Hate the tattoo artist, not the tattoo

Between me any my husband we have 14 tattoos (well ok..NOW it's 15). From several different tattoo shops/artists. Needless to say we have just a teensy bit of experience with tattoos and their implications. All of my tattoos are easily covered. My husband, on the other hand, stepped over the 'cover them all up' line about six tattoos ago. We are always talking about our next tattoo, some ideas are in and then right back out of our heads and other ideas stick around long enough to make it on our bodies.

My husband decided that he wanted to go ahead and get his next tattoo. After about the third or fourth one, this isn't such a big deal anymore. He decided on a guitar pick. Playing the guitar has been part of his life for over 15 years now, so it seemed fitting enough. The tattoo artist that he has seen the last several times ended up moving to Austin (Boo!) so we thought we would visit a newer tattoo place in town. I've seen quality work coming out of this shop and thought it would be worth a visit. When we drove up there were a lot of people standing outside. Hmmm, never a good sign. One of the guys was picking up trash and asked us if we were there for a tattoo or a piercing. Once we told him why we were there he pointed us to another guy, who was also already outside. After Jeremy showed him the print out picture of the guitar pick the guy tells us that all the tattoo artists are out of town for the weekend. This little statement had me wondering why dude #1 pointed us in his direction. And then he tells Jeremy flat out 'I wouldn't get the whole pick, man'. Oh really? You wouldn't? Well, I guess it's a good thing it isn't YOU getting it then. And THEN he tries to talk Jeremy into getting just the logo on the pick. Because, to his thinking, anyone that knows anything about guitars will know what the logo is. He went on to act out this little vignette:

Tattoo guy: So, if someone tells you 'Yeah man, I know what that stands for', you could be like 'Oh yeah, what's it stand for?' and if they can't answer..you just kick 'em in the balls, man.

That's right. This person suggested to my husband that he just 'kick them in the balls'. lol. When he saw that this route of reasoning wasn't really working on changing Jeremy's mind he went to Plan B. He started to say something about 'as that tattoo ages'...and maybe something about some fading it he were to get the whole entire green pick. Jeremy nodded very politely, but it was at this point that I folded my arms and turned half away from him. This is CLEAR woman body speak for 'I am SO done with you'.

We wrapped it pretty quick after that. What else was there to discuss? Besides he wasn't even a tattoo artist!! I just wanted to ask him if he had eyes in his head because if he bothered to look he would have seen my husband isn't new to the tattoo scene. We are fully aware of the natural wear and tear on a tattoo, and the idea of upkeep and touch ups. And even after 14 tattoos, from eight different tattoo artists, spanning over twelve years, we have never had someone try and flat out talk us out of getting the tattoo we wanted.

We went right back to our usual tattoo shop, even though our usual tattoo artist was no longer there. They hooked Jeremy right up and it looks great.

What Feeds Your Soul?

A friend recently asked this question. I had to stop and think for a minute because I wanted to answer her truthfully. At first I wanted to say music. But, I had to be honest with myself. I love music, but it doesn't feed my soul. However, here are a few things that DO feed my soul.

1. Warmth. I don't mean 'heat'. There is a difference, especially here in West Texas. I enjoy spending time on my patio, which is covered so I'm not in direct sunlight (now THAT'S heat). It helps improve my mood to be just be in the warmth. I have also found that spending time in my hammock in the evening when the sun is setting makes me very happy...calm almost. I love nothing more than snuggling under a big blanket in the winter. I love coffee or hot chocolate. Wrapping my hands around a warm mug brings a smile to my face.

2. Laughter. Belly Laughs. Laughing so hard I can't breath! Laughter clears out all the bad energy. I always feel lighter after a good laugh.

3. Faith. I know there might be some people that wonder if I have any faith at all. I don't really claim to be part of any organized religion. I don't go to church. But, I do have a deep rooted sense of belief. I believe in God. Beyond that is when things start getting murky. But I try not to let it get complicated. I know God is good, forgiving, understanding, loving. I know God is in everything, I know he is grace. I know God watches over me and I know that he has a good sense of humor. It makes me happy to believe in my God.

4. My husbands hugs. I swear that man could cure a person with his hugs.

5. Banana Pancakes, but ONLY if my Momma makes them. I can't explain the good vibes I get from eating my Momma's banana pancakes. It's such a good feeling, a wonderful hum in my body.

What feeds your soul? What makes you smile big? What drives out the clouds? What brings in the good juju? Let me know.

Thematic Photographic 55 - Cloudy

See other 'cloudy' shots at Written Inc.

In the name of the BOOBIES!

Vote for me to be BEWB winner 2009!! I'm #3. You can vote every day, or once..whatever. There's a lot of competition but I think my rack has what it takes to win this thing! lol.

All eyes on me in the center of the ring..

Guess who is going to see Britney Spears in September??!! MMMMEEEE!

My husband bought tickets for me and my SWB girlfriend, Jennifer, to go see Brit-brit in Dallas.This is what I love about being an adult. I don't have to actually wait until my birthday (which isn't until August) to get my birthday present.

Home again, home again..jiggety-jig

I had a great time in Austin this weekend. My cousin wasn't stingy with the baby, so my Mom and I both got to hold him, change him, dress him, burp him. Nearly everything but feed him, cause that's his Mom's job...lol. He is such a good baby. We took him with us when we went to the outlet mall and he didn't make a peep in his stroller.



And the outlet mall. Man, o man. That's my first time shopping there and there was just too many stores to shop at! I needed more time! And more money! Well, any money really since my Mom bought me everything I wanted on this trip. Isn't that nice? My Momma loves me. I'm definitely going back on the next visit.

Road Trip

I'm headed to Austin tomorrow with my Mom. Even though we are staying the night, it's really more like a day trip. I'm not sure what all we are going to do, but that's half the fun of going. The one thing I DO know is we are going to see this little guy:



That's Cohen, my cousin's baby. He was born less than a month ago. Isn't he adorable?! Anyway, I'll get my baby fix in and smell his soft baby head! Can't wait.

Thematic Photographic 54 - Green

See other green photos over at Written Inc.

Wordless Wednesday

Photo Hunt: Lock

See other Photo Hunt entries at Tnchick.com

Thematic Photographic 53 - Road

“All of life is a journey which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there.”

See other, much more creative, takes on the theme over at Written Inc.

LOL

This is why I LOVE my Mother-in-law..

In text message:

MIL: I've been using what I thought was body lotion since Sunday. On a closer look it turns out to be body WASH! No wonder I've been so itchy and my eyes burn.

Me: LOL...er, I mean, Oh no! (she knows I love her)

MIL: Good thing I haven't got caught in the rain, I would have been bubbly!

Wishing away time

Do y'all ever do that? Spend all your current time wishing it was already some date in the future? That's all I've been doing lately, it seems. There are a few things that will hopefully be happening over the next year and a half. Yes, that far out.

One..we have four more payments left on our Explorer. FOUR more. That means NO more car payments. It's also our highest monthly bill, so that's going to free up a good chunk of cash.

Two..Metallic in September. Need I say more?

Three..we are going to Hawaii for our next anniversary (in April). It will be the big 10 year anniversary, so we wanted to do something really special. I'm just crossing my fingers that nothing happens between now and then, and sticking firmly with the mind set that we ARE going.

Live a Simple Life

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life. ~John Burroughs

Ugh..

I've been sick. I think it was a sinus infections, but I'm no doctor. I'm feeling much better today than I was on Monday, but the crud is lingering. I hate being sick. I hate not being able to breath right. I hate not being able to sleep right. Ugh. It's just a pain. So, I haven't posted much this weekend. I've been spending a lot of time lounging around, keeping a box of tissues close, trying to guzzle water, and staying medicated.

Thematic Photographic 52 - Dusk

Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon
Like a magician extended his golden want o'er the landscape;
Trinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest
Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together. ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



Come see other entries at Written Inc.