November 10, 2011: Cute Overload!

For the past 18 months, my life has taken a turn for the cute.  Of course, it's no coincidence that eighteen months is about the amount time I've been together my girlfriend, Akemi, who hails from Japan: the Land of Cute (kawaii).  Yes, in Japan, cute is not only omnipresent in entertainment and fashion, but food and handwriting as well.  And, since moving in, Akemi has transplanted a bit of that kawaisa to Canada.

Akemi is so expressive, at times I feel like I'm dating a cartoon character.

Fruit messages are de rigueur.

The shades, the hands tucked into the sleeves of her coat, the tilt of the head. Christmas Card worthy.

The fruit at my house not only boasts messages but the occasional face as well.

About to tuck into her naruto.

Messages, faces and, occasionally, names.

All dressed up and ready to go in her new shiroi coat.

Settling in quite nicely. The cold weather has afforded her the opportunity to show off her cute fashion sense.

Even eating can be cute.

Akemi is all about appearance when it comes to food. At the grocery store, she'll dismiss certain produce as "chotto ugly". Her fruits and veggies should be as cute as the truffles she makes - these for Ivon. His response when I gave them to him today: "Akemi is so cute."

Pinky pyjama party!

Even her flipping me off is done in cute fashion.

Cute Cooking 101: It's all about the apron. She's become a bit of an aficionado. Every weekend while we were in Toronto, she would visit the apron shop. Yes, there's an apron shop.

Pointing out her cute ear muffs. It was either these or the Hello Kitties.

Out and about. Cute. And me.

Sending out the last of the paperwork for Akemi's sponsorship application tomorrow.  Hopefully, it will be accepted and she won't have to leave the country in late April of 2012 (coincidentally, her visitor's visa expires on her birthday).  Life would certainly be a hell of a lot less cute without her.

The gang.

Thanks to everyone who asked about Maximus (pictured above, he's the bewildered-looking black pug in the front).  He's having a very difficult time eating because of the melanoma in his mouth.  He's scheduled for surgery on Wednesday that will remove part of the tumor and hopefully make him a little more comfortable.