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.