Sam Heughan Soars Up The IMDb Starmeter!

Ummm...holy crap.  Has anyone noticed that Sam Heughan is NUMBER 2 this week on the IMDb Starmeter?

WAY TO GO, MR. JAMMF!!!!

Why "Part 2 Jamie" Will Be Straight-Up Badass

I have had an epiphany.  It's about Jamie Fraser's character in Outlander on Starz, and the major game change that's taking place right in front of our very eyes.

Up until now, I haven't quite been able to explain how I feel about Jamie's character in the show.  I watch every week, unintentionally comparing the "show to the book" (and being beyond pleased while doing so)...and reveling in the story add-ons that have been such a refreshingly perfect fit thus far.  I have felt like "TV Jamie" (brilliantly portrayed by the talented and swoonrific Sam Heughan) is beautifully written...but has seemed slightly different than his character in the book series (by literary wonder, Diana Gabaldon.)  Perhaps he seems somewhat timid...while coming off like the clan's little brother, instead of the true Highland warrior I've had the pleasure of getting to know over the years.

Any slight bewilderment I had was made perfectly clear once I saw the trailer for the upcoming 2nd half of the season, slated to air in April of 2015.  I had this "a-ha" moment, realizing that we are witnessing the EVOLUTION of Jamie Fraser, and he will be channeling his inner badass in part 2.

Allow me to elaborate.

First, we saw Jamie as a wounded young man.  A fine specimen, mind...but a fellow much younger and less seasoned than his rough-and-tumble clansmen:

Shoulder pain?  What shoulder pain?

Next, we saw a cute and flirty Jamie, impressing Claire with his vast knowledge of horses...

She wants me.  I know she wants me.

And yes, we did catch a glimpse of a stronger, wiser Jamie during his brilliant, thinking-on-his-toes pledge during The Gathering.

Let's get this over with, aye?

But then he was right back to being vulnerable on the wedding night.

Awkward, party of 2?

Now pay attention, y'all.  This is where the tide started to turn...and my epiphany started to take shape.  Claire got attacked...and something changed inside of Jamie.  He felt like he didn't protect her...

Shite!  I dinna ken what to do! 

...and he got mad.  Really, really mad. 

I'll no be fooled again.

And he wasn't going to take it anymore, especially when Claire was attacked, yet again.

Go ahead.  Make...my...day. 

And NOW look at him in the new trailer!!  He's like a deranged animal...in a cage that's been left well unlocked.

Kill...kill...kill...

And THAT, lads and lassies, is a realization that has me giddy with Outlander Part Deux glee.  Jamie is a changed man!  Now that he's a husband (and needs no guidance in the bedroom), he's no pushover ...and he's not going to be anyone's sap anymore!  I never really saw the change taking place while reading the books (much like you don't notice your children growing on a daily basis)...but Ron Moore is so ridiculously insightful, I have no choice but to ponder it now.

I am now so torked up for the second half of the season, I dinna ken what tae DO w'myself!  (Whoa - slipped into a bi' of Pocket Jamie for a minute there.)  

In the words of Oscar Wilde, "the suspense is terrible..."

...but I'm no sure I want it to last!!  Come on, April 4th!!

MOP's TOBIAS TUESDAY!

MOP Outlander Chat TONIGHT!

MOP Outlander Chat Tonight  at 9PM Eastern.  BE THERE!!!  :)

OUTLANDER on Starz Season 1 / Part 2 TRAILER!

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ.  This new trailer for Outlander's 2nd half of its maiden season on Starz makes me weep with _______ (insert appropriate adjective here; "fear", "rage", "joy"...they'll all do nicely.)

They had me at that haunting, ethereal voice.  And this got me thinking about the fact that I need to fill up my iPad with it - and similar voices - STAT.

Suggestions??  Anyone??  I'd love to hear some!

My Outlander Purgatory Breaks Down Starz' Outlander Episode 8: Both Sides Now

Villain Guessing with Tobias Menzies

Now that we have 7 months to wait for new Outlander on Starz, you MUST check out this hilarity with Tobias Menzies. LOVE HIM!!

 

MOP's TOBIAS TUESDAY!

Tobias Menzies as Frank Randall in "Outlander" on Starz

My Outlander Purgatory Breaks Down Starz Outlander Episode 7: The Wedding

REMEMBER PAOLI!

The Battle of Paoli, September 20, 1777

 "Rest well, Paoli's heroes brave
 You did your part this land to save
 And as the centuries roll by
 Ever we'll sound your battle cry
 REMEMBER PAOLI!!"

 ~Henry Pleasants Jr.

MOP's TOBIAS TUESDAY!

A young and adorable Tobias Menzies in HBO's "Rome." 

MOP Outlander CHAT Tonight!!!

MOP Outlander Chat Tonight  at 9PM Eastern.  We will be discussing Episode 6: The Garrison Commander.  Please NO MOBY spoilers until 9:45.  Thank you!! 

My Outlander Purgatory Breaks Down Outlander Episode 6 on Starz: The Garrison Commander

THANKS to Jax from "Outlander Stuff!"

Have to throw a HUGE THANK YOU out to MOP pal, JAX from Revive1775 (tremendous website that is chock full of info from the Revolutionary war and the happenings of 1775!)

Jax sent Tracey and myself these truly awesome bracelets...that she made!!  And where can you get one?  At her Etsy site, OutlanderStuff!!!  She also sells celtic knot bracelets and key rings with other quotes from the Outlander series; tons of awesome goodies!  Go check her out!

 I canna tell you how much we appreciate these wee gifties.  We are truly touched!!!!
THANKS JAX!! :)

Going Through the Stones!

This is MOP friend, Kris, going through the stones today! Jealous, party of MOP?! GO KRIS!! Tell Claire and Jamie we said Hi! And JE SUIS PREST!!! 

MOP's TOBIAS TUESDAY!

Tobias Menzies as "Black Jack Randall" in episode 6 of OUTLANDER on Starz

MOP discusses "RENT": Episode 5 of OUTLANDER on STARZ!

MOP's TOBIAS TUESDAY!

Tobias Menzies and Genevieve O'Reilly in "Forget Me Not"

No MOP Chat Tonight

MOP Chat is cancelled tonight in honor of the Labor Day holiday here in the United States.  We'll see you next week! 

MOBY Update: Tombstones and Toadstools

SPOILER ALERT:  The following is from chapter 74 in Written in My Own Heart's Blood.
  
     "I gave my burnt artilleryman water, then helped him to his feet.  As he stood up, I saw behind his legs the epitagh carved into Gilbert Tennent's headstone:
     O READER HAD YOU HEARD HIS LAST TESTIMONY YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN CONVINCED OF THE EXTREME MADNESS OF DELAYING REPENTANCE." 

~Diana Gabaldon in "Written in My Own Heart's Blood"

Gilbert Tennent's Grave - Old Tennent Church and Graveyard
I took this on my first visit to the Old Tennent church back in the 1990s. :)

My Outlander Purgatory's Recap of Episode 4: "The Gathering"

My Outlander Purgatory Wants to See YOUR MOP Shirt!

Lads and Lassies, this is m'girl Claudia.  Claudia made my day recently when she sent me a picture of herself looking fantastic in not only a shirt she got at the MOP Shop...but a shirt that says My Outlander Purgatory!

And this got me thinking...I'd LOVE to post photos of ALL of you in YOUR Mop Shop shirts, no matter what they say! "I'd Go Through the Stones..."?? "...Takin His Time About it..."??  "LORDDDDDD the Gathering?!?" If you've got a MOP shirt (or mug, etc), please send me picture of you wearing it!!!  Don't have one yet??  That's OK...go ahead and order one and send me the pic when you get it!  I'll wait!! :)

HAPPY TOBIAS TUESDAY!

Tobias Menzies in Forget Me Not

Outlander Lads

Just in case anyone is still wondering about who's who on the Starz series...

ANGUS/Stephen Walters

RUPERT/Grant O'Rourke

MOP Chat TONIGHT!

MOP Outlander Chat Tonight  at 9PM Eastern.  

Tonight's chat schedule: 

9:00 - 9:30:  STARZ EPISODE 3, y'all!!!
9:30 - 10:00: MOBY!!!!

NO MOBY SPOILERS allowed during the first half hour!  

THANKS and can't wait to see you there!!!

MOP Breaks Down Starz' OUTLANDER Episode 3: The Way Out!

SPOILER ALERT!!!  Hey Outlander newbies...Tracey is on vacation this week and she usually edits the videos and adds pretty little spoiler warnings. I apologize for my boring start/stop points below the video...but they will make it easy for you to avoid season1 spoilers!!

PLEASE NOTE:  There is slight BREAKING BAD spoiler.  Avoid 44 seconds between 56:00 to 56:44. Happy watching!!!

18:00 - SPOILER ALERT

19:18 - SPOILER OVER

29:50 - SPOILER ALERT

30:06 - SPOILER OVER

41:10 - SPOILER ALERT

48:18 - SPOILER OVER

50:43 - SPOILER ALERT

51:03 - SPOILER OVER

56:00 - BREAKING BAD SPOILER

56:44 - BREAKING BAD SPOILER OVER

58:00 - SPOILER ALERT

59:35- SPOILER OVER

1:00:08 - SPOILER ALERT

1:04:32 - SPOILER OVER

MOBY: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

SPOILER ALERT:  Dinna read unless you are 50% into Written in My Own Heart's Blood. 

My Daughter's Handywork!

Christmas Eve is my birthday. People always ask, "Don't you feel gypped?" because I only get presents once a year. And every time, I tell them I don't know any better; this is the way it's always been! I wait all year for something I want, whether a bike at age ten or an iPad at age 40. And it's because of this that I've developed a bit of a habit - a ritual, if you will - on Christmas Day. I gather all my presents in one big pile, and watch everyone else open theirs first because I know "this is it" for another year; this is all I'm going to get. (Waaah, poor me.  I know this is quite a First World Problem...but stick with me; I do have a point.)

Oh sure...I open a few gifts here and there until I'm about 50% through...and then I just stop, and watch everyone else. This usually continues until my family finishes opening theirs and groans, "Come on Carol...finish opening your presents already!"

Today, lads and lassies, I am suffering the same fate, but it's only August. This time around, MOBY is my pile of presents, I am exactly 50% through, and you are all my family, telling me to hurry up and finish. 

I am sharing this little nugget of info in order to give you an idea of the anxiety I feel at this very moment. And don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who may have delayed MOBY gratification...and just as many who - at the very least - are able to appreciate how I feel.

But to me, this is personal. And finishing this book is going to leave me in complete and utter...

PURGATORY! 

As I've mentioned (ad nauseam) before, I am a self-professed Revolutionary War dork/buff/addict. Southeastern Pennsylvania and the central New Jersey shore are the only places I've ever lived and I have breathed in their history every day of my life. It's not uncommon for me to drive by a wartime house that still stands or a historical marker in the road, commemorating the hanging of British tories. (Whether the story is true remains to be seen, but the Daughters of the American Revolution seem to think it is.) If a blurb about Paoli in An Echo in the Bone (or a chapter entitled Remember Paoli in MOBY - but that's a different post!) had a profound effect on me because it's the town I grew up in, imagine how I feel now, diving into chapters about Freehold. FREEHOLD! I live in Monmouth County. I have jury duty at the courthouse in Freehold next month. I have visited the Old Tennent Church and cemetery many times...FOR FUN! I have gone with my husband. I have gone alone. And I have dragged my friends. I even exclaimed to them during our most recent visit that I was positive Claire was going to work there in MOBY, as I knew the church's history and that it was used as a hospital during the Revolution.

So yes, I have waited 400 some-odd pages for Claire to mention the Old Tennent Church, and damnit she did it two nights ago when I was reading. And did I rip into the chapter as most of you probably would? No, no I did not. Instead, I slammed the book shut (ok I turned my Kindle off quite vigorously) and put the book down. And I haven't opened it since. Because I am scared. I am scared to finish this book! I am scared to wait another five years. And most of all, I'm scared to walk out of this room...and never feel the rest of my whole life...wait...that's a line from Dirty Dancing. But seriously - I'm scared to read about what is going to happen to my favorite characters in the world - at one of my favorite historical spots in the world. And what makes it so unbelievable is that it's in my own back yard, figuratively speaking. Even if I weren't reading MOBY, I'd still be heading out to drive through the battlegrounds and the Old Tenant cemetery soon.  I'd still have a need to marvel at the fact that people just like Claire helped soldiers just like Jamie in this church-turned-hospital, just so I could live here - in Monmouth county, New Jersey - free as a bird.  I don't have anyone with a gun stationed at my church or local market. I can pray where I want and visit who I want and not worry about offending the crown or committing treason just for talking to the wrong person.

Live free or die, lads and lassies...live free or die. 

So that is my story. I couldn't press on at this hallowed halfway mark until I shared it with all of you wonderful fellow Gabaldon fans, in hopes that you'll understand my reason for procrastinating...as well as commiserate with me and tell me everything is going to be alright (sans spoilers, of course!) I have been so fortunate to spend all these years getting to know you guys through countless Outlander discussions. And laughs. Lordddddd the Outlander laughs. I would not trade this angst for the world.

Now...I promise I will get back to reading, no matter how anxious or fearful I am to do so, because I know what some of you saying. "Come on Carol...finish opening your presents already."  :)

My MOBY Hysteria: What a Difference a Year Makes

SPOILER ALERT:  The following pertains to information in Written in My Own Heart's Blood!  GO BACK if you don't want MAJOR SPOILERS. 
I 
am
posting
this
lower
so
newbies 
won't
see
it!

This video was taken last year when I was driving through Freehold and couldna wait for MOBY.  Giggle.  It's kindof funny to watch now.  Enjoy!

And was I right about Claire?? YES I WAS.  Old Tennent church which was used as a field hospital during the war. Almost 20 years ago I stumbled upon that church and cemetery during a chilly October drive with my husband...and I've been visiting it ever since.  See the next post for details!

Happy TOBIAS TUESDAY!

Tobias Menzies as "Brutus" on HBO's "Rome".  Photo submitted to HBO Wiki by OleMissCub

My Outlander Purgatory OUTLANDER Starz Episode 2 Recap!

IMDB is OUTLANDERVILLE!

OUTLANDER is Picked Up for a 2nd Season on Starz!!

MOP Talks EPISODE 1 of OUTLANDER on STARZ!

RIP Robin Williams: We'll Miss Your Scots

Still canna believe Robin Williams is gone. :(  He did such a fantastic Scots accent...I have to post this for those of you who havena seen it.

The man was such a massive talent.  And it's silly...but his future appearance I was looking forward to the most was Mrs. Doubtfire 2!  I love that character (and emulate it often.)  "I know you're used to loosy-goosy...but I run a much tighter ship!"  I JUST botched did that impression in a video Tracey and I made on Sunday!!

Post Scriptum Scriptum:  Was Mrs. Baird not the reincarnation of Mrs. Doubtfire?!?

Happy Tobias Tuesday!

Tobias Menzies as Frank on the Starz original series, "Outlander"
Photo credit:  Starz

OUTLANDER Premiere: Today's the Day!

OUTLANDER premieres TONIGHT in the US on STARZ!  Check your local listings!

Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, looking stunning, as usual!!

Outlander FANSITES: Entertainment Weekly

Could not be more thrilled (or surprised!) to mention that My Outlander Purgatory has been recognized as an Outlander fansite in this week's Entertainment Weekly magazine!

Congratulations to the Ladies of Lallybroch, Outlander Book Club, Outlandish Observations and Outlander Kitchen for being listed as well!

Graphic:  Entertainment Weekly - August 15th issue

Happy TOBIAS TUESDAY!!

Tobias Menzies as Black Jack Randall in the "Outlander" series on Starz

My JURY DUTY Purgatory: MOBY Style!

Just got my mail.  This is SO awful...and SO MOBY COOL...all at the same time!

Revolutionary War New Jersey

SPOILER ALERT:  The following deals with situations in Written in My Own Heart's Blood. 

I went for a bike ride in July in a nearby town (Wall, NJ - in Monmouth County)...and was enjoying the serenity of lush greenery along with puffy white clouds in a perfect blue sky, and birds quietly chirping overhead.  Since I was in an area with no roads (save the path I was on) or noise or hint of modern times, I immediately thought of the Revolutionary War and imagined the military and militia passing through the area. (The history dork in me would have thought about that even if I wasn't currently reading MOBY. :)

I had to stop and take a quick little video for those of you who have never been to New Jersey or Pennsylvania, and might like a bird's eye view of what it would have looked and sounded like while soldiers were traveling the countryside.  Better yet, when Ian was traveling the countryside with Rollo...enjoying the simplicity of the peace and quiet.  :)  Enjoy.

MOP CHAT TONIGHT

MOP Outlander Chat Tonight  at 9PM Eastern.  

Tonight's chat schedule: 

9:00 - 9:30:  STARZ EPISODE 1, y'all!!!
9:30 - 9:45:  MOBY - Parts 1 - 5. 
9:45 - 10:00: MOBY - ENTIRE book!

NO MOBY SPOILERS allowed during the first half hour!  

THANKS and can't wait to see you there!!!

Outlader Starz - Episode 1 Available NOW in the US!

Watch the premiere episode of Outlander NOW on demand or online if you are in the US!!!

Questions?  Read the FAQs here.

Tobias Menzies Arise 360 Interview: Bringin' the CUTE!

I DEFY you to tell me you don't adore Tobias Menzies after seeing this.

FERGUS!!!

Spoiler Alert:  I'm on part 3 in MOBY, y'all.

I have barely anything to say because I'm too verklempt to speak.  My eyes are completely immobile (like Lord John's) and fixed on the following three words: 

"Pardon me, milady,..."

Now THAT's an entrance.  All I can hear is Baby's completely breathy, "Johnny!" from Dirty Dancing. 

I may need to go lie down. 

Hiding in Plain Sight

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless ye have read Part 3 in Written in My Own Heart's Blood. 

This is what I see in my head when thinking of Lord John cruising around Pennsylvania with the enemy, pretending to be one of them.  Giggle.

MOP's TOBIAS TUESDAY!

Me:  "We created Tobias Tuesday!"
Tobias:  (insert simultaneous cool/wtf/ok faces here)
Me:  "But don't worry.  We're not stalkers!  I promise!"  :)

FIRST LOOK: STARZ Releases Opening Title Sequence from OUTLANDER

FIRST LOOK: STARZ Releases Opening Title Sequence from OUTLANDER Debuted at the San Diego Comic-Con World Premiere

"STARZ releases a first look at the opening title song and sequence of its highly anticipated original series “Outlander.” The opening showcases never-before-seen footage from the series, along with an arrangement of the “Skye Boat Song” by Emmy-award winning composer Bear McCreary featuring the vocals of songstress Raya Yarbrough (below). The network first shared the main sequence upon over 1,500 enthusiastic fans at the Comic-Con world premiere screening of “Outlander” at San Diego’s historic Spreckels Theatre on Friday night. “Outlander” premieres on Saturday, August 9^th at 9pm ET/PT on STARZ."

Download the Original Opening Title Song from Bear McCreary on iTunes here!

My Hubby Purgatory

SPOILER ALERT:  Dinna read unless ye have read part 3 in Written in My Own Heart's Blood.

MOBY banter with my hubby, Tom: 

Me: "Poor Lord John...he's walking along, hiding in plain site and running into all these people he knows.  He's in this mass exodus to cross the Delaware into NJ.  And Ian just said they're headed to Freehold!!!!!"
Tom:  "Ian's there?!?"
Me: "Yes.  Ian and this dude, Percy... Jamie... Claire... They're ALL THERE!"
Tom:  "Wait.  Ian?"
Me:  "Yes!  Jamie's nephew!"
Tom: "Ohhh you mean Ian the son!  What about Ian, his dad?  The guy with one leg?  I like him."
Me:  (shakes head dejectedly)  "Didn't make it." (in my best Roy Scheider voice from JAWS)
Tom:  "Ohhhh no!  Poor guy!!  He should have walked through the 2014 stones, got himself an Oscar Pislari prosthetic leg...gone back...and he'd have been able to run away!"
Me:  "Who?  Wait, do you mean Oscar Pistorius?!  THE MURDERER???"
Tom:  "Yeah!  That guy.  Awful...but those legs make him fast.  Ian could have gotten one of those cool bionic legs and gotten away."
Me: (shakes head again) Ian died in the last book.  Of illness.  Not battle."
Tom:  "Which book?"
Me:  "Nevermind."

Stinking Papist

SPOILER ALERT:  Dinna read unless you've read chapter 56 in Written in My Own Heart's Blood. 

Just had to mention...

I got to this chapter whilst reading on my patio...and cheered uber-loudly when I saw the spectacular title.

Let the games begin!!!

William the Conqueror. Not.

Spoiler alert:  Dinna read unless you've read the first few chapters of part 3 in Written in My Own Heart's Blood. 

It's hot.  And I'm tired.  And
thirsty.  And I don't like anyone.
They're all a bunch of meanies.

OMG I'm starting to agree with Tracey.  I am sitting here reading all about William following along the mass exodus of Loyalists leaving Philadelphia. (Later, losers!  Don't let the cheesesteaks hit you in the ass on your way out!)  And I'm starting to think that's all he's ever done; FOLLOWED people.  He follows the military...he follows his father...he follows his father's rich family.  And worst of all, he follows the thought process that he's BETTER THAN EVERYONE...all because he has a title.  Pretty douchy, no?

And if one subscribes to this type of notion...one MUST admit the fact that William is the way he is due to the way he was raised.  And to this I say "Thank you, Lord John and family.  YOU have made this kid into the whiny, spoiled little brat he is today.  I hope you're proud of yourselves."  

Bet thy has never seen
me like this, has thee?

Meanwhile...how can I feel this way...yet love Hal the way I do?  And Dottie?  (Who is flawlessly played by a young Kristin Scott Thomas in my mind, I'll have you know.)  And Lord John for that matter.  How do I point fingers at Willie...yet laugh at their antics and wish there was a way I could jump into fictitious literaryland and have tea and crumpets with the Greys at 3PM every day??  Why do I long to raise my pinky while holding the most delicate 18th

Hal and I could drink a mean
Earl Grey out of this, no?!?

century Spode... and gossip with the family about all things, well, gossipy...be they political, religious or just relating to the local issues of the day?  I want to make fun of the rank of an officer with Hal, and the unfortunately incorrect length of some local socialite's skirt with Dottie (though the Friends would frown upon that at meeting.)

Now what is you doin' having yo'self
a big ol' party without ME, bitch?

Or even Lord John.  I know there's a magical queen in there somewhere - a la Lafayette from True Blood - just dying to let his guard down for once and snap his fingers in Z-formation with Tracey and me.  What a blast THAT would be.  Mmm...mmm... mmm... inDEED hookas. 

So...alas...I will just have to continue reading about Willy...hoping upon hope he's going get stuck with Jamie at some point.  I mean totally stranded for days (or dare I dream weeks...months?!)...learning to combine the upper crust intelligence he's acquired from his adoptive family with the brawn of one James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser.  (NOT that Jamie isn't wicked intelligent, duh.)  

Bottom line...I want William to MAN UP.  There.  I said it.  (If Dianne Feinstein can say it...so can I.)  I want him to jump into any given situation and use his noodle to take charge of said situation...and pay no attention to the fact that the aforementioned situation may suck.  

Just do it, William.  Just do it.   

MOP's TOBIAS TUESDAY!

MOP CHAT Tonight!

MOP Outlander Chat Tonight  at 9PM Eastern.  

Chat rules for this evening's MOBY discussion: 

The first 15 minutes of tonight's discussion will be about PARTS 1&2 ONLY!

The last 45 minutes will include THE ENTIRE BOOK.  

LET'S DISCUSS!!! 

MOP SHOP Alert: FREE Standard Shipping to CANADA!

Offer valid at Canadian MOP SHOP site only - through Tuesday, July 22nd!  Whatcha waitin' for, Canadian Outlanders??  Get in there and beef up your Outlander wardrobe!  :)

"Why Do You Keep Calling Me Calvin?"

SPOILER ALERT:  Dinna read unless you have read parts 1 and 2 in Written in My Own Heart's Blood.

I was up reading at 3AM a few nights ago.  But I wasn't reading MOBY.



I was reading A LEAF ON THE WIND OF ALL HALLOWS!!!

I woke up - tossing and turning - with my mind racing about Roger and Buck...and Jerry.

This is me - trying to process all this time travel:

I am all kinds of confused.  AND LOVING IT.  And I know things will be revealed going forward...because they always are.  But I'm going over timelines...and my brain is negotiating with itself in a quest to piece it all together.  And don't bother telling me not to...and to just "go with it"...or some such silliness...because that is the way my brain works.  I missed my calling on "CSI Jersey Shore."

So here's the thing.  How did a woman on a farm in North Umbria have Jerry's dog tags if Jack-friggin-RANDALL had them Inverness in MOBY??  And handed them to Brian Fraser who handed them to Roger.  But Roger was WITH Jerry Mackenzie in North Umbria when the aforementioned farmer's wife had them there.  (UNLESS the man with dark hair and bright green eyes who told Jerry he loved him WASNA ROGER???)  So now I'm all KINDS of wondering if Roger is going to go through the stones with Buck AGAIN and find Jerry or what?

Frank, during his brief trip to
the 18th century (in my dreams.) 

AND AND AND...as we were discussing in MOP Chat last night; how did Frank's letter get into a desk at Lallybroch?!?  Riddle me THAT!  (Kidding - dinna tell me, please. Nae spoilers, aye?!) I suppose I'll just have to keep reading to find out.

AND Poor Jem.  I can handle a lot, y'all...but I canna handle the back and forth with little Jem being hunted by Rob Cameron.  And that story in the letter by Frank???  That exactly why they want Jem.  I thought it was about time travel...but if that were the case, they could have taken Bree.  They want Jem because they think he's going to rule Scotland.  (TELL me that wasn't a bomb dropper when you read THAT little tidbit.  WOW.  Canna wait to see what happens with THAT storyline.)

A few things:

- DOUGAL EFFING MACfrigginKENZIE for the love of all that's holy!!!  Yet another "SHUT UP!!!" moment in this series.  I loved every second of his visit with his twin Roger.  And comments like "feeling a state of bemused horror" just make me a) giggle, b) TOTALLY feel the scene and c) realize I'm feeling the same EXACT thing at seeing Dougal again!!!

- That letter Frank wrote to Bree.  Tell me I didn't cry - right there in my bed at 3AM - when he signed it "Dad".  OMG I cried an ocean.  I am telling you...Tobias Menzies' casting - coupled with my "Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" read a couple years back (was it that long ago??) - has softened me to Frank BIG time.

"Take your damned hands off her."
And don't eff this UP, Roger!!!

- ROGER HELD BLACK JACK'S HANDS AND PRAYED OVER HIM.  (insert my gobsmacked face here)  What in the name of all that's holy.  I am living in TERROR that Roger is going to mess things up for Jamie and Claire.  What if Randall falls for ROGER?!?  What if that teeny prayer session makes Black Jack find God and throw away his wicked ways??  What if George McFly doesn't get the girl?  (Sorry - had to.)  SO MANY WHAT IFS!!!!!

- Bree is takin' the bairns and getting the heck outta dodge.  And putting herself right smack into the middle of the American Revolution in Phila-delphi-A.  Oy.  I suppose Frank is right; the safest place is the past.

But what about HAROLD ROGER?!?

What is that poor soul going to DO??  Shiz - he's OLDER THAN effing JAMIE in 1738!!!  It's not like he can WAIT FOR BREE or something!!  Boyfriend's going to have to get his ass back to the 80s (like all the clothing designers seem to have done recently; lorddddddddd the stripes)...read Bree's note...and then get his ass back to 1778 Philly.  OMG this book is so brills I don't know what to DO with myself!!!  Time travel RULES!!!

OK on to Part 3.  Wish me luck!!!

MOP Talks MOBY!!!

Check us out as we discuss Parts 1 & 2 of Written in My Own Heart's Blood!