Random Chit-Chat

[Gwennie, biblioholic]

A place where we can talk about anything. Something going on in your life and you want to share it with your Outlander friends? This is the place it goes. :)

[Dee]

does anyone ever feel like the weekend just flys by? I mean, its Friday night and then all of the sudden, its Sunday night and you have to start getting ready for work the next day

[Dee]

truth!! lol! I did nothing this weekend! got up yesterday decided it was too cold, grabbed a book and curled up in bed - best thing to do in that kind of weather - bed, book and pups curled up (my heaters)

[Carren]

Every Monday I ask my husband, while he's shaving, "Is it Friday yet?". And every Monday he tells me no, not yet.
How sad it is that we live for the weekends and holidays.
Dee, I'm with you. If it's too cold or dreary outside I read. Nice fire, maybe a glass of wine. What could be better?

[Dee]

yep...I start counting down the days until Friday on
Monday...lol! some of the ppl I work with do the flex schedule, so work longer hours for a few days a week for an extra day off, but my military bosses won't let me :( unfortunately

[Gwennie, biblioholic]

I hate how fast the weekend goes. I never know if I should fill it up with activities or do nothing so it goes slower. We had 3 kids birthday parties this weekend so it went by especially fast.

My daughter was begging me for a free day this morning and I almost cracked and let her go to her Grandma's.

I can't wait till Friday and I've only been at work for an hour.

[Dee]

i am taking tomorrow off in the name of mental health...lol! (I actually have to take the cats/dogs in for vet appt's)

[Leea, Escape Artist]

My weekends are so busy now with all the kids activities, parties and finally Sunday I got to go out with my girlfriends. We had a blast, dinner, drinks (lots and lots of drinks ;) and then dancing at this bar. I got home so late but for some reason it refreshed my soul to let it all go for awhile. I will say monday did come way too fast this week.

[Gwennie, biblioholic]

Lex actually had the office call me saying she was sick. Of course when her dad picked her up she felt 'miraculously' better! Little twerp!

[Leea, Escape Artist]

What a stinker :) Kids are so smart.

[Kimberly]

Leea wrote: "My weekends are so busy now with all the kids activities, parties and finally Sunday I got to go out with my girlfriends. We had a blast, dinner, drinks (lots and lots of drinks ;) and then dancin..."

I'm sooooo jealous! I have a 2.5 year old and a 6 month old. No girls' nights out for me right now. I am enjoying a glass of wine after the kids go to bed though. I'll take what I can get, LOL! Anyway, I think it's important to maintain our friendships and interests when we have families, kids, etc. As you say, it refreshes the soul :)

[Carren]

Kimberly:
I know what you mean. While two of my three kids are grown and "off the dime" (youngest is junior at college)I remember the times when I didn't have any time to pee let alone have time to myself. Whatever you do don't wish for the time to go faster. It goes by so quickly you'll be asking where did the time go? Enjoy your kids, your free time will come.

[Kimberly]

You're right--the time does go very quickly. I'm enjoying our baby especially right now since he will be our last. I can't believe he is 6 months old already and our daughter only has a couple more years before she starts school. Time flies! Well, unless you're waiting for DG to get the next book out that is--the time can't go by fast enough then, LOL! ;)

[Dee]

is it friday yet? It just took me nearly 2 hours to get home (from the normal 1 and a bit) because of an accident on the highway

[Leea, Escape Artist]

That sucks Dee... Nope, tomorrow is TGIF. Yahoooo!

[Gwennie, biblioholic]

I can't wait until tomorrow's over. The weekend can't get here fast enough.

[Jen (at last!)]

I'm excited for Friday b/c it's my office Halloween potluck. I always love food at work days! lol

[Leea, Escape Artist]

I agree Wendy, I've got to work in my son's Kindergarten class and then my husband is taking us all out for dinner. yay! I don't have to cook and the weekend, man i'm easy to please.

We are having a party/halloween get get together in our court. We are setting up a table for all the trick or treaters to stop at for candy, pumplin shaped pizza (thank you papa Murphy's :) and lot's of drinks.

Also, my oldest turns 6 on tuesday. I can't believe i'm the mother of a 6 year old.

[Gwennie, biblioholic]

That sounds like a lot of fun.

Tomorrow we're going to my friends Halloween Party. They're going to carve pumpkins, get a tractor ride through the forest (where people are going to jump out at them). And they have games and stuff. It should be fun.

[Leea, Escape Artist]

Tomorrow i'm running my first 5K Mud Run... I'm a little scared but excited and at least i'm doing it with a girlfriend. I hope to post some pictures after the race... yahoo!

[Dee]

Leea have fun - I loved doing the mud runs in college! I want to do the tough mudder next year - which is like a mud run on crack, so we'll see

[Leea, Escape Artist]

Ha! I almost did the Tough Mudder last year but they moved the location and it was just too far to drive there.

Thanks Dee! It was a blast and i'm hooked. Even after a long hot shower, I know there is mud somewhere ha!

[Dee]

after I did the Marine Corps Mud Run a few years back, I think I was finding mud in various places for the next week...lol! no kidding!

[Leea, Escape Artist]

Haha! I think there is still some in my ear... seriously :) I'm not a huge mud person, I like being clean but for some reason doing something that took me out of my normal box was just so freeing. I did toss my shoes though, yikes!!

[Dee]

i tossed everything...went to walmart the night before and bought some really cheap running gear, and wore my old sneakers that were about dead - but soo much fun

[Dee]

i think I might do this one next year - http://www.active.com/running/marine-... - if anyone in the VA/MD area is interested...

[Carren]

Not that I do any serious running, but I remember when my son did cross country in high school. The team would have a meet at least 2 times a week, plus weekend, in any kind of weather. I can't tell you how many pairs of running shoes (the expensive ones) he went through. And the mud, OMG! I gave up trying to get his running clothes clean. We went through this ritual from the time he was in Junior High, through High School.
Messy, but I wouldn't have missed it. He stills runs everyday and does some smaller races in his area.

[Dee]

I run races for the t-shirts...and because if I sign-up for a race, I can't be lazy and not work out

[Leea, Escape Artist]

I got a killer tech tee, dog tag medal and burger = happy girl!! Haha!! You ladies dont know about my burger addiction.

Dee, i'm in N. California or I would join you... Looks like a blast.

I used my old running shoes and wore some target running pants and my Mommy Muscle tank top. All the dirt came out of my clothes but the shoes, I did not even try.

Carren, I ran track and Cross country in HS as well and man I would go through so many running shoes.

[[deleted user]]

One of the ladies posted this on another site so I hope you all will enjoy... thanks Lisa:

Here's a creative pumpkin carving for us Outlovers ;)
http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2011/10/hap...

"A lovely tribute to Jamie's backside" called "pumpkinbuns" LOL!!

[Leea, Escape Artist]

I had it as my avatar for awhile... it's been around for sometimes but never bad to look at. Mmmm!!

[Peggy]

Question????? I've read everything Gabaldon. (several times :)) I don't do non published excerpts. But, to this day, I still do not understand how Jamie and Lord John got to be such good friends. (initially) Does anyone have any insight on that? I am hoping that answers comes with the Scottish Prisoner, or did I miss something.

[Dee]

without reading LJ and the SP - I would guess that a lot of it developed during Jamies time at Ardsmuir - because he would spent those evenings with John, playing chess etc, and then after he was released and sent to the other place (blanking on the name right now)

[Gwennie, biblioholic]

I think it was just something that slowly developed during the period Claire was (view spoiler)[gone. When Jamie was a prisoner and then his time at helwater caused a forced friendship that over the years developed into an honest one (hide spoiler)].

Because of that I think that he's Jamie's best friend.

[Peggy]

I don't see any evidence at Ardsmuir. Yes, John admired Jamie, but I really didnt see any evidence of the reverse. And I agree with Wendy that there was a forced friendship at helwater, but that to me would translate into resentfulness on Jamie's part, with all that happened to Jamie there. Jamie was like John's pet Jacobite, I think that is what Hal called him. I still don't see anything in the books that would result in the deep friendship. Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see it.

[Ladyhawk]

I see their friendship resulting as a combination of the aforementioned. I also believe there was a mutual respect between two intelligent, sophisticated, honorable men in a time when those traits were scarce.

[Kimberly]

Ladyhawk wrote: "I see their friendship resulting as a combination of the aforementioned. I also believe there was a mutual respect between two intelligent, sophisticated, honorable men in a time when those traits ..."

That's the way I see it too. Well said.

[Dee]

i think LJ&the SP is going to focus on it - but my understanding from what i've read, is that is about a lot of his time at Ardsmuir

[Carren]

I don't think SP is about Jamie's time at Ardsmuir. I think I read where it's really about his time in the Helwater District.Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Ladyhawk I agree with you that Jamie became John's friend despite their differences.

[[deleted user]]

Hi Peggy, I whole heartedly agree. Having just finished all the LJG series I wondered exactly the same thing. I think there was a mutual understanding there and respect from Ardsmuir but not the trust and friendship. Jamie felt betrayed about his situation and relocation after Adrdsmuir. Up to date from what is written I do not think the bond of trust has been formed yet and John is behaving like such a pillock he keeps making things worse. I think it came about because of what newly arrived at Hellwater and John's part in his discretion and later care taking.

I feel that Diana either made or saw this hole and is filling it in with the LJG novels. Up to now in the LJG Jamie does not seem to either trust or respect John much. So I think we will have fun seeing what happened and also I have a feeling in the next Outlander we may get a few missing bits of info if they have a much needed tete a tete.

[Dee]

according to her website, all the LJG books can be read after you've read Voyager and cover Jamie's period at Helwater

[Tina]

Can someone please remind me what is Helwater?

[Carren]

Helwater is a district in England. It's where Jamie went after Ardsmuir prison was closed.

[Tina]

Thanks Carren, but OMG I don't remember that part at all. I think I need to skim it again...ahhh :)

[Dee]

that is the part with Geneva Dunsany (although i'm sure I spelt it wrong) and Willie

[Tina]

Oh...where Jamie was the groom for the Dunsany family? I remember now...just didn't remember the name Helwater...Thanks everyone!!!!

[Ladyhawk]

Caroline, you're right in saying that Jamie did feel betrayed in being sent to Helwater, initially. But he did later understand that John was trying to save him. Had Jamie been sent abroad with many of the other Scottish Prisoners to complete their parol, he risked dying getting to the colonies and would have faced huge hardships after arrival.

Maybe not complete trust or friendship again initially, considering they were foes. But had things been different, their personalities would have allowed them to be friends I believe.

Even if LJ was in love with Jamie! LOL!

[[deleted user]]

Hi Ladyhawk, I totally appreciate all that you are saying, however, going only from the evidence in the book so far I do not think it has been made clear what shifted the friendship other than what I mentioned above. They are both men of honour as they proved. I also know in hindsight Jamie does eventually looks back at Hellwater as the best time of his life with no responsibility etc but I feel there is something more to concrete this.

Yes LJ's love notwithstanding :)

[Diane]

I think the respect actually started on the night that Jamie first met LJG when Jamie questioned him. He respected the sense of Loyalty and honour LJG had even though they were on differing sides of everything. I believe that mutual understanding and respect grew in Ardsmuir and the friendship started at Hellwater especially when LJG cared for Willie with discretion. Their interactions in the colonies is what really defined their friendship on a mutual basis in my opinion.

[Peggy]

Still not seeing Jamie respecting LJG at Ardsmuir. LJG had Jamie flogged, when LJG clearly knew Jamie was innocent. LJG making a pass at Jamie, and from that point on Jamie clearly trying to avoid any further interaction. From the books to date, I don't understand where the friendship initially developed. I hope we see more on how that relationship developed in the SP. From this discussion, I don't think I missed anything.