The Birth of Our Laird!

From Tracey The Tweeter:

Many of you may realize that tomorrow, May 1, marks a momentous occasion of the year: the birthday of one JAMES ALEXANDER MALCOLM MACKENZIE FRASER!!!! 

So to celebrate, we Jamie freaks on the My Outlander Purgatory Twitter feed thought it would be fun to see if we can make #BirthofOurLaird a trending topic tomorrow. If you're on Twitter, all you have to do is tweet a birthday message or whatever, followed by a hash tag (#) and BirthofOurLaird. I don' t know how many tweets you need to get a topic to trend, but it will certainly be fun to try. In any case, spread the word amongst all the lads and lassies you know, and then tweet, tweet, tweet!

Carol and I will also be making a celebratory video, and there will be whiskey involvement. Should be interesting...

The Perfect Storm

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 44 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

I've GOT to go read. But I just HAD to point this out: William is wearing not only the bear claw... but ALSO Jamie's rosary. Are ya KIDDING??  Wow.  That's awesome. He is the son of JAMIE FRASER and by GOD he will be what he is - no matter how much the world lies to him about his parentage - A FRASER. 

I am going to repost my comment from yesterday's post here because I think it's worth mentioning:

Lassies - I am of the firm belief that Swiftest of Lizards is not Ian's biological child. Ian would have done the math and you couldn't have dragged him away if that were the case. However - I think it is VERRA important that his ex mother in law (who, oddly enough, I don't have a problem with) said the boy had Ian's spirit. As far as I know, the spirit is extremely important in the Native American world. I plan to research this as I find it fascinating. 

And Tracey wants me to mention that she referred to Sun Elk (was that his name?) as "F*cks with Your Wife" before I referred to him as "Ass Who Steals Wife of Odd Scottish Indian".

ALSO - holy hell - chapter 44. With the stinky foot and Mr. Dick - "Her Do It".  I had to stop myself from giggling profusely in the Ophthalmologist's office this morning. SO FRIGGIN FUNNY. There was only one person missing from that scene who would have brought even MORE hilarity to it: Jamie. Seriously - I was dying.

And I'm also dying over the fact that this book is finally starting to come together. And I'm scared. Not only because it's over soon - but also because I can now see how all of these storylines are going to intersect. And for the first time since Drums of Autumn, I'm starting to wonder if Bree will once again go through the stones to try to save Claire and Jamie. It's all going to hinge on the letters. If she reads them all - and they're still not out of Fort Ticonderoga, I'm thinking she'll go back. And holy hell - the Hunters are now with Jamie and Claire. And I have said from before I ever opened this book - William and Jamie are going to find themselves on opposite sides of each other on the battlefield. And Jamie said he would not fight his son. So I canna IMAGINE how this is going to go down.

OK that's enough for now - MUST go read. I'll keep you posted!

Something Wicked This Way Comes

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Chapter 41 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE.

"It's not hell after all, then-only purgatory. What's another thousand years?" 
How much do I LOVE when DG talks purgatory?? (Or Stephenie Meyer, for that matter, but that's a comment for another blog.) I don't know why I love the concept of purgatory. God - that sounds terrible. It's not that I love the concept.. it's that I'm intrigued by the concept. I always wonder if maybe this is purgatory... if life is purgatory. And when it's all said and done - we either go up - or down.

How much do I love William and Ian hanging out together (I say "hanging out" as if William wasn't on his deathbed the entire time)... Ian calling William "Cousin"... kindof rolls off the tongue like Henry Ian Cusick saying "Brotha" in that sexy way (LOST was a repeat the other night and I was NOT happy).  And how much did the bear claw necklace make me go :O  <---- That's a shocked face for those of you who haven't been schooled in dorky emoticons like myself. And he put it right on. Because he is the son of the Bear Killer and will most likely/hopefully kill his own bear one day.

I'm wondering lately if Lord John will make it through this series. I have to wonder if Jamie will some day take ownership of William and get to be more than "my dad's bud who is tall and lives on the Ridge". NOT that I want to see Lord John meet his demise... but... I dunno... it could be kindof a cool storyline. Let's be honest.

OK so I'll admit it. I was more than thrilled to hear Ian tell Em - Em -  Satin's spawn - that he was going to Scotland. Here's what I have to say to her at this point in the series, if I may quote Billy Bragg:

Goodbye and good luck to all the promises you've broken
Goodbye and good luck to all the rubbish that you've spoken
Your life has lost its dignity, its beauty and its passion
You're an accident waiting to happen. 

She doesna have one ounce of my sympathy for her sad little life. She made her bed when she married "Ass Who Steals Wife of Odd Scottish Indian" and now she has to lie in it, doesn't she? In the words of Tony Soprano's mom, "POOR YOU".  And when she asked Ian to name her daughter? OCH! That took all the MMMPPPHHHHMMMM I could muster not to jump into the damned Kindle and punch her in the nose. Ian took the high road on that one, too. Although I must admit -  I do think I dig her son - what's his name - Fast As Shit Lizard or something like that (forgive me but I'm too afraid to search "Lizard" on the Kindle for fear it will come up a zillion times and then I'll know he's in further chapters. I didna come this far - 53% of Echo - to get spoilers now!!) I think he and Ian would have a relationship like Jamie and Fergus (sighhhhh Fergus... havena thought of him in a while) and I wonder if we'll see him again. Hopefully only if there is a tornado and a longhouse lands on Em - Em - oh forget it.

OK so how about the 2nd coming of the Beardsleys - aka The Johnsons!!! WHAT NUTJOBS!! Mr. Johnson was a burrito short of a fiesta platter, to be sure! That was one of those scenes I would just LOVE to see on the big screen... kindof like the mother in law's funeral in - oh god, was it The Fiery Cross? And what was her name? Yikes lassies - I am tired. At any rate - it would just be so incredible to see that axe coming down and William rolling out of the way... very spooky like Jack Nicholson in The Shining.

Lastly - did I not LOVE when William head-butted Mr. Johnson INSTINCTIVELY??? Hey William... you can run... but you can't hide with your big ol' Glasgow kiss! You're as Scottish as a lovely HAGGIS, my friend... you just don't know it yet.

JAMIE FRASER REPRESENT!!!

Dances with Wolves - Part Deux

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 38 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

OK so I know where Ian went. Well - sortof. I know he is in Virginia... in a swamp....

...with the Mohawk.

Oh excuse me - I just threw up in my mouth a little. OK now I'm back.

So I now have to assume he's headed straight into the monster... aka to Em...Em... ugh. I canna even say her name. That woman loved him and then kicked him out and left him with a terrible thought that there is something wrong with him. And yet he scurries back. Like my DOG. Ian is now a dog. I may call him Rollo 2.

I will share what I shared on the chat last night. Here is the bottom line, lassies.  Ian needs to go HOME to see his poor MOTHER who has been WORRIED SICK about him for 10 FRIGGIN YEARS. He OWES that to her. That woman didn't know where her baby was. She suffered. Then she finds out he's become an Indian (and not the nice kind.)  For god's SAKE Ian, give her some closure. Get your ass BACK to Scotland. HUG YOUR MOTHER. Spend some time with your family. And then - if you still feel the need to skin animals and live in the longhouse, fine. It's all good. At THAT point, you can say a PROPER goodbye - and get on a boat back to the backwoods of North Carolina. Even though Claire has TOLD you that doing that will get your ass killed... or wrongfully shoved onto a rez in Montana... But that's a blog for another day, I suppose.

PS - Look at me trying to be all cool and call the reservation the "rez" like Jacob in Twilight. I am laughing at myself right now.

Great Chat Last Night!

Thanks to everyone who came out for the chat last night! Wow, the group is getting big! I love it!  So sorry I was late... I go to Town Council meetings two Mondays a month and sometimes they run over. If you're wondering why I go, I really have no defined reason. I used to liken myself to Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club. I just went because I had nothing better to do. BUT NOW I DO!  Outlander chat!!

PS - It's Tuesday, lassies. Dinna forget Scottish hotness on LOST tonight, Brotha!  Desmond's in the houseeeee!

Outlander Chat Tonight!

Outlander Chat tonight! 9PM Eastern!

PS - SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 38 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE.

CHAT UPDATE: Tracey and I might be a few minutes late. She's got a dinner and I have a town Council meeting. PLEASE go ahead without us if we're not there right at 9:00! All I ask is no discussion of anything past William getting a shave after going through the swamp incident (he's digging this girl Rachel Hunter but just met her and she's seems to be uber-religious.)  THANK YOU!!

New "An Echo in the Bone" Discussion Video!

Dances With Wolves

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished Chapter 35 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE.

The following is said in my best crazy lady voice:  WHERE THE EFF IS IAN?!?

What the hell do you mean "The next day, he was gone." What is THAT supposed to mean?!? OK Diana - talk to me like I'm a 2 year old - because I dinna understand this one i-OTA.  My first thought was "OH NO - he went back to the SUCUBUS" (aka Emily. Ew. I feel dirty even saying her name). But they're at Ticonderoga - and that's in New York. It would take him months to get back down to the meanie's neck of the woods on horseback - and he doesna even have a horse! So what - did he meet some new chick with the Huron?!? UGH!!!  IAN! Have I not FORBID further cavorting and canoodling with the Indians?!? And behind my BACK he just goes and disappears! Where the hell else could he have gone? The SPERM BANK OF HUDSON COUNTY for god's sake?!? And he doesna tell ANYONE. That is inexcusable. It was understandable back when he first came back from the Mohawk and he was all messed up in the head and fully submersed in delving-out-in-the-woods mode. But now? No way. GET UP. DUST YOURSELF OFF. And be a man. Like your uncle. No more of this baby-making obsession. Just get your ASS to Scotland with Jamie and Claire and marry someone. ANYONE. (Anyone whose mother's name isn't Laoghaire, that is.) STOP acting like a child. We've ALL suffered loss. We've ALL worried about our past and future. But that doesna mean we just DISAPPEAR. His ass had better be off in the woods widdling Claire a thank you gift out of birchwood is ALL I've got to say.

Oh this weekend's video is going to be good, y'all. I can see THAT already. I am FIRED up.

Post Script:  LOVED the mention of General Anthony Wayne. Let m'tell you a little something; I have a lot of odd little connexions to Anthony Wayne. As you may know, I grew up in a (not so) little town in Pennsylvania called Paoli... which borders Valley Forge.  They're big on the American Revolution in those parts. And just a few train stops away lies a little town called Wayne - named after "his truly". (Tracey was actually an extra in the movie TAPS, which was filmed at the Valley Forge Military Academy - and various parts of Wayne.) Now... what I'm finding verra interesting is that I'm pretty familiar with what's coming after Ticonderoga as far as Anthony Wayne goes. He ends up at the Paoli Massacre...and then winters at Valley Forge....and then ends up at the Battle of Monmouth. Guess where I live now?  Monmouth County, New Jersey. Yeah. The same Monmouth. And if THAT weren't enough, Anthony Wayne is buried in Erie, PA, where my cousin Jenn D (a My Outlander Purgatory lurker) lives.

OK I am so rambling right now... but you get my drift. I love the American Revolution because I've been surrounded by its memory my entire life. And I canna WAIT to see where we're going next! Valley Forge? Scotland? IT'S ALL GOOD!

Post Scriptum Scriptum: "Nothing hurts when ye love me"??? JAMIE FRASER you MELT MY BUTTER!

***Thanks to Dan Smith for the beautiful photo of the Anthony Wayne statue taken in Valley Forge park.

God Bless Scottish Accents

Never Assume for it Makes an Ass out of U and Me.

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished Chapter 31/Part 3 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

Please forgive me for being sparse this week. My daughter turned 8 yesterday and I have five 2nd graders coming over on Friday night. She's also making her 1st Communion on Sunday and I have my family and the hub's family coming on Sunday. Throw in a school visit, a haircut appointment, planting, sprucing and shopping and well... I am not able to blog too much. THAT SAID - let me say this:

Lordddddd I have GOTTEN OFF THE BOAT(S)!!! The only problem? I turned the page and found myself reading about LORD JOHN! I'll admit it; it was a let-down. As I told Tracey - it was like coming out of an extra grueling trip to the Shoprite - only to find out your car has been hit in the parking lot. Dinna get me wrong, I love myself some Lord John in the right circumstances (can we say "girltalk with Bree"?). But I just wasn't expecting him so soon after the BTF (Boat Trifecta Fiasco). I thought we'd see a little Roger....or a new-and-improved Jamie whose feet were solidly planted on shore (and on Claire, wishfully thinking)... but no... Just Lord John... who will be inquiring something -  of someone - of relative importance... and not a whole lotsa Jamie Fraser.

OK so THAT said - I will go read now. Wish me luck!

Special "Entire Series" Outlander Chat Tonight!

OK lassies (and lairds!) - here's your chance to discuss anything and everything about the Outlander series! Tracey finished ECHO last night - so she is going to host a special Entire Outlander Series Chat tonight at 9PM Eastern. I will sit out for this one since I'm still on the boat(s). (LORDDDDD am I still on the boats. It's like the Gathering on the water! Lorddddd the Gathering!!!)

It's time we had a no holds barred chat for you sassenachs where anything is fair game!

Enjoy - and I'll see you next week!

Author Brenda Novak Hosts 6th Annual Online Auction for Diabetes

Author Brenda Novak Hosts 6th Annual Online Auction for Diabetes

Ship of Fools

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read Chapter 31 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE.

Here's my watered-down consolidation of Chapter 31 in An Echo in the Bone:

So we were on the ship, sailing to Scotland, and we were boarded by a ship. And they were really mean. And Jamie got in a big fight and I woke up on another ship. And then we sailed that ship for a while and then another ship came along and started firing at us. And I fell on the bare wood and then I got up and fell again and then again and then I fainted and I woke up in the hold on the other ship. And then when we were on that ship, another ship started firing at us and they put me back down in the hold and then they fired again and then I fell on the floor and a nice kid who was helping me fell on the floor and then we both fell on the floor. And then we went above and I tried to take care of everyone because I'm a doctor and that's what I do, damnit. Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ! Here comes another ship.

There. That's where I am now and apparently have been for days, much to the chagrin of my sister, Tracey who is almost finished Echo (actually she may have finished last night.) I have tried to warn her repeatedly that she should slow down - because once she finishes, there is no new Jamie Fraser for another 2+ years. But - alas - she isna listening.  Echo is so damn good she canna stop, ken?

I'll keep you posted. I'm going back the ship now. Any ship. Whatever ship is nearby - that's where I'll be.

We Interrupt this Outlander Blog...

PILLARS OF THE EARTH IS COMING TO STARZ IN JULY!!! SQUEEEEE!!!!!! It looks REALLY GOOD!!!!!!!!!

Sail On...Honey... Good Times Never Felt So... Hmm...

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Chapter 31 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

I am on the boat with Jamie, Claire and Ian and LOVING IT. It's so verra Voyager. Which is funny because when I was reading Voyager I got a little "meh - enough sailing" but this is outstanding! The new boat is now right up alongside them... and it's firing at them... and Jamie is shite-ing his ever-loving pants. And he whipped his shirt off and started waving it around.... and I'm not sure but I think someone from the other ship actually asked Jamie to turn around (so they can see his back?!) I was reading in my car at school pick-up and Jen L came up to the car and started talking to me - so I dinna know what happens! And I'm sortof THRILLED at that prospect. I am literally thrilled to be in the midst of this scene and not know what's going to happen. Kindof like when Dallas ended without telling you who shot JR. So now I have to wait until I read more to know. It's wonderful! I love suspense!

Sailing... Takes Me Away...

SPOILER ALERT: DINNA read unless  you have read chapter 31 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

OK so I'm sorry - I'm re-blogging. Like re-gifting. Because I need to go read, lassies. So here is the email I just sent Tracey. I will be backtracking a little later but for now - here's where I am:

"I'm on Chapter 31. Claire is exhausted and they're taking turns (Claire, Jamie and Ian) keeping watch while the others sleep so no funny business goes on on the boat. They're realizing that Rollo is on the other boat (I have all faith that we'll see Rollo again). And Claire just cried and Jamie stroked her hair and whispered soothing things in the Gaelic!!!  It was like early Outlander!!!  I died! ANDDD some dude called Jamie "a trifle elderly" and I almost jumped into the book and punched him in the nose."

Another Great Outlander Chat

Thanks to everyone who came to the chat tonight! I really look forward to talking to everyone every week. I have to give Sirena the "most hilarious" award - she had me laughing for an hour!

Hope to see you all next week. Even you lurkers! :)

OUTLANDER CHAT TONIGHT

Hi All - Today is Monday, April 12 and we'll be having our weekly Monday Night Outlander Chat tonight at 9PM Eastern. We'll be discussing up to Chapter 18, unless Shannon reads any more in the car today at school pick up. PS - Sally - I hope you can come tonight! :)

Que Sera Sera...

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 23 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

Ho. Ly. CRAP. This book is so damn good I dinna know what to DO with myself!!! SO much has happened since my last blog; let's get right to it!

JAMIE SEES DEAD PEOPLE!!!!! OK wait. That's not right. But y'all know what I mean. He is having these dreams... and he's seeing Jem and Mandy playing at the cemetery at Lallybroch... and he has had multiple dreams about them in Lallybroch... and Claire remembers Lallybroch being for sale... so they KNOW ROGER AND BREE LIVE AT LALLYBROCH!!!!! I am shouting it from the rooftops! This. Is. So. Exciting!!!!! I canna WAIT for the next letter. They are going to say something about Jamie seeing the kids at Lallybroch... and then Roger and Bree are going to start looking for/finding things that Jamie and Claire have left for them - JUST like I predicted!! I can TASTE it like it was one of Mrs. Bug's bannocks ("lord of mercy on her" as my mother would say).

OK... so... next.... there are SO MANY NAMES popping up in this book that are making me go "Oh my gosh - that's so and so!" Like.... Randall-Isaacs??? HELLO?? Jack Randall's son/nephew!!! And he's a dirty dog who hangs around with Percy-the-Derelict. And how do we know this? Because Nessie (the madam who readers of LJG books know but the rest of us poor chumps are totally clueless about) told John Grey. And ewwww - he's hanging out with William (waaahh my French is terrible... please come helpppp me) to get dirt on LJG for Percy-The-Derelict! And here's poor William - knowing something ain't quite right... but not being able to figure out what it is. He knows Randall-Isaacs is interested in his dad... but doesna know why. What I want to know is if Randall-Isaacs has any sexual interest in LJG - or if he just wants info for Percy - and to meet him because, let's face it, LJG is DA BOMB and knows EVERYONE in England, France, Canada and the bad-assed Colonies!! Give Lord John his PROPERS, y'all! He da man!!!

OK enough of that - let's move on - how much did I go "RABBIE MCNABB!!!" when we got to the brothel?? Tracey doesna want to commit to the possibility that it's the same Rabbie - but I said "come ON! It HAS to be!" His wife is from the Highlands (I thought she might be someone we know but so far, there's not been much revealed about her) so it's GOT to be him. How can there be two Rabbie McNabb's?? Two Robbie's maybe... but Rabbie's? (I know, I know, Rabbie/Robbie are the same name but work with me here, people!)

LORDDDDD what else? SO MUCH DIRT! OHHHHH ROGER AND BREE!!!  HOLY CRAP - Jerry MacKenzie DIDNA DIE in WW2!!!  He WENT THROUGH THE FRIGGIN STONES IN NORTHUMBRIA!!! (Not to be confused with Umbria and Maggie Smith... Chris Cooper... ) THAT storyline is blowing my mind almost as much as Jamie dreaming in 20th century technicolor. Can you IMAGINE how badly Roger Mac will FLIP OUT if his father shows up? And they thought maybe that was who was skulking around in the broch (which Jamie isNA happy about). Poor Roger Mac canna handle a little conversation about his future career, let alone a visit from his dead father who is now a time traveler. I am going to be taken out in an ambulance when I get to THAT PART of the book.

You should have seen me reading all this on the plane today (in between telling my son to stop playing with the tray table every five seconds and telling my daughter to stop putting her iPod headphones in my ear)... I. Was. A. FREAK. At one point I reached across the aisle and whacked my husband on the arm. He was like "What was THAT for??" and I was like "What's it for??? ROGER MAC! THAT'S what it's for!" I really need an Outlander meeting with the girls STAT. (Oh and when we meet, I will be sure and ask them when precisely Roger started speaking as if he were born in yon 18th century mind you, do ye ken?)

PS - Could I have been ANY MORE WRONG about William's career choice? I truly thought the skunk and subsequent Hale hanging did him in - and he'd never choose Intelligence. Shows you what I know. One of these days I'll have to add up all my predictions/theories and see just how wrong/right I was!

"YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 20 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

I've been fighting it. Fighting William. I didn't really want to be interested in his life; it just... happened. And now I'm stuck. I am moving on to Chapter 21 - "The Minister's Cat" (which makes me giggle, as I love Bree and Roger's little game) - and I'm finding myself a little bummed; I want to know what happens! Will he take Richardson's offer and become a spy? I think not. I thought he was going to - until this horrible situation with Hale. And now I'm thinking he's going to say "no", now that he's gotten a taste of what it feels like to watch someone die - indirectly - by your own hands. Or your own actions.  I'm thinking William is going to realize it's better to kill someone outright on the battle field... than take part in killing someone by sneaking around lying and hiding. There is honor in fighting fair. And I have a feeling that William - like both his fathers - will choose honor.  I can't wait to read on and find out.

PS - Speaking of The Minister's Cat - am I the only one who gets a little giddy every time a new chapter starts with the word "Lallybroch"??

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRACEY!

 Just wanted to throw a Happy Birthday out there to my sister and Outlander mentor, Tracey! Hope you had a great day (and that work wasna too grueling!)

We may have to celebrate your birthday when we celebrate Jamie's birthday! Won't THAT be fun?! :)

Like Father, Like Son

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 18 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

Jamie + Fergus = VINTAGE OUTLANDER, does it not??? Oh MAN I loved this chapter!

"Then I grew older still, and discovered that, after all, it was true. I am the son of a great man." 

The hook touched Jamie's hand, hard and capable.

Wow. SO moving. And Germain was cracking me up. He's a little fire cracker... and I LOVE that Fergus is teaching him to pick pockets... and then put back whatever he has taken... because it is a "family legacy". Oh holy hell that made me laugh.

I'm so glad to see Fergus BACK IN BUSINESS. He's much more interesting when he has confidence, is he not?

And HELLO??? I. Am. DYING! WHAT does Percy want with Fergus?? I canna WAIT to find out!

Chat Tonight - 9PM Eastern

Don't forget tonight's Outlander Chat! We'll be discussing up through Chapter 17 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE! Hope to see you there!!

Carol's "Favorite Things"

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 12 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE.

I have a few favorites in the Outlander series. A favorite character - Jamie Fraser, duh. A favorite food - bannocks. A favorite love scene - "I canna be gentle about it" (although "watch while I take ye" is such a close 2nd and may even be a tie.)

And now I have a favorite Chapter.

Chapter 12 in An Echo in the Bone is so fantastic, I dinna know what to do with myself. From start to finish - it is so poignant. So riveting. So gut-wrenching. And most of all - so beautiful. I don't know who I love more in this scene; Claire or Jamie. Or even Adso...as he has such an important place in the scene. I almost want to pick him up and hug him... almost.

Lord, he'd said. Let me be enough... 
"Jamie," I said at last. "oh, Jamie. You're...everything. Always."

A while back, over at Outlandish Observations, Karen picked a song that expressed the depth of Claire and Jamie's relationship... and she wanted to know if anyone else had a song that was near and dear to their heart in this way. It was such a great question - and I have always been all about music - and yet I had such a hard time thinking of a song. But if I were to pick a chapter that truly expresses the heart and soul of Jamie and Claire Fraser, this would be it.

You go in the cage... Cage goes in the water... You go in the water... Shark's in the water... Our shark.

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Chapter 13 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

Sometimes the Outlander books are like JAWS. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

So I'm reading along... through Ian's highly adorable and very neurotic over-thinking of Arch Bug...a possible wife...Jamie and Claire's sex life...and any female he's ever had lusty thoughts about... and BOOM! I turn the page and I'm back to at least 6 months ago with Lord John. Not that I dinna LOVE Lord John. But... well.. you know. Sometimes you're just so ingrained in Jamie and Claire and Ian and anyone living on the Ridge.. that you sortof wake up and go "huh?" when you all the sudden find yourself in the 20th century - or with any male who a) has manly love for Jamie Fraser or b) is an offspring of Jamei Fraser. 

So let's back up a bit, shall we? I found it hilarious when - after Claire had labeled a cask filled with grain alcohol as "sauerkraut"- Jamie uttered the words "and what if we should be set upon by illiterate banditti?" Oh my god I HOWLED at that immensely amusing bit of commentary from Mr. Fraser.

OK so I have a few predictions. There has most likely been some MASSIVE foreshadowing, in my humble opinion. Claire and Jamie were in the Spaniard's cave, discussing how Jemmy fell into the cave on top of Jamie and he could have broken his neck and killed him, which would have left Jemmy alone and unable to get out of the cave.  And Claire thought to herself: and we'd never have known what happened to either one of you... and on any given day, something just as random might happen. To anyone.... and she asked Jamie of the Spaniard: "What do you think happened to this gentleman?" and thought to herself: His people never knew. Ho. Ly. CRAP.  Is Claire - or Jamie - or Ian - or anyone - going to be left in a situation where nobody knows what happened to them??? Holy god - if I'm right - is this how the  book is going to end???

I. WILL. SHIT. MY. PANTALONES!!!

OK I have to move on because just saying all of that out loud gives me chills. SO - Tracey, Jenn M, Shannon and I have mentioned the possibility of going to NYC one of these days... because we want to check out a Scottish bar or two. What I didna realize until VERRA recently is that we have an authentic pub to visit which was mentioned in An Echo in the Bone. The Fraunces Tavern is still in operation - under new management - and I am psyched to go there!  The Beekman House doesna seem to be there anymore... but the post office in Rhinebeck has some stones from the ruins. Kindof cool.

OK I MUST go to bed as it's almost midnight and my children will be up verra early, looking for their Easter baskets. More tomorrow as I've got an entire new blog entry in my head, waiting to be posted!

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate! :)

Here's my new post... NEVERMIND!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 11 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE.

OK I have to some posting - and then some more READING! Things are progressing nicely on the Ridge. Although I'm wondering if Jamie, Claire and Ian are ever actually leaving the Ridge - or if they're just going to keep talking about their Scotland trip for the next 10 years. (Sounds like ME, actually. Dinna get me started.)

OK scratch that. Tracey just accidentally let it slip that something juicy is going down between Jamie and Claire in about 4 more paragraphs... so I'm going to have to get back to y'all. SORRY.

I'll leave you with this. Lizzie just birthed a daughter. The Beardsleys are fawning over her. Her stepmother is already worried about the next bairn because a) Claire might not be back to deliver it and b) Lizzie and the Beardsleys seem to be humping like rabbits.

Livin La Vida Outlander

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Voyager.

OK so I'm down here in Florida - and all kinds of things are jumping out at me and saying "Hey! Your life is ruled by the Outlander series!"

Let's review a few things that have happened in the last 24 hours: 

My in laws live in a complex where lots of Brits and Canadians vacation. I met a Scottish woman today - who happens to live in Canada now. And all I wanted to ask her was "Do you know anyone related to Simon Fraser, originally of Lovat"? And did I mention her name? Carol. I felt so verra proud to share a name with a Scot.  Dork, party of 1??

Today I passed - I kid you not - a store called "HONEY POT Bridal and Tux". I really dinna know what to say about that, except that I squeeeeeed like a 12 year old when I saw it and thought of Jamie uttering "She shaved her HONEY POT?!" in Dragonfly. SO verra funny.

OH and last night we ate a bean salad made by "Paisley Farm" from "Willoughby Ohio". "Paisley" as in Paisley, Scotland. "Willoughby" as in Mr. Wee Stabbers" himself! YOU CANNA MAKE THAT SHIT UP, SASSENACHS!!!

A Printing We Will Go

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read until you have finished chapter 7 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. (I still CANNA believe I'm finally reading the last one.)

Oh for the love of god. Could someone get Bree out of Roger's ass, please? She's camped so far up there that his hemorrhoids now have hemorrhoids. Seriously. Leave the guy alone. It's a bit traumatic, following one's girlfriend to the 18th century - marrying her after learning she's possibly had another man's baby - living with her crazy-assed family - being hangit - working on a farm - and traveling back through yon stones to your own time... is it not?? If he's meant to be a Minister - he'll be a Minister. Get off his back and go see what Annie's doing in the kitchen. Let's hope it's not what you and Roger were doing on the currant-stained granite last week. Word to the wise - I'd pay close attention to what Annie's doing. I only just learned she was their "hired girl" at Lallybroch and already I'm having visions of Malva. Shudder.

So I just read Jamie's letter - the 2nd of the bunch - about going back to Scotland and retrieving his printing press. I am DYING to know if that is going to happen in this book - and if they're going to come all the way back in Echo, too. In all honesty, I'm envisioning Voyager on steroids - and getting a little nervous about the prospect. And where the hell is Mr. Willoughby with yon wee stabbers when we need him???

I have to say - reading Jamie's signoff - "Kiss the children for me" and "your most affectionate Father" made me spill a few tears. It is just hitting me now that Jamie had to give up his daughter yet again. And that hurts me to the core of my being. AND - that Bree had to give up her father - whom she was never fortunate enough to meet when she was a child - because her mother waited 20 damn years to find out what happened to him. And now here Bree and Roger are, going through these letters from Claire and Jamie at a snail's pace... and I'm on the edge of my seat!! Would you not TEAR INTO those letters like it was Christmas morning and you were in your best plaid Christmas nightgown?!? HELLO??? I could not wait one more SECOND to know what happened to my PARENTS!!!

OK that's it for now. Going to visit the in laws - and I'll have a nice chunk of time on the plane tomorrow to read (if my children behave, that is.) And yes - the laptop is-a-comin'. So there will be blogging - and Monday's chat is definitely still on!