:)

You know, if any of y'all are in the mood for a funny fantasy novel, I'd highly recommend Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys. I just finished it and it's incredibly good - much better than American Gods IMO (which I liked, but not as much as some of his other stuff). To be honest, I think this is probably the best of his novels I've read yet. (Yes, even including Good Omens...it's certainly funnier than that book.)

But what really strikes me about this book is Gaiman's skill with similes; I find myself amazed at the aptness of his (often unlikely) choices as well as rolling on the floor with laughter (much like the effect of his blog, which also has an LJ feed if you're one of the two people in the world who's not already aware of this). One example:

Daisy looked up at him with the same kind of expression that Jesus might have given someone who had just explained that he was probably allergic to bread and fishes, so could He possibly do him a quick chicken salad: there was pity in that expression, along with almost infinite compassion.

Dude, mildly snarky sentences like that KILL ME DEAD. And this book is FULL OF THEM. XD

Also, this afternoon I walked into campus to make some copies for class tomorrow, and had a really nice moment. The sun was shining, the temperature was beautiful, and I found myself with an extra spring in my step. I thought to myself, "y'know, life is pretty good. I'm young and independent; I'm living in a great town and going to a good grad school; obfuscatory academic writing aside, I find myself enjoying most of the classwork I'm doing; I don't have to work thanks to my fellowship; and all in all, things are pretty darn close to perfect in my life right now." And I think I walked around for like an hour with a goofy smile on my face. XD

The only way it could be better would be to be in England