Outlandish Observations 20th Anniversary Edition CONTEST

Listen up, y'all.  Karen's got a WAY cool contest running over at Outlandish Observations.  See details below!

The Prize:  An autographed copy of the 20th Anniversary Edition, signed by Diana Gabaldon (and inscribed with the winner's name, if you like).

The Rules:

1) Write a short (no more than 500 words, please!) description of what OUTLANDER means to you.  Topics may include:

• How did you find the series?
• What's the most interesting, amusing, or unusual experience you've had as a result of reading the books?
• What are some of your favorite scenes?
• How many times have you read the books?
• Have you tried to get other people to read the books?
• What do you like best about the OUTLANDER fan community?
• And anything else you'd like to say to Diana in honor of this 20th anniversary.

Feel free to add your own ideas, if you think of something I've left out.

2) Submit your contest entry:

• You can post your entry here on Outlandish Observations, by leaving a comment on this blog post.  (Please make sure to include your name and email address so I can contact you if you win!)
  
  OR
• By email, to Karen.L.Henry@gmail.com.  Please use the subject line "OUTLANDER 20th Anniversary Contest".  (And don't forget to sign your name.)

Please don't post contest entries on Facebook.  It's too difficult for me to keep track of them there.

Contest Ends:  June 30, 2011 at midnight Eastern Time.  The winner will be chosen at random on July 1, 2011.

Who is eligible?

Anyone can enter this contest, even if you live outside the US.  (One entry per person, please!)  I will arrange with the Poisoned Pen bookstore to ship the book directly to you if you win.  (The Poisoned Pen is Diana Gabaldon's local independent bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona.  She says they ship all over the world.)

For Diana

If there is enough interest in this contest, I plan to collect all of the entries and send them to Diana as a 20th-anniversary gift.  (Please don't mention this on Compuserve.  I'd like to keep it a surprise if I can.  Thanks!)

Questions?

If you have any questions about this contest, please feel free to post them here, or contact me.

And So it Begins

My DH is truly digging his 2nd go at Outlander.  They just left to collect the rents and Jamie and Claire will soon be married.

What is he hung up on?  The fact that Claire didn't seem to have much of anything on her person that would show she's from the future when she went through the stones.  I keep trying to tell him she had shorter hair (a long bob?) at that time - and wasn't a big jewelry person (other than Frank's ring)...but he's not buying it.  "Not a plastic comb in her hair?  Not a watch?  Not a pence or a pound note in her pocket?"

I told him she was just going up to the hill to pick herbs and it didn't seem odd to me that she didn't have any of those things with her (none that I remember, anyway).  I then told him when all else fails...suspend disbelief!

He also asked why Dougal would allow BJR to punch Claire in the stomach.  I told him a) "Dougal's a bit of a douche" and b) "Dougal didn't trust Claire either...and he certainly doesn't want BJR to think he's in cahoots with her!"  That seemed to do the trick.

Onward and Jamieward!

YES! Chat is on!

Chat is on at 9PM Eastern TONIGHT! 

A Whole House of Outlander!

IT HAS FINALLY HAPPENED!  My hub is reading Outlander!!  And LOVING it.  He tried last year and stopped after one too many mentions of James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser's hot bod.  But all these months of watching me chat on Mondays and listening to me wax on about Scotland's history (while HE'S of Scottish descent) has proved too much for him.  He canna have an Irish/Italian wifey knowing more about his heritage than HE does.  And let's face it, most of everything I know about Scotland, I've learned from Diana Gabaldon.

And so it begins.  Tom is at Castle Leoch and Claire is about to start helping Colum out by treating the sick.

And get THIS - I just heard him outside explaining the story to my 9 year old daughter.  You know, the pesky one who shows up in our videos from time to time, giving Tracey and me rabbit ears?  Yeah - that one.  Never has she asked her crazy-assed MOTHER about the story - oh no.  Just my own beloved Scotsman.  I love it!  You should HEAR him out there telling her all about the standing stones and Claire's time travel.  I wish I had this on video!!!

Stay tuned, lads and lassies.  This...is getting good.

PS - Amede - you might have to share chat with another man one of these days!  (We won't hold our breath, though...my hub still thinks the internet is a fad. LOL)

More Methadone: "Monarch of the Glen"

Lads and Lassies, I have something totally serious to say...so please listen up.  It may seem like a repeat, but it is much more heartfelt than anything I've ever posted about the topic in the past.

If you have not seen Monarch of the Glen, you are truly doing yourself a disservice.  It is absolutely Outlander Prep 101.  Not only does it convey life on a Highland estate - past and present - but it is one of the BEST series I've ever had the pleasure of watching.  I feel almost honored to be able to take part in such a fantastic story...and I know you will agree, being the massive Outlander fans you are.

Do not be fooled into thinking this is just a silly dramedy set in the Highlands.  My hub and I watched an episode tonight and I had to pause the DVD player so I could get a box of tissues.  By the time the episode was finished, I had gone through 6 or 7 at a minimum.

Please don't read the comments if you haven't seen this show...because there are bound to be spoilers.  Trust me - you don't want to know what happens.  The show is too damned good.

Notice there are no links in this post.  Whatever you do, I beg you NOT to make the mistake I did.  Don't go snooping on IMDB or googling the show and the actors.  You will find out things you'll wish you didn't know, a la Tracey and Echo.  Enough said.

Methadone Help: The Bronze Horseman

SPOILER ALERT:  I have just started The Bronze Horseman from Paullina Simons!

OK - so I just started The Bronze Horseman.  They have just made the announcement about Germany attacking...and Tatiana's family is wondering whether to send her brother away to avoid him being taken.

Can somebody please give me some mentoring here?  Because I am kindof bored (ducks).  And I'm assuming it'll get better and I know there's romance...but right now I'm a little "meh"...and I need someone to say "Nooooo...keep reading...it gets awesome."  Gracias.

PS - Just for the record - I never felt this way about Outlander.  I admit, early on you're a little "OK...yeah...mmm hmmm"  but I love Scotland, so I was pretty into it immediately. 

POST SCRIPT:  Years later, this post makes me giggle.  Not only did I LOVE The Bronze Horseman trilogy (and prequel(s))...but I have a blog for that, too.  :)  ENJOY!

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."

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! 

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.

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!!