Being a six year old who secretly watched The X Files , you could say I got acquainted with aliens at maybe too early a stage in life? I remember once dreaming of an octopus-like alien that shot spiderwebs from its mouth and had decided to take up residence in my Precious Moments laden bedroom. I also remember not being able to tell my mother the source  of my alien-infested dreams, in fear she would make me quit watching.  Despite this creepy start, or maybe because of it,