Well, I didn't say WHICH weekend...!

So....

I honestly and truly thought that I would either a) really continue that last entry on that following weekend or b) catch up on all that's happened since then in one fell swoop. Option a) obviously didn't happen, and I've realized that in trying to do b), I continue to procrastinate - because the happenings keep piling up, which means I need a longer chunk of time to transcribe it all, which means I look at my calendar and say, "Nope, can't do it today!" Which means it'll never get done if I don't start taking it bit-by-bit. So that's what I'm here to do today: pick up where I left off and only cover one thing at a time, as time itself permits. Very mature, don't you think?

So....

I DID get to bed for some sound sleep early that Friday, and then I woke up to a lovely spring morning on the day that Hedda Gabler opened with only one other thing on my agenda: head to Glenlaurel, "a Scottish Country Inn," located in the heart of the Hocking Hills. Why, you ask? For the inn's very first Outlander discussion/retreat, of course! And it was a wonderful experience! The innkeeper emeritus, poet Michael Daniels, led the group, which included six other women. Of course, he asked each of us to go around and introduce ourselves, and the other six rather self-effacing ladies took maybe 30 seconds each to say their names, which books of the series they'd read and perhaps one or two other pieces of background information. And then it was my turn. What seemed like thirty MINUTES later, they knew it all - my discovery of the series, my passion for the story, my background and experience as an actress, my determined intention/ardent campaign to audition for and win the role of "Claire" when the series hits the screen, etc., etc. I am happy to say that they all seemed supportive. And then we started reading our favorite excerpts from the very first book, Outlander itself. I volunteered to read first (remember, the rest of the ladies were self-effacing). Of course, I read in Claire's voice - and, when called for, Jamie's - doing the British dialects to the best of my ability. And when I finished my selection, dead silence. Lifting my face from the page I was reading, I was astounded by my "audience"'s faces: unanimous expressions of intense delight! I am very pleased to say that at the conclusion of the day's activities, I had 7 additional fervent supporters. Furthermore, Michael asked me to return to Glenlaurel this October to proctor the discussion for book two, Dragonfly in Amber. I am honored by his invitation - and confidence! - and very excited by the prospect. And I look forward to meeting up again with Michael, Debra, Jennifer, Diane, Isla, Mary, and Jan!

In other Outlander news, I must report that Essential Entertainment has renewed its option on the first book. According to Ms. Gabaldon's web site, "we’ve done an extension of the option agreement with Essential Entertainment, including a new clause allowing them to explore the possibility of making a mini-series, in addition to or instead of a feature film." And it pleases me very much to read this, since - in my humble-yet-strongly-held opinion - a mini-series for book one is the only possible way to give it a decent screen-telling.

Next update: Hedda Gabler.