7/10 - G, it was a good day

Yummm, right?! I'd been dreaming about these garlic knots for years, and when I got the invite to meet a friend at Gilbert Lake State Park, I couldn't pass up the chance to drive a few towns over for some deliciousness. Jim, of course, recognized the presence of totally awesome food, and requested a picture. Look at all that garlic! No vampire boyfriends for me!

The garlic knots, while amazing, were not the highlight of the day. I got to see a friend from college that I hadn't seen in years, and it was wonderful. Can't think of enough positive adjectives to describe the day. It was great.

The park was also really nice. We took a long walk in the woods. Very green and peaceful. Jim liked blending in.

7/2 - Go B-Mets!

I'd be remiss if I allowed Jim to live in the US for another year without taking him to a baseball game. Our nation's pastime isn't my favorite, but Jim really enjoyed watching the game. He went on and on, for days after, even, about the outfielders. Evidently he felt a kinship to them as it's their job to, as he put it, "dive into a sea of green" to catch wayward balls.

I really wish he'd take a page from Kermit's book and get off his green obsession. Not happening, though. Even as I write this he's jumping up and down because I decided to wear a green shirt today. "See?" he said, "you want to be like me, too."

6/25 - summer movie

I know this picture is hard to see. As you may have concluded already, I am not the best photographer. But, this pic was taken at dusk, and I wanted to get the effect of the movie projecting on the wall of the building, so this is what resulted.

Anywho, Jeremy and Quiana couldn't attend Jim's 1-year celebration bash, so they invited him to go to one of the Binghamton summer movies. I and several of my friends went with them. We saw Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on a relatively warm summer evening, lying on a blanket under the stars. Pretty cool.

Jim liked the movie, but he did have one gripe with it. I guess the scene with the exotic food upset him. He said something about "embracing cultural differences" and "fostering gastronomical adventurousness" . . . . I just smiled and nodded. When I suggested later that we get sushi, he stopped talking about embracing cultural differences.

11/09 - Yummmm

Found this picture when I was moving all my digital images to a nifty free online storage site. I'd misplaced it.

Last year, just before Thanksgiving, my grandmother died. Jim accompanied my mother and I on a quick trip to Michigan for the funeral. We went grocery shopping while there, and Jim got all excited at the color of some of the bottles of soda. He insisted on climbing in the cooler to snuggle with the bottles, and then banged on the glass and mouthed, "Take my picture!" with an excited grin on his face.

We, of course, bought a bottle or two of the Sierra Mist with Cranberry to share with the family, and Jim tried it. While he was disappointed that the product itself wasn't green, he did seem to like it. I'll have to get more this year for him to have.

6/22 - has it really only been 1 year?

Yesterday, June 21st, marked the one-year anniversary of Jim's invasion into the peace and quiet that was my life before his arrival. It's funny - it doesn't feel like it's been a whole year. I had expected, at the beginning, that it would be a both short and trying visit. As the visit extended and then morphed into a permanent living situation, it felt natural and comfortable. As annoying as he can be at times, I've enjoyed having the little green guy around.

We discussed the options for celebrating this momentous milestone - a big party with all of his friends, a small trip to somewhere special, a present of some sort. For the trip idea, Jim suggested we re-visit all the places we've been in the past year. When I thought about the cost involved in getting us to China, and the fact that my sister, my host in China, is currently in the US, I pushed for present or party. Then Jim talked about how super duper it would be to have a statue 100 feet high erected in his honor next to Gaia the turtle. Not sure the eclectic residents of Ithaca would appreciate that, and I certainly wouldn't appreciate the cost involved, so I started talking about how wonderful a party, a celebration of Jim, would be. I guess I made it sound really good, because he forgot about the trip and the statue and started addressing invitations.



It was a good night. And I actually managed to get everyone to stand still long enough to take a group picture. Left to Right - First Row: Louis, Ophelia, Ivan, Abe, Bonnie, Gus, Kurt (not looking at the camera - there's one in every group), and Steadman. Second Row: Russell, Percy, Violet, Emmett, and Fiona. Third row: Penny, Nigel, Yvonne, Janet (mostly covered by Fiona's ear), and Maurice. Fourth/back row: Mary Sue, Chester and Ulysses (both almost entirely obscured by Yvonne's unruly hair), Noni, and the alien of honor, Jim. What a group, huh?!

6/19 - A good day for strawberries and blobs

The area in which I live has a festival about every weekend during the summer months. I'd already taken Jim to the Greek Festival, where he enjoyed dolmades and a gyro and some Greek beer, and joined in the dancing even though I begged him not to (Jim is not a very good dancer - no rhythm).

When I told Jim about the Strawberry Festival, he asked if he could bring some friends along. I agreed, as long as he could assure me that they would behave. He then told me that Abe and Bonnie are his two most likable friends and that they are super duper companions. He was right. Abe and Bonnie are very likable, pleasant, and friendly, even though they are blobs. Abe explained that the blobs featured in the horror movies were the fringes of blob society, only available for movies on earth because they'd been banished from their home planet as menaces to blob society for actions unbecoming of a proper sort of blob, and he hoped they wouldn't color my opinion of him and Bonnie. As neither attempted to consume me in their ooze, I assured them that my worries and fears had been dispelled.

Abe required more assurance later, when he found out what strawberries actually were. He was aghast to discover that humans eat the small squishy-looking red things. I told him I would be careful to protect him from hungry mouths. Jim even said he would refrain from partaking of the festival wares in deference to Abe. A kind gesture I thought. But he did sneak a bite later and then I caught him eyeing Abe hungrily. I gave Jim a stern talking to and warned Abe to beware.

Bonnie was glad that she's bright yellow and doesn't resemble any sort of fruit humans eat. I didn't have the heart to tell her about popcorn.

6/14 - a family reunion

Yay for me - a bunch of Jim's cousins, including the not-so-optimal houseguest Chester, were in town today for a mini-reunion. Present were Chester, a cousin, Ulysses, another cousin, and Penny, a third cousin. Chester had come in from Michigan (he said he'd hitched a ride with a trucker hauling mattresses, and he'd been allowed to ride in the back and bounce on them at his leisure, as long as he didn't remove the plastic or the "DO NOT REMOVE" tags), but the others were not forthcoming with their previous whereabouts. The bad houseguest characteristics have proved not to be a family trait - Penny and Ulysses have been wonderful to have. Ulysses has been visiting for a few days, and he's helped with the dishes, as well as cleaning up after himself. Penny has scoured the tub after Chester's baths and has generally kept him from making a nuisance of himself.

Any inconvenience on my part, though, is worth it. Jim has been so happy today. He has a constant grin, and keeps sighing contented sighs and saying "super duper" and hugging the cousins any chance he gets. It's good to see him this happy. When asked, though, Jim of course acts like it's no big deal that his family has traveled to see him. Gotta keep up that tough exterior, to hide the soft, mushy center.

6/13 - A nice day at the lake

Jim came along with my family and I to a picnic at a friend of mine's cottage on a little lake. Evidently, he had a friend on the lake (or maybe the best turn of phrase would be IN the lake) he wanted to visit. So, as we were sitting down to lunch, Steadman came swimming up and crashed the party. The little guy was quite a swimmer, and he was very personable. Bit of a problem at a picnic, though - he chewed on the table. What else would you expect from a beaver?

After lunch, Jim and Steadman hung out on the dock for a while. I was concerned for the dock, but Jim assured me that the horrified look from my friend who owned the cottage and the picnic table brought home the point that he should do his chewing elsewhere.

After a little while, they decided to go boating. Jim's cousin Ulysses, who had tagged along on this picnic (I know. Quite a crowd! 4 Willsons, 2 aliens, and a beaver. Do you suppose my friend will ever ask us up to her cottage again?) also went in the boat.

Oh, and I should note here that Ulysses is Jim's most well-behaved cousin, much better than Chester. He has been a delight to have as a house guest. No strange tub rings.

6/11 - RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

I took Jim to work for "Take Your Alien Roommate to Work" Day (ok, Jim told me about that holiday, and I didn't see any other aliens at work that day, so either my co-workers have normal roommates, or he was lying, which I really don't mind because he made that day at work really fun) and he spent time while I was working on my computer wandering around the Facilities yard looking for interesting things (If anyone from work reads this, I must remind them that Jim is a finger puppet, so it must be made clear that security was not in jeopardy, but, oh, yeah, I did take pictures in the building. Sorry.). He came back to my cube all in a tizzy and said I had to follow him and "bring your camera, cuz this is gonna be a super duper photo op!" He was right. Check this gun out!! (I didn't have the heart to tell him it was for heating shrink wrap around pallets.) Even Violet got in on the action, but only when I assured her Jim's hands were too small to pull the trigger.

5/23 - hostels are our friends, but random roommates are not

Since we were visiting Montreal on a bit of a tight budget, a hostel seemed like a good option. My friend found this place on-line, and it was great (though I have to say the roommate situation wasn't the most pleasant. One girl was amazingly nice and quiet. The other was very noisy when we were trying to fall asleep, and never even acknowledged our existence, and then had the audacity to call Jim an ugly little lizard man. I didn't witness it; I'm going off Jim's somewhat unreliable word, so I can't verify if this did or didn't happen, but I wouldn't put it past her. And, since I didn't even know her name and I'm pretty sure I'll never see her again and I'm reasonably sure she'll never read this blog, I can include a bit of nastiness about her without fear that I'll be sued for libel). Anyway, Jim had such an affection for this place (despite the roommate), that he begged me to take his picture on the blue bunk bed with the sheets and blanket. So, here it is.

And, because I feel the need to say it again, VISIT MONTREAL!! It's amazing!

5/21-23 - C'est la vie!

Bonjour! Proof that I knew way more French than I thought I did came a few weekends ago when I and some friends of mine (and Jim, too, of course) took a road trip to Montreal. Jim, of course, came along. Though he seemed a bit overwhelmed with the mixture of English, French, and Mandarin (in Chinatown) that surrounded us, and was therefore thrown off his game a bit, he seemed to enjoy himself. This picture was taken from the chalet at the top of Mont Royal, the high place in Montreal. It's a charming city, and Jim and I both recommend it, for people as well as aliens. Very friendly and welcoming. Be sure to check out the Jean Talon market when you go!

I have some more pictures from this trip, but I don't have them with me right now, so more to follow...

5/8 - Woodstock

Jim and I met Bob Dylan on our trip to Woodstock, NY. I had to explain to Jim who Bob Dylan was before he was willing to to smile in a photo with the guy. Jim mumbled under his breath but loud enough so that everyone could hear that the guy I was excited to have a picture with seemed, in fact, a little lifeless and "aloof."Later that day, when we reviewed the pictures, Jim kept commenting on the amazing anti-aging properties of this photograph. Jim was amazed at how young Mr. Dylan looks in the photo, no where near his current age of 69. But, notice that he also looks a little flat and gray in the photo, which would tip off astute observers to the fact that he was, in fact, a cut-out. I didn't have the heart to tell the little green guy the truth. He's been humming "The times, they are a-changin'" ever since the trip, and it's a good song. Much better than the Titanic theme song, which he was humming. Anything but that song.

On the drive home, Jim requested a short stop to have his picture taken at the Pepacton Reservoir. It's a really beautiful place, so I consented, even though it was super duper windy and looked like it would start pouring buckets at any moment. Jim had trouble keeping his head up in the wind. Gusts up to 45 mph, I think I heard on the radio.

5/1-2 - Boston

At the beginning of May I went on a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston with school. On the way, we stopped at a rest stop. This sculpture was in the eating area. Perhaps in this photo, it doesn't look as horrendous as it did in person, which you, dear reader, should feel thankful about. Jim, of course, thoroughly enjoyed the sculpture, wanted to have his picture taken with it, and refused to leave it when it was time to board the bus to continue our journey. Jim should consider himself lucky that he is very small and easy to out-muscle, or he would have been left eating McDonald's scraps for the rest of his time on Earth.

Thankfully, Jim's taste in art evolved a bit as the trip went on. The group stopped, on the way to Boston, at the Worchester Museum of Art, where he asked to have his picture taken with this piece by French painter Julien Dupres of a peasant girl feeding chickens. It really is lovely. Jim commented on the calm colors and the softness of the brush strokes. He said that he wanted to be like Mary Poppins and hop right into the painting so he could help with the chores. He also

said he could almost hear the chickens clucking. I couldn't agree with him more.

In the courtyard at the museum, we came across this huge ball that looked like it had been recently rolled off the set of a futuristic

sci-fi apocalyptic movie. Very cool.

Below is another picture taken in the Worchester Museum. For a small collection, the really did have some great little oils.

When we got to Boston, Jim was starving (or at least complaining profusely that he was starving, whithering away to nothing, that he would be mere pocket lint in a few moments - high drama), so we went straight to the Cheesecake Factory. Of course, we had to wait 45 minutes to be seated, during which time my classmates found some good souvenirs and I scoped out a fountain that

had serious run-through potential. Long story (besides, this blog is about Jim, and he did not run through the fountain, so I will refrain from writing about how refreshingly cool the water was, and how amazingly soaked I was after, and how I left a small rivulet of water down the aisle of the bus...yup, not gonna say a thing).

These are, sadly, all the pictures from Boston. My camera died in the Museum of Fine Art before I had a chance to get a good picture of Jim there. He was very disgruntled, but he'll get over it. I did, after all, let him have some of my delicious chocolate mousse cheesecake. I will say this, though - it is an amazing museum and Jim enjoyed himself thoroughly. As I'm trying writing this blog, he is attempting to carry on an intellectual conversation with me about art, evidence of his recent educational experience. When I reminded him of the rest stop sculpture, and his profound love of it at the beginning of the trip, he said I must have been mistaken. I'm glad there's a picture in existence that reminds us all of the truth.

4/24 - a trip to Ithaca

I have been to Ithaca and passed this turtle...oh, I don't know how many times. On this trip to Ithaca, I met some friends, who wanted to introduce us to more friends who were playing at Cass Park. While there, Gaia, the giant sea turtle, was kind enough to let us climb all over her and sat very still for a photo with Jim.

On the way out of the park, we saw some pansies, and Jim begged to have his picture taken with them. He said the color would photograph well with his fuzzy green skin. I think he was right. To borrow Jim's favorite phrase, I think it looks super duper.

4/10 - An upstate New York tradition

The annual quest to the Marathon Maple Festival has been a spring tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. It's not spring until we've gone to this annual festival. Enduring the mild threat of spring showers, slogging through some mud, standing in line for an awfully long time just to spend 2 minutes in the sugar shack and get a tiny free sample of the year's syrup - this is spring. Not to mention the unique crafts, fair food, maple products for sale, used book sale, quilt show, and the great opportunity for people-watching. Glorious.

So, now that he has made himself a permanent (for better or worse) part of the family, it was necessary to introduce Jim to this tradition. And, he actually seemed to enjoy it. His favorite part, he said, was leaning over the boilers in the sugar shack, letting the sweet smelling steam waft through his antennae. Super duper, he said. Made him think of home. With a wistful look in his crimson eyes, he patiently explained that there is a field not far from his family's dwelling on his home planet that has steam vents. Each vent's steam, he said, smells different. Some are pleasant, like the maple syrup steam in the sugar shack (and his personal favorite), as well as one that smells a little bit like apple pie, and some that are not so pleasant, with smells roughly equivalent rotten potatoes and dead animal. I'm glad there aren't any rotten potato vents in my back yard.

3/21 - High places

On a Sunday when we were already in Owego, I requested that the family drive up to the cemetery on the hill, so that Jim could look out over the valley. He was very appreciative. From that spot on the hill, he could see all of Owego, and trace the Susquehanna as it wandered along. Still really warm for spring, so the weather was nice, but the view wasn't all that green. Jim, of course, still thought that it was super-duper. I think he's becoming more mellow as he's stayed with me. Always a good thing.

After a bit of standing and looking, my Dad offered to give Jim a better view, by having him climb onto the end of a long stick and holding him out over the drop-off. I was very concerned about a very small and light alien blowing away in the wind, but Jim said being on the stick felt like flying. Try and see if you can spot him in this picture.

3/19 - Exercise at Dorchester

It has been a surprisingly warm spring. Hot, really. Jim was itching to get out and enjoy the nice weather, because, though he liked playing in the snow, he didn't like being cold all the time (a fact which he made very clear several times). So, on a nice day, Jim and I went with some of my friends to Dorchester Park to take a walk and enjoy the unseasonable sunshine and mild temperature. It was strange to be standing at the shore of a still frozen lake and feel overheated because I hadn't thought to pack shorts for the day. (The picture I've included does not show the frozen part of the lake, as Jim wanted a "cool silhouette" to make him look mysterious).

Jim enjoyed the sunshine, and the new (at least to us) walking path. He ran for a bit, and said that it was super-duper (note the wide, contented smile).

3/9 - where are the fashion police when you need them?

Does anyone know what the going rate is for getting antennae cut? Yeah, I didn't think so. Actually, it's probably a really, really bad idea, quite possibly involving lots of alien blood and resulting in loss of feeling. But, Jim can't the desire to try it out of his head since we walked past a salon and saw these pictures. I thought taking his picture would be enough, but no. He's fanatical, now. He even wants one antenna died slightly whiter to match his new idol's look exactly.

I tried to explain to him the meaning of the word "cheesy," but it didn't seem to work. I caught him standing on my dresser, looking at himself in the mirror, brushing his antennae with a dreamy look on his face. Oy. Am I going to end up with an alien I'm to embarrased to be seen with outside the apartment? Thankfully he hasn't mentioned anything about black wifebeaters or silver chains yet... Crap. He was just reading over my shoulder...gotta go.

3/5 - a kinship with sushi

I can't express to you in words how excited Jim was when he saw the sushi being delivered to our table by the waiter who looked like a cross between Ben Savage and Shia LaBoeuf. Not because of the waiter, of course, but because of the sushi. I think he thought for a minute that he was about to be introduced to new friends.

He jumped out of my purse and ran around the table looking for signs of life - trying to find hands/tentacles to shake and politely saying, "How do you do?" to each plate. When I explained they were all food (and not rude aliens), he was so sad. But, I gave him a taste of my wasabi, and he cheered right up...and ate all my wasabi. Evidently, Jim likes wasabi. It's super duper. I totally agree.

I'm now regretting the introduction to wasabi. His new favorite game is to run around the apartment with his arms waving over his head, yelling, "Wasabi!" It gets annoying after the first hour or so.

2/28 - made out of snow

Great packing snow. Really heavy, great packing snow. So, today, Mom, Jim, and I went outside to build snowmen. Well, a snowman and a snowjim, to be more accurate.

Jim thoroughly enjoyed watching the building of the snowpeople. Though he was enthusiastic about doing so, Jim was way too diminutive (he's sensitive about the word "small") to help. I pointed this out to him when he hopped out of my pocket to help, and he mumbled something about teleportation and the unworthiness of the task at hand for his mighty powers to be unleashed. Why does he always mumble the really interesting stuff?

Anyway, we used green food coloring in a spray bottle to color snowjim green, in case you're wondering, and my Mom donated her purple scarf for the photo. Mom also supplied the stuff for his eyes and mouth. She's super crafty. The snowman's decorations came from a kit.

2/27 - Lots of snow

A friend and I went snowshoeing for the first time ever today. What an adventure! We just had a really big snowstorm, and the snow everywhere was really deep, so we thought it was the perfect opportunity for snowshoeing. Jim, of course, had to come along. He didn't want to miss the experience.

As you can see, Jim elected not to wear snowshoes, and sank like a little stone in the snow. He spent much of the time in my pocket, while my friend and I trudged through deep snow, tried not to walk on the ski trails, dealt with snowshoes that wouldn't stay on, and attempted not to complain about our bum hips (from non-snowshoeing related incidents). If Jim had been keeping up with his usual running commentary, we wouldn't have heard him above all the laughing.

It was fun, but I think next winter we'll be trying cross-country skiing, and leaving the snowshoes alone.

2/24 - Jim attends a class

The first relief project did not go over so well with my class. Jim was livid when I told him this. He wandered around the house for a few days mumbling things about how people don't know good art when they see it and something about the educational system on this planet that I didn't quite understand, and then finally insisted that I take him with me to class when I handed in the new piece I'd made.

Of course, when he got to my class, he quickly forgot his anger and the confrontational speech he had been preparing in the car on the way there, and got along well with everyone. He was well liked by them, as well.

2/22 - Jim in relief

My class this semester is 3-Dimensional Design. Previous to this class, Jim had not taken much of an interest in my academic efforts. Frankly, this has not hurt my feelings at all, especially given his tendency to say what's on his mind without the usual human "politeness filters."

As I worked on my first project this semester, though, it was easy to tell his interest was piqued. He was hovering around, so much so that I almost spray-painted him blue along with the sculpture. Come to find out, he thought it was a jungle gym I was creating especially for him. He was, then, understandably disappointed when I explained to him that it was intended as art and not meant to be climbed on.

He asked me to take a picture of him on it, and include it in this blog so that, if any jungle gym manufacturers happen to be followers, perhaps he will get what he wants in the end.

2/15 - another friend comes for a visit

Another one of Jim's friends stopped by today. She didn't tell me her name, but I gathered that she's on her way to Ghana to meet up with my World Vision sponsored child, Gnabiba. My new little purple friend wanted to stop and meet me before she went on to Gnabiba so that she could tell Gnabiba all about me. Pretty cool.

Jim requested that I take a "family" picture. So, from left to right, Mary Sue, Jim, Noni (Jim's on again off again girlfriend from New Year's), and Purple. Oh, and Louis is out in front.

It's amazing the creatures you meet when you have a little green alien as a houseguest.

2/13 - Jim comes back?

I want to apologize for not writing for a long time. With Jim's disappearance, my ability to chronicle daily life with an extra-terrestrial is severely inhibited. Or really not possible at all.

At long last, Jim has returned. He didn't say where he went, which allows us to speculate. He's a little different than he was when he left. His facial expression used to convey open warmth and affection, despite the red eyes, and now he mostly looks like he's plotting the end of human civilization as we know it. I commented on it, and he mumbled something under his breath about going to dark places and seeing dark things. Was he, perhaps, behind the bookcase as I'd expected, and run into some sinister dust bunnies? I'll never know. He's not saying. I'm, frankly, just glad he's back.

When Jim came back, he brought a friend with him. Her name is Mary Sue. She's very nice. Very huggy.

2/11 - Tequila

In Jim's absence, Louis the lizard offered to fill in. He's not quite as personable as Jim, but I appreciated the offer and so he's been traveling around with me for the past month.

It seems my life hasn't been quite so interesting since Jim disappeared. I haven't gone anywhere worthy of taking pictures.

This picture of Louis and I was taken at a great Mexican restaurant near where I live called Los Tapatios. Yum. They have really yummy margaritas. I may or may not have had two that night.

1/16 - strange photographs

So, in the lonely void left by Jim's disappearance, I've been spending some time cleaning junk off of my computer - internet cookies, old photos, and the like. I came across some interesting photos that I've never seen before.

I suspect Jim. I caught him once on my computer. He was surfing the net, I know that, and when I asked him what he was looking at, he got all weird and quiet about it and wouldn't tell me. I thought maybe it was something of a scandalous nature, but then he mumbled something about discovering photos of his home planet. Cause for further interrogation, I think. But he wouldn't tell me the name of his home planet and refused to bring up the photos again.

1/16 - JIM is MIA

Sad news. Jim is missing.

The last time I remember seeing him was New Year's Day, at the movie theater. I called them this afternoon, but they haven't seen him. That doesn't totally rule out the theater, though. Jim may have charmed them into keeping him, or he could be lurking in the shadows, living off dropped popcorn, Milk Duds, and the glow of the movie screen.

I also suspect the cat. She's been fascinated lately with a recent addition to our household - a little green lizard puppet (see photo). I've rescued the poor little guy twice from her talons and razor sharp teeth. It's possible that she found and played with Jim prior to the lizard and lost him under the fridge or behind the couch, or in some other dusty, cat hair infested nook. Note the ominous gleam in Famous's eyes (see photo).

A third, more tragic option, is that I've misplaced him in all the clutter that is my life right now. What can I say? He's small. I really like the little guy, but I'm amazingly forgetful and lose things constantly.

And, there's always the possibility that he ran away with his New Year's fling. Oh, nevermind. She's here. Still smiling that same vacant smile. I knew she wasn't good for him.

It must be noted, too, that his scarf is also missing. So wherever he is, he's warm, at least. Small consolation.

1/1 - Jim meets Sherlock Holmes

My Mom was sick on New Year's Day, so we postponed our usual family game day tradition until she felt better, and Jim and I went to the movies with some friends. We saw Sherlock Holmes. (Can I just add here that I think 3-piece suits are fantastic. Jude Law is hot.) This was Jim's first movie-going experience, and he liked the big theater, and the surround sound, and the smell of the popcorn. He especially liked the super duper previews featuring aliens, but said they looked all wrong. Well, that's Hollywood!

Jim also told me on New Year's day that he had met someone on New Year's eve. He introduced het to me, and I told him later, after she had gone, that I thought her character was a little lacking, a little flat. He said I was just jealous. Yeah, that's it.

12/31-1/1 - Ringing in the New Year

For New Year's, we decided to celebrate with a luau at my apartment with our friends. Ok, my friends, really. Jim doesn't have so many. Anywho, so we had a luau (note Jim's festive lei). Jim was confused about the luau in the middle of winter idea, but it became crystal clear to him when he tasted the delicious ham and pineapple pizza. At this luau, we also made delicious prickly pear margaritas. Jim thought it was super duper that this bottle was just his size, and gave it a nice long tequila-induced snuggle.

We rang in the new year with Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest, noisemakers, bubbles, and yummy champaigne. Jim was feeling especially festive and really "got in" to the moment.

Good times were had by all. After everyone left, though, I found Jim face down in the hallway. Not sure whether it was the tequila or the cat that got to him.

Anyway, Happy New Year, cyberspace!