20 Awesome FREE Audiobooks

Just thought you'd all want to see this fantastic page over at Ambling Books.  They list 20 different audiobooks that are FREE.  Check 'em out!

Just Because...

Outlander Chat Tonight!

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Accidental MOBY Spoiler Sighting!

Holy god.

I just saw a MOBY spoiler on Diana's Facebook page.  I didna mean to; it just...happened.

AND IT WAS GLORIOUS!!!!!!!

Honestly, it didn't give any info...and it wasn't anything odd or surprising.  It was only one sentence!  And it wasn't about a cliff-hanger, either.

But it mentioned Jamie...and something near and dear to my heart...and holy CRAP, I am so effing EXCITED TO READ THIS FRIGGIN BOOK!!!!!

I had to share.  WOW.  That was the BEST SPOILER I've ever not meant to look at in my life!!!

Fairfax Registration

Fairfax registration's in FIVE minutes!!  Make that FOUR!  Good luck!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Tracey and I are "iffy" to "probably not going to make it".  I'm away with the fam and Tracey is working...but why curtail the fun?  Have a tremendous chat and we'll catch up with everyone later.  And if we are able to sign in, we will!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2013

Of course I have to throw out a shout out to our favorite Burns Night celebrator, TODDISH MCWONG!  Remember when I posted about him and his AWESOME celebration entitled "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" a few years ago?  Well he's still going strong in 2013!  He posted this info about his anual event in Vancouver and I HIGHLY recommend you attend if you are in Vancouver on Sunday!

Gung Haggis Fat Choy is getting closer to 1765... But only going back as far as 1858... to acknowledge the founding of British Columbia by Sir James Douglas to proclaim the Colony of British Columbia. Douglas was born in Guyana (then called Demera), to a Scottish father and Creole mother from Barbados. He then went to school in Lanark Scotland, before coming to Canada to work for the Northwest Company.

2013 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner is January 27th Sunday at Floata Restaurant in Vancouver Chinatown. 

Check our website www.gunghaggis.com

AND...check out last year's AWESOME event:

Happy Rabbie Burns Day!

Happy Robert Burns Day!  Where are you eating YOUR haggis?!

What?  You think I was kindof hot?
Perhaps that's because I WAS, y'all!
Now eat yer haggis and go tae bed
ye brash lads and lassies!

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, 
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
'Bethankit' hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect scunner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis

Outlander Chat Tonight (Meeting at Diana Gabaldon's Fairfax Appearance to be Discussed!)

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.  I plan on discussing Diana Gabaldon's signing at the Fairfax Public Library in April...so if you're planning on going, come say "Hi!"

Men in Kilts

Thanks to Karen and everyone who has sent me email or posted on my Facebook wall to alert me that MEN IN KILTS window cleaners have now opened a location at the Jersey Shore!!!  (As soon as I can convince my husband to let me hire them, I'll let you all know!)

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.  Be there or be square!

Kilts on Pinterest

Can I repin an entire board?  Yowsa.

Thanks to Sheri for letting me share her FANTASTIC Pinterest board!
Make sure you click the link to go see the whole thing!

Happy Birthday Diana!

Just have to shout out a huge Happy Birthday 
to the awesomest, gracious to her fansiest, enjoyer of vinoest, wife of my best friend Dougiest, creator of Jamie Fraserest and MOSTest distinguished writer on the planet, y'all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANA GABALDON!!!

Many happy returns!

Là breith sona dhuibh!!!

What if Ben Franklin were on Facebook?

Too hilarious not to post...profanity and all.  Enjoy!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.  Hope to SEE YA!

Happy Hogmanay!

Check out this fantastic blog post from Paul Bommer on Hogmanay.  It explains Scottish custom of being the first-footer - the first person over the threshold in the new year.  My husband's mother (who's father was from Paisley) always insisted my husband and his brothers and sisters come back into the house with a gift after they'd been out on New Year's Eve.  She'd leave a basket of oranges at the front door so they could take one and carry it over the threshold.  Gotta love Scottish customs.

Monarch of the Glen in 2013

Make 2013 the year that you finally watch Monarch of the Glen !

It's like a huge, steaming pile of Scottish goodness, dropped directly into your lap!

The Wee Man

I canna WAIT for this film.  Not only is John Hannah in it...but some of you will remember Martin Compston as Ewan on Monarch of the Glen.  He's tremendous and seems to be playing a seasoned, gangster, grown-up version of the same character in The Wee Man!

MOP Character Contest Entries Coming Shortly

I am just now going through and reading all the entries via email, along with the names of everyone who sent them...and can say that I am somewhat floored.  People I expected to ham it up, didn't...some I wouldn't have expected...did!

I am going to post all of the entries soon. If you do NOT want your name to be printed along with your entry, please email me again and let me know.

We are SO doing this again, soon!

PS - Another male Outlander fan...I love it!  You need to come to MOP Chat one of these days, mister! :)

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

The My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest WINNERS

I am so excited to announce the winning entries of the My Outlander Purgatory character contest! 

But first...let me tell you how we picked the winners.  Tracey and I each picked 8 entries...and then compared notes.  Interestingly enough, 5 out of the 8 were a match.  Of the 5, we each picked 3 and compared notes...and all 3 were the same!  We each picked an "honorable mention" as well.  

Let me just say that every single one of those entries was tremendous.  I wish they could all be winners...because they were so well thought-out.  Whether they were longer and more descriptive...or a quick one-liner, we really enjoyed them all...and hope you did, too!

And now...for the winners of the MOP Character Contest (drumroll please): 

WINNERS (3):

• I would want to be Claire, not only because she has Jamie, but because she has the best genes ever. The woman does not age! She still has a nice arse at 47 (Joe Abernathy would tap that), and I am telling you, that is nearly impossible! (At least it is in my gene pool-- our arses make it until about 18 and then wave their white flag at old man Gravity.) She's also a career woman in a time when there was no such thing, knowing the healing properties of every plant in the 18th and 20th century, from Scotland to North America. Yeah, there are some negatives-- body lice, battles, strumpets trying to steal her man, and Frank from 1948-1966, to mention a few-- but having a devoted, warm, supportive, and sweet man like the Lord of Lallybroch by her side, an impressive, century-spanning resume, and a great body into her 50s... there is no other choice for me.

• I would love to be the girl who gave Jamie his son....Geneva Dunsany. I think of her and wondered what the relationship would have been between them if she had lived. I am certain Jamie would not have been able to stay away from his son, especially in those years after he was released from his bond. Geneva wanted Jamie. He was gentle with her when he bedded her and even though she was a wicked wee bizum, I would fantasize that with the birth of the baby things may have been different between them. So, yea, I would be GenevHO, if only for that one night..... sigh.

• I'd be Donas, so I could have Jamie riding me all day!

HONORABLE MENTIONS (2):

• I would be Frank because then at least one of us would be able to answer the question "What did Frank know?"

• I'd be Frank. 'Cause I'm a bit of a douche.

I find it verra interesting that both honorable mentions are about Frank.  Always 2nd best, poor guy!

Now that we know the winning entries...let's find out who the winners are!  If you are one of our 3 winners, please comment below and let us know who you are.  Also - send me an email at carol@myoutlanderpurgatory.com, letting me know what (1 credit) audio book you want from audible.com...and what email address to send it to. 

I will post ALL entries after we find out the winners...and it's up to the rest of you whether or not you want to come clean about who you are!! :)

Thanks again to all who entered; we've had a blast.  Something tells me I'll be running another contest again verra soon!

MOP Character Contest has Officially Ended

Thanks to all who entered the My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest!

The three winners will be posted this Monday, December 17th!

Last Day for the MOP Outlander Character Contest!

OK Lads and Lassies...this is the last day to enter the My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest...for the chance to win a free Audiobook on Audible.com!

LOVE the entries so far.  It's going to be ridiculously hard to choose.  Tracey and I will be hashing it out this weekend...and I'll post the winners on Monday.

I've been thinking about my own answer...which I have not posted yet.  There are different ways to look at this.  Who is the most interesting?  Who would I love to play?  Who does everyone love the most?

I think I have my answer.  It won't be nearly as interesting as most of yours...but I'll post that on Monday, too.  :)

Whisky Cookie Recipe

Anonymous left this on a previous post...but I thought it warranted a repost!  Thanks, Anon!

Whiskey Cookies

1 lb. butter, softened 

2c. powdered sugar (sifted) 

1 egg yolk 

2 generous shots whiskey 

4 c. flour 

Beat butter until fluffy. Add ingredients in order given. Drop by 1/2 tsp. full onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Place pecan, candied cherries, chocolate jimmies, colored sugars or dip half in chocolate and sprinkle with fine crushed nuts. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Watch for cookies to brown around edges. Makes 8 dozen and they freeze well.

Lifescapes: Scottish Moors

I listened to Lifescapes: Scottish Moors nonstop while reading the Outlander series...and figured I'd link to it during the holidays.

Get this - Amazon has it listed for $47.89 new!  I guess they don't make it anymore??  (The Bronze Horseman fans are thinking "Tatian's Table" right about now.)  If you're buying it for yourself, they do list it for $3.25 used.  Not a bad deal.

SCOTLAND: The Autobiography - 2,000 Years of Scottish History By Those Who Saw It Happen

Look at this gorgeous book!

I am ordering this for myself and telling my hubby to wrap it up!

"A vivid, wide-ranging, and engrossing account of Scotland's history, composed of timeless stories by those who experienced it first-hand. Contributors range from Tacitus, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Oliver Cromwell to Adam Smith, David Livingstone, and Billy Connolly. These include not only historic moments--from Bannockburn to the opening of the new parliament in 1999--but also testimonies like that of the eightyear- old factory worker who was dangled by his ear out of a third-floor window for making a mistake; the survivors of the 1746 Battle of Culloden, who wished perhaps that they had died on the field; the breakthrough moment for John Logie Baird, inventor of television; and, the genesis of great works of literature recorded by Conan Doyle, Stevenson, and the editor of Encyclopaedia Britannica. From the battlefield to the sports field, this is living, accessible history told by crofters, criminals, servants, housewives, poets, journalists, nurses, politicians, prisoners, comedians, sportsmen, and many more."

Post scriptum:  I JUST BOUGHT IT.  Absolutely amazing book...beyond words.  If you get a chance, read the story, "Jacobite Orphans, 1746" by John MacDonald.  It sounds like something right out of a Diana Gabaldon book.  Just grabs you "right here".  

Christmastime Bannocks

Something about this time of year makes me want...no need...bannocks.  So yesterday, I made some and centered a gathering around them!  I had some friends over for quiche, coffee cake and the aforementioned bannocks.  I served them with not only strawberry and blueberry jam...but also apple butter and lemon curd.  You don't even KNOW how good they were.

Holy COW those things are scrumptious.  I posted the recipe a while back before I made them for my Outlander party with my book club.  

If you haven't yet tried them, lorddddd get out there and make some!

Attention MOP Contest Entries!

The entries are already coming in!  To those of you who have already entered, we have a request.  To avoid discrepancies about who sent the winning entries, please cut and paste your entry to an email and send it here (contest@mypurgatory.com.)  This email will be read *after* we've picked the winners.

Already enjoying the entries!!  Keep 'em coming!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest!

Lads and Lassies!  I give you...the first ever...My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest!

Three lucky winners will be awarded the audio book of their choice from Audible.com!

So what's the contest??

If you were an Outlander series character, who would you be, and why? 

A few simple rules...

• To enter, post your answer under this post as a comment.  Please post comments anonymously.  (Just sign out and sign back in as "anonymous" before you post.  NO NAMES!)  :)  THEN - cut and paste your entry and email it here (contest@mypurgatory.com). (That way, we will have proof the entry came from you when we are finished judging...AND I can post everyone's entries on the blog.)

• Contest ends Friday, December 14th at Midnight.  Winners will be announced Monday, December 17th. 

• Entries will be judged by Carol and Tracey and will be based on originality!!  Also - length of entry does NOT matter.  One sentence or ten sentences...it's up to you!

• Audiobook credit (1) will be sent to you by Carol, via email. 

The Minister's Cat

Went to see a local production of Scrooge: The Musical last night...and thought of all of you when they performed "The Minister's Cat".

Here's one I found on Youtube.  Giggle.

Happy Anniversary Tracey!

Just want to throw out a very special Happy Anniversary to my Outlander Mentor and sister, Tracey...and her awesome hubby, John.  Woot!

An Independent Scotland, Eh?

Interesting theories about what things will be like if the referendum for an independent Scotland is passed in 2014.

Pssst!  The Link has been updated...so try it again if you weren't able to see the article last time!

Joseph Morgan as Stephen Bonnet?

Does anyone else think that Joseph Morgan would make a fantastic Stephen Bonnet?  I mean...dinna get me wrong, lads and lassies; the man could play any number of characters and be tremendous.  Hell, I'd be willing to see him in a Lord John role.  But I'm used to seeing him be both charasmatic and vicious as Klaus on the Vampire Diaries...so Bonnet's not such a stretch.

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows eBooks: $1.99!

Thanks to Julie in Jersey for this very cool info:

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows: An Outlander Novella [Kindle Edition]

Diana Gabaldon (Author)

Kindle Price: $1.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.

This price was set by the publisher

Kindle edition is due out on 12/3/12. --Julie in Jersey 

And Thanks to JenniferTN for sending this about Barnes and Noble:

It is available at Barnes and Noble for $1.99 as well. That's for all those Nook users out there. 

Loaf 'N Jug...and Outlander!

I just received this email from Lara and it totally and completely made my day.  Guaranteed it's going to make yours, as well.  I love the Outlander universe!!!!

I have the most awesomest thing to tell you. So, I don't know if you know this, but I've said a couple times, to Clay anyway, that if I ever run into some money, I'm going to rent a castle in Scotland, charter a plane and take us all there on a mega GATHERING. Anyway, I just stopped at the "Loaf n' Jug", yes, that's it's real name... our local stop and rob, and bought $20 worth of Powerball tix...because the jackpot is like $550 mil and I never gamble or buy lottery tix...but I can't not when the jackpot is that high. Anyway, again, the cashier and I were chatting and she said she never buys tix either and she should because the only thing she wants is a trip to Scotland. My mouth fell open and I was like, "OMG, ME TOO! I'm going to take my whole book club friends with me!" Then she says, "What book?!?!?! DIANA GABALDON?" It was a full on middle of nowhere South Dakota Outlander moment. Then she says, "Well Jamie is mine so back off!" I about fell out right there in the middle of the store with a bunch of cowboys watching. We giggled and laughed and practically hugged. Made my day. So long story short, when I win Powerball and we all go to Scotland, I'm taking the cashier from the Loaf n' Jug in Box Elder, South Dakota with us.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Kindle Fire - Cool "Cyber Monday" Deal

VERY cool deal for Cyber Monday - get a Kindle Fire for only $129!  Enter FIREDEAL at checkout!

Gabriel Aubry Scuffle: Please! Not the Face!

So a while ago, Diana Gabaldon posted on her blog that she thought Gabriel Aubry "did in fact have a strong resemblance to Mr. Fraser, in terms of facial physiognomy".

Apparently Mr. Aubry had a scuffle with Oliver Martinez the other day and has a pretty beaten up face.

Now...normally I pay little attention to this type of Page 6 celebudrama...but after coming across the photos, I couldn't help thinking that this is what Jamie Fraser would look like after a fight!

All roads lead to Outlander folks...all roads lead to Outlander.

T' Scotland!

Just got this from my friend Hugh from Paisley.  T' Scotland!  Enjoy!

Torn

Sometimes I just have to repost...and this is one of those times.  If you are a Twilight fan AND an Outlander fan...you will get a kick out of this.  If you are not, you still just might.  :)

Scotland the Brave Ringtone

I felt the need to mention that my hubby, Tom has recently set "Scotland the Brave" to be his new ringtone on his phone...and it is very, very cool.  I figured I can't do this because we'll both be running to the phone every time we hear it...but at least you guys can!

Random Outlander Question

SPOILER ALERT:  DO NOT read this unless you have read VOYAGER - the 3rd book in the Outlander series!!

Do you ever wake up in the morning and go about your day, when all of a sudden it hits you all over again like a ton of bricks:

"Holy shit!  Jamie married Laoghaire!!!"

Me too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celtic Music

Thanks to Diane for this lovely find!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Half of all Scots have ‘ginger gene’ say experts - Scotsman.com

How awesome is THIS article about "gingers" in Scotland?!

Scotsman.com

Want to find out what's going on in Scotland today?  Check out Scotsman.com.  Tremendous website, chock full of Scottish goodness.

Site Maintenance

I am messing around with the site design tonight...so please forgive me if it's looking a bit wonky!

Kilted Men in the Streets

Outlander to Air on Starz

Tremendous announcement today that Outlander will be developed by Starz!  I am thrilled.  I watched both the "Pillars of the Earth" miniseries and the "Camelot" series on Starz and thought they were both done beautifully and extremely well cast.

And speaking of casting...I find it interesting that two people near the top of my short list for Jamie an Claire were on both of the aforementioned shows.  Hayley Atwell was in Pillars and Philip Winchester was in Camelot.  So at least I know Starz appreciates solid acting.

Holy CASTING, Batman.  Do you know what this means?? STARZ has already been named...it's only a matter of time before we find out about actors.  (insert nervous giggling here)

Here is a scene from the Starz series, "The Pillars of the Earth".  If Outlander is anything like this, I will be beside myself.  (And I will use any excuse to post this Eddie Redmaye clip.  I'm so shameless.)

Outlander Chat Tonight - Carol and Tracey Iffy

Here is the deal for tonight's chat:

- I am washing uniforms for members of the National Guard who are working in my area and have to make a pick-up tonight 9:30...which will cut into chat time.  (Geez - who do these disaster relief people think they ARE, messing with my Jamie Fraser time??) ;)   I will try to get there for a few minutes at 9:00.

- Tracey has been hostessing for those in her town without power this week and isn't sure how many people she'll have tonight - or how long they'll stay...so she's not sure if she'll be able to chat.

That said, chat should go on!  Please proceed with or without us and we will do our very best to get there!  :)

Someone to Watch Over Me: MOP Friend JC Bodden Answers Questions About Her First Novel

OK y'all - listen up.  One of our good Outlander buds at MOP wrote a book called "Someone to Watch Over Me".  This book got me through Hurricane Sandy at the Jersey shore!  I have to say - I really enjoyed it!  After I finished, I emailed (the author, someone we all know and love from MOP Chat) to ask her some questions about the book.  Below are my questions...followed by her answers.  And a hottie pattotie photo of her hubby.  HEY now.  My suggestion?  Bookmark this page...go read the book...then come back and check out what JC has to say!

SPOILER ALERT:  The following contains spoilers about

Someone to Watch Over Me by J C Bodden!!

- WHAT made you come up with the idea for this book? 

- ANYONE you see in your mind when you think of Joe or any of the main characters?  (You know how I love to "see" it in my mind!)  

- WHY did Wagner smell like cigarettes and alcohol when he walked by Joe after he stabbed Amy?  Was he out getting schnockered at the local gin mill just prior?  Or was it done to throw the reader?  This made me think the killer wasn't Wags.  Brills on your part!

- WHAT ever happened to Joe’s father?  I hope it was something bad.  (Does that shower me with bad karma if these are fictional characters?) 

- WHAT is the new book about?  Assuming another mystery that revolves around Jennie's dad??

- WILL we see more Joe?!?!  (Lordddddddd...need to see more Joe!)  

I actually came up for the idea for this book long ago when I was a Resident Advisor in college at Auburn University - although there were more of us (one RA per hall) then than just the 'Jennie' character. There was a 'urban myth' about our particular dorm that a maintenance man actually did have a little hidey-hole up in the attic and drilled holes through the ceiling so he could spy on the girls below. I lived on the top floor of the dorm, so it was like our own personal ghost story that we would tell just to scare the bejeebers out of each other.  One time some of the other girls on the hall drew a picture of a blood shot eyeball with the words 'He's watching you!' and taped it on the ceiling right above my top bunk pillow so I didn't notice it until I laid down that night to go to sleep! Some of the other stuff mentioned - the water heaters going out, the fire alarm set off in the middle of the night - really did happen. But no one was ever murdered or kidnapped while I was there. And I don't know for sure if there was ever a creepy attic guy. :) 

When I first started writing the story, in keeping with that original myth, the bad guy was Joe, the maintenance guy... but as I wrote his character more and more I couldn't help but first of all, feel sorry for the little kid and then, later, fall in love with the adult. So, of course, he couldn't be the bad guy! And then, when I went back and read what I had wrote, I realized that Joe Haliday was basically my own dear husband - Jay! Well, now, let me back up. Jay is not deaf. Nor did he have a neglected childhood living with an alcoholic mother and then an indifferent father. And his eyes are green, not shockingly blue. But otherwise, yeah... Joe = Jay. Hell, they even have the same initials! I'll send you a picture of Jay in college so you can see what I mean.

HOT, party of THIS guy!

Wagner is a combination of two people I actually know also - looks-wise and personality-wise. Looks - one of my son's baseball coaches and personality - one of my former boyfriends. And I'm not saying anything more on that! (Although, once again, no one was ever killed or kidnapped or whatever. Plus, no animals were harmed in the making of this movie...)

As to Wagner's state when he walked by Joe after stabbing Amy... yeah, he was out getting a little lit up just before the attack - probably as a way to bolster his courage, the little shit. And also, he was good at pulling the wool over everyone's eyes, wasn't he? We thought he was one way when, really, he was something else all together. As far as trying to throw the reader, yeah, that's certainly part of it. I tired to do that repeatedly. I mean, I wanted you to love Joe and yet also wonder. I will say this, when Jay was reading it at one point he came to me and said, "If the bad guy is Joe then just go ahead and tell me now because I'm not going to read the rest of it." To which I replied, "Come on, baby. You know me. Do you think I would write a book I wouldn't like to read?"

As to Joe's father... I think we might see him in a later story line, but I don't know. Either that or he lived out the rest of his miserable existence in a state-supported nursing home, drooling onto his bathrobe, waiting for someone to come and visit him. I haven't really decided yet. (And the only karma it showers you with is fictional karma. Plus it's Joe's dad's karma, not yours. So you're safe. Double. I promise.)

The new book centers around Jennie's dad but Jennie and Joe are in it as well... And yes, it's a mystery. 

Hurricane Sandy

If you live in the Northeastern US, I hope you and your family are safe and didn't sustain damage to your home in Monday's storm.

I live at the Jersey shore and my family was extremely lucky.  Our neighborhood is set pretty high in town so my street didn't flood.  We also had unbelievable wind gusts but didin't lose any trees, which is much more than I can say for many homes on my block.  At this point we have no power/heat/hot air...but we have a generator running here and there for some essentials and our sump pump is keeping our basement dry.  The electric company has given us an estimate of 10 - 15 days without power and we have been informed our kids will not be going back to school until that time.  But - again - we feel absolutely blessed to be alive and living under our own roof.

I cannot tell you how helpless we all feel here at the shore.   So many people are without homes and an indescribable number of our beloved landmarks have vanished.  The devastation is just impossible to truly comprehend.

Please say a prayer - or offer up a silent moment - for the people whose lives are forever changed because of this horrific storm.

*** The above drawbridge is in my town.  The boats you see were dry docked at a marina nearby and were picked up and carried away by raging floodwaters.   That marina is on the exact site where once stood the Union Salt Works.  The salt works were burned down in April 1778 by British loyalists who were trying to cripple this area by removing the only way to preserve meat and other foods.  Against all odds, after repairs, the salt works were once again operational...as will be the Jersey Shore in the coming months and years.  

Outlander Chat is ON Tonight!

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

No Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander chat is canceled this evening so the Americans can hoot and holler at our television screens during the final Presidential debate before the upcoming November elections.

See you next week!!

All 16 and 17 Year Olds to Have Vote on Scottish Independence

Ho-Ly-Cow, sassenachs...this Telegraph post (by Patrick Hennessy) talks about a HUGE factor in the upcoming referendum for independence in Scotland in 2014.

"The Scottish Government will pay for a voter registration programme so that all 16 and 17 year olds can vote in the independence referendum, Alex Salmond has announced."

I fully admit that if this were going on here in the US for the upcoming Presidential election, I'd be freaking out.  Some 16 year olds are still too immature to grasp a decision of this magnitude   But because it's Scottish independence we're talking about...I think I'm all for it!

Libertarian Jamie?

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Cameron's Scottish Market

Cameron's Scottish Market (where I buy my Scottish foods) starts shipping frozen foods on November 30th.  Mark your calendars and order some Bridies and Sausage Rolls for your family for dinner!  (Not sure about Canada and beyond...you can email them here.)

My Outlander Purgatory 1,000 Twitter Followers!

I want to throw out a huge CONGRATULATIONS to my sista-girl and Outlander Mentor, Tracey, who runs the MOP Outlander Twitter page!  Why?  Because we now have 1,000 followers on Twitter!!  Woot!!!

"My Purgatory" on Facebook

Guess what?  I created a "My Purgatory" Facebook page!

I will be discussing everything over there...books, tv, film, etc etc.

And I could also...ahem...use some "likes".  :)

The Tilted Kilt

Just saw an old friend's post on Facebook, inviting people to go to a bar called "The Tilted Kilt".  I think I may have heard of this place before from Clay and/or Christie...so I went to the website to have a look for myself.  Two words:

Um, ew.

Is it me???  If the girls were cute and walked around in kilts, I think I'd be OK with it.  (Especially if they were serving fried pickles.)  But giant ta tas stuffed into giant tartan bras to match the aforementioned kilts?  Let me state again...

Um, ew.

I mean, the place was started in Vegas by an Italian guy who wanted to create a Celtic atmosphere in general; Irish, Scottish, English...it's all here.

And ta tas.  Giant, tartan, scantily clad ta tas.

And again, I ask: Is it me???  I am pretty hip...I'm pretty cool...I am not a stuffed shirt by any means. (See my My Dream Man Purgatory blog for confirmation.)  But this?  I feel like it is a slap in the face to the men who lived and died in those kilts in the Highlands all those years ago.  Men who, I might add, would probably dig the heck out of The Tilted Kilt.  Let's call a spade a spade.  I'm sure Jamie would have tried not to stare at any of the giant tatas...and he would have been extraordinarily uncomfortable when they - intentionally or not - happened to rub up against him.  Mmm hmmm.

I guess maybe I feel that if you are going to sport a certain culture's garb - past or present - you should know and respect its' origin.  But that makes me a hypocrite as there are an obscene amount of jeans in my wardrobe and all I know about their origin is that denim was a sturdy fabric created for the working man.

Where is the origin of the tartan bra?  The Tilted Kilt?  And should I therefore respect it?  I think not.  I think...unfortunately...that I am left feeling like this:

Um, ew.

PS - WHAT is that accent?  American-Actress-Scots-Mixed-With-Spanish?!?

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Photo Contest

Congrats to all the winners of the Outlander Photo Contest over at Outlandish Observations!

And a collective "way to go" to Karen for all her obvious hard work on this project!  When she went off line last night to get some sleep so she could organize the photos this AM, I realized just how much work she was putting in!  :)

Beyonce's "Single Ladies" Performed by 3 Best Men in Kilts

Thanks to Diane for sharing!!

Diana Gabaldon Webcast

Very cool email from Will Hanisko from The Poisoned Pen.  How cool is this?!

Hi Carol, 

I'm an employee of The Poisoned Pen Bookstore and I wanted to pass on a little info about an upcoming event we'll be having with Diana Gabaldon. 

She will be discussing her latest novel A TRAIL OF FIRE on October 23 2012 at 7pm. We've engineered it so that fans can virtually attend here: https://new.livestream.com/poisonedpen/TrailOfFire

I'll be passing fan questions along to her as the virtual event progresses. Right now, I'm really trying to get the word out so that fans all over the world can watch and even participate. 

The in person event details can be found here:  

http://poisonedpen.com/event/diana-gabaldon-signs-trail-of-fire-lord-john-grey/

I hope to see you there! 

Dragonfly in Amber Puzzle

Sooz has created yet another puzzle!  This time it's Dragonfly in Amber!

Click the puzzle to download!

No Chat Tonight: Happy Labor Day!

Chat will be canceled due to the Labor Day holiday in the United States (thus my cheesy, sparkling graphic.  Did somebody say "Edward"??) Hope you are all enjoying the weekend and we'll see you next week!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Outlander Crossword Puzzle

OK how cool is this?

Sooz created an Outlander crossword puzzle!!

Download the puzzle here (it consists of the puzzle page, the clue page and the answer page.)

Many, many THANKS to Sooz for coming up with this tremendous idea and working so hard - once again - on such an incredibly fun Outlander project.

Can't wait to try it out!  Enjoy!

***UPDATE 9/17/13 - the link has been changed to a new download page.  You do NOT have to pay for this download!!

Caledonia Scottish Pub

WHOA!  Do you all remember when I used to wax on about a fantastic, cozy little authentic Scots pub in uptown NYC called Jock Tamson's Bairns?  The first time I ever went in, the bartender, Aiden, actually used the word "sassenach" in every day conversation...and I almost fell off my barstool.

Meanwhile...they closed last year...and Tracey and I (and my Scots-American hubby) were devastated.

That is, until just now when I discovered they have reopened as Caledonia Scottish Pub!!!!

I cannot TELL YOU how excited I am!  They have a MENU on their website that lists their 150 different kinds of whisky!!!  AND they have whisky-tasting nights all the time!  And if THAT weren't enough (and believe me; it is)...they also serve meat pies and sausage rolls!  Mmmm...sausage rolls.  (Said like Homer Simpson.)  If you have never had one; you've never lived.

This is breathing new life into my plans to hold a MOP Gathering in NYC y'all...

PS - Never had a sausage roll or meat pie and want some shipped overnight to you?  I've got just the place!!!

Karen's Trip to Scotland

So many of you know that Karen from Outlandish Observations took her first trip to Scotland last month.  But did you know you can check out her trip photos and commentary?!

The following photos are explained in Part 3 of Karen's trip diary.  Thanks to Karen for the photos! :)

Karen at Clava Cairns

Karen at Culloden

No Outlander Chat Tonight

Tracey and I won't be able to make chat tonight but we'll see you next week!

Tracey Visits The Poisoned Pen

Tracey is in Arizona on business this week...and made sure to stop by The Poisoned Pen last night.  You know..."Herself", Diana Gabaldon's local book shop that she visits a few times a month?  Yup!  That's the one.  We are on the East coast and have always wanted to go there...so Tracey insisted on paying homage (pronounced "oh-mahj" for this post because I'm a smartass like that.)  ;)

Um, girls (I just met since I started my new job two weeks ago)?  Would
you mind taking my picture with this fantastic book from Diana Gabaldon?
She lives close by with her husband, my best friend Dougggg, ya know. 

Words of Wisdom

"Just keep reading; it’ll be fine."  

~Diana Gabaldon

Hotties in Kilts

Holy crap!  Is THIS the hottest webpage you've ever seen in your LIFE or what?!

And is it me or is this strapping lad a redheid?

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

Clay and Christie's Trip to Grandfather Mountain

Clay was good enough to send me the following account of his trip to Grandfather Mountain where he and Georgie met up with Christie and her sister, Fran...and had a fantastic weekend!

• We got in Thursday evening, we drove George's "new" car, a 2002 Mini Cooper, she decided 22 years of Minivans were enough and I had to agree.  Drove through steady rain interrupted by periods of downpours till we got into the mountains then up and up the road wound, through the fog until we got to the Condos.  What a deal!  Way better than a hotel room and cheaper!  (Always 1 of my favorite words!)  Whether it was rainy days, slow starting mornings, or late nights talking and drinking wine and beer (though I only mixed the 2 once) it was MUCH better to have the condo with the living room and separate bedrooms so there was more visiting time.

• Friday morning dawned cloudier and rainier.  And I had a couple of work calls I had to deal with, so I was in the office on my computer dealing with that until close to noon.  Good thing George liked Christie and Fran (Christie's sister) and they liked her!

• Information on the GMHG was not very clear on the website so we decided to drive into town for lunch and to try and learn more.  Met a couple of very helpful ladies who filled us in on what was happening and how to do things, got our tickets and out books for Saturday and had lunch at a place called the Tartan restaurant.  Food was pretty good, attire not as flashy as at the Tilted Kilt (where we ate in Atlanta) but we saw several guys in Kilts, and an honest to God wood nymph!  She was looking quite nymph-like!  (And she knew it too)

• We decided to pass on the games that afternoon since it was already after 1 and more rain was forecast.  So we drove to a park (I can't recall the name), did some hiking, Christie showed us how to "make the rocks move", picked up some trash to throw away that some idiots decided needed to be in the forest (I tried to tell everybody we saw that those Bud Light cans were NOT christie's but I'm not sure they believed me!), saw some wild turkeys, and saw the bear i missed when i was resting my eyes.  We picked up barbecue for supper and went back to the condo and played scrabble and a card game Fran brought.  Christie and I stayed up talking late into the night.

• Saturday weather was.... cloudy and rainy, but we got an early start so we could see the massed bands, sheepherding demonstrations, caber tossing and wrestling.  We found the Clan Fraser tent, and MacKenzie, took more pictures, I found out my name is not associated with any Clans, it is a "District" name (which I was told accounted for >70% of the people in Scotland) and learned about that.  George went and listened to fiddlers, singers, and harpists.  Fran, Christie, and I watched more of the games.  Lunch was cornish pasties, shepherd's pie and irish stew, no haggis to be found anywhere!

I got my kilt

• I got my kilt

• We headed back down to the condo mid-afternoon, everybody napped, then went to supper at a nice Italian place (me in kilt).

• Back to Condo for more scrabble, card game and bananarama.  This was when the vodka was consumed.  And more late night talking.

• Sunday morning, wake-up "Shit!  time to go home already?!"  The day dawned clear, beautiful sky, decided to go to the top of Grandfather Mountain and do some more hiking, ate lunch then headed home.

We all had a great time, everybody got along, and while the Games were fun, the highlight will always be the times we spent talking and visiting.  It's pretty cool how Outlander and MOP Chat gave us such a great friend in Christie!

The games from the top of Grandfather Mountain

Christie and I debating diving into the crack in that rock in search of Jamie and Claire