3/30 - Lake Scranton

Jim insisted on a profile shot - said it would make him look pensive. I tried to tell him that this was not his best side, but he would have none of it. He insists that all sides are his best sides. Who can argue with that logic?

Not sure if you can actually see him in this second picture. He's standing on the center pole, waving his arms around like a crazed thing. He tried to tell me that standing on the rock he dragged up there (a rock smaller than my thumbnail) would help. You be the judge. Once again, not gonna argue with the little guy.

This last picture, probably the best of the bunch (mostly because it depicts him behind bars ;) was taken at the other end of the lake. I had to lie down on my belly to get this one, but I think it was worth it. He was cooperative because of the "proper-sized" tree. Never knew he had a thing about objects being the right size for him.

3/23 - Lets Go Pens!

Who knew aliens like hockey? Well, at least one alien I know thinks hockey is super-duper. Maybe it's because he could yell random things at random times and people just thought he was a crazed fan. The only thing he didn't like about hockey was the lack of wasabi at the concession stand. No use explaining that sushi isn't really a hockey food. Oh, and he also didn't like the "seating Nazi" who wouldn't let us return to our seats during play, but I'm trying to block that loud, embarrassing scene from my memory.

3/21 - a sad and fun day

To make a long story short, I acquired a turtle, then found out it was an endangered species and illegal to keep as a pet in the state of PA, so I had to drive it to the Pocono Animal Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Strousburg. A friend took the hour journey with Jim and I to say goodbye to Tuck/Olive. There are no pictures of Olive and Jim because he was afraid of her. He said she had evil in her orange eyes, and he suspected she was planning to chomp off one or both of his antennae as soon as she got the chance. She never would have done that, but I guess it was better that he didn't, because he tends to get attached.

Anyway, so we drove out there and dropped Olive off and said our goodbyes, then decided to make a day of it and did some sightseeing and shopping. In one of the shops, Jim found this cow reading the newspaper. He got really, really excited and started talking a mile a minute and jumping up and down. I feared for the poor cow's safety. When I finally calmed him down enough for me to understand him, I realized all the excitement was about the "proper-sized" newspaper, and in between yelling "Super-duper!" at the top of his lungs (which was super-duper embarrassing) he was begging me to get him a subscription. I said no, that it's only for cows, and that they don't deliver to Scranton. He asked to have a picture with it anyway, and commented later that the rude, newspaper-hogging cow didn't even move over to let him sit down on the "nicely colored and proper-sized park bench." I didn't have the heart to tell him that none of it was real.

3/18/11 - Walk toward the light

This old, abandoned railway tunnel is somewhere in the coal-rich mountains of NE PA. Really cool (literally). Jim, of course, wanted his picture taken. I, of course, obliged (and got slipped on the ice that's out of the frame to get Jim in a good spot to get a picture). There was too much ice and water in the tunnel to risk getting my camera out to take pictures in it. Yes, it is that dark inside there. We had flashlights. A little tretcherous in the early spring, but definitely very neat. Though I must say, wading through water with giant hunks of ice floating in it is not something I want to do again real soon. Jim wants to go back ASAP, but he traveled safely and warmly in my pocket, so he doesn't get much say.

3/17/11 - Spring!

Soon after I took that last picture, Jim decided to hibernate. He's not the biggest fan of the cold, and his scarf got misplaced during the move in August, and he just didn't want to deal with the snow without it. So, he made me order sushi so he could have a bunch of wasabi (said the "heat" would keep him fueled), and curled up and fell asleep. He slept pretty peacefully (or rather, he slept and my life was thus peaceful for a while) til spring. In the meantime, I'd moved to Scranton to start grad school. Soon after he woke, Jim decided that walking to school with me would be good exercise after his long snooze, and he was happy (perhaps wildly, amazingly ecstatic would be more accurate) to see some crocus. I was pretty excited to see them, too. Naturally, he begged for a picture. The little guy never misses a photo op.

11/6/11 - Jim's visit to Cooper's

There are more pictures and stories from the summer, but since it's been so long and I'm so far behind now, I was thinking that I could just go from what I have right now, and add those later, when I have access to them again. Sooo... In November, I decided to pay a visit to Marywoond University in Scranton, PA. I took a friend who was familiar with the area, and she took Jim and I to Cooper's for dinner. Best crab bisque ever! Jim really enjoyed the decor, especially this porthole that was by our table. He really enjoyed the view. He sat, the whole meal, staring longly into the porthole. He didn't even stop for bisque. That's ok, more for me. Ever since, he's been begging to go back there for some more mer-time.