Things We Need to Do

SPOILER ALERT:  Dinna read unless you have read Dragonfly in Amber.

I am doing housework today - and listening to a ton of Dragonfly.  And I'm realizing that it doesna matter if you rekilt; sometimes you feel just as strongly (if not more strong) about a subject the 2nd time around as you did during your maiden read.

I dinna agree with Claire in trying to stop Jamie from killing Jack Randall.  Frank is 200 years in the future.  As far as she's concerned, she's never going to see him again.  And she has no clue if she can change the future.  I can see if she was still in the 1940s...and living apart from him...but she's 200 years in the past.  LET HIM GO!  You're with JAMIE.  BE with Jamie.

I actually find it borderline amusing in spots...when Claire tries to save Frank:

Claire: Jamie, you can't kill Jack Randall because I won't let you...because of Frank.

Jamie:  Frank?  (Insert "huh?" face here)

LOL Jamie's like "WTF woman?  What the hell are you blathering about?"

And aside from Frank...I have a huge reason why I think Claire should drink a big, ol' cup of shut-the-fuck-up and let Jamie do what he needs to do.

He NEEDS to do it.

And why do I care that he needs to do it?  Because I've come across things people needed to do in my own life - and at the core of every person's being are the things they "need to do."  Allow me to elaborate:

11 years ago, my husband gave a kidney to his brother.  His brother has diabetes and his kidneys were shutting down.  And I remember the night he told me he was going to do it.  We were in the car, driving home from a family party.  My husband turned to me and said "Carol, I have to talk to you about something.  Don't get upset".  I knew - when I heard that last part - that it was something big, and something extremely important to him.  Then he told me he wanted to donate his kidney to his brother.  He was afraid I'd get upset and flip out and say "But what about you?!  What about our future kids?!  You might need it!"  And I could have.  But I didn't.  Because giving his kidney was something he needed to do.  So I sat there - quiet - and then said "OK".  And he looked at me in shock that I didn't put up a fight and said "Really?  You're OK with that?"  And I said "Yup" and changed the subject.

Let's put it this way: If I wanted to give my kidney to my sisters, no one - and I mean NO ONE would stop me.  And Claire should not try to stop Jamie from killing Randall.

Don't you love how we can take some of the most poignant moments of our lives and compare them to Outlander?  THAT'S why I love this series.

OK - back to listening...Davina, here I come!

Very "um, ew" Moment in Dragonfly...

I'm sorry...but did Claire just describe - in full, disgusting detail, a loogie, hocked by a foul fellow on the cobblestones?

Right down to the fact that it was GREEN. 

I am SOOOOO grossed out right now. 

And PS - oh for the love of god, woman - FORGET ABOUT FRANK!!!!!

Monarch of the Glen - Part Deux

OK so did I mention this show is about a laird?  I am watching episode four...and the laird is sitting in his study, deciding on a matter brought to him by two crofters in his community who are having a dispute over sheep.  I kid you not (no pun intended.)

"Sassenach" and "Culloden" have both been said again in episodes 3 & 4.

AND there was a sword dance.  In a kilt.

Pocket Laoghaire

Diane in Georgia seems to appreciate "the silly" as much as we do, cuz look at the hilarity she emailed me:

Monarch of the Glen: Better Late than Never!

Sassenachs...I am so excited, I dinna know what to do with myself.  I FINALLY watched Monarch of the Glen...and I LOVE IT!!  My husband and I watched the first two episodes of Season 1 tonight...and we both really enjoyed it.  WOW is it a Scots-fest of epic proportions!  If you've never been to Scotland...watching this show seems like the next best thing!  It's done in the Highlands and - oh my god - you will realize just how much Diana has brought the Scottish countryside and culture to life in her books when you see this show. 

A couple interesting points:

* In the first two episodes alone they said "sassenach" once and referred to Culloden FOUR TIMES!

* One of my favorite lines...  These two old buggers were setting up a battlefield of small figurines of red coats and Scots on a table; it was supposed to be Culloden...and one says something like "I'll be Bonnie Prince Charlie and you'll be Cumberland".  To which the other fellow replies "I want to be Bonnie Prince Charlie!"  and the first fellow says "that's because you're rather corpulent and fond of the sauce!"  I was HYSTERICAL! 

Seriously, it's SUCH a great show!  The characters all have their own interesting personalities... and the writing is tremendous.  The story sucks you in immediately in episode one.  I'm telling you, lads and lassies...this is a show that is not to be missed!  It's a little outdated in spots (it's set in the late 90s/early 2000's) but it is so fantastic, you won't even know what year it is.  It's very modern in some ways (cell phones) and very old fashioned in others (a town-wide cross-country style race that reminded me of the horse race for the bonnets in "The Quiet Man"). 

OK I'll stop gushing, but please...do yourself a favor and rent "Monarch of the Glen".  You'll feel like someone picked you up and plunked you down in the middle of the Highlands...with a new group of good friends.

Pocket Jamie Canna Resist!

Lifescapes: Scottish Moors

I canna BELIEVE I have never posted about this CD before.  I read the entire Outlander series while listening to Lifescapes: Scottish Moors.  It has ten of the most beautiful, instrumental songs that will melt your heart while Jamie melts your soul. 

Go here to listen to a preview of each song.

And Amazon has the CD used for .82.  Eighty two cents!  Can't beat that with a stick!

Outlander Chat TONIGHT

Outlander Chat tonight, y'all.  9PM Eastern.  Hope to see you there!

"A Discovery of Witches"

I read this article because it mentions Outlander (it's referred to as "Cross Stitch" here).  But I SQUEEEEED profusely at this article because it's about a book that seems to be about a romance between a vampire from the 16th century and a time-traveling, modern day "reluctant witch".  Is it real??? Could it be??? My FAVORITE elements: history...vampires...witches...the 16th century...time travel...romance - all seem to be tied up in a pretty little package and have fallen in my lap!

PS - The author - Deborah Harkness admits to being a huge Diana Gabaldon fan.  WORD.

Claire and Jamie: Get the Sensation

Spoiler alert:  Dinna read unless you have read Voyager.

(And dinna read if you are a prude. LOL)

So last night I read a wicked Jamie/Claire scene.  And by "wicked", I mean dirty.  And what was that?  A scene I like to refer to as "Bite the Berth" from Voyager.  Holy crap, I had forgotten how much I love that scene.  Claire is a dirty little strumpet!  Survey says:  LUVS IT!  She is all over him...and Mr. Stern comes by and won't shut the hell up.  And it's just so funny watching him try to put her off - then deal with her and decide to enjoy himself...as Mr Stern is droning on about Marsali.  And the whole time, I'm thinking "How can she even do this when she's burning up with fever?"  (Hell - I'd be burning up with fever just from eating turtle soup! Blech!)  She's got the cool breeze from the window...the heat of her fever...the warm covers on the berth...and HIMSELF all lovin' up behind her...LORDDDDDDD that must have been better than eating a York Peppermint Patty!  Can't you just hear it now??  "When I eat a York Peppermint Patty, I get the sensation of being up against the berth with James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser all up in my nethers from behind, with the blanket in my teeth and a cool breeze floating in from the port hole...".   Mmmm hmmm. Yes indeedy. I need MYself a York Peppermint Patty STAT!