Filed under: Good day, Living | Tags: cats, majestik tattoo, Ricky, tattoo, Tucson
August 15, 2008
I got inked and I have to admit that it was pretty much one of the most bad ass experiences of my life, on so many levels.
I had to wait for Ricky Doo to get off of work and because he is such a diligent worker he stayed later and that just made my anticipation grow greater. It made something else grow greater too, but we’ll get to that. I suppose I can say this now because what’s done is done but I haven’t really admitted to mostly anyone that I have really only considered getting a tattoo for about… a day. I mean I have always thought about getting one mostly in a romantic kind of way, the kind of way that doesn’t actually have you picking out a design or driving to the place. So you can clock how long I actually wanted it in a real time season of 24. I know, most people would think that wouldn’t be enough time to take anything seriously, but my mind and heart works like that. It’s just the way I have always been, it’s when I do my best work really, not overly analyzing anything to death, not talking myself in and out of it.
I knew I wanted a cat, but not literally a cat, unless of course I ever get a Felix the Cat on me somewhere, which I will never really rule out. Just not a Garfield, as much as I love Garfield. The point is I have to give the credit for “Leo” to my friend Bri. I mean “cat” was always at the top of my list but I was weighing all of my options. It wasn’t until I heard it from someone else’s mouth that it really sealed the deal for me.
10:30 Friday night, on Speedway at the place everyone has recommended, Majestik and I am so glad that they did. That place rocks, and here’s why:
I get the coolest girl ever to do my tattoo and I was so comfortable and at ease, which are good things when someone comes out from the back room to show you the needle they are going to be using to permanently mark you. The place was chill, completely cool and made me remember my “bar days”. You know, I was that girl who would sit at the bar even alone, on a Tuesday night… seedy part of Manchester… I wish I had tattoos then, would have really added to my mystique. Neither here nor there. Oh and Ricky knew the tattoo artist from school, so there’s comfortable common ground. So we get settled and she tells me that she is going to go for it and ask me if I can handle it. Go… okay, you can go. Didn’t hurt really. I mean on a scale of no pain and pain it was pretty much on its own level, I won’t lie. But it didn’t hurt the way I thought it was going to hurt. I know now that it is most impossible to try and explain the feeling to someone, it’s one of those things in life, you have to experience it for yourself. Probably a lot like jumping out of airplane… you can’t explain that terror and euphoria to someone… for the record I’m sticking to tattoos.
Tra, la la… getting a tattoo… sitting here with Ricky watching, couple of other people who work there in the room, Tool is playing, life is good… man, I’m getting sweaty, can’t feel my legs, or my arms for that matter… starting to see those gray splotches that I did when I passed out in church when I was like nine, think I was wearing that pink jumpsuit with a white turtle neck with little hearts on it… learn to swim, learn to swim… shit! I’m gonna pass out!!!
Me- Ummm, I think we should stop for a second
Tattoo artist (Bryanna)- Okay. Are you okay?
Me- I think I’m gonna pass out…
Big Guy With Lots of Tattoos and Piercings- Here DRINK THIS NOW! LAY BACK!
Whoa!!! Holy hell that was intense! No other way to explain it. So the big guy gives me the world biggest Arizona sweetened tea and I drank it like I had just trekked across the desert wearing a winter coat. I even got cookies. Was I embarrassed, f*ck no. I would have been super embarrassed if I had face planted and eaten parkay floor. Hell, I probably would have broken my glasses and been a blubbering mess. Instead I was pretty calm and collected, I had my sh*t tight, I just played it off like “oops”. So Bryanna goes on to explain that what I just experienced was like giving blood on an empty stomach. But I ate… at like 5.
Ricky was quiet enough to bite his tongue. Earlier that day I had text Ricky and was boasting how much I was loving my frosted Lucky Charms because they’re magically delicious. Ummm, that text wasn’t at 5, it was at three thirty 5! Hahahahaha… I’m an ass. Not so magically delicious 8 hours later! (Of course he did remind me of this fact afterwards… lol! is all I can say!)<– so that’s why they ask you if you have eaten in the last 4 hours on the legal thingy that you sign before getting it done, and that’s why you don’t guesstimate.
The rest of the tattoo went without a hitch and was done in a flash. I was figuring that after that pain and after my near pass out experience the want to get another one wouldn’t have come up so quick, but I do! I want a ton, or at least I want another. I should really let this one heal first, I won’t have any sides left to sleep on! All in due time. But I do know this, Ricky and I are eating a steak dinner and a cake and sipping soda through pixie sticks before the next time… with pancakes and syrup on the side.
Those aren’t mistakes, those are freckles. This was taken right after I got home… after Ihop, of course. I’m in love with it!
Filed under: Dreams, Emotions, cats | Tags: cats, escape plan, lonely, love, Mike, sister
April 13th, 2008
I actually really like being alone and my escape plan pretty much involves just being alone, with a couple of cats living on a coast somewhere. There always seems to be a coast in my mind when I picture myself living alone. I don’t plan on leaving Mike for any reason, it’s just part of the backup plan. When my sister was here last even she spoke of the escape plan. I think girls, or women, think about it, think about how their lives would be different without their mates. My sister, I picture, as a world traveler, keeping a tiny apartment in New York City and only visiting it a few times a year. I would get her cats and she would visit me in the winter. I see myself in Tuscany. Of course, near water.
These are just fantasies, picture perfect in our minds, convincing ourselves that we would be okay single or widowed. It creates a safe shell of dreamy warmth that just keeps out the fear of loneliness, loss and abandonment. The escape plan always involves us being independently wealthy and never struggling over unpaid bills or funeral costs. That must be what that whole red hat society is about.
So I guess my issue with being alone is that I am okay with being alone. I miss Mike very much when he travels, he is in New Mexico for the next few days. I love him with all of my being but I can manage. Sure I ate a piece of carrot cake big enough for two for dinner instead of the grand left overs he slaved over all day yesterday making(shells stuffed with homemade meatballs with a lovely authentic and rustic sauce). And I sat and watched some ridiculous television instead of the great TV we have stored in the DVR. But I did pet the cats and I did think about the coast and I did miss him terribly.
February 9th, 2008
Sadie is okay! She sprained her leg and was prescribed medication for the pain. She was so good too! Even for the x-rays! I am so proud.
Mike gave her the first dose of medicine last night and I’m pretty sure she was tripping real bad. She just kind of sat there all glassy eyed and if I could hear her thoughts, she was probably just repeating, “Turtle… turtle… turtle…” over and over again.
But she will be just fine and I am so relieved. She’s on her 6th life* and I want this one to be her best one.
*How do I know this to be true? She told me.
Yeah, go ahead– I’m crazy.
February 8th, 2008
The illustrious Sadie, my perfect Persian, needs to go to the vet today for reasons unknown. Yesterday she started walking gingerly on her back leg. When we pick her up she makes this low grumbling noise and then meows with the bad voice. Reeee-oooowwwwwl. Like that. We cannot figure out what is wrong with her. I was home all day yesterday and there was no great kitty altercation; Leo left her alone most of the day. So we’re nervous parents and if this is any indication of how we would be as parents, well, I’ll let you decide:
Me: What if the vet can’t take her tomorrow before I have to be at work?
Mike: They will.
Me: What if they can’t? Can you leave work?
Mike: I’m booked all day solid! I’ve got shoots, I have to get those videos done… blah blah blah… I have really important things to do…
Me: Alright, I may have to call in late then.
Pretty decisive there, don’t you think? In his defense I understand that his job is more demanding than mine, oh that and I wouldn’t have a problem calling in late for the first feline love of my life. Yes, that’s right. I love my little Leo to death, but Sadie was our first and it isn’t that I love him less, just love him differently. I don’t have to attract his love, he jumps up on my lap the moment I sit down. He sleeps between my legs at night, he rubs up against my legs in the morning for treats and pets. Sadie is independent and less needy of our love. She doesn’t snuggle or sit up on the couch often. She sleeps next to the bed at night on the floor. She doesn’t purr very much and she certainly doesn’t like being held. It is all about her fur, she thinks it’s dirty if it is patted down or touched so she is constantly bathing to get it right again. She is dignified and proper, Leo is fun-loving and goofy.
So knowing that I have to actually take care of Sadie when she never needs anything from us makes me worry more about her. She is my baby and I love her very much.
You can visit her Catster page to learn more about her.
I will make an addendum to this entry to let you know how the trip to the vet goes. Wish us luck!
Filed under: holidays | Tags: beads, cats, Mike, National Treasure, New Years Eve, Nicholas Cage, Sam Adams, text message
January 1st, 2008
I’m so pleased with how my New Year was ushered in. It couldn’t have been more low-key, less stressful, more relaxing. It was the polar opposite of how my life has been lately. Mike and I were watching some Discovery Channel, Mythbusters to be exact, great show, while iTunes was downloading National Treasure, the first one. We plan on going to see the new one today. I don’t know what it is about mystery and history, but the two go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Nicholas Cage is even bearable in this movie, hair piece et al. I think the new hair they gave him in the latest installment might be a bit distracting though. I’ll let you know. Back to my New Year’s Eve… I did enjoy some Sam Adams (see, history night continues) and Mike sampled some unrecognizable brew from Holland or some other such foreign land. And I beaded in the living room, something I never do, fear of losing beads in the carpet and then inevitably finding their way into my cats mouths. But my Mom sent some random buckets of seemingly odd glass beads for Christmas and so I strung them together and found that they were all quite beautiful really. I love how something so odd or ugly or cast aside can become something so wonderful, that’s magic. What was so great about a particular bucket of glass beads was that the dust from the insides of all of the beads had just covered the beads until all of the colors just looked the same. It wasn’t until I took out each one, dusted them off, shined them up and inspected them, and of course sorted them, did I find that they were all little unique treasures. I ended up making three pieces, all necklaces because I just kept going.
So soothing, just creating something with no purpose in mind, no course of action, no goal other than finishing, stepping back and seeing what has come of beginning something without incident.
Today, a rare day off together with Mike, movies and dinner. I’m glad 2008 is here. Clean slate, resolutions, whatever you want to call it, I’m glad I’m here. I’m ready.
P.S.- I am compelled to share this hilarious text message I got from one of the kids at work. In it you can see the spirit of youth and why my New Year’s Eve was everything I wanted:
“Dude im already drunk!! I love you!!!!!!!!Your a homie!!! If anyone f*cks with you!! Let me know i will regulate”
The sentiment is beautiful if not in the words chosen. I am touched.
