going to be a nice story about Roger's parents....and b) it's going to be sad.

WOWWIE MACWOWWIE was I wrong-a-mundo!!!!!!

Let me clarify: I AM NOT FINISHED! So PLEASE - no spoiler comments!!!
OK - so - Jerry (that HOTTIE) just went through the stones. Poor bugger thinks his head hurts from the crash... but not-sa-fast Jerry old boy... you don't know what you are in for.
And the most AMAZING thing is that *I* dinna know what he's in for, either! I have no IDEA what time period he's going to FIND himself in!

And why is THAT so huge - to the point where I'm annoying mySELF with all these CAPS and exclamation points?!?

BECAUSE ROGER IS GOING TO EFFING MEET HIM IN BOOK 8, Y'ALL!!!!!!!!!  I could NOT be more intrigued... or more happy with this book. So get your ASS to the store - or my AMAZON link - and buy A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows if you have not already done so, mmmmkayyyyy???

MORE LATER! I'm headed to the school parking lot....to READ, y'all!!!!!!!

Songs of Love and Death

Lads and Lassies - dinna forget to get your copy of "Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love".  Diana Gabaldon's "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" short story is included in it.... and is the tale of Roger Mac's parents.

Y'all - I just ordered it for my Kindle and will be starting today. I am giddy with Glee....and no, I'm not talking about that silly show where they break into song (although Tracey keeps trying to tell me they don't) with the rudedog gym teacher played by Jane Lynch (whom I love more than words can say.)

Get Well Soon, Aunt Helen!!!

Aunt Helen - our favorite Outlander fan - is in the hospital. :(  Please keep her in your prayers and send some healing Claire Fraser vibes her way!!

The FOUR verses of The Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner

(By Francis Scott Key 1814)


Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander CHAT tonight! 9PM Eastern. Tracey will be late (like, verra late) but I will be there on time!

New William Lawson's Commercial

Yum! I've never seen this one!  Look at his cat eyes! 

Rob Roy

Oh. My. God. Am I the only person in the Outlander universe who hasn't seen this film? It's spectacular!! It's set in the early 18th century Highlands. The landscape is not to be believed. And I just watched a scene between Liam Neeson and Jessica Lang that was Jamie and Claire perfection!! OK, OK... one or two of the lead accents aren't perfect (pronounced "pairrrrrfect") but there are enough true Scots talking in this film to make you giddy for a week.

GO. RENT. THIS. FILM!!!

PS - Oh my god - they just threatened Rob with "The Tollbooth"!!! 

How the SCOTS Invented the Modern World

My Outlander Purgatory bud, Stephanie sent in this AWESOME book suggestion and said it was "something we could all appreciate; Himself included." I have to agree!

Best. My Outlander Purgatory Video. Ever.

I just laughed right out loud in my kitchen when I saw this. And might I say, we usually take our parents to a nicer restaurant for their anniversary... but we had short notice this year. Oy. It looks like we're in Sizzler! Tracey was calling the decor "Early American IHOP". LOL! Enjoy!

PS - I FORGOT to mention!  The restaurant was a house that was built in 1780... and is called Willie's Tavern!! Apparently a fellow built it for his son when he returned from the Revolutionary War!  Run and tell THAT... Homegirls! :)

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander CHAT tonight! 9PM Eastern y'all. I am looking forward to a little Philly discussion - aka ECHO discussion - and anything else you feel like talking about! See you then!

Philadelphia Freedom

SPOILER ALERT: Ye may not wish to read this post if ye havena yet read An Echo in the Bone.

So the kids were off from school this week... and what better place to visit but the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. BEN Franklin, to be exact.

Now - I didna take the Liberty Bell tour... (I have a few times in the past) but I did get some decent shots of Ben's likeness...and some things that may interest ye.

And please note the name of the fellow who made the bust of Benjamin Franklin. One James Earle Fraser. Mmm hmmm.

Just click the pause button if you want to read the notes about the sculpture and tea set!

No Official Chat Tonight!

Sorry y'all for the late notice - Tracey and I won't be able to be at chat tonight. Tracey has a meeting and I am enjoying a visit from PattzR and The Bagipe Dancer (aka our Mom and Dad) - and would feel pretty rude blowing them off for an hour when they're only here for one night!

Please feel FREE to use the chat room anyway! We don't have to be present!!

Sugar

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Outlander babbling...

Just wanted to pass along a link to a new blog I'm working on for a project that is really near-and-dear to my heart. It's about an upcoming film called "Sugar"...which will be shot in LA and is about homeless kids and the struggles they go through to survive.

The film will star Shenae Grimes (90210), Marshall Allman (True Blood), Alex Meraz (The Twilight Saga films) and a few others who will be announced soon.

The blog will show the ins and outs of making the film...which I hope will spread awareness about homeless kids who literally don't know where they'll sleep tonight...or where they'll find their next meal.

Thanks y'all. I now return you to our previously scheduled Jamie Fraser obsessing. :)

CUZ I'M SCOTTISH!!!

Amusing video of a kid blowing the Scottish stereotype wide open. Enjoy!

Claire's Birthday Videos

Outlander Chat Tonight

TONIGHT! Outlander Chat - 9PM Eastern - Be there or be square!

Go Visit Blue MOON Magnolia and Get BEHIND Jamie!!!

Get your ass over (PUN INTENDED!) to Blue Moon Magnolia and see the AMAZING pumpkin carving she made of Jamie's...um...ASSets from Page 5 of The Exile!!!!!

(And I thought the Edward Cullen carving stencils were cool!)

Dragonfly in Amber - AUDIBLE STYLE!

Lads and Lassies - I am currently downloading Dragonfly in Amber on Audible.com - for free! Go check out their free download deal (if you've never ordered before, that is.) I am so thrilled because a) so many of you have told me it's better on audio during round 2... and b) listening is way easier when you're me. Have dishes to do? Grab the iPod!  Have to fold clothes? Grab the iPod! Have to check homework? Ok well maybe not then. But still... I hope to have a thorough and decent DinA post for you soon. Until then...

DAVINA, HERE I COME!!! 

Happy Birthday Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser!!!

Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday dear Claire...
Happy Birthday to you.

Skype video from Twitter Tracey and I coming later. Be afraid. ;)

Line Interviews at the WV Book Festival

Peacock flies to 'Outlander' - Entertainment News, Book Adaptations, Media - Variety

HERE WE GO, Y'ALL!!!!!

Diane and Charles in their Full Scottish Regalia!

Here is a very cool photo from another Diane who is a friend of My Outlander Purgatory - this one is from PA and is seen here with her husband, Charles:

"Diane and Charles at a wee Scottish wedding this weekend in PA.  We provided music on fiddle and clarsach (Gaelic for "Celtic harp"!)  It was a beautiful wedding and the whisky flowed!"

Awesome North Carolina Photos from Diane in GA

OK y'all - I have a special treat for you. Our bud Diane in Georgia has graciously shared some vacation photos with us... and I'll let her tell you in her own words what they are about. Trust me when I tell you; they are squee-rific!!!

They start with an old house in Salisbury, NC that was built in 1766. Kinda makes me think of J & C's house on the Ridge. Then come the pictures of Alamance. (The Fiery Cross) The sign for Tryon's camp is located 5 miles away. Next is Tryon Palace in New Bern. (DOA and Echo) Lastly, is Moore's Creek Battlefield. (ABOSAA)

My extra special thanks to Diane for taking the time to upload all of these to a separate Flickr page for me (and no worries that some are sideways, etc. It's all good!)  As someone who does a ton of uploading and photo editing, I TOTALLY appreciate it!!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight - 9PM Eastern, y'all.

Diana Gabaldon in West Virginia: JE SUIS PREST, YA'LL!!!!!!!

OMG. GREATEST. PHOTO. EVAH!!!!!

Nikki is still gallivanting around West Virginia with Diana (where she was appearing at the West Virginia Book Festival) and WE ARE NOT WORTHY because she sent us this FABU shot of Diana wearing one of THE MOST AWESOME shirts I have EVER seen!!!

Here is a great shot of Diana yawning (and looking younger than my niece who just graduated from college, might I say) after a long day at the festival: 

And here is a shot of people waiting in line for Diana's autograph:

All in all, it looks like a tremendous time was had by all! But let me tell ya - I hope Diana can get some DOWN TIME soon! All this traveling would make me batty!

I want to throw a HUMONGOUS "Thank you!!!" out there to Nikki for being SO INCREDIBLY KIND and sending us these photos. You ROCK, HOOKA!!!

Diana Gabaldon - Hangin' with Nikki in West Virginia

Listen up, Hookas! "Herself" is visiting the lovely city of Charleston, West Virgina this weekend and is enjoying a little girl time with our tremendous bud, Nikki from the Official Diana Gabaldon Homepage on Youtube.

Nikki has been cool enough to take some photos for us... and Diana has been gracious enough to let her!

Do I feel slightly stalkerific posting these photos? Nah. Since I'm home on a Saturday night, I'm just living vicariously through them. Ahhhh how I love a good glass of vino.... it does not get any better than that! (Especially when my hub is out getting us frozen yogurt!)

And Post Scriptum - might I say this woman defies all laws of nature? LOOK. AT. HER. Jesus she's like a friggin LANCOME ad. It's maddening! Now - not only do I want her to write me "Claire's Book of Natural Remedies" but I ALSO want her to write me "Claire's Tips on How to Appear 30-Something When You're RUMORED to be 58"!!!

Traveling with 'Outlander' author Diana Gabaldon

Great article from the Charleston Gazette. I am so conflicted. On the one hand, I'm like "Yes, Diana, go home and WRITE!!!" and on the other, I'm thinking "I can listen as long as you can talk!"

Talk about a great college professor. She must have been so much fun in class.

"RT Book Reviews" Interview with Diana Gabaldon at ComicCon NYC

"The Birth of the Kilt"

Just got this from Joy (DeltaTN) and it's a wee bit HILARIOUS!! Enjoy!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander CHAT tonight at 9PM Eastern. Hmmm.... wonder what we'll talk about?

Our Trip to ComicCon to meet Diana Gabaldon

For those of you not inclined to watch the videos... (I can't imagine why! wink)

Tracey and I went to ComicCon in NYC on Friday with Jenn M and Shannon, our partners in Outlander crime. We dressed in shirts from the My Outlander Purgatory Shirt Shop - and I have to send a special Thank You to Shannon for not only finding us the $11 "kilts" at Target, but also designing AND bedazzling her own shirt. She's got a future in design (H&M, perhaps? LOL)

We flew through the drop off line  at school - hightailed it into the city - and felt a little strange in our "costumes" while walking to the convention. COMMA HOWEVER - we felt MUCH better when we got around the corner from the Jacob Javitz center and saw Captain Marvel and his wife Wonder Woman pushing their baby, Superman in a stroller. Our "costumes" paled in comparison.

The Javitz center is huge and after some maneuvering, we found ourselves at the door to the room where Diana Gabaldon was going to give her presentation. As people started flooding in, we were able to meet a TON of friends from the internet who participate in daily antics and hijinks with us at My Outlander Purgatory. Deb, Susan, Lady Jane, the ladies from Outlander Book club, PCost, Sally, Aida, Marlene, Erin, Brandy... the list is endless. As we were all getting to know each other in person, "Herself" walked in with the Editor of The Exile, Betsy Mitchell. I'll be honest; we were all a little starstruck.

At this point, Betsy Mitchell comes over to Tracey and me... and proceeds to tell us she saw our Exile video and thought it was really funny. My first question "Gulp - WHICH Exile video?" Lord knows WHAT I might have said in any given video. And it's always an odd feeling when someone tells you they saw your video in the first place. You make the things in the kitchen half the time...with no one else around to watch...and you can't really wrap your brain around people actually viewing them.  At any rate, we had a great conversation; Betsy is an absolute hoot and a pleasure to talk to. Then people started heading into the room. As Diana is walking in the doorway, I notice she's talking to Tracey... and I (quite foolishly) say "Hi. I'm Carol. I go with her" and point to Tracey. Really? REALLY Carol? "I go with her"???  I know, I know... quite underwhelming. (You should have seen me when I met John Taylor from Duran Duran in my 20s after loving his band for so many years. All I could spit out after 20 years of fandom was "Great show!" Not too cool... but I digress.)  I'm a better typist than talker, I suppose. Believe it or not, I'm actually a little shy. (Snicker. Stop laughing. It's true!)

OK - let's move on - Diana and Betsy gave a fantastic presentation about The Exile. How it was made - what it was like to work with Hoang Nguyen - what kind of changes were made to the original sketches, etc etc. I was like a little kid at the movies for the first time. I just sat and stared and took it all in. When you're as interested in a book series as I an in Outlander, it's an indescribable feeling to listen to its author discuss its making... and the making of its visual form. I was in heaven.

At the end of their presentation, they had a little treat. The played a fan video that showed two fans' reactions to some early excerpts of The Exile. It was a lot of fun to watch... and probably would have been even more fun if I wasn't CRAWLING UNDER MY SEAT IN HORROR because the big noggin on the screen was MINE!! No seriously - it was an unbelievable honor to watch Diana Gabaldon enjoying one of our videos. That's the ultimate honor, really... and it was thankfully bestowed on us.

AFTER the presentation, we all went upstairs to get our books signed by Diana. Her signing line was the largest in the Javitz center (poor Richard Hatch) - which wasn't odd as The Exile is the best selling graphic novel in the country, let alone the convention center. While in line, Tracey and I were asked to give an interview to Random House - and enjoyed every second of our 15 minutes of fame (make that 12.) Diana signed my book "To Carol (filmstar!)" and I cannot tell you how great that made me feel. Even though I wasn't capable of forming many words,  she still made me feel special.

OK - SO - after this we all went to dinner at St. Andrews in NYC - and a special THANK YOU goes out to Sheila from Compuserve for arranging this. We were sitting there enjoying libations with other fans when "Herself" - Diana - walked in - and we were all shocked/thrilled/humbled that she'd actually choose to have dinner with the fans. At this, antics and hijinks ensued at our table (see my pitiful attempt at jokes from the videos for reference) and a great time was had by all.

Later in the evening, when it was appropriate (and the poor woman wasn't trying to actually eat her dinner) we approached Diana and gave her a shirt I had made for her. It said, simply, "Herself" on the front... with myoutlanderpurgatory.com on the back. She stood there and listened to a group of us tell her our stories for a good long while... and I cannot tell you how that made me feel. To have someone whose books are so important in your life actually care about what you have to say is a breath of fresh air in a world where almost everyone is too busy or too important to bother with the likes of us.

Sooooo - that is my (very long) story about meeting Diana Gabaldon - and I wouldn't change a thing. She's truly an amazing woman and I look forward to her future works with an eagerness I canna even describe, lassies.  If she writes it - I'll read it.

And that's all I've got to say about that.

My Outlander Purgatory Meets Diana Gabaldon at the 2010 NYC ComicCon

We're Not Worthy!

We have met Herself. Seriously guys... Diana Gabaldon is ridiculously friendly to her fans. And as Tracey so eloquently put, "patient". She came to dinner..even though there were 45 people there (which would have scared the pantalones off me if I were her) and talked to everyone. She let a million people take photos...and graciously listened to all of our stories about why we love Outlander. Oh and by the way... She is stunning. Literally...stunning. More later...with pictures. :)

Diana at Dinner

Just had to let you know we are at dinner at St. Andrews in NYC and "Herself" - Diane Gabaldon - is here. More later!!!

Scottish Halloween Costume

Got this from Diane in GA. Holy crap I laughed right out loud!

Do you think your husbands or boyfriends will be interested in wearing this? Something tells me.. um...NO! LOL!  Can you even imagine walking into a Halloween party with someone dressed like this? I'll tell you one thing... he'd better have the pects to go with it! ;) 

Danny Bhoy - Visitor's Guide to Scotland

Heard about this today from my friend Hugh from Scotland.  It's really funny. Careful at work or around kiddies; it's a little colorful in spots.

Outlander for Kindle FREE on Amazon!

SPECIAL BULLETIN: Outlander for KINDLE is now FREE on Amazon!  And apparently there is BONUS CONTENT - I'm told it's A Reader's Guide to Outlander" by Catherine MacGregor!

Thanks to Amanda for sending this in!

Druidry recognised as religion in Britain for first time

What does THIS remind you of?!?