Actually laughing out loud

So, I decided that I needed to read something "light", after having just finished a stolen-identity-mystery novel (which I only chose because it was among the top 10 books of 2009), which followed a depressing and rough-around-the-edges account of homeless New York, which followed a depressing fictional-but-might-as-well-be-true account of a young girl going through the foster care system in greater Los Angeles.  And, I can't remember what was before that (though I could look it up), but it was probably heavy, too.

Because I needed something slightly fluffy, as it were, I headed to the Young Adult section at the library.  I consider myself to still be a young adult, so I convinced myself that I had every right to be perusing that section's wares.  I proceeded to look at, and check out, three books by Meg Cabot.  One was "The Princess Diaries" because, I've seen the movie a bajillion times, of course, so I thought I should also read the books.  I also got one called "Boy Meets Girl" and I got the one that I'm reading now, "Big Boned."  Even though it, too, is a murder mystery (totally didn't see that coming when I checked it out), it is absolutely hysterical.  I am a smile-to-myself-when-something's-funny-in-a-book-or-on-t.v. kind of person.  It takes a lot for me to actually laugh out loud (unless I'm watching "Community", at which point it becomes hard for me to stifle much laughter), but this book has successfully brought me to a place of utter hilarity.  It totally meets my need for light and fluffy, and is such a fast read that it also helps me to plow forward in terms of achieving my reading goals for the year.  I started it on Monday night, and I think the likelihood is great that I will finish it tonight.  Granted, it's only 275 pages, give or take a few, but still, it's not as if I have endless hours to read for funsies.  What a surprisingly enjoyable change of pace.

Also, I don't know about where you live, but where I live, it is beautiful.  We have had a few picture-perfect days lately, which do nothing but lift my spirits.  I'm even (sort of) looking forward to beginning the task of landscape clean-up, once everything dries a bit.  We have branches and limbs and other bits and pieces of nonsense all over our yard.  It actually looks like we might have to cut two trees down, based on their precarious positioning (thank you, 30" of snow).  It should be fun, though.  And, as I mentioned, it is beautiful outside, which makes it totally worth it!!!