The Nine Greatest Words Ever Spoken:

"I 
mean 
to 
take 
my 
time 
about 
it, 
Aye?"

America the Beautiful (and apparently stinky in 1767)

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've finished chapter 7 in DRUMS OF AUTUMN.

OK so we're on our way to Cross Creek on a small boat which Jamie abhors. Why Claire isn't just shoving the needles in his neck without even asking is beyond me. He's going to be green in about 2 seconds. If you've never been seasick, you truly have no idea just how god-awful it is. It's like taking the worst nausea you've ever had and coupling it with the worse fear or panic attack you've ever had... and then asking someone to spray you ever 15 seconds with a spray bottle. But I digress...

One of my favorite Jamie lines: "What is it-has the spiced crab given ye flatulence?" Oh how I giggled at that.

Why is everyone so damned stinky all the time? I know, I know... it's the 18th century. They didn't exactly have Mennen Speed Stick. But - at some point - don't you go "Oh god I reek!" and jump in the lake?? Or rinse yourself with some water somehow? I mean seriously. The layers of filth and grime are making me so sick - as is the constant sweat.  It just goes to show what a fantastic writer Diana Gabaldon is... because I literally feel sick when these people are sick or hot or hurt, etc etc.

QUESTION:  Was anyone as put off as I was when Claire and Jamie were sweaty on the rock, discussing Claire being master of her domain - and she says "Well I was a widow for two years, you know." Um, HELLO??? If Jamie made reference to his sex life while they were apart - she would flip. Oh poor YOU, Claire! You went without Frank's manly essence and la leche cocktails for two whole YEARS! Somebody give this woman a prize! I was really mad at her for saying that. And of course - good-natured Jamie  is too nice to say anything. Or too taken with the realization that women also occasionally may take a solo trip downtown, if you will. (As Tracey says, how cute is it that Jamie is 46 years old and still learning about sex. Absolutely adorable.)
Did that bother anyone besides myself? 

OK and might I say - the grave is killing me. KILLING me. We're veering a little too close to that "Jamie Fraser is dead" feeling again like way back in Dragonfly in Amber, and I'm no happy with it at all, Sassenachs.

*Things I love so far:

*I loved when they were burying poor Gavin and they thought Stephen Bonnet was a ghost. Can't you just see that scene? Jamie, Fergus, Ian, Duncan... all yelling and bumping into each other like Scooby Doo near the wagon, only to find out it's some stinky Irishman who's been hiding all damn day next to a corpse? Oh holy hell I laughed at that scene. I loved Mr. Bonnet too, by the way. He's a great character. I hope we meet with him again.

*Roger Wakefield/Mackenzie has done an about-face and is almost as tasty as James Alexander Malcom Mackenzie Fraser, himself. I don't know when it happened, but he went from a nerdy, slightly anxious straight-laced guy to Hotty MacHottie, kilt-wearing, boner-hidden-behind-the-sporan-sportin', longish hair-raking MANLY MAN of the century!! I am thrilled to be reading about Brianna again. I cried when I turned the page and there she was, in 1969. I canna WAIT to see where this storyline is going to go. Will they go through the stones? I thank god that Roger can hear the buzzing and will be with her if she decides to go meet her father. *Thanks to Georgehernandez.com for the hot kilt photo.

OH and Tracey (My Outlander Mentor aka MOM) is telling me I will get to the point where I can see how the overall story is evolving - and it's going to make me feel like I did when I realized Claire and Jamie were going to age 20 years. So far - here are the possibilities:

Possibility #1) I'm coming to the realization that Jamie and Claire will never leave the South, let along the Colonies. I want them back in Scotland. I don't want them in America. Let me amend that. I'll take my Jamie anywhere I can get him - but I'd prefer Scotland.

Possibility #2) I'm coming to the realization that Jamie is going to die - and that Claire is going to bury him. I canna even consider that thought without losing my shite... so... next:

Possibility #3) I'm coming to the realization that I love Roger and Brianna almost as much as Jamie and Claire, so they're going to grab the torch and be the next hot storyline once Jamie and Claire end up swinging on a porch swing? (Please dear LORD, let it be at LALLYBROCH!)

OK that's it for me. I'm leaving out so much but I really need to get reading. Later Sassenachs!

Scene Suggestion: "All I Want is You"

OK I just had a vision and wanted to share as well as get it written down before I empty the dishwasher or something and TOTALLY forget.

Imagine this - the witch trial scene. Slow motion. Claire and Geillis' wrists are tied up - and we're hearing "All I Want is You" from U2.  Jamie comes riding in on his horse - remember - all of this is in slow motion. The song makes the scene completely eerie as you're seeing various shots of the two women hanging by their wrists - Jamie flies off his horse and cuts Claire down... and the end of the song is playing where Bono is sceaming "All I want is YOUUUUUU.... all I want is YOUUUUUU..." and during the guitar portion at the end Claire looks over - sees Geillis' vaccination scar - their eyes meet, just as Geillis sees hers. Then Jamie whips her up on the horse - and they ride off...

Go listen to it right now. RIGHT FREAKIN NOW. And picture that. My god I can't wait for this movie. Somebody please tell me Randall Wallace is really working on this screenplay as I type. Please.

Drums of Autumn

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have reached page 5 in Drums of Autumn.

OK I'm peeking. Just a little. Had time for a quick snack and well.. I couldna resist taking a wee look. I'm only on page 5. Here are my observations so far:

Brianna is so coming over. Diana says the book has a lot about fathers - and thanks her own. Mmmm hhmmmm. Brianna is SO coming over.

LOVE the ghost prologue. Oh my god I love it so much I want to let it get to 3rd base with me in the back seat. I might have to type it out and put it on the blog so we can all pray to it every third Tuesday.

Getting a "The Other Boleyn Girl" vibe since this starts with a hanging, just like that did.

Not sure about the setting; Charleston, South Carolina. It's a beautiful area of the country, don't get me wrong. But I'm a Yank. And I have to assume this book is going to have lots of redcoats all over our asses in the years leading up to the Revolutionary war. And since my hometown borders Valley Forge, PA, I was kindof hoping for some stories of Jamie Fraser hanging near where I grew up, so I could take my local Sassenach posse on a field trip. I also figured we'd be seeing Jamie at the tea party in Boston.... but instead we're going to be subjected to Claire's shift being stuck between her breasts in  unbearable Southern temps. But dinna worry, lassies... It's all good.

Oh and speaking of Redcoats being all over our asses in the colonies, I'm thinking Diana shouldn't have killed Jack Randall. Wouldn't he be outstanding in that capacity?

PS - And speaking of Jack Randall and the colonies, this makes me miss Heath Ledger. :(

More fun with Jamie Santa!

If someone dubbed a Scottish accent on Kris Kringle I might just fall the hell over. ;)

Starting Drums of Autumn tonight!

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read unless you have finished VOYAGER!

Here is an email I just sent to Tracey, Jenn, and Shannon. Tracey has recently finished Drums of Autum. Shannon just finished Voyager last night (like a good little girl) and Jenn and I have been waiting to starts Drums with Shannon. There. You're all caught up. Now here's my email:

I am so excited about this (Shannon finishing). We can all chat. What did you think of the ending? I wasn't thrilled with Georgia - but - as Tracey said - it was nice to see them calm and at peace and Jamie not having to lie about his identity for once. I liked the hurricane...and dug the excitement of all of them holding on for dear life... but I thought the mast incident with Claire was a little unnecessary. And the fact that Jamie lost his beloved pictures because he had to save Claire made me horribly sad. They better bring Brianna to the 18th century so he can see her in person. What makes me sad is that he'll never see her as a baby again - even if she does cross over. SOB.

OH and I have a prediction. I was lying in bed this AM, thinking about Brianna coming back and if she does, who she'll end up with. I feel like there is only one possibility; Fergus. Which means DG will have to off Marsali. Not that I'd be too upset. She didn't win our hearts in Voyager. I just feel like Fergus is the only logical choice for Brianna. He's the only person close enough to Jamie to be good enough for her (in Jamie's eyes) and even that would be a stretch; Jamie will flip. I also think DG has made Fergus so special in our eyes for a reason. I'd WANT to get them together.

Sometimes it's more fun to predict than to know. When is everyone starting? I am headed to Target (anyone want to come?) and doing various things around the house today - so I won't be starting until later, if not tonight.

Tracey - hold off on starting The Fiery Cross as long as humanly possible. I think it's time we all get on the same page. 

*No Spoiler comments, please! THANK YOU! :)

Jamie Fraser at Christmastime!