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!
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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!

A Breath of Snow and Asses

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read chapter 73 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

OK first question: Is everybody just doing everybody on the Ridge and in River Run these days? That's what I'm feeling like.

Duncan: I canna blame him. Not one bit. IF (and that's a big "if") he's telling the truth about being impotent since he was young and that something suddenly came up when Phaedre was cleaning up his butter. No pun intended. 

Lizzie:  LIZZIE YOU IGNORANT HO-BAG! Who knew she had it in her?! No pun intended. What is she, Malva?! And she did BOTH of them?!? BLECH. I still havena finished the chapter so I'm still a little confused on what exactly transpired. Did they mean to trick her - or did they think she knew the diff? Not really sure at this point. All I know is she's got a bun in the oven and doesna know which Beardsley put it there. Um, ew.

And might I say, I'm sick of Jocasta. I really am. I dinna think I care too much about her welfare. Is that mean? I think I'm just starting to really classify her with her brothers and think "ick". I REALLY wonder more and more about what Ellen was like, coming from a horrible family like that. 

OK - SO - on to more important things. Ian. SOBBBB! Poor baby. I cried for him when he was getting all philosophical about his daughter - and when Bree prayed to Frank to take care of her. Poor souls - both of them. What a poignant scene. I also started to really feel for Bree - and the loss of the only  father she'd ever known until she went through the stones and found Jamie. Even if I didna like him all that much, Frank was her world - and now he's gone. I almost wish he'd somehow show up on the Ridge. I really do. That would rightly muck things up for sure. My god IMAGINE the fun!!! Oh god - that meeting. Jamie vs. Frank. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!

And WHO is Ian going to marry NOW that Lizzie has seen fit to roll in the hay with the Beardsleys and get herself knocked up? OH and how about the admission that she almost did the nasty with Bobby Higgins! WOWWY MCWOW! I didna even know they kissed - let alone came close to fornicating.

DAMN. Life on the Ridge is pretty interesting, ken?

Thanks, Diana!

So I woke up to 8 inches of water in my basement yesterday. Which is the kids' play room. Faulty sump pump. And my 7 year old brought her Queen Elizabeth report back to me today after handing it in to her teacher because it didn't have a cover on it (a cover was NOT in the instructions, thankyouverramuch, and they're presenting them in class - in costume. A cover was the last thing on my mind). She then informed me she had to move her fish because one of the boys was poking her on the carpet when they were supposed to be paying attention - and of course, she retaliated and poked him back. (I'm half "YOU DID WHAT?" and half "THAT'S MY GIRL!" at this news). And to top ALL of that off, my courses will be dropping in on me any second, now, and I feel like I need a good cry.

Which is why I was floored, touched, flabbergasted and all-around thrilled to find out our Outlander videos have made it to Diana Gabaldon's Youtube page.  Look under "Favorites" and "Book Review Videos".

jedecec Meets Peter Facinelli!

OK I have to share something huge that happened to one of our readers today.

My cousin, Jenn D, who follows My Outlander Purgatory as JeDeCe met a certain someone named PETER FACINELLI today. If you don't know who that is, he plays CARLISLE CULLEN in the Twilight series films... and is also a regular on Nurse Jackie.

Not only did Jenn meet "PFach" and get her picture taken with him... but he had someone take a picture with her on his iPhone and then TWEETED about meeting Jenn. And about 7 hours later, the tweet is still up! 

It was an amazing day for Jenn and I just had to share. Go check it out!

Outlander Chit Chat Between Sisters

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless ou have finished chapter 66 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

Email: Carol to Tracey:

How is it possible that in ONE WEEK Claire seems to have lost her ass 
and is reduced to skin and bones. And in three weeks of dieting, I'm 
lucky if I lost three pounds.

My prediction: Malva poisoned Claire and Tom Christie. That way, 
she'd be free to have Jamie. Why isna Claire seeing this??? She still 
thinks she and Tom C. had some odd illness. NOT. Malva's BAD news. I 
can smell it.

Email Reply: Tracey to Carol:

You should copy that email and paste it right into your blog. LOL  

 Malva is verra interesting. I thought so right from the start. 

Oh and BY THE WAY - I just read the end of Chapter 66 where Claire finally invites Jamie back into the marriage bed after almost dying (from being poisoned if I'm right.) And all I have to say is: Thank you, Diana. Thank you verra much. LORRDDDDD thank you very much!

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've gotten 3 or 4 pages into chapter 65 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

Dear Diana, 

What's with this Wedding at Cana writing style of yours? I love it! Just when I think things are slowing down, you change the water into wine and start serving up the deliciousness!

Yours in Christ (and Jamie Fraser),

Carol 

Seriously - I CANNOT believe what a turn this book has taken. Then again, I suppose I can believe it, after previous books that went along their merry way until PRESTO! They took off like a bat out of hell. 

I am going back to reading now because this part is SO good and I only have a short free time window in this insane asylum I call my house. But I'll tell you this: I am at what I believe to be one of the most powerful - if not THE most powerful - moments in this series.

Photo credit: philadelphia.about.com 

Jamie just declared himself for liberty. That is HUGE. Put yourself in his position. He's an honest, hard-working man who spent years at the mercy of English rule - fighting for Scotland and suffering subsequent punishment - and has finally found some peace. And he now has to put every ounce of faith and trust into his oddball, time-traveling wife's notion of a Revolutionary War -  and declare himself a rebel. When all he really wants to do is stay out of trouble and avoid fighting like the plague. It's mind-blowing how huge this is.

Photo credit: planetware.com

I am more than nostalgic for where I grew up right now. No shocker as I've waxed on previously about my hometown bordering Valley Forge. I used to drive to my friend Katie's house and pass cannons and log cabins along the way - and think absolutely nothing of it. Dinna get me wrong - I respected the hell out of what took place at Valley Forge. But it was what it was; I lived there. I had to drive through the park (Bitterman) to get to the local shopping center!  Seriously though - I went through a Revolutionary War obsession in the 4th or 5th grade... and even had wedding portraits taken at Valley Forge Park in front of a log cabin (Tracey is right now going "OMG I totally forgot about that!) And now - wow.  Reading this book...I'm dying to go back. Tracey - Shannon - Jenn M. - and anyone else who wants to join us, I have one thing to say:  ROAD TRIP!!!!!! 

PS - Check out these pictures taken by a fellow named Adrian from England who lives in PA now and has a personal website at adrianc.com. I have posted one of the inside of a cabin, below. Can you imagine Jamie, Claire, Bree, Roger and Jemmy all sharing ONE?!

ALSO - click this link for some fascinating information and links regarding Valley Forge and George Washington's troops camping there (what was left of them) for 6 months.

Dying is a Lonely Business...What are your Thoughts, Hobson?

SPOILER ALERT - Dinna read unless you've finished Chapter 64 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES.

This is sortof post script from last night's post. Claire is now fully awake - and has shared some much-needed alone time with Jamie. From what she says, it's been a day or two since she woke up. And no mention of Bree coming-a-calling. I suppose this is one of those times Tracey and Shannon always point out is "assumed"? Because if not, WHERE THE HELL IS BREE???

Here's another thing - why on god's green earth was Jamie SKINNING HIDES IN THE WOODS whilst Claire was upstairs dying in the big house? I mean, dinna get me wrong, I'm happy he was - because he was able to save my beloved Fergus. But it strikes me as VERRA odd that he would leave that room for one second if Claire was dying. I'm having a hard time from keeping the following from spewing forth from my lips: "Edward would never have left". 

And speaking of my beloved Fergus - I think it's a grand idea to send him off to live the life of a city mouse with Marsali and the weans. He needs to build his confidence back up, aye?

Now THAT'S a bad hair day!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you hve read through the third page of Chapter 64 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

Jesus god they shaved her head. THEY SHAVED CLAIRE'S HEAD!!!!! Oh I'm dying. Absolutely DYING!!!

Do you know what my profile quote is on Facebook? "What's wrong? Is it my HAIR?!"  And it's completely superficial and stupid, I realize. But it's because I have had CRAZY hair since the day I was born. And when you have CRAZY hair, it almost seems like your life sortof revolves around your hair. And you act like a complete dumbass about your hair. Hair is my life. Everyone I know has asked me to do their hair - fix their hair - hell, I've even cut and colored hair when I had no CLUE what I was doing. Seriously. I just love hair, OK?  (See yesterday's post mention about Robert Pattinson for backup.)

THEY CUT OFF HER HAIR!!!! She had no SAY in the matter!! She never saw it COMING!
Hell....*I* never saw it coming!!!  Wow, Diana... you have outDONE yourself in the "GOTCHA!!!" department, seriously.

It's not like she was Demi Moore and starring in GI Jane and did it on purpose. She woke up - AND IT WAS ALL GONE. 

OK going back to reading now... but all I have to say is this: "WHO is the dark haired GIRL leaning into Jamie??? (Don't answer that!) MALVA??? IS IT MALVA??? I will KICK HER ASS from here to KINGDOM COME. GET her ass OUT of that surgery and BACK to the cabin with TOM ASSHOLE CHRISTIE where she BELONGS!!!!!

OK I'm a little freaked out right now. Sorry for the shamefully crass language. But DAMNIT I am pissed. Poor Claire is DYING of dysentery and MALVA (or someone else?) is MOVING IN on JAMIE - and CUTTING OFF ALL HER HAIR!!!!!!! I need to process this. Seriously. Did this ever happen on Little House on the Prairie?? Did they ever shave off Mary Ingalls' hair because she was sick???

WHY??? WHY??? (screamed like Nancy Kerrigan)  And here's poor Claire - about 4 seconds back from the dead - and she is worried about Jamie seeing her. As if he'd give a rat's ASS about her hair, especially now that she's out of the woods and going to live. Oh the poor thing. God bless her.

OK Back to reading. More to follow....

Flocks of a Feather

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read Chapter 60 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. 

I canna believe how much I've come to love Bobby Higgins. That letter from John Grey killed me.  It was verra sweet of John to go to bat for Bobby like that. "Well, Jamie, please talk Lizzie's dad into letting her marry Bobby. And if that falls through, give it a shot for Malva with Tom Christie".  And what then? Who is low enough in the totem pole for poor Bobby?! And he is better than all of this! And isn't he sweet, putting on his Sunday best to speak with Jamie and Mr. Wemyss? And then what happens?! SHOT DOWN!!! With a slight little "I'll think about it but most probably not."

OK so let's back up a little bit. Flora MacDonald. Don't think I like her. A little too important to be captured for my taste. And WHAT was with the odd look she gave Claire when she first met her at River Run? Maybe that wasna the first time she met her. Or maybe she'd heard stories. Or maybe she's got a sick crush on Jamie even though he's like a million years younger than her. Kindof like Rob Pattinson is a million years younger than me. Yeah. Let's let that one go for now.

I. LOVE. DONNER!  Why on earth did Bree and Claire just sit there and let them haul his arse off to jail? Yeah yeah - he escaped - and now we don't know where he is. But still! They just SAT there. They go to bat for everyone and everything - but for him, they just sit there. I get it - he ran around with the band of thugs who kidnapped Claire. But he was trying to help Claire. True, he's a wimpy little shite who watched a heap of walking filth just go around killing people at random - but again - I think he did enough to try to help Claire that they should have at least spoken up for him, even though it probably wouldna have done any good. And he's from the future. They canna just let him die without pumping every last bit of info out of him that they can (which I believe they were trying to do until Claire dragged poor Jamie's ass into the brothel where we heard even more stories of his good deeds.) And if nothing else, Donner actually uses terms like "gnarly". I'd keep him around for the conversation alone.

Tar and feathers - awesome. Jamie at his finest - and it just showed me that Jamie is going to be verra influential and so sitting down to a meeting with John Adams in about 30 seconds. I'll bet Abigail is brewing the acorn tea for the Fraser womenfolk as I type. And Hel-LO - when Ian and Fergus came to his side (sighhhhh Fergussss... that man is so sexy it's shameful) and did their little hop-up number to pull down the mattress? Priceless. Absolutely priceless.

OK that's it for now, lest I make you yawn with all my chatter. I'll leave you with this thought:

If those Ridgers don't leave poor Roger's preaching/singing/sweating alone  - I'm going to grab that snake out of Jamie's shirt - no, make that Claire's pocket - and whack them over the head with it. Although, might I say that when that snake came up under Jamie's chin,  under his shirt, I truly almost coughed up a lung from laughing so hard. Seriously.

Funny Outlander Parody

Sorry All - crazy week. I promise I'll be back at it tomorrow!

Until then - check out this verra amusing Outlander Parody from "CrunchyMonkey777" I found linked to Diana Gabaldon's Youtube page. I cracked up when she went through the stones. Lorrdddd please don't let Tracey make me do something like this! ;)

PS - Tracey asked me to mention that she also saw this on Outlandish Observations today. She's the Tweeter; I'm the blogger.  (We are sometimes not in sync!)

Who is Your Claire?

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

Since we were talking about "our Claire" in tonight's chat - I have to mention mine. This is my Claire....Emma Samms. Young Claire - Older Claire - doesna matter. I think she's perfect.

What do you think?

My Outlander Movie or Series Ramblings

Just read this blurb in an interview with Jim Caviezel about "that other Outlander"... and found it interesting that he would say this:

Outlander is...kind of like Braveheart and Highlander mixed - and really not.”

Wow. Interesting Scottish references to this sci-fi alien vs. viking film with the same name as the book series we're all reading which is about Scotland and therefore conjures up visions of, uh, well.. Braveheart.. and uh, Highlander.

OK so moving on - I just posted this comment to Sirena regarding my humorous pipe dreams about Channing Tatum playing Jamie Fraser:

Word on the street has been that Randall Wallace would be writing the screenplay (he wrote Braveheart)...but lately the talk is mini-series related... so we'll see what happens.

Did you happen to see Dear John? Channing Tatum is the star of the movie and I recently read an interview where he said Randall Wallace wrote him a letter... and has since become his mentor. Ask Jenn, Shannon and Tracey - I spent days on end absolutely convinced that RW wanted Channing to play Jamie. We went to see the movie and I thought "Wow - if this guy could pull off a Scottish accent, I'd be happy as a clam. He's that good in the film". But.. alas... that's just another one of my little Outlander dreams...

So I read another article today and realized Channing Tatum has mentioned he's reading a Randall Wallace-written book entitled "Love and Honor" about the eve of the Revolutionary War. Hmmm.
So I suppose a) I'm dead wrong on RW possibly wanting CT to play Jamie Fraser and b) Randall is farting around with his own historical fiction instead of working on a proper screenplay or better yet storyline for a cable series for Outlander... and I have to wonder if c) he ganked the idea for his 2004-published book from Diana, Herself! Mmmppphhm! (Dinna worry - I promise I'm kidding as I truly adore Randall Wallace and will absolutely buy this book when I finish the Outlander series. I don't care if I'm the only person on the planet who loved The Man in the Iron Mask, which Mr. Randall wrote the screenplay for - as well as directed.)

OK so lastly - a post from Diana's "Voyages of the Artemis" blog. The post is from 2008 - and readers like Karen and Laura already know this all and will most likely be like "Oh Carol, aren't you cute with your 2 year old information" LOL! But some of you more recent Outlander groupies - like me - might want to see some of the film adaptation info that came from the mouth of Herself. Enjoy! (And PS - ask Tracey - I have maintained since Day 1 that Keira Knightly is my ultimate Claire if she'd just eat a few Pork roll, Egg and Cheese sandwiches and throw bad a bunch of chocolate shakes. LORDDDDD that girl is skinny! I think I'll have to stick with Rachel Weisz.)

Reminder: Tonight is Outlander Chat Night!

Don't forget MONDAY NIGHT CHAT tonight at 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time!

We'll be discussing anything from Outlander....all the way up through the first 50 chapters  in A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Hope to see you there!

She Moved Through the Fair

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read The Fiery Cross.

Oooofah! I just came up with a song/scene to beat the band.  I am loving "She Moved Thro' the Fair" - sung by Orla Fallon - for The Fiery Cross when Roger is hanged. Oh man it gives me chills. Let me set the scene (which is all in slow motion):

They're walking Roger to the trees to be hanged... and then you see Brianna smiling and talking with Jamie and Claire, thinking they're out of danger because the battle with the Regulators is over.

Then as Roger is dying... his life is flashing through his eyes... we see flashes from when he was a little boy... with his parents... and the Reverand... and him at Oxford... and then he lingers on one memory: the day he and Bree were at the Scots festival in Massachusetts. And they're laughing and talking and her hair is gorgeous in the sunlight... and we keep seeing the scene flashing from Bree smiling at the fair in her 20th century clothes - to Roger dying - to Bree smiling with her parents in her 18th century clothes, having no idea what is happening to Roger at that verra moment. Chills, chills and more chills!

Forever Let Us Hold Our Banner High

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished Part 6 (Chapter 52) in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

I couldna understand - for the life of me - what a chapter entitled "M-I-C" was going to be about. My first thought was "M-I-C...K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E" and I thought "nahhhh". But sure enough - there it is - Bree explaining Disneyland to Jamie. (Meanwhile Disneyworld would have been much closer to their house in Boston - but who am I to question the Mistress Gabaldon?)

ADDENDUM: My thanks to TERRY who posted the following comment: Disney World opened in Oct. of 1971. Frank was already dead by then.

Sigh. That was just a lovely little scene of Bree and Jamie, sitting on the stoop, watching the fireflies... listening to the kids playing (and by "kids", I also mean Roger LOL)...and talking about Bree's world. Although I did get a pang of pain when she mentioned Frank and called him "Daddy". That has to be ten times worse for Jamie to hear than for Claire to hear a mention of Laoghaire, dontcha think? Frank raised his daughter as his own. OCH!!! That makes me throw up in my MOUTH a little when I think about it!!

Anyhoo...back to Mickey and Pals...I've always maintained I'd like to see much more of 20th century explanations to Jamie. It's just so comical.

"A giant rat?" he said, sounding slightly stunned. "And they take the weans to play with it?"

SO funny I almost fell off the couch. I canna tell you what I'd give to see Jamie in the 21st century for just one day. And every time I envision it, it becomes a terribly campy 80s movie in my head, a la Caveman or Splash, where the main character who is from another place and/or time learns about his surroundings by watching TV. I can't stop wondering what things would set Jamie off. I mentioned this in our chat last week... and one of my top picks of things I'd like to see Jamie discover is tanning cream.  Can't you just HEAR him??? "Ye rub it all over ye and it makes ye turn brown? Now why in the name of a wee de'il would ye want to do that, sassenach?" Oh god I die every time I think about it!!!

So I ask you:   

What 21st century product would YOU most like to watch Jamie discover?

PS - I've reached 150 posts. Word.

Male/Female Relationships

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 50 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES!

Ya know, lassies...I need a chunk of uninterrupted time to sit with both my book - and my computer - and blog about what I'm reading, while I'm reading it. Those are the best blogs. They're thorough and emotional...and I sound like I know what the hell is happening and who is who. When I have to reach back too far to find things I've read, it's not nearly as fun. For me to type... but more importantly, for you to read.

Soooo.... I have decided to go a little backwards. I'm going to blog about what I read today...and then maybe I'll go back over things I've skipped. Mmmmkayyyyy? Great.

So what the hell is up with Roger Mac? He is being a complete DUMBASS!!! I canna even feel SORRY for him anymore. I didna know people would talk??? I didna know this would happen??? I didna know my wife would be upset/suspicious/jealous/all of the above??? Is boyfriend KIDDING???  C'mon. I don't know how often he's been up at Amy McCallum's... but I'm thinking it's been quite a bit. How about bringing Bree with you to visit with Amy while you fix stuff? How about inviting Amy and her kids to dinner? How about telling Claire or Mrs. Bug to get on the matchmaking thing and find her a new man? (OK I know matchmaking isna exactly Claire's forte but WORK with me here, please.)  Nooooo...he's just going to keep going there, day after day, and playing Guy Friday while the entire Ridge talks about him and his assumed affair. Even Jamie is giving Claire looks at the breakfast table over his plate of ham, bacon, bread-dripping-with-butter and any other artery-clogging breakfast Mrs. Bug decided to cook up  today. My god - wouldna you think Jamie would wring Roger's neck? It always amazes me, the things Jamie chooses to get involved in - or doesna choose to get involved in. This is something he should get involved in.

And what's with Malva swapping spit with Bobby Higgins? UGH! I want him for LIZZIE!!! NOT happy about that....

OH WAIT - Back to Roger - how about THIS little ditty I just read today: "William Buccleigh MacKenzie had mistaken Roger's concern for Morag MacKenzie for...well, all right, he'd kissed her, but only on the forehead..."

I'm sorry. COME AGAIN???? He only kissed her on the forehead??? Did I read that right?? Did I MISS that back in The Fiery Cross? On the forehead? That's all??? And her husband had him hanged??? WTF??? Do you remember it being only on the forehead??

OK - lower the blood pressure... lower the blood pressure... Next....

Bree and Jamie moving the boulder for Bree's aquaduct... and Jamie saying "Why, ye clever, bonnie wee thing!!!" because she knew the water would start to erode through the clay. Cute, cute, CUTE! I loved that part. I was just telling my mentor/sister, Tracey verra recently that I want more Jamie/Bree cuteness. And there it appeared - right in front of my face.

I just wish we'd see Jamie relate to Bree when she's doing something less typically masculine once in a while. She doesn't have to be inventing tools or designing guns or doing manual labor for Jamie to understand/appreciate her. He's not a barbarian. And I'd like to see a little more hugging and maybe a good cry together. Yup. That's what I'd like to see.

Set the Fire to the Third Bar

Spoiler Alert: Dinna read unless you have finished VOYAGER.

I recently added the song "Run" from Snow Patrol to my "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" playlist... and realized how much I love this band where the Outlander series is concerned. Their lyrics are similar to a lot of Diana Gabaldon's writing in a strange way. A lot of nature. Snow. The cold ground. Bones. Praying.

And my favorite thing about both the series and this band's songs: undying, relentless, urgent need to be with the one you love.

The band sounds like the books - if that makes ANY sense whatsoever.

Anyway... I found this song and had to blog about it. It makes me think of Jamie in Edinburgh the night before Claire comes to him.  He's had a long day of printing and smuggling.. and he's laying on his cot,  happy to be free. Free of Laoghaire. Free of the crown. Free of everything... Everything except his pain - and yearning for Claire. And little does he know that she is there...in his time... trying to get to him... trying to find her way to him... Oh god I can see it unfolding right before my eyes. It's from both of their perspectives. Give it a listen and take a look at the lyrics below.

"Set The Fire To The Third Bar"

(feat. Martha Wainwright)

I find the map and draw a straight line

Over rivers, farms, and state lines

The distance from 'A' to where you'd be

It's only finger-lengths that I see

I touch the place where I'd find your face

My finger in creases of distant dark places

I hang my coat up in the first bar

There is no peace that I've found so far

The laughter penetrates my silence

As drunken men find flaws in science

Their words mostly noises

Ghosts with just voices

Your words in my memory

Are like music to me

I'm miles from where you are,

I lay down on the cold ground

I, I pray that something picks me up

And sets me down in your warm arms

After I have travelled so far

We'd set the fire to the third bar

We'd share each other like an island

Until exhausted, close our eyelids

And dreaming, pick up from

The last place we left off

Your soft skin is weeping

A joy you can't keep in

I'm miles from where you are,

I lay down on the cold ground

And I, I pray that something picks me up

and sets me down in your warm arms

I'm miles from where you are,

I lay down on the cold ground

And I, I pray that something picks me up

and sets me down in your warm arms

Who Needs Vrooms When we Have Toot Toots?

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 40 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

So I'm reading along... sweet as you please... when all of a sudden, James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser FARTS in bed. Yeah... you read that right. He FARTED. In BED!!!

WTF????

Don't get me wrong. I get it. I really do. He's a regular husband who emits gasses, just like anyone else. Only he's NOT a regular husband. He's FRIGGIN JAMIE FRASER!!! HE DOESNA FART IN BED!!!

THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!!

And Jamie Fraser doesna FART in motherfrigging BED!!! Before SEX with the ALMOND CREAM no less. My GOD!!! What is NEXT?!? Is Claire going to DOUCHE right before Jamie does her up against the fencepost?!

Le Sigh.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind. NOT Out of Heart.

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 36 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

So my sister and Outlander mentor, Tracey wants to know why I'm not going into more detail about Ian's story to Marsali about Emily and what happened to his bairn. Would you like to know, too? OK. What I think about Ian's life with the Mohawk:

Frankly, my dear... I don't give a damn.

NOT that I don't care about Ian or "his pain" as Tracey says. I do. I love Ian. Like a son. My own SON'S name is Ian for god's sake. But I canna take it, lassies. I canna take anything that has to do with those two heartbreaking years when Ian was with the Mohawk. I am dealing with his time with the Mohawk like he deals with it; I dinna want to talk about it. I dinna want to THINK about it. It KILLED me when they TATTOOED HIS FACE for the love of god!!! I canna - and wilna - THINK about what life was like for him while he was gone from the Ridge. Don't ask - don't tell. DON'T WANNA KNOW!!!

Calling all Jamie's!

Here's an amusing little ditty for ya. A Purgatory friend was at work today and had to call some guy named "Jamie". He had a really nice voice and she kindof lost herself in her thoughts for a minute whilst talking to him. 

And you know you do it, too. Hell, I saw a sign today for "Christie" street and immediately thought "Tom!"

Hey, Mrs Wilson!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 39 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Wow I havena posted in quite a while, sassenachs.  I do apologize! Let's get this party STARTED!

So Fergus is verra sad because Henri Christian is a dwarf... and in the 18th century, life was horrendous for someone like him. He is also feeling sorry for himself because his hook leaves nothing but woman's work for him to do - and he has zero intention of changing or feeding any of the bairns. That leaves him no choice but to make a meager living translating for those on the Ridge (or beyond) who speak French. Boyfriend needs a trust fund.

Ian has now informed Marsali (and the ever-eavesdropping Claire) that Emily had a baby girl who died in childbirth. That is all we know - for now. I'm curious as to the whereabouts of Emily at this point.

Amy - one of the widows on the Ridge (whose husband brought her here with the bairns and then up and died on her whilst fixing the roof) - asked Roger to come and help her because she thought there was a devil in the pail of milk on her kitchen table. Turns out it was a frog. I'm wondering why she didna know this? Could it be that she is trying to use her feminine wiles on Roger to land herself some 20th century minty freshness? Only time will tell. For now she seems like a nice enough girl but a) Diana doesna write nice books and b) poor Roger is always hounded by one type of demon or another.

Mrs. Wilson died and an absolutely HILARIOUS non-wake wake ensued. I have not HOWLED this hard since reading Jamie's reaction when Bonnie Prince Charlie's mistress shaved her "honeypot". Holy COW it was funny when she sat her ass right up in the coffin and Jamie ended up holding on to her...and she was yelling at Hiram because he was too cheap to pay for a proper wake. Oh hell it was funny. My husband said "What are you laughing at?!" I was truly LOL.

OK more to come. I have to break off here or y'all might start yawning...

OUTLANDER CHAT

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read a good chunk of The Fiery Cross. 

Thanks so much to everyone who came to the chat! We had a blast and I am really looking forward to doing it again! 

We discussed so many things... from Lord John Grey and Jamie's "proposal" in "Voyager"...  to Bree and her super-human powers of design... to what products Jamie Fraser would be totally freaked out about in the 21st century! (My vote is for tanning cream. Absolutely!!)

I'm sorry we missed those of you who weren't able to come... and I want to let you know we will be working on some different times for chats so everyone can participate - even if your time zone is nowhere near mine!

And lastly, a big THANKS to Laura from The Outlander Book Club for sharing all of her tremendous Outlander and Diana Gabaldon knowledge with us tonight!

What's YOUR Outlander Playlist?

I've been getting a lot of commentary on my Outlander Playlists lately... and I love it.  Music is a huge part of my life and I have always found myself drawn to certain types of songs. Whether I'm putting together an Outlander playlist - or just listening to music in general - a song will just grab me - and then I'm hooked. I always say that my favorite music is music that makes me "feel". And that's how I put together my playlists.

When I was a kid, we used to have to go on long car rides to my grandparents in Northwestern Pennsylvania on Thanksgiving (LORDDD they were longggg car ridesssss!) And I used to put together mixed tapes (off the radio - SO showing my age here). And we used to drive through the Allegheny mountains and I would look out the window at miles and miles of forest. And my sisters would take one look at me, staring off into space with my earphones in my ears and say "Oh no. She's delving again." Yup. That's me; the music-delver. Been doing it my entire life; not about to stop now.

At any rate - I just wanted to say that I find it neat that we all have different tastes and opinions  where our Outlander music is concerned. It is SO easy to put together a playlist. I use Playlist.com. They do it for you; you should try it! Especially if my playlists are a little different from what your own would be.

Go ahead! And don't forget to take your time about it, aye?

Fergalicious

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished Chapter 26 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. 

Holy mother of god on high. Once we found out Marsali was alive and well - I expected to witness the birth of her bebe. What I did NOT expect was to read - in my opinion - one of the most erotic scenes in the entire series - involving HOT ASSED FERGUS. Holy CRAP. I am speechless - still - and I read it at 9:00 this morning. When the "suckling" started... I was a little taken back. When it continued - along with lots of French murmuring - I was verra interested (we all know how Carol loves murmuring. LORDDDD I LUVSSSS the murmuring.) And when Fergus was pushing the table up against the door, I was almost in full-on labor along with  Marsali. AND I'M NOT EVEN PREGNANT.

It was THAT good, y'all. Diana sure knows how to write the sexy. Mmm hmmm. Sho does.

I Mean to Take My Time About it, Aye?

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 30 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Forgive me for not reading/answering the comments in my most recent blog entries. I plan to do that tonight. I've been a little crazy and don't want to rush through anyone's point of view... or friendly advice... or heartfelt opinion.

Tracey said I would suffer literary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.... and I think that's happening now. I hadn't read much since finishing chapter 29... but have started to this afternoon and am sitting here with my book and a cup of coffee. And the more I read, the more I feel a sense of sisterhood with Claire. I wish I could be at the Big House. Not inside the house, mind you. Just.. around. And not to comfort Claire or reassure her... since she doesn't want that right now.... from anyone. I just wish I could be available.  Without hovering... without being in the way... so that when she does want to talk... I could be there to listen. That's what I wish for Claire Fraser right now.

This storyline is very complex and heartwrenching. It makes you search your soul. It makes you go through a multitude of emotions, trying to figure  out how you would feel... what  you would do... what you would say...

I'll tell you this much. One more thing I wish is that they'd just kill Lionel Brown and get it the eff over with. Claire doesna need the anxiety of his impending death weighing heavily on her... along with the massive storm she is already trying to keep herself afloat in. It's just a heavy weight that is pulling her down and making her focus on the negative... instead of looking toward the positive so she can begin to heal. His death would help her heal. I truly believe that. Jamie is right. Where will they send him? Who will be just - and punish him to the full extent of the law? And which law is that, prey tell? (God... and I thought dealing with my own town council was rough!)

What made me stop reading for a few minutes to blog? The following:

"In the open, he'd said, standing on his feet before witnesses. Slowly, I closed the box and put it back on the shelf. 

What then?"

"What then", indeed. "Then" is what is important. Not some piece of filth who doesn't have any common decency...or even a soul for that matter. He's trash. And I don't know about you... but I dispose of my trash as soon as it is no longer useful. Jamie had better hurry up - ask his questions - and then dispose of the trash... before it starts to smell.

Weekly Outlander Chat

New weekly Outlander chat! Mondays from 9PM-10PM (Eastern Standard Time)

We're still on A Breath of Snow and Ashes, so we'll be discussing the chapters we've already read in that book...along with the previous books in the Outlander series.

If you haven't gotten that far in the series yet, but want to chat - feel free to let me know where you are in the series and I'll set up a chat for you!

Part 4 - Part 2

Spoiler Alert: Dinna read unless you have finished Chapter 29 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. 

Am I the only one who - in the midst of all the murder and mayhem - was THRILLED to see badass Claire Fraser BACK IN BUSINESS?!? She kicked ASS in the abduction scene. I felt like we were back in Scotland and she and Jenny were trekking through the brush, looking for Jamie. Or like Claire was back at Wentworth, dealing with wolves (or Dougal, Murtaugh, Rupert, Colum, etc. LOL)  Or like she was dealing with douchy Jack Randall at Fort William ("I'll thank ye to take your hands off my wife" - easily my favorite line in the series, which came from Jamie at the window when Claire was at Fort William and Randall was trying to rape her - as if he'd have been able to - not.)

Wow ya know - when I read that scene way back in Outlander, I was like "Holy CRAP! Claire might actually get raped!" and Jamie came to save the day. I just realized it has really happened. God, Tracey's not kidding with this Post Traumatic Stress Disorder thing. Dang.)

Bottom line - Claire is one KICK ASS character and I had forgotten that side of her, what with all her ministrations at the Ridge and the Gathering - LORDDDDD THE GATHERINGGGG!!!

Part 4 - Part 1

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read until you have finished chapter 29 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Weeeel....I've done it. I've read chapters 27 - 29. I'm somewhere in chapter 30 right now. I have a ton to say - but I expect it to come out in dribs and drabs over multiple blog entries. Thus, the "part 1".

The first thing that comes to mind is the debate about why Jamie wanted to have sex with Claire so soon after she was raped. (My god that sounds straight out of As the World Turns, does it not?!)

I did not have a problem with this for multiple reasons.

1) Jamie was worrit about Claire being pregnant. My 21st century mind wants to say "snicker" at that. But his 18th century mind doesna understand women's fertility in their 50s, much less the fact that Claire is clearly already experiencing Menopause (hot flash, anyone?)

What I don't get is why Claire is subscribing to this line of thinking. Not only does she know she has only the slightest chance of conceiving at child at this stage of her life, she also knows where she is in her cycle. Well that is, if she had a cycle. I believe she has said she's already started having very erratic and sometimes non-existent periods. So why is she buying into this 18th century bunk?

Which leads me to point #2.

2) Jamie has been raped and knows how one can totally withdraw from the world afterward. I don't think he is consciously thinking it's because of that so much... but I think it truly is a huge reason in the back of his mind. And in the front of Claire's. I think she knows only too well what can happen after seeing Jamie suffer through that.

3) Neither of them knows what the hell to do. They're just standing there - looking at each other - looking for answers that are not going to come. Not right away at least. They needed to be together. Would I have rathered a nice night of Jamie holding Claire in his arms while she cried? (a la Edward Cullen when Bella sends Jacob packing in Eclipse) Oh absolutely. Although I absolutely LOVED that Jamie understood Claire's rage once he turned the situation around in his mind...and knew she had to get it out to overcome it. That was just a beautiful thing to watch unfold...within such an ugly situation.

OK more later. Have to get my thoughts together on this one...

The Bend... and SNAP!

So I promised Jenn M. I wouldna read further than chapter 25 before Thursday. We have a meeting at Shannon's on Thursday morning... and we all want to be on the same page. And Tracey (mentor) says chapter 26 - 30 should be read with no distractions. But Jenn didn't read last week because she was on vaca - so Shannon and I are waiting for her to catch up.

I just finished chapter 24 - so now I have to savor chapter 25 between now (Monday night) and Thursday. And I just said to Tracey - my mentor - "It's sooo good! How am I going to wait until Thursday? I promised Jenn - I HAVE to!" And do you know what her reply was?

"Read and lie. It's like 'bend and snap'!!" 

My "A Breath of Snow and Ashes Playlist"

 The "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" Playlist has begun...

Whistle While You Work

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished Chapter 19 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. 

Whoa. Double whoa. This book is so damned good I don't know what to DO with myself. I canna believe how quickly it got started. It's so not like Diana to write something so fast-and-furious, right out of the gate! I love it!

Did I mention how much I loved Roger and Jemmy sharing the bread pudding at River Run? SO cute. (My god with the maple syrup and butter? I was drooling all over my Kindle at the mere thought.) Roger is quickly becoming one of my favorite things about this series. It's to the point where I do the happy dance when I start a chapter and realize it's from his point of view. And how interesting that Stephen Bonnet should be in Cross Creek - and speak to Jemmy (um, EW). All I could hear in my head when he started asking him who his dad is was Chris Rock yelling "RUN!!!"  Why was he dressed like a gentleman? That was verra intriguing. And I am more than a little curious as to the state of his, um, privates... since Bree shot him in that general vicinity a while back. That seems to be a recurring theme, what with Jamie robbing Jack Randall of his own private parts long ago.

OK - how much did I LOVE the hay-making scene? I don't know WHAT it is about these hard-work-then-celebrate scenes but I love them so much. Remember when they harvested potatoes at Lallybroch? It's just so cool how the men all work in the fields, the women all work in the kitchen and then they all meet up and have a big, ol' party after the women set up the supper. I swear I half expect them to break out into a Broadway number with the men heave-ho-ing and the women dancing while carrying baskets over their heads. LOL (I just cracked myself right the hell up.)  Seriously though, I love how the men all start drinking and then just pass out next to their wives. It's very cute.  (Meanwhile I wouldn't find it cute in the slightest if it were my husband passing out on the grass next to me, but that's a blog for another day. )

OK so... Hi - Bobby and the Beardsleys disappearing into the woods? Whassup wit dat??? I don't buy that it was just a little scuttle over Lizzie for a second. There is something UP there. Definitely. And how about Ian just sauntering over to Lizzie... telling her he needed help with his hand... and that was that. And Jamie commanding it, knowing exactly how it would go down. I loved it. Lizzie - in my humble opinion - has the world by the cajones right about now.  I do find it intriguing that the two men she wants the most (not her betrothed, mind you) both have permanent markings on their faces. Things that make you go "hmmmm"....

OK off to read. Jamie and Ian just left to go see Bird on a Wire... (LOL - I always forget his name...he's going to have a new name every time I mention him)... and I am none too happy about it. And it's such bullshiz because I should NOT be giving a rat's ass about what goes down during Jamie's trips to the Cherokee - other than the negotiations between the two MEN.  I wish "that" scene was just never in the book. In fact, I might just erase it from memory and pretend it didna happen. Yup. That's what I'm going to do...

*Thanks to hayinart.com for the photo. 

And ANOTHER thing...

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished Chapter 16 in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. 

Why can't I get past this Jamie-sleeping-naked-with-two-naked-Indian-squaws thing? And note that all parties were naked. HE was naked. My friend, Shannon made a good point this morning: Why didn't Jamie put his kilt back on? (Or his shirt, for that matter?)  Although that's not to say Shannon agrees with me. She does not. She, like Tracey, found it a hilarious scene.

Don't get me wrong - I found it mildly amusing. It was comical when Ian was laughing his ass off on the floor. Yup - it was comical. Until Jamie got back into bed with the aforementioned naked women. Then I just found the whole thing wrong. And it only compounded when he got home, jumped into bed with Claire and proceeded to tell her to get on her knees when she asked how it went with the Cherokee. Poor Jamie...sleeping with that cockstand was so tough on him...he had no choice but to go home and rail his wife from behind.

I get that he didn't have sex. I do. And I appreciate the hell out of it. He could have had some major fun with those women; but he didn't.  But I just don't see how a zebra can change his stripes so easily. A man who won't sleep on the floor of a woman when they're not married will most certainly not sleep naked with two naked women once he is.

I suppose I also had a huge problem with the Cherokee women being used as objects like that. And with Jamie not showing a little more respect for them in the whole process.

He could have put his clothes on.
He could have wrapped the women in the skins.
He could have slept on the floor.
He could have waited until the rain let up and sent them on their way.

I can go on and on. I just can't get on board with the notion that Jamie was in danger of offending Bird Who Sings in the Morning, so he had to sleep with two naked women. What about Bird Who Sings in the Morning offending Jamie??? Jamie could go back to the King and report badly about the Cherokee because of what happened. Not that he ever would - but there are two sides here. There is a point where you say "enough" and do what is right for your own soul.  How sleeping naked with two naked women could be right for the soul of a man who has that much honor is absolutely beyond me. I think it's completely out of character and makes zero sense. 

If you know of any further explanation of this scene by Diana Gabaldon, please let me know.