I took a bus home for Spring Break today. The roof of the bus fucking leaked, and while I was waiting for my luggage I got pickpocketed out of 27 dollars….

Oh good god, Spaghetti, that sucks. It would also make a real fine song. The first thing that comes to mind is Lucinda Williams (“I took a bus/to Baton Rouge….”), but of course we can’t just plug in “home for spring break today”. But it’s got great possibilities, and it might could make you 27 million dollars, which would take the sting out of the lost $27 a little.

Woo hoo. The plan don’t work if the vandals sack the Handel.

Ooh, wait, I have to do me some research. I am personally acquainted with a young Mormon science nerd (yes, she is navigating the contradictions) and she informed me some months ago, in a non-Romney context, that the LDS presence is limited in France because French law asserts that any and all places – as in physical addresses, plants, offices, or temples – must be accessible to French authorities at any time, and that because LDS tenets demand that the most sacred of places (LDS temples) be free of even the possibility of government interference, France is not a super-spectacular jewel in the LDS international crown. So assuming my young friend is correct, Mitt mattered not over there. Possibly a mission in Vietnam would have been more blessed.

I love dogs, even the tiny yappy or foofy ones. I would go in by helicopter to get the most vicious little Pom out of Gingrich hands.

Well, unless of course it was Candace Gingrich. She’s okay. She can have dogs and cats and even newts, for the innocent newts among us should not be punished.

…like it was a shiny new engagement ring to be shoved in the faces of the rest of the unmarried gals in the office….

This is funny stuff. If you’re one of the unmarried gals, there is no response that’s gonna be just right. You can’t even say, “Ooh! Shiny!” as you walk past, at least not without risking poutrage that you’re you’re not squeeing about it. Your voice has to go up a few octaves and you have to bounce on your tippy-toes, otherwise you’re being judgmental and non-supportive. I still tend to say “Ooh! Shiny!” without slowing down because I just don’t care that much. So if McMegan invited me to a Very Special Dinner made possible by her Very Special Acquisition, I’d probably just say, “Ooh. More. Want more.” Except if the meal turns out like that cake did. Then I’d remember my manners and say “Thank you. I liked it. But not very much.”

Praying over turkeys? America has been doing that for decades, ever since some round red-faced guy lamented “As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly”.

Also, there is no way on earth that any act of atonement could make up for what John Madden has done to turkeys. And ducks. And chickens. Très treyf.

I wish Pammy would get a real job, or a hobby, or a clue.

Okay, here’s an ancient one (from around 1966): The Witches of Karres, by James Schmitz. Rollicking witchy interstellar fun.

Hey, the oldest book I recommended at #115 is The Doomsday Book. Other than the Willis books, my recs are fairly new and thus perhaps of interest to both younger readers and bitter, jaded, long-fanged readers such as moi.

When I was a really green little sapling, I loved anything by Andre Norton, and was bewildered but mesmerized by Edgar Rice Burroughs and his Barsoom series. I tried so hard to teleport myself to Mars just so I could scamper down paths paved with scintillating gemstones and snuggle under some sleeping silks and furs. What I cannot now recall is whether something dreadful happened to Dejah Thoris. Possibly I have repressed the memory.

Yes to the Jo Walton and Connie Willis suggestions. Doomsday Book is amazing, and her (Willis) other loosely-linked time-traveling historian books are as well: To Say Nothing Of the Dog, Blackout and All Clear.

Cherie Priest wrote Dreadnought and it is a steampunk thrill ride. If the L&T C has a hankering for branes, she might enjoy Rise Again by Ben Tripp, Feed by Mira Grant, as well as the previously mentioned World War Z.

Also, I highly recommend Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.

But do not let her read Beat The Reaper by Josh Bazell. However old she is, she is too young.