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.