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2020 Wizard World New Orleans

Last week, I boarded a jet plane in Greensboro, North Carolina, and hours later flew into the new, Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) for 2020 Wizard World New Orleans (WWNO)!

This was my first visit to WWNO, held in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. I swear, this building was a quarter of a mile in length! (Note: a fan has since informed me this building is 1/2 mile in length and 1,000,000 sq ft!)

Checked into my room and snuggled under white cotton sheets and fluffy comforter!  Sorry about the toes! 😜

My roomie was the lovely public defender, Antoinette Simmons. I love her Jamaican accent! 🤗

Next day, registration! My badge. Hey, isn’t this Jamie at Lallybroch with the buttered bannock? A fav blast from the past. Wink! Wink!

We took a little time in the afternoon to head for Frenchman Street – locals sent us to this site for an authentic New OAR-linz experience!

Soon, we found ourselves at The Spotted Cat Music Club – where we shared garlic French fries. I had my fav, a Cadillac margarita! 😋

The four-man entertainment was delightful!

We were also treated to a bit of “gumbo tap” by one of the musicians!

Evening found us at a Platinum event where Maria Doyle Kennedy (MDK) was the surprise guest!  I filmed the first half of her Q & A but not the rest because my cell phone battery died and my charger was in my hotel room!  🙄 Grrrr!

You can read about the part that didn’t get recorded in my earlier post on MDK! (check out her cute red tennies!)

Next day, I was frisked at security! Courtney Williams, creator of Outlanderbts, demanded  it – she says she knows a criminal when she sees one! 😜

Waiting for Sam, I gave gal-pal, Catherine (Cathy) Toomer, M.D., the finger!!! 😱 The index finger that is!  Although it looks rude, I was actually showing her my new DNA ring, a Christmas gift –  the double helix.

Into a side room and rock star, Sam Heughan entered!  Everyone was delighted as we each got an autographed photo of him plus our own!

Mine! (hee, hee) He was a snuggler that day. Hence, my BIG grin!

Rats! Turns out, I had to share 😉

Later in the day, we went to the Sam panel.  The auditorium filled up fast!

The MC  called the meeting to order and announced Courtney Williams was moderating!  Who knew? We are supposedly her bff and she didn’t tell us!  😈 That Courtney can keep a secret!

I was so proud of her. Courtney did a lovely job managing Sam, Ed, John and Maria. They played a fun Outlander quiz. Score: audience = 100 – cast = 0! Sam couldn’t even recall how many women Jamie had known in the Biblical sense! 😜

The next two videos, parts one and two, show the panel in its entirety. Had to stop filming to turn off Twitter notifications, then started anew.  Here is part one. Hope you enjoy!

so sorry! This video will no longer load. Please watch on my You Tube channel, Outlander Anatomy.

 

And, part 2!

A bit of cosplay in the hallway.  I asked these fans if they were Arch and Murdina Bug but they said they were just playing a Scottish couple. Great costumes! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Later, we scurried to the main hall for more photo ops with Sam. Here he comes, surrounded by some very braw body guards!!!

Next day, back to the convention center for a 40 minute meet and greet with Maria Doyle Kennedy.  She was gracious, elegant and candid.  Her intelligence shone through her thoughtful answers. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment we spent with her!

And, here are those fearless fans who enjoyed the delightful interaction with Maria!

Maria was followed by the dread pirate, Ed Speleers! His meet and greet had a very different tone. One woman said his eyes intimidate her but he responded that wasn’t his intention. He does have a rather piercing gaze.

Honestly, Ed seemed very comfortable as the only man in a room full of women!

He decided early on to be an actor. He loves being a pirate in Outlander. He is very proud of his children.  I was impressed to hear he traveled to Ireland to ensure a correct accent for Bonnet. And, he was very coy about whether or not he appears in S5!

And finally, a drum roll: the pièce de ré·sis·tance – the Outlanderbts Fan Panel!

We four ladies of the Outlanderbts Fan Panel messed with each other and the audience. Listen as attendees offer up piercing comments and observations. A lively discussion was had by all with lots of audience participation.  We had a blast. Hope you enjoy!

Had a wonderful time at WWNO and hope to attend next year.

I close with this image of the fearless four!  Oops, make that the fearless five!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo and Video Credits: Sony/Starz, Wikipedia, Outlander Anatomy, Courtney williams

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Fun Fact: Leech

Anatomy Def: The leech is a segmented parasitic worm, closely related to the earthworm. Leech also means a doctor or healer. Who knew? 😜

Outlander Def: “Get-them-off!” William Ransom, eighth Earl of Ellesmere, demands Claire free his limbs of the ghastly creatures!

Learn about blood, the sumptuous repast of leeches, in Anatomy Lesson #37, “Outlander Owies Part 3 – Mars and Scars.”

Ahhhh, now you may think leeches boring, if so, I think you could be wrong. Here are fascinating fun facts about leeches:

      • More than 700 species
      • Soft, muscular bodies that lengthen and shorten during movement
      • Most have front and back suckers
      • Three sharp blades to cut flesh sit under front sucker
      • Saliva contains  hirudin, anticoagulant peptide (short amino acid chain)
      •  Used in bloodletting for at least 2,500 yrs
      • Hemaphrodite – each has one female organ and 9 pairs of testes. 😳
      • Appear in Proverbs 30:15 as an archetype of insatiable greed!

Bloodletting via leech is a time-honored practice dating to ancient Greece and India. Throughout Europe, the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, was used on ailing patients to rebalance body humors.

Yet more reasons this episode was titled “Blood of My Blood!!!” 😱

In 18th and 19th century Britain, leech-gatherers travelled the marshes gathering leeches from the wild. The practice became so widespread, the population was decimated in many areas. Bloody little buggers! 😈

In Old English, lǣce, was not only the name of the animal but also referred to a physician, and lǣcecraft or leechcraft described the art of healing. Hum….

Beginning in about 1980, leeches enjoyed a resurgence in modern medicine. Today, many hospitals stock them to treat:

      • Joint disease such as epicondylitis and osteoarthritis
      • Vein diseases of the extremities
      • Microsurgery
      • Blood-clotting disorders using hirudin

WARNING! If you sport a strong wame, watch this PBS video of how a leech attaches, how it feeds and its use in modern medicine. Watch at your own discretion.  There will be blood!!!  😷

Important! A leech can be removed by breaking the seal of front and back suckers with a fingernail or other flat, blunt object, flicking the leech away. Irritating the leech with a cigarette, vinegar, salt or soap may cause it to regurgitate stomach contents into the wound and transmit pathogens to its victim. Not common, but it has been reported. 

Read about leeches in The Drums of Autumn as Lord John Grey and his “son,” William Ransom, arrive unannounced at Fraser’s Ridge. Make no mistake, Claire recognizes Jamie’s get! 😉

Blundering out of the stream, I shoved my way through the tangled branches, and burst through into the clear space beyond. A boy was dancing on the bank above me, slapping madly at his legs and howling as he hopped and fro.

“What—?” I began, and he glanced up at me, blue eyes wide with startlement at my sudden appearance.

…“Leeches,” I said, professional calm descending by habit over personal tumult. It couldn’t be, I was telling myself, at the same time that I knew it damn well was. “It’s only leeches. They won’t hurt you.” 

“I know what they are!” he said. “Get them off me!” He swatted at his calf, shuddering with dislike. “They’re vile!” 

“Oh, not so terribly vile,” I said, beginning to get a grip on myself. “They have their uses.” 

“I don’t care what use they are!” he bellowed, stamping in frustration. “I hate them, get them off me!” 

“Well, stop whacking at them,” I said sharply. “Sit you down and I’ll take care of it.” 

He hesitated, glaring at me suspiciously, but reluctantly sat down on a rock, thrusting his leech-spattered legs out in front of him. 

“Get them off now!” he demanded.

See leeches feasting on Willie’s blood in Outlander episode 406, Blood of My Blood. 🚫 Leeches for this Lord!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo and Video Credits: Sony/Starz, PBS