It's the holidays, filled with hectic shoppers and long lines. So in an effort to remember what the season is supposed to be about we are collecting for the Forbes House. Swing by the shop, drop off a present for the needy, we'll give you coffee mug, in the spirit of the season.
Click HERE for all the info.

It's the holidays, filled with hectic shoppers and long lines. So in an effort to remember what the season is supposed to be about we are collecting for the Forbes House. Swing by the shop, drop off a present for the needy, we'll give you coffee mug, in the spirit of the season.
Click HERE for all the info.

So two themes that constantly come up in my thinking are money and time. Two things that really control a majority of our actions. Two things that only REALY exist in their present form because we agree upon them.

Because we agree that subtracting arbitrary numbers (money) from our bank account is worth talking over a phone (time) the system works. Unlike other systems that we take for granted (sewer, electric, gas) money and time work because we agree upon them.

So in the interest of 'time' I'll do most of my 'blogging' here:
Gen X

So book mark it, check it, leave some comment once in awhile.

I did it, made it through the weekend. Sent my daughter (and son) off to her (their) first formal. It's very different watching your daughter grow up compared to watching your son. I think I'm going to have an emotional time.
I 'ran' my first 'ultra' on Sunday. In the world of running a marathon is 26.2 miles, any race longer then that is considered an ultra. I ran a double marathon, in just over 10 hours. It was emotional.
In tattoo news, Meeting of the Marked See you there!

Less then a week until my 'race'. At least it's called a race, I'm not sure how much I'll actually be 'racing' anyone but my own mind on Sunday. The creatures have homecoming Saturday. Busy weekend, life moments, the kind of stuff I'll remember years from now. A bit weird thinking about it in terms of the future.
I'll keep you posted as to how it pans out, creating future memories and all. For now I leave you with the front side of a half sleeve I've been working on. It's a memorial to her Grampy. The stories she told me involving him have been the kinda stories she'll remember years from now, every time she looks at her arm.

Well I got to tattoo one of my favorite ladies last night. My wife finally got her nerd. She wanted him orange, my favorite color is orange. What is she trying to say about me?
Watch this, it'll make you smile.


Giving hope to humanity...

So we all know, or at least should know that Nov 4th is right around the corner. Which means elections. My lil sis recently asked about my views. To sum it up I've pretty much gone with the half empty "My vote doesn't REALLY matter" philosophy. But that half full bit eeks in and says change starts with one man believing yadda-Ghandi-yadda-Mandella-yadda-King-yadda. So perhaps I should do my civic duty and vote.

Well if you're going to do it, then do it right. I hope we all know you can't just listen to mainstream media, his horse crap. So you have to do your research, on your own. YES! I know, now we're making things inconvenient. Very Un-American of me. So in an attempt to pump up the patriot factory I'm giving you an idea & a link:

Go to your states website. Usually it's your states name.gov. Ohioians we are:

http://ohio.gov

Follow the links and get a copy of the ballet you will get, for your state, county, and district. LITERALLY it took me 5 minutes to find and print a sample ballet that I will get on the 4th.
Look it over, read in black and white who and what you can vote on. The separate issues/proposals should be spelled out. Read them over, look up the words you don't understand (I had a few) and mull it over between now and then. As far as the candidates go...

http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm

Look up your candidates. The site is a wealth of factual info concerning each candidate. No it doesn't have EVERYONE, but I was lucky and found all the ones I need to deal with. The site is fairly easy to navigate, the info is there.

Now, make YOUR OWN OPINION. Quit listening to the media, your friends, everyone. And decide for YOURSELF. Because that's what the whole system is supposed to be for. So that we each can cast our own opinion. God help us...

Well I would like to leave you with a 'new' new tattoo. But most of what I've been working on lately are larger, multi sitting pieces. So I figured I would highlight the "Heartbreaker" tattoo I did a month or so ago. Guy went through a break-up and needed something to commemorate the moment. We've all been there...

Well, I look outside and suddenly summer has passed and fall is here which means winter looms in the not so distant future. Life as per norm is hectic. Many projects at work, home, and personal. But I constantly create more. I recently learned that EVERY emotion we feel has a corresponding chemical reaction in our brains, releasing peptides (I believe that's what they're called). These peptides then are 'grabbed' by various cells in our bodies creating that 'feeling'. Well over time our cells adapt/evolve to more readily accept the peptides that we release more often. They evolve to a point where they start to crave them, even become addicted to them. Which means that we all become addicted to certain ways of thought, feeling, & emotion. I think I'm addicted to the feeling of having projects to finish. I think I need to learn to enjoy the trip, and not think so much about the destination.

As some may or may not know, Jen and I celebrated our marriage with family & friends over the weekend. I think good times where had by all, at least I hope. On the tattoo side of life, me ma became a member of the tribe. The lady that freaked when I got my 1st sleeve, and balked at me becoming an artist. Yes that same fantastic women got her 1st tattoo. Some simple daisy's on her wrist. Dad calls her TL, Tattooed Lady now. What can we call him when he finally gets one?