My Email to Tracey

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 70 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

Just sent the following email to Tracey. I am DYING. You're not kidding, Karen.... I need a SEAT BELT.

Left off on Chapter 70. I'll be putting the kids to bed and reading in silence all night. Trying to catch up with Jenn who stopped at 82 and seems to be in physical pain and I'm afraid to know why.

Here's where I am:

Ian kissed Rachel and I have been thinking about him (and Joe Mazzello) all day.

That dude showed up and totally killed Jamie and Claire's buffalo skin buzz by saying he knew Jamie killed Dougal.

Ian killed the aforementioned dude.

Ian ran off and Rachel said she'd take care of Rollo (thank GOD).

Jamie was asked to accompany Simon Fraser's body to Scotland.

Jamie did the Happy Dance, despite everything going on with Ian. (OK that one only happened in my mind.)

William Bucleigh MacKenzie showed his jerk ass up at Lallybroch.

And last but not least, I had to close the book just as I was reading about THE PAOLI MASSACRE!!!  HOW MANY TIMES have we driven by that sign on Lancaster Ave????? And we never CARED IN THE SLIGHTEST!!!! And now I'm wanting to take a friggin FIELD TRIP to my own friggin HOME TOWN.

More later....

The Visitor

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 67 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE.

Dear Ian,

When some dude comes sniffing around camp and spits in your Auntie's pottage, you DO SOMETHING. You don't just stand there laughing while he walks away. 

I bet you wouldna have stood by calmly whilst he spat in your uncle's brandy.

Just my .02. 

Love, 

Carol

Another Thought

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've started chapter 66 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

Oh. My. God. Waiting for William to see Jamie is giving me the feeling I had when I was waiting for Jamie to run into Jack Randal again. You knew he was alive. You knew it was going to happen. You just didna know when. And here they are - Jamie and William - on opposite sides of Simon Fraser's bed (who did NOT die in battle in real life, so I'm tres interested to see what happens here) and Jamie isna looking up - so William isna noticing him.  My god - this is the best drama I've ever been privy to in my entire life! This makes "Who Shot JR?" look like Mister Rogers!!!!!!!

I Had to Stop and Blog!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Chapter 65 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH IS JAMIE FIGHTING???? The man just had surgery - his hand is dripping blood - and he's fighting Hessians! Is there no rest for the weary?! Or people who have recently had their person cut into with a scalpel??? This is insanity! For the first time since Outlander, I'm seriously considering the fact that Jamie Fraser could die. And I'm SCAIRT!!!!!!!

PS - Jamie better hope he dies on that field... because Claire is going to KILL HIM when she sees that hand!!!

So Much to Say

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Chapter 64 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

I have been underlining like crazy lately. I should blog while I'm reading, but it's so good, I canna stop to blog! I'm going to post the lines I've underlined and give you my thoughts on them. I mean NO disrespect or copyright infringement by posting these lines from An Echo in the Bone, ken?

"his own mother made a dish from the flesh of wine and apples, beswimming in red wine and spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, that made his mouth water only to remember."   OK am I the only person whose own mouth watered when I read this? I'll admit it. I love me some swine (or "pig's ass" as one of my Kosher girlfriends from college called it.)

"unlike most wives, Claire would have a place to go if something befell him." Really Jamie? Really? Where exactly is she going to go? Back to the Ridge? Or is she going to move in with Fergus and Marsali? Because surely you dinna mean she's going back through the stones if something happens to you. C'mon. Think rationally you big, stubborn Scot. And for God's sake; DINNA DIE.

"It was twilight and the world was full of shadows". I'm loving all the mentions of the word "twilight" lately. It's one of my favorite words in the universe. It holds such possibility. (And it reminds me of Edward Cullen.)

Execution left a stain upon the air and marked the souls of those who saw it.  This is probably the most profound statement Diana Gabaldon - or quite possibly anyone - has ever made.  When I went to the Tower of London, I was overcome by this incredible feeling. It was an eerie, creepy feeling of death that made you feel like you'd drown in it if you didn't find your way out of the place. There is a stillness there; you can feel their pain. So many souls whose lives were ripped away from them in an instant - in unfathomable ways. There are ravens all over the grounds... with their watchful eyes... and I remember saying I felt like the souls of all the dead were trapped inside the ravens.  The only other time in my life I've ever felt that indescribable, smothering feeling was in October 2001 when I saw the remains of the World Trade Center. The same feeling of sadness and grief was overwhelming. That is the stain that execution leaves upon the air... and I've tried to explain it so many times - to no avail. And then Diana Gabaldon comes along and just puts it into a handful of words... so eloquently. She blows my mind.

"Ye need spectacles, don't ye? I hadna realized." Oh how I loved this scene. She knows he's right - and she's fighting him on it - and she finally gives in - and then turns the tables on him. And all I'm thinking is "Wow Claire, you're lucky you made it all the way to 60! Most people find their eyesight going at around 45!"  And how in god's name is she doing intricate surgery on Jamie's HAND?! I was surprised he didna bring that up when she was inventorying her wee scalpels.


"I paused and shouted into the mist, calling his name. I heard answering calls, but none in his voice."  Oh my god - when I got to this part, I almost fell off the treadmill. You can totally see this happening right in front of you. What a POWERFUL scene. The dead and dying, lying all around, and Claire is literally stepping over them, calling Jamie's name and hearing nothing in response. I can't even talk about it because I truly felt sick when this happened - a la when Roger Mac was hangit. "I'm sorry for your man," I said. "but my man lies here. Get away, I said!" Oh good god I might cry again. Diana - you take as much time as you like to write your books, lass, because my GOD - the research that goes into them is incredible. Who knew it was like this? Who knew wives and children were coming along, looting the dead? Don't get me wrong - I get it. Hell, I watch that soldier taking everyone's gold teeth out on The Pacific every week. But wives and children??  AND - the fact that they had to bury the bodies deep enough so the wolves wouldn't get them?? Who knew?! THIS is why DG's books are so good. She does her homework. I'd rather her take 10 years to write a book - and do it as well as she does - than read something someone cranked out in 4 months with no thought or integrity. Blech.

"Ye've the tongue of  a venomous shrew," he said, "but your a bonnie wee swordsman, Sassenach."  This is CLASSIC JAMIE FRASER! I LOVE IT!!!

"Anyone seen that big redheaded bastard who broke the charge?"..."Whoever he is, I tell you, he's got balls the size of ten-pound shot."  I LOVE JAMIE FRASER. Have I mentioned that lately? In his late 50s and yet he's still THE MAN on the battlefield.

"Having a good hand on your arse always makes me feel steady." Again - classic Jamie. I get a little thrill every time I read a line like this.

OK that's it for now. I have underlined more... but I should save some for later. Besides - I have to go read. But I have one quick thing to tell you about where I am now:

HAMISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Great Chat - and a Great Casting Video!

Thanks to everyone who came to chat tonight! As always, I love chatting with you lassies. You guys give such great insights about the series. I always feel a little sad when it's time to sign off!

And a special thanks to Jeanie who suggested this casting video for Outlander. Wow. Double wow. It's REALLY good. Enjoy!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Don't forget My Outlander Purgatory Chat tonight at 9PM Eastern! We'll be discussing up to and including Chapter 59 in An Echo in the Bone!

MOP VIDEO: Happy Birthday Jamie Fraser!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser!!!!  

Just a wee bit of video in celebration of the year of our laird.  :)

"Here's Tae Us!"

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 57 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

I have to apologize for being all over the place in this blog entry. Once you've seen yesterday's videos, you'll wonder if I was hung over whilst typing this. And I assure you, I'm not. God bless large bottles of water when one is juggling both Pinot Grigio AND Scottish Whisk(no e)y - all for the sake of James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser - and good, amusing Youtube video. ;)

William's cousin Henry is wounded and holed up at Mrs. Woodcock's house. She clearly is diggin' on him... and I'm guessing the feelings are mutual. What I don't know is how they met... or why she's not with Mr. Woodcock who is most likely dying out in the wood with the captured militia.

OK so tell me I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat while reading about Rob Cameron's friend, the archeologist?? He's digging around Lallybroch and I'm all "Oh god! Oh god! He's going to find something! Something Jamie left! Or something Jenny left! Ahhhh!" But alas, he didna find anything. And it's probably just as well because I dinna know if my wee heart could have taken it if he had found something bad/sad. I am also not convinced he won't find something in the future. I mean - why bring an archeologist into the story if you're not going to need him for something in the future, right???

So William left the Hunters (I can't help seeing Mr. Hottie Denzel Washington every time I hear the name Denzell) and caught up with the British army - and alas - a fellow named Brigadier Fraser. And I will pat myself on my own back when I tell you I immediately texted Tracey and told her I was willing to bet it was Simon, down from Canada. I knew I had read about the real Simon Fraser and how he fled to Canada after Culloden... and eventually made his way back to Scotland and bought most of his property back - but I wasna sure if he was in the British army. Soooo anyhoo... it was him and he is asking William to dine at his table, which I have convinced myself is because William is BLOOD OF HIS BLOOD and there is a true connection that neither of them understands. Kindof like one of those stories you hear on 60 Minutes where two people have been next door neighbors and best friends for 35 years and find out they're brothers. Yeah. So anyway - I'm VERRA interested to see how - if at all - Simon Fraser factors into "the rest of the story".

Moving right along to one of THE HOTTEST scenes I have EVER read in this series - yeah - you know what I'm talking about:  YOU. COME  HERE. NOW. (Jenn M emailed this AM and was seriously thrilled to have read that scene. Can you blame her?) That was tremendous. Although, I'll tell ya, I couldn't enjoy it enough because I was too worried they were going to get caught. And getting caught doing the deed would have been one thing - but to get caught doing yourselves - well that would be quite another. I love how Diana always has Jamie stop - right in mid coitus - and tease the heck out of Claire - only to start up again and make her see stars. All men should be taught to do that, don'tcha think?

Any men reading this? What say you???

Anyway - I loved when Jamie said "Play with fire and ye may get singed, Sassenach". Sigh. More murmuring. I could read an entire novel of Jamie Fraser's fornicatory murmuring. 

One of my favorite Bree/Roger scenes:

"Here's tae us. Wha's like us?"
  "Damned few," she replied in broad Scots, "and they're all deid."

Reminds me of one of my husband's family parties when the celtic and Irish music is blaring ("FINE GIRL YOU ARE!") and everyone is having a good time and getting a little looped... and the Irish or Scottish quotes start coming out. Always a good time.

Loved when Claire noticed that no one gets yeast infections because no one wears underwear. I don't know why but that cracked me up. I'm going to make a little bet with you that when Shannon gets to that part, she's going to think it's hysterical. I'll let you know.

So anyway - Claire was taken by the British army and met up with William - and I almost had a heart attack. Of course I texted Tracey immediately. (I should really find all of last night's texts and post them as I'm sure they're pretty darned hilarious.) I cannot tell you how this suspense of "when is Jamie going to see William - and more importantly when is William going to see Jamie" - is killing me. I have said since Day 1 of this book that Jamie and William will eventually be on opposite sides of the battle field - and I'm terrified that William is going to reject Jamie when he finds out he's his da. I don't know if he'll be bratty about it "I'm the 7th Earl of Ellesmere!" or just upset or what. And it will kill Jamie if he's mean. And if he utters ONE NEGATIVE WORD about the beard - he's a dead man. I know it will take time for him to accept Jamie. But eventually he will - just like Brianna. I know it.

"A woman takes life with her when she goes. A woman is... infinite possibility".    Died. Right there. Just died.

I LOVED when Jamie was touching Claire's hand and tracing the lines and her "J" scar. And she said "I'd held him in my hand for the best part of my life".

Oh god. I have to stop now. It's all gotten soooo good. I need to read...

Four Greatest Words Ever Spoken:

YOU.
COME HERE.
NOW.

(Jenn M gets credit for this one, lassies.)

The Birth of Our Laird!

Happy Birthday James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser!!!

Take your time about it, aye?

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!

Damn Yankees

Spoiler Alert: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 6 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

So... I'm just hangin' out with William in Staten Island.... But the chapter is called Long Island, right?  At first I wondered if William was going to end up shooting up the Hamptons.  I hope he knows better than to travel there on a Friday afternoon in the summer. (OK I knew it didn't happen that way but c'mon - a Hamptons joke in an Outlander blog? I absolutely HAD to!)

OK so poor William just got knocked off his horse and had the ponytail cut from his head.  I dinna know if they're going to take him - or leave him there. I have a hunch they'll leave him there with his new, short cut....to be totally embarrassed in front of his men. Sound familiar? Well - it's not like being tied to a tree near your camp where your ammunition has been stolen... but close enough in the embarrassment department, ya know?? I have to hurry up and blog so I can read. I'm dying to know what happens!! I had visions of them taking him... and Jamie finding out and traveling up North to kick yon Continental butt.

And my apologies to Karen - how could I have not mentioned Mrs. Bug's untimely demise?! I have to admit something; I wasna that broken up over it. She was a sweet lady, yes. She took care of the Frasers. She made a mean bannock. BUT YON WOMAN SHOT JAMIE! I just canna feel sorry for someone who shows up in the middle of the night - sneaks around looking for something that isn't really even hers to take - and is PACKIN'!!!!!! She had not one but TWO guns! And she used one to SHOOT JAMIE! She's lucky they didn't mistake her for someone and cut her damned head off!! Getting an arrow through the neck is almost MILD considering where she was - and what she was doing. Again - I will miss her sausage rolls and her hot, buttered bread.. and maybe even her gossipy attitude and occasional murders. I even made bannocks for our meeting at Shannon's today - in Mrs. Bug's memory. But I don't really feel that bad for her or for Arch who - let's face it - sent his WIFE to do the dirty work in that scenario. UNLESS we're going to find out she didna tell him she was going - or something like that. In which case, I'll feel worse for him than I do at this moment.

And as for my thoughts on Arch telling Ian he'd be back when Ian found someone he was close to? Let me explain my feelings on this in the following letter:

Dear Arch, 

Go north 5 miles - way up over the Ridge. Make a left at the first set of pine trees. Cross the river.. and make a right at the next rock. There, you will find a group of people known as The Mohawk. 

When you get there, ask for Emily. 

Love, 

Carol

An Echo in the Bone, Indeed...

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 5 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

I don't know how I'm going to get through this book. I tear up constantly when I'm reading about Bree, Roger and the kids at Lallybroch. It started to rain - Roger went to the kitchen to close the windows - and that was it - I was crying... again. The granite counter tops are original??? They are stained with "the juice of currants" and "the blood of game and poultry". Oh. My. GOD. I am a huge fan of genealogy...and family heirlooms... so this part of the book is grabbing me by the heart and pulling me under its spell... and I have no choice but to enjoy the ride.

Do you have any family heirlooms you absolutely love, not because of their monetary worth but because of their emotional worth? I have a guilded mirror with a Victorian bust carved on the top; my husband's great grandfather had it made for his great grandmother. I love that mirror so much because of all the people who have looked into it over the last 100 years. I have a gate leg table that was my great grandmother's...and I smile every time I serve desserts on it.. wondering what my great grandmother served on it all those years ago.

That warm feeling is what I get during every second of Lallybroch. Shannon described the early chapters in Echo as "lounging in your favorite, comfortable chair"... and now I totally get what she means.

Outlander CHAT tonight!

My Outlander Purgatory Chat tonight - 9PM Eastern! Discussing the first 5 or so chapters of Echo! (Gotta check with Jenn M on that - so don't quote me!) Hope to see you there!

The Echo Read Has Begun!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 2 (yikes or is it 3?) in AN ECHO IN THE BONE (yessss babyyyyyy - I'm finally here!!!) 

OK! So I've read a little bit of Echo! Wheeee!!!  Isn't this fun? I think I am going to blog a lot with this last book. I'd rather savor it and read it slowly and do lots of surmising and pondering with you good people whilst doing so....than fly though it and feel my insides gripe over the wait for Book 8...

So Percy Wainwright. Meh. I have zero love for this guy. I putzed around in Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade last week... and Tracey filled me in a bit, too... so I know who he is and what he means (or doesna mean) to Lord John. I don't like him at all. He reminds me of one of those poofy dressers from the French portion of Dragonfly. He's more taken with his ruffles and his obnoxious sex romps than he is with most other things in this world. And poor John has to deal with him and his inquiries as to who and where is Jamie Fraser. Sigh. John suffers almost as much as Jamie. Almost. (If you haven't seen our latest videos, Tracey had a FANTASTIC ponderance that maybe Lord John will go through the stones, into the future. LORDDDD can't you just SEE him all giddy in NYC? Gettin' dates left and right in the Village? I wish this for him, I truly do. The man is way too bound up. He needs a) more parritch and b) a damn vacation!!!)

Died when I read Claire's FULL letter to Bree. I cried all over again. LOVED that the smaller, earlier portion was Jamie's directness... but then Claire took over and is just frolicking along verbally about losing her surgery.... hell, her house, for that matter.

OK so here's my question: Why are they all stuffed into Bree's cabin like sardines? Aren't there like 8 million empty cabins at this point? The Christie's.... the Bug's... hell...even Amy McCallum Higgins has a shitty little cabin built into the side of the mountain. (And WHEN did Amy marry Bobby? Did that happen in A Breath of Snow and Ashes? How in god's name do it forget that if so??) The whole Ridge must look like a shut down resort in the Adirondacks by now! NOBODY PUTS BABY IN THE CORNER!!!

OH - and speaking of Arch Bug... um... is he trying to scare them, what with leaving chunks of pig hide in a trail? Or merely to lure them away like Bobby Brady and his popcorn?

And didn't Arch take the gold? What does he need with Jamie? Vengeance? Mmmppphhhmmm! Vengeance is highly overrated when you can afford a big house of your own (and all the sausage Mrs. Bug can cook for a lifetime.)

Ohhhhh - dinna fash yourself with that last question. I am seeing now that Jamie thinks he's coming back for the gold. Hmmm...so it might be hidden on the Ridge??? Well now we're talking! It's like one of those challenges on Survivor where they let them loose in the massive jungle and say "OK! Find the bonus letter!" If they can find that gold, they can build themselves a new big house - right on the spot where Jamie showed Claire Book 6. OK - everyone say "Awwwwww". All together now!

Off to read... and oh, yeah... feed my family. Have to do that once in a while...

3 New Videos from My Outlander Purgatory!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

TMZ's Ravishing Redhead Contest

Hey check it out! It's like TMZ is doing a casting call for Bree!

New Video from My Outlander Purgatory

Got questions for us??

Want to know what Tracey thinks of the Lord John books??
Want to know what Carol thinks of Fergus' Lamaze techniques??
Just want to hear your name out loud on youtube??

Leave your questions in the comments section of this post and we'll answer them in today's video!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We finished the videos - sorry I didn't give y'all much notice on the questions. Next time we do a video, I want to do a live chat at the same time. That would be so much fun!

Today's the Day!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

 I woke up today.. and it almost felt like Christmas. I thought "I'm going to start 'AN ECHO IN THE BONE!!' Finally!"

But then the worry set in.

Claire has no Penicillin.
Claire has no microscope with which to manufacture Penicillin.
Claire has no Bree to manufacture a microscope. 
Claire has no herbs.

The following are questions I DINNA want the answers to:

WHAT are they going to do? Are they going to Scotland? If so - how can they leave? What about Lizzie's Malaria? What about Fergus and Marsali?  The Frasers are still sortof responsible for some folks on the Ridge - and beyond.

And if they go to Scotland, let's face it, Jamie's no spring chicken. How is he going to handle that voyage with his seasickness?

OK - too many "what ifs". I just have to dive in and read. Wish me luck!

PS - New video coming from Tracey and me. We're making it today. Stay tuned!

We're Starting ECHO This Weekend!!

I'm so excited!  We may be doing a "Starting Echo" video, too. I'll keep you posted.

Another Great Outlander Chat!

Spoiler Alert: Dinna read unless you've read VOYAGER. 

Thanks to everyone who came to the chat last night. Once again - what a great discussion!  I love hearing everyone else's point of view... and also being educated about what Diana is saying on the Compuserve forum!

Here's my question for the day:  Do YOU think Frank cheated? Apparently Diana says he didna necessarily cheat and that it's just implied? Can anyone confirm or deny?

What do y'all think?? (I vote "HELL TO THE YES". But that's just me!)

OH and PS - My friend Mercedes is reading the series and is well into Voyager right now. I am going to arrange a chat for her (where we only discuss up to parts of Voyager) because she is verra committed to the series and needs some discussion! I'll keep you posted!

Chat Tonight

9PM EST Outlander chat tonight. Tracey will not be there as it is her hubby's birthday - but she sends her regards.

The Patriot

Here's a little prezzy for y'all. It's OK if you cry. I did. (Damn, that's the second time this week a movie with Chris Cooper - a GOD of acting - made me cry. And don't even get me started on Heath Ledger.) 

No More Snow...BRING ON ECHO!!!!!!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have FINISHED A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

Ya know, I find it a bit of a daunting task to write about the end of A Breath of Snow and Ashes because mother of god... SOOOO much went down in the last part - hell, in the BOOK - that I dinna know where to start.

I think they're headed back to Scotland with "Lallybroch or Bust" on their bags. Actually, scratch that,  because they have no bags that I know of after the fire. Donner's a douche - and I wasna sad to see him go. But I thought it was a bit of an about-face from him to just show up acting like a complete ass. I suppose he wanted to get back through the stones and was going to do anything necessary to get there.

The girls and I are in agreement that we all loved when Jamie gave Claire an out to leave and follow her family (something she's never had) and she threw the stone out the window. Might I just say that I'd have done the EXACT same thing. I loved that she did that. Although I was kindof scratching my head when Jamie made the offer in the first place. I was like "Really Jamie??? Really???" I mean, isna it a little late for that? C'mon dude... Claire's not going anywhere. And I think he knew that but wanted to be a good guy and put it out there. And I LOVED when he was asking Bree about the 20th century. I have always maintained that there isna enough of this type of talk from Jamie. I love him even considering the possibility of going forward even for a microsecond. That is something I would just love to see, even though I know I have a better chance of seeing Malva come back from the dead and actually sleep with Jamie (hey, he did say he kindoffff understands necrophiliacs, right?) 

Here's a burning question among my Outlander sassenach friends: Will Ian go to Scotland, too? All I can say is he BETTER. His mother deserves to see him - and we deserve to see a reunion.

OK so here's what I'm expecting to see in Echo: Willy will find out he's Jamie's son. Maybe Willie will take up where Bree left off as the offspring in Jamie's life. I truly thought Bree was going to tell Willy they were siblings. My god, can you imagine the anguish of poor Lord John? And speaking of LJG - I was verra sad to witness the coldness of John and Jamie's dealings at the inn. They care so much for each other and have too much honor between them to show it. Who CARES what side of the argument they're on? They're best friends! Hug it out! John - is your relationship with the King more important than your relationship with Jamie? I think not! Just my .02.

Let's see... what else? God there is so much.  Bonnet. Sighhhhh Bonnet. I was glad Bree did what she did for him although I dinna ken for the LIFE of me why I care. And I am dying to know what the papers were that she and Jamie got from him in the prison. His business dealings? His assets? What what WHAT? And WHY? Did he make them a deal to give them these things if they'd promise to kill him before he drowned? And wouldn't the horror of 9 hours tied to that stake to the point where only his head was showing pretty much be almost as much as he'd have to take? Hell one more hour and he'd be swimming with Big Pussy AND the fishes.

Jocasta: Good riddance. She was a pain in the ass from the word "go". I dinna understand why she and Duncan couldn't just take Phaedre and Ulysses with them. Phaedre is off knitting with Marsali, I suppose... and poor Ulysses is up in Virginia fighting for his freedom with Mel Gibson. Good for him. I always liked him and he had more class in his little pinky than Jocasta had in her entire body. Shame on her for keeping slaves. But what else can you expect from a MacKenzie (of Leoch, that is.)

Fergus - WHERE FOR ART THOU, FERGUS?!? Ugh - please please please tell me we're going to see Fergus again. He's doing a fantastic job with the printing press (OK so maybe Marsali isna knitting) but I just miss him, OK? I MISS HIM and his goddamn Fronch MURMURING. Hell if I were Marsali, I'd get preggers again just to have him woo baby #5 out at the end of the 9 months.

And last, but certainly not least, Roger and the bairns. I. Think. It. Is. AWESOME that Bree took the fam to Lallybroch and bought it. I really do. I have to wonder if Echo is a duel story of Jamie and Claire at Lallybroch in the 18th century and Bree and Roger there in the 20th. Wow - that would be cool. And might I tell you - the one thing that made cry in this book to the point where I hadn't cried that hard since Ian was STOLEN by the Mohawk:  the chest with Jemmy's name on it. Holy crap - is Jamie Fraser  not a god? Seriously. I wonder if Claire knew he did that. Probably, I'm sure. But wow. And it's kindof funny because didna that scene conjur up visions of Sandra Bullock (oh poor Sandra Bullock - who didn't know that fool was a loser from the day she married him?) and Keanu Reeves standing at the mailbox in The Lake House? I am verra into heirlooms, peeps.... so yeah, I cried my fat arse off at that box and the note inside it. How completely thoughtful of Jamie. I'm hoping they hid lots of little things for her to find around Lallybroch. Maybe she told them she'd buy it if she got back.

Guess we'll have to wait and see...

I'm Only Happy When it Rains

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 118 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

OHHHHH MYYYYY GODDDDD!!!!  I weep for Lord John. I seriously do. His love for James Fraser is so unconditional and all-encompassing... MY GOD. It's almost more abundant than Claire's. It's like he was born to walk this earth in such turmoil over Jamie Fraser after having done something unconscionable in his last life. It hurts me to the core of my being to watch this poor soul be near Jamie and hold back his feelings. Is it me or is he VERY easy to relate to? Haven't we all - at one time or another - experienced his pain in dealing with another human being? Someone  you couldn't share your feelings with... or express your true self with? My god it's mind-boggling how this poor soul can stay in the same room with Jamie and not scream at the top of his lungs "I LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH!"

OK so I've had a glass of wine which may or may not be enhancing my ability to wallow in pity - be it self-inflicted or otherwise. But WORK WITH ME HERE, PEOPLE!

And PS -  I will say it: I GRIEVE Stephen Bonnet. Boyfriend NEVER had a chance in this life! His family was probably god-awful - the likes of which you read about in Angela's Ashes. They lead him to this selfish life of crime. I'll never understand him. It was like he wanted to experience love with Brianna so badly but just refused to let himself go that route.

If I had a request for HERSELF - Diana Gabaldon regarding book 8 - it would be "Can we PLEASE have an HONORABLE IRISHMAN????"  I have HAD IT entirely with shanty Irish drinkers, gamblers, smugglers and the like. That's all we ever see in print or film! You'd think there wasn't one dignified Irishman on the planet! I have 5 words for ya:

THANK GOD FOR PIERCE BROSNAN!!!!!!!!!!!

The Poor Wee Fools

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 112 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

I am in the midst of reading but just had a "WOW" moment... and HAD to stop and blog.  Jamie, Claire, Roger and Ian are with the militia at Moore's Creek and know the battle will begin that afternoon or evening. Jamie has grease smudges on his hands and quietly tells Claire "They've cannon" as he's wiping his hands on his pants. He's realizing MacDonald's troops (who are Highlanders, remember) have swords and not a lot of muskets and powder... or men, for that matter... and are marching into an ambush but a huge group of militia who are armed to the gills.

"Oh, Christ," Jamie said, so softly I could barely hear him. "The poor wee fools. The poor gallant wee fools." 

When I read that line, I had to take a moment. This is one of the most powerful scenes in the series, in my humble opinion. Jamie is realizing his own Scottish people are going to die in this battle... and the group HE is fighting with will win. And he feels terrible about it - but knows he has no choice because - just like almost 30 years ago - Claire has told him the outcome of this war. He's remembering Culloden, when he was on the other side of the cannons with only a sword to protect him.

Wow. I mean... seriously... just... Wow.

When Irish Eyes are Smilin'

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 108 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

I have a problem. Not so much a problem per se... it's more of a quandary. You see... there is a miniscule, teeny-tiny, barely there part of me that is attracted to... Stephen Bonnet. (cringes and waits til the backlash is over).

I KNOW! I KNOW! He's DISGUSTING! And I'm not really even INTO bad boys. I don't know what's WRONG with me!!! I mean... we've got Roger being all debonair and racing into the jungle to find him now that he found Bree and Emmanuel's dead. We've got Jamie hootin' and hollerin' all KINDS of  nasty, hot,  Scottish Gaelicness and war cries. We've got Ian - LORDDDD we've got Ian - sitting on the stoop of Bonnet's house, wringing the water out of his LONG hair (ohhhh the visual). And my ass is thinking "Wow I hate that I love it when Bonnet calls Bree 'Sweetheart'." !!!!! WHAT THE EFF IS WRONG WITH ME???

OK I have to go read more. Shannon says the rest of 108 is awesome. Hell Jen L says the rest of the book is awesome. No time to blog. I'll be back later though... because we must discuss!!

Rescue Me

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read Chapter 102 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

Holy MOLY. I canna BELIEVE what I've been reading over the past few days. It is SPEC-FRIGGIN-TACULAR. It's like someone picked me up and plopped me right smack in the middle of OUTLANDER. I love you, Diana Gabaldon. I really, really love you!

OK so first off - how about Jamie kidnapping Mrs. Forbes? Holy god I was L-O-V-I-N-G it. It was the old Jamie that I know and love! Total crisis, and yet he's calm, cool and collected. And being all charming and frisky with Mrs. Forbes! I wished I was her! And when he picked her up??? UGH!!! I wonder if he really ate the picnic lunch with her.... and how he managed to get the brooch. I want more details! SUCH A GREAT SCENE!!!

OK so what else - so much. Roger and Ian grilling Forbes about Bree's whereabouts?! The ear! Oh god, the EAR! And Ian SMOKED IT and is now carting it around in his little man-purse. Oh god that is so awesome I dinna know what to DO with m'self. The only thing missing from that scene was my boyfriend, Fergus. I mean, really. He would have used that hook to really do some psychological damage, dinna you think???

I didn't talk much about Claire being rescued from the Governor's boat. When Jamie came through the fog in the rowboat, I honestly thought it was one of the most powerful moments in the series. No drama. No pomp and circumstance. Just Jamie - quietly doing what he does best; rescuing Claire. I could see him in that boat... coming closer...closer...closer... until he was right up next to the ship - and standing next to Claire. I found it really moving.

OK it's Outlander Chat time - more later!

Moya Brennan

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

Heard this Moya Brennan song on my Gaelic (and Gaelic-esque) mix on Pandora today... and looked up the lyrics. Wow. Go here and listen to it - and read the lyrics. Absolutely beautiful. It's not available at Playlist.com so I canna put it on my playlists - but it's perfect for one of the Outlander movies... somewhere. Havena decided yet.

Gaol Sucks

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read chapter 98 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

So wow. Where to start? Malva a ho. A big, fat, DEAD ho. And I canna feel bad about it. Not one bit. What I can feel bad about is Claire's ridiculous and annoying need to GET INVOLVED in every crisis that is better off left alone. Case in point - trying to save Malva's dead bairn. Although - she's a doctor - I get it. How could she see that belly move and NOT try to save the baby? I was with her on that. But I'm thinking she should have run to the house - gotten someone - ANYONE - as a witness - and said "OK I'm going to cut into this dead Malva I just found in order to try to save her baby. Capice?"  And she would have had an alibi. But no - she just slices right in with her Swiss army knife and once again - Claire's in deep doo-doo.

How POWERFUL was that standoff scene with Jamie and Claire at the big house? Holy god. I love how Claire is just able to shoot someone and go about her business of hiding in the house and making a bite to eat for Jamie.. and no one cares at all. Why isn't anyone taking her to jail for THAT?

And speaking of jail. Or Gaol. Um, YUCK. Mrs. Ferguson would have been told PRONTO that she should keep her damned hands to herself. I mean, really. I couldna have even stayed in the bed with her after that - roaches or no.

And is it me or do people just go into labor all around Claire - at opportune times? It's fascinating! "Oh wow - I hate being in jail - it's stinky and I'm bored". "Shriekkkkkk!" "Oh look - I can get out and hang out by the hearth and deliver a child!  That will take a good couple of hours. Excellent!"

Here's a scene I want to see in ABOSAA: The Movie: Jamie running after the carriage as Claire and the Governor are riding down the street. Oh. My. Holy. Ever. Loving. God.   I DIED! SO heroic. And Ian's all "Um, hullo, Uncle Jamie? Your damned HAT fell off and now the whole world and maybe even Jupiter knows it's you, ya DUMBASS." That was tremendous. Poor Jamie. He's all panting and shiz. It reminds you he's now old, just like the rest of us.

OK more in the next entry - this one's gettin' a little long....

All Together Now...

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read chapter 82 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

I have to say something. Loudly. But I don't want to give away a spoiler.
So scroll down please, if you will....

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MALVA CHRISTIE IS A BIG, FAT, EFFING SLUT!

Nothing further.
For now.
More to come...

He Said, She Said

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read chapter 80 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

Here is the email I - not two seconds ago - sent Tracey:

CHRIST ON A CRUTCH!!!!!!  Shannon and I are at the part where HUGEASS PREGNANT BITCH OF A HO, MALVA accuses Jamie of knocking her up. Claire ran out - Tom Christie asked for money and Jamie's coming to the realization that he's in deep doodoo.

I am not even for ONE SECOND going to even CONSIDER that Jamie did anything wrong.

I just don't know how Malva knows about the butt-scar.

MMMMMPPPPPHHHHHMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!

Dear John

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 76 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

This will be a quick one because I must get back to reading. I just wanted to say few things before I forget them.

So I've read more about Lizzie and the Beardsleys. Or shall I say "about Lizzie Beardsley and her two husbands" now that Jamie married Lizzie and Kezzie and Roger married Lizzie and Jo.  I dunno...it's totally creepy... and yet, I can't help thinking "GO TEAM LIZZIE!" I mean - wow. She's got two of the same guy pretty much. Can you imagine the possibilities? Double the dinner being caught. Double the wood being chopped. And double the bedroom fun. FOR HER! For once - it's not a GUY having all the fun! Not a bad deal, I'm thinking. And if Bree could just get the pizza going, it can be "Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place"!

Now... what do the Beardsleys look like at this point? How old are they? 20? 22? Hell if you can make them look like Rob Pattinson I'm thinking Lizzie should just put a big, old "I WIN" sign above her door.

Actually - speaking of Rob Pattinson, I have been thinking of him for Roger for the longest time. I can literally hear some of you cringing - and some of you cheering. It's making me giggle. I dunno... if you can put the enormous monster that is "Twilight" out of your brain for one second, you might be able to see this along with me. He could just do the whole understated, sweet, slightly tortured soul soooo well. Hell - pull Twilight back out again for that matter. Cuz I think I just described Edward Cullen. No WONDER I love Roger!!

OK moving on - had a dream last night that I was MARRIED TO JAMIE and we lived in a HUGE MANSION with lots of gorgeous dark wood moulding. Only problem? HE WAS AWAY - so I didna even get to enjoy or even SEE him. What was weird was that the mansion was very old - and so were most of its' contents - but it was modern times, and I saw Jamie's clothes. And there was a HAWAIIAN SHIRT in his wardrobe. NOT EVEN KIDDING. How funny is that???

OK lastly for now - I am loving  John Grey right now and just cried a tear when I read Jamie's letter, telling him they canna continue their correspondence. I keep finding myself saying "OMG you HAVE to TELL him about Claire/Bree/Roger and warn him about the Revolution!"  Am I the only one thinking this??? Take the chance that he'll think you're a freak because you might be able to save his life!