Tag: sam heughan

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Herself, Two Highlanders & A Lord at NYCC 2022!

Good day, all!  Apologies, this has taken a week to get to you! 😜

Sunday, October 9, was the final day of 2022 NYCC and, for me, it was the best!

Each morning walking to Javits, we were greeted by a “herd” of pigeons waiting for treats. Roomies, Jody and Jim, point to the feathered army!  Usually, they were perched on the power lines reminding me of the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film, The Birds! 😳 

Inside the Javits, more cosplay.

Don’t know who this is but I’ll wager some of you do? It is a fab costume! 

And, this intricate tableau…..

Anyone know? Wow! 😮

Onto the show floor where Jody quickly found her fav store, Tokidoki!

Next, Jody, Jim, and I were overshadowed by a huge Maga character!

Soon it was time to find a seat at the “Tea with Two Highlanders and A Lord” panel…. although, the title should have included “THE  Lady.“  

And, who might that be? Herself, of course! 🥰

I videoed the hour-long panel. My apologies for its homemade look. Occasionally, I had to switch hands and I also had to record most of it from the Jumbotron because I was too far back to capture a good stage view.

The panel was great and will speak for itself.

Enjoy!

(Psst….I never got any tea!) 😉

Afterward, the panelists retired behind the curtain for official photos. Then, as pre-arranged, Diana and her publicist emerged through a side door and I greeted her with a big hug!

She looked beautiful in her dramatic red cape, although this photo was taken sometime later.  😉 (It was a chill and windy day!)

I should mention, her splendid cape is made of warm wool with a tartan-lined hood. The sterling silver clasp appeared to be of Celtic design. I asked if it was from Scotland and she said, “I think so.” 😊

Pretty woman!

Then, we  headed for lunch.  It had been almost three years to the day since we shared a meal together and it was wonderful to see her again!

Her publicist took us down a private elevator to the basement of the Javits Center. I was intrigued by all the workings, supplies, and stuff in the “bowels of that  building!” 😜

We hopped into golf carts and were escorted to the far end of Javits.

This is a video of our “zip ride.”  You can hear me saying to Diana, it feels a bit  like “James Bond.”  😆

We were driven to a door that opened street-side and walked to Hudson Yards to enjoy a quiet lunch.

We took a moment to admire the  beautiful  ”Vessel” at Hudson Yards.

Fortunately, no fans took notice, and we snuggled in for a quick lunch.

She was gorgeous, as always, with her beautiful big smile and thick black hair. Red is my favorite color on her!

Her nails were beautiful, as always – a glossy, cornflower blue polish (I am sure someone knows its name).  And, she happily posed for a photo.

Her very strong nails are a gift from her father. She doesn’t wear gels, just regular nail polish! I always admire those lucky people who enjoy sturdy nails. 🤗

What did we talk about? Well, lots of things:

    • Children
    • Grandchildren (new photos of her darling grandsons)
    • Nails
    • Her brain 🧠
    • Her corpus callosum
    • Everyone’s right and left brains
    • Scientists
    • My anatomy lessons and FF using Sam as model
    • Titans of Fantasy panel

The following is a bit of what we talked about.  

I complimented her for her splendid performance at the “Titans of Fantasy” panel.  Her responses were  thoughtful and informative which held my attention. Made me proud!

I shared how her explaining her scientific journey to audiences delights me. Not everyone grasps what it means to be a scientist or the rigorous work entailed in becoming one. I think she helps people appreciate what science can contribute to a person’s life skills.

We talked about how science trains the left brain for details and analysis and how she patently trusts the intuitive side of her right brain.

I reminded her that the last time we met, I said she had an admirable corpus callosum because she clearly engages both sides of her brain.

Her very logical response was, “Well, why would you only want to use one side of your brain and leave the  other side behind?”

To which I replied…  “Pulling it along like a dog on a leash?” 😜

This may seem weird talk to you, but we always discuss things that others might find odd. (I make it a point not to press her for Outlander info. She is my friend.)

As a note of explanation, the corpus callosum is an area deep in the brain which allows right and left sides of the brain to communicate. And her sides communicate very well, indeed! 

Forty-five minutes flew by and suddenly, it was time to go, she had another panel starting in minutes. This time it would be solo with no backup if she were to be late!

We headed back toward Javits, stopping at the Equinox Hotel where her ride awaited her.  Her publisher was also waiting and took this photo of us, which I absolutely adore! ❤️

Then a quick hug goodbye and I returned to the Javits Center to grab a seat for the “Diana Gabaldon Spotlight’ panel.

Unfortunately, seating was very close so this was the best video I could shoot. Apologies to the lady in front! 

Which part of her panel was your favorite?

I loved hearing the excerpt from book 10! ❤️

But, in addition, I enjoyed learning about her writing Outlander on her husband’s garage computer! 😮

“Who’s Jamie?” 😂😂😂 

If only he knew at the time what a juggernaut her “practice book” would become! 

That evening, I joined members of the FB group, Hudson Highlanders, for dinner. It was wonderful to meet these lovely ladies, two of whom I had only met via Zoom (L to R: Tonise, Lynn, Gwen, Susan)! 🤗

Then to bed for an early rise.

Next morning, I had to say goodbye to Jim and Jody.  We have room-shared many times at various comic cons and they are the best!

In front of the red and white Empire State Building.  I think they look like newlyweds although they have been married 36 years!

Farewell my friends, old and new. Until next time!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo/Video Credits: Outlanderanatomy, www.timeout.com, Jody Kawamata-Chang, Diana’s publicist, kind waitress at “The Restaurant” eatery! 

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Mini Anatomy Lesson: Corrugator Supercilii

 

Anatomy Def: Paired muscles of facial expression.

Outlander Def: Ian’s worry lines when he learns he must leave his beloved Emily! 😢

Don’t know about you, but for me, John Bell’s performance in Outlander episode 604, Hour of the Wolf was flawless. His facial expressions perfectly mirrored the stress roiling in his personal life.

Facial Expression: Humans enjoy 22 pair of muscles controlling facial expression, more than any other animal, blessing us with an amazing range of emotional aspects. 

As Ian hears the Mohawk’s decision about his and Emily’s fates, the skin wrinkles between his eyebrows. How does this happen?

Corrugator Supercilii: Well, his facial expression is caused by contraction of corrugator supercilii (CS) muscles, just one of the 22 pair! 😲

Super silly, huh? 😜

Meaning: Actually, this pair of muscles is so named because of their action and also by their placement in the face: 

    • Latin, con meaning “together” + rugare “wrinkle”
    • Latin, super meaning “over” + cilium ”eyebrow” 

Ergo, corrugator supercilii wrinkle the skin between the eyebrows.

Violà! 🤗

Anatomy: The figure below is a computer generated image of the paired CS shown as green slashes. CS originate from the forehead (frontal bone) about midway along each eyebrow and insert into the skin at the top of the nose (nasion). 

Function: As CS contract, the eyebrows are drawn together and downward, producing vertical wrinkles of the forehead skin.

Emotional Signal: CS belong to a group of frowning muscles, used to convey suffering! And, who does that better than our beloved Ian? 😢 

Frontalis: Just to complicate matters, let’s throw in a second pair of facial expression muscles – the frontalis. In the image below, frontalis fibers (dark green patches) run vertically through the forehead. They originate from the top of forehead (frontal) bone and insert into the skin above the eyebrows. 

Frontalis muscles raise the eyebrows and wrinkle the forehead skin but this time, the creases run horizontally. Consider Jamie in Outlander episode 606, The World Turned Upside Down. Here, a “worrit” Jamie attends to Malva’s chatter and seductive overtures.

So what happens if CS and frontalis muscles contract simultaneously? Let’s look again at Ian for the answer. Deeply concerned for the wee soul of his stillborn daughter, Iseabaìl, he confides in his beloved uncle! 

Ian contracts CS (red arrow), hence the vertical wrinkles between the brows, and frontalis (blue arrow) producing horizontal wrinkles in his forehead skin. Working together, both sets of muscles truly convey worry, anguish, and despair.   

Learn much more about the muscles of facial expression in my big Anatomy Lesson #11, Jamie’s Face or Ye do it Face to Face?

Lest you think that humans are the only creatures with muscles of facial expression, meet my year-old Vizsla puppy, Finnegan. Check out the wrinkles between his “brows”? 

Studies suggest dogs lack CS muscles but other facial muscles perform a similar function. Such muscles give them what is known as pedomorphic facial features (infant-like). Humans apparently prefer such features in domesticated dogs. 🥰

See Ian’s worry muscles in Outlander Episode 604, Hour of the Wolf.

Read about Ian’s distress in Diana Gabaldon’s sixth big book, A Breath of Snow and Ashes wherein, it is Brianna that comforts Ian:

“Aye, maybe. But …” He closed his eyes, hands clenched hard into fists on his thighs. “Where is she, then?” he whispered, and she could see tears trembling on his lashes. “The others—they were never born; God will have them in His hand. But wee Iseabaìl—she’ll not be in heaven, will she? I canna bear the thought that she—that she might be … lost, somewhere. Wandering.”

“Ian …”

“I hear her, greeting. In the night.” His breath was coming in deep, sobbing gasps. “I canna help, I canna find her!”

“Ian!” The tears were running down her own cheeks. She gripped his wrists fiercely, squeezed as hard as she could. “Ian, listen to me!”

He drew a deep, trembling breath, head bent. Then he nodded, very slightly.

She rose onto her knees and gathered him tight against her, his head cradled on her breasts. Her cheek pressed against the top of his head, his hair warm and springy against her mouth.

“Listen to me,” she said softly. “I had another father. The man who raised me. He’s dead now.” For a long time now, the sense of desolation at his loss had been muted, softened by new love, distracted by new obligations. Now it swept over her, newly fresh, and sharp as a stab wound in its agony. “I know—I know he’s in heaven.”

Was he? Could he be dead and in heaven, if not yet born? And yet he was dead to her, and surely heaven took no heed of time.

She lifted her face toward the cliff, but spoke to neither bones nor God.

“Daddy,” she said, and her voice broke on the word, but she held her cousin hard. “Daddy, I need you.” Her voice sounded small, and pathetically unsure. But there was no other help to be had.

“I need you to find Ian’s little girl,” she said, as firmly as she could, trying to summon her father’s face, to see him there among the shifting leaves at the clifftop. “Find her, please. Hold her in your arms, and make sure that she’s safe. Take—please take care of her.” 

Deep stuff!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credits: Starz, Sony, Outlander Anatomy,  www.kenhub.com 

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Sam Heughan at 2021 Wizard World Chicago!

Today presented the exciting opportunity to listen to Sam Heughan (Outlander’s, Jamie Fraser) panel this morning at 2021 Wizard World Chicago!

Please forgive a bit of bouncing around as I was the amateur videographer and had to shift around every so often. 😜

Before Sam appeared on stage, a video montage of fans was shared. Each person commented on how important Outlander was to her. Some are funny, some are inventive, and some are truly poignant. What a diverse and devoted Fandom!

Hope you enjoy this introduction!  Scroll on down to see Sam!

After the fun introduction, which is a truly original approach, Sam was introduced, keeping us fully entertained for the next half hour. Enjoy!

After Sam we were doubly blessed when he was joined on stage by Duncan Lacroix (Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser). The two lads bantered effortlessly. Very entertaining!

Will sign iff for now. Want to get this posted ASAP. More later!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist 🤗

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Photo and Video Credits:  2021 Wizard World Chicago, Outlander Anatomy