Category: Tattoos

Aging, Animals, anxiety, Cooking/Baking, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Food, Friends, Gardening, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Writing

Suprises!

1972italy

Yesterday’s mail came with a lot of surprises! The lamp I had custom made several months ago arrived for starters. It was very much worth the wait! It replaced my old (from the 1980s) desk top lamp. I hated throwing it away. Many a late night was spent at that lamp! But it wouldn’t even turn on anymore. So I decided to support a local (she lives downstate) artist. She has been having medical problems so I wasn’t sure when I would get the lamp. It has a skull base and a white blood splattered shade. She even did a cool little ribbon on the top and bottom of the shade that says “HORROR”!

The second surprise that arrived was from Tito’s Handmade Vodka. A while ago I got myself what is essentially another travel mug for cold drinks. Tito’s did a spoof on all the seltzer drinks that have exploded out onto the market. You get the container and mix your own (they included recipes). The freshly made taste much better anyway. I thought it was cool so I got it (part of that money went to help animals in shelters… you can pick a charity that they will donate money from your purchase to). Well when you purchase something you can opt into a testers group and since I am the liquor manager I thought I should (ideas for work don’t ya know) I joined. I guess they send out little gifts just because. What I received was a very cool bottle stopper. They are celebrating 25 years this year so it was a commemorative stopper.

On a sad note, I found out that my tattoo artist is closing his shop. So that means that I have to find another place for my old fart and I. That tattoo is on his bucket list and I really want him to get it. So I guess I will be asking around for recommendations. I only hope that I can find someone willing to try on him since he is getting up there in age.

Things will be busy for me at work. I will be pulling down all my Halloween decorations today (my stuff at home stays up year round). I also will be doing my cigarette order and putting away one of my liquor orders. I think some friends will be stopping by at one point too. Tomorrow I have one of my reps stopping by with a new rep for our area to introduce us. And tomorrow is Chris’s birthday. I am making lasagna from scratch. I found a recipe I want to try. If it is good I will meld it with my own recipe and see what we get.

Looking at the clock I see that I need to wrap this up. I will share new photos. I have found various flowers blooming despite the cold. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Automotive, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Friends, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Medical, Nature, Photography, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Writing

Scary

1972italy

Stella is beside me in the dark, dreaming of chasing something. She is all bundled up in blankets because it is that cold. I just wanna stay home and sleep. It was a late close last night. Then as I was finishing up I happened to check my phone and my tattoo artist’s wife and youngest daughter had been in a serious car accident (I’m pretty sure I heard the sirens) last night and the shop is closed until further notice. So I need to make sure my buddy knows that we aren’t getting any ink this afternoon. He doesn’t do the whole social media thing so he would have no idea.

My brain wouldn’t let me sleep. If I didn’t wake myself up then my surroundings did. I can barely keep my eyes open. But I am out at 2pm with no plans. As cold as it is now 47F or 8C) it is supposed to get up to 85F (29C) as our high today.

I see by the clock that I need to get this wrapped up. Thank you for all the love and support.❤️ It means a lot. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Aging, anxiety, Creativity, dreams, Emotions, family, Friends, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Writing

Push….push…😳

1972italy

I think I am awake. I could be writing this in a dream…. I hate being up this early but if I don’t get up and get moving nothing gets done.

I did not adult or manage well yesterday. I pretty much let everyone stay up front and do what they wanted. Which was hang out, talk and spend too many quarters in the little machine to get dumb/fun little toys to share with each other. Things got gone and people worked but… I just don’t think I set the best example. The flip side of that is I know everyone had fun. I also have a small collection of goodies from everyone, lol.

Today and tomorrow. It doesn’t help that this week has been a bad one for me. I am just done adulting. I did talk to Dad yesterday though. We chit chatted and then made his grocery list. I would get frustrated because he would get lost looking in his computer for some thing. When he does that he goes silent and just is clicking away on this and that trying to find what he is looking for. After about 15 minutes irritation gives way to anger. He finally took the hint and moved on.

My “old fart” from work (a dear friend even before we worked together) is getting a tattoo! He is scheduled for September 15th. It will be an old school traditional eagle with a top hat. I am very excited for him! After work we met at the tattoo parlor and he set things up. I am going to try to remind him the closer we get to the date.

I see that I am running a tad behind. So quick quick I need to post this! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

anxiety, Automotive, Books, Creativity, dreams, Emotions, family, Food, Friends, Guitar, Learning, Life, Love, Music, Nature, Photography, Reading, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Travel, Writing

Enough Is Enough

1972italy

I find that I continue to take on more than I should so that people need me. In some situations, it is because I enjoy it (my article writing started out that way). Or to prove to everyone (including myself) that I can do all of it. But there comes a breaking point. Yesterday was that for me. By 9am I just couldn’t do it anymore. Between the brake issues with my car, two meetings on Monday (on the way to the first meeting is when the brake issue started) when Monday was my day off from my main job, the crazy day that was Sunday (being at work by 5:30am to do my liquor order, going home for a few hours after my shift then heading to the tattoo parlor to get my ink fixed), my first inventory where I have to count all my backstock myself for two departments by myself, my plans for teaching cooking classes at work this Fall, my birthday…. too much going on in my head and just as much going on outside of my head. Everything just shut down. My coworkers are awesome and they stepped up to the plate for me so I could go home early. I intended to get my groceries and leave but it turned out that the store owner was in his office as I was heading out. He asked if I was sick so I poured it all out to him. Instead of saying something negative he encouraged be to go home and get some much-needed rest. He also said that I probably was in need of a vacation. I mentioned that Chris wanted to take the week of Memeorial Day off and his response” “Let’s make it happen!” You know you work for a good company when that happens. So I came home with the Boss’s blessing and tried to relax.

I guess this is me trying to step back from things. I need to show someone else how to order cigarettes for when I am gone. As I type this I see the potential issues with doing that. I have to choose someone. There are two people I can choose. Either one would be good. However… the one not chosen will be angry and hurt. GAH! The easiest thing will be to just put it in the lap of my boss. I will give him my choices and let him make the decision. It might be cowardly, but I am close to both of them.

I am thinking of pulling out one of my three classes on dvd and doing that as a relaxation thing. I have creative writing, guitar and photography to choose from. At this point I think the photography is the only one I wouldn’t have to restart. Maybe the creative writing one would be ok. I don’t want to put more on my plate (thus doing the dvd verses going to an actual class class) but I want something that is out of my norm. Something I can focus on that I won’t just drift through because I know it.

I feel a stress headache moving in. It happens when I think too much about too much. So I will wrap this up and try to figure myself out some more. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Books, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, Reading, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Travel, Writing

Anyone Know What Time It Is?

1972italy

It is a little after 5am. I have been awake since 4am. Stella has come out here as well. She started in Chris’s office, moved to the hallway for a bit and now is hunkered in on the couch. I’m not sure why I am up this early. I decided to get up instead of trying to fake it and not wake anyone else.

Yesterday was a bit crazy. I have been so tired I’ve not known what day it is. I find myself setting alarms to remind me to do things. I’m pretty sure that it is Monday. Which means a meeting at 9am and another at 7pm. Sorry, 6:30pm. I forgot they changed the time on the Harbor Commission meetings. Work was a bit nuts. It was storming when I left. Stella tried to bolt through the door when I was trying to leave she was so scared. I felt guilty leaving her. It rained most of the day. Everyone was just so tired. So tired that I almost forgot my tattoo appointment. So I set an alarm to remind me. Sad, I know.

I am happy to say that I am over the moon about how the tattoo turned out! I will try to share a photo if I can (space constraints on my blog). I have to say by the time we were getting to the end I was in some serious pain. But it was worth it! I even tagged Kane Hodder in it! I hope he sees it! Both the artists were very fun to be with yesterday. I think I am still welcome. We’ll see. I know I should probably find someone else but…

I opened the sliding glass door when I got up to find a huge dragonfly hanging out right at eye level. I did get a photo of that to share. It is the first dragonfly this year. Normally we see quite a few. Same with hummingbirds. I’ve had maybe two this year. Last year we had several. I’m not sure why. Oh, and Monarch butterflies. I have a ton of milkweed and not a single Monarch. I am a bit hurt but there it is.

I am going to wrap this up for now. Otherwise I will go on and on. I may read on my Kindle. I won’t try writing until the sun comes up. My pens that have the light at the end are honestly too bright. Especially on white paper! And I’m not sure where they are. Beside the bed probably. Anyway (see how I go on?), I hope you have an amazing day! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

anxiety, Books, Creativity, dreams, Emotions, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, Reading, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Writing

A Quick Ramble

1972italy

My hope was to get to work early and go over my cigarette order. But I didn’t want to get up any earlier since I need to catch up on the sleep I lost the night before. I have a meeting tonight that I need to remember as well. I wrote some brief notes on what I needed to do today when I woke up. I think I got it all.

I have my time off request for next week’s schedule all written down. I still feel as though I am missing something. I’m glad I checked. I looked at the wrong week. I need to also point out my liquor delivery is rather large on Wednesday. Sorry, I’m thinking out loud.

I am really letting myself relax on my days off. But the flip side is I am more intent on the days I work. Which may or may not be a good thing. My mind will be going a million miles an hour trying to juggle everything I need to take care of.

I did more research and some writing on my novel. I am focusing on the Norwegian side of my main character’s family. I am pulling together the werewolf lore as well. I have the tattoo that they each get when they turn. Aaaaaand I am kinda thinking I might get it myself. I really do like it. If I were on better terms with my artist I might ask him to do it. But I am pretty sure I am persona non grata at the shop. Oh well.

I just glanced at the clock and it is much later than I thought. So I will wrap this up and share a few repeat photos. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

anxiety, Books, Creativity, dreams, Emotions, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, Reading, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Writing

A Quick Ramble

1972italy

My hope was to get to work early and go over my cigarette order. But I didn’t want to get up any earlier since I need to catch up on the sleep I lost the night before. I have a meeting tonight that I need to remember as well. I wrote some brief notes on what I needed to do today when I woke up. I think I got it all.

I have my time off request for next week’s schedule all written down. I still feel as though I am missing something. I’m glad I checked. I looked at the wrong week. I need to also point out my liquor delivery is rather large on Wednesday. Sorry, I’m thinking out loud.

I am really letting myself relax on my days off. But the flip side is I am more intent on the days I work. Which may or may not be a good thing. My mind will be going a million miles an hour trying to juggle everything I need to take care of.

I did more research and some writing on my novel. I am focusing on the Norwegian side of my main character’s family. I am pulling together the werewolf lore as well. I have the tattoo that they each get when they turn. Aaaaaand I am kinda thinking I might get it myself. I really do like it. If I were on better terms with my artist I might ask him to do it. But I am pretty sure I am persona non grata at the shop. Oh well.

I just glanced at the clock and it is much later than I thought. So I will wrap this up and share a few repeat photos. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, Exercise, family, Food, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Medical, Nature, Photography, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Travel, Writing

A Little Sun, But Not Too Much

1972italy

The morning has dawned cool and dark. Not a bad thing. Yesterday did not get outrageously hot. I don’t think today will either. Storms are supposed to roll through this afternoon. I can’t quite get rid of this cough. I feel bad because Chris is trying to sleep in the other room. Then there is the coughing in public. Everyone freaks out. The pollen factor on top of it all just sets the throat tickles off.

I didn’t do much of anything constructive yesterday. I’m not sure if that is good or bad. I got lucky and my meeting was Zoomed and pretty cut and dry. I was able to get that article written this morning in no time at all. I sat down to look at next week’s schedule for myself. I have a meeting next Thursday night and my tattoo fix (I hope) that Sunday. Then Monday I have two meetings. One in the morning and the other that night. I need to figure out what I am doing with my departments as well. I am adding new liquors where I can. I am trying to put together the newsletter for work as well. I hope to do the food parings/cooking with alcohol this Fall. I need a list of recipes and figure out my format. One of my liquor reps was very enthusiastic about the idea of cooking with liquor classes. Sooo…. But I need to find my rhythm with it all. I did make some progress on my course. I might do some before work. It will depend on how much time I have.

I am starting to think about my tattoo appointment. I am not sure what I will do if he cancels again. This will be the third appointment. I think he should be the one to fix it instead of me paying twice (him for the original piece and then someone else to get it fixed) but I am not going to keep doing the round and round with the appointments. This will be his last chance. I just want it fixed so I can be happy with it. I have spent all Summer with this embarrassment on my thigh.

Stella has come out of the bedroom. She has curled up at the end of the couch. It looks as though the clouds are trying to clear. I hope they don’t. Folks could use a break. Of course, I type that and the sun comes out, lol. I think I might take Stella for a walk. I’m not sure where. Here would be the most convenient. But the park is good for both of us. I need to get myself some tennis shoes to wear at one point. Flip flops aren’t the best but it’s what I have. I guess I will wrap this up and take her to the park. Everything is long and scratchy in the back 40 which means her belly and my legs get it. And she needs to get out more. I will try to snap a few photos right now to share. I’ve not been taking many lately. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Books, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Writing

Best Laid Plans and All That

1972italy

Well things have not gone as planned. When I got to the courthouse no less than three people read my paperwork and saw what I did. Today’s date. However, upon closer inspection, it was actually September 12th. Not July. (They did not spell out the date.) So I went home and did my thing until work. While doing my thing I got a message from my tattoo artist that we needed to reschedule my appointment. He was in pain from a rough few days. Me being me I said ok and that I hoped he felt better. But I am very angry as my new date is all the way in August! I am trying to tell myself that it is probably a legit thing. But in my heart of hearts I am thinking that it is a load of crap. He just does not want to give up the time to fix what he considers to be my mistake. (He said I ok’d it so I should be happy with the results.) So here I sit at home when I should be sitting at the tattoo parlour getting my ink fixed.

Stella and I stayed up way late last night binge watching Lizzo’s new show on Amazon. Watch Out For the Big Grrrls is a reality show involving Lizzo looking for new back up dancers. I really like it. Lizzo wants big girls like her as her back up dancers. She treats the women like queens as they go through and learn different dance routines and challenges. And at the end of the day there is nothing negative about this program. No one is humiliated, no yelling and screaming. Lizzo’s is trying to teach love and acceptance of who you are, no matter your size. I know it sounds cliche but it is true. I needed to hear a lot of what they were saying and there were several teary moments. I only have three more episodes to go.

So today I have my little to do list. Some things will get done before Chris leaves while others after (like mowing). I have bills that need to come out of this check as well. I was shocked when I saw my paycheck. In a good way. That means I can take care of two people for their birthday this week. I worked for a bit on my novel (the stupid “o” button does not want to work when pressed normally now- que eye roll) yesterday. I plan to do so today as well. I also hope to take Stella to the park for a walk. Walking in the yard is all well and good but things are getting overgrown back there so it is getting difficult to pick a clear path. Oh and I need a new pot for my lavender. I belong to a plant group on Facebook so when I shared my photos it was pointed out that the plants prefer sandy soil. I will need to go out to Moose’s grave and mix some sand in with his and since mine is a wee bit too big for the pot I will go get a larger pot for it and mix some sandy soil in when I repot it. I only hope that it doesn’t stress out too much with another repotting.

I guess I should get myself going. Thanks for reading and stay safe (the photos this morning are repeats, I’ll try to take more today)!

anxiety, Cooking/Baking, Creativity, dreams, Emotions, family, Food, Friends, Gardening, Learning, Life, Nature, Photography, retail, Tattoos, Thinking, Travel, Writing

Too Much?

1972italy

It is a sleepy sort of morning. I actually slept the whole night through, for which I am grateful. Yesterday was a bit chaotic at work. All the products being delivered in the back and no room for. I spent pretty much my whole morning scrambling to get my beer cave (a big walk-in cooler that customers can go in to see further selections of my stock) filled back up (there has been no upkeep since the previous manager left… well very little) and I had no idea where anything was. Add to that the usual things a shift manager is required to do (breaks, returns and any issues that might crop up) and I was beyond ready to leave at 1pm.

I did manage to get the front of my coolers restocked and I had help to get some of the inside restocked, but the inside was a mess. And not from customers. When some of the distributors came in, they just put their product wherever never mind what the stickers say. I asked one of the carry outs if she would do what she could to fill the rest of the inside for me. When I got home and relatively calmed down, I sent a message to my manager asking how I was supposed to do all this and be a shift manager. Did he want me to come in earlier or stay later? Because it wasn’t going to be able to be done in the time frame of a normal shift for me. Not this time of year. I have no response as of yet. I also called up the paper and asked if there was anyone that could cover my meeting that night. I inadvertently demonstrated my exhaustion by calling the paper’s owner by my editor’s name. I mean I was embarrassed enough backing out on what was supposed to be my first article back after taking the month of June off but then to make that faux pas?

I have today off, and I am supposed to have a writing date with a friend. We were supposed to meet in Kalkaska, but I don’t know if I really want to go anywhere. I feel bad because I am forever making excuses not to leave the house on my days off. There is so much of the world I am missing because I am just too tired to go anywhere and do anything. Monday I will be all over and exhausted. I have a morning meeting, after that I will drive to Traverse to get some paperwork from my bank, then go to Mom’s and help her with some stuff and a meeting that night. Tuesday morning I need to be at the courthouse by 9:15am. Then Wednesday morning is when I go to get my tattoo fixed. I feel my panic rising even thinking about it. Add all the new challenges at work and my brain starts to shut down.

Maybe I’ll just stay home today. I think I have all the ingredients to make a quiche. We can cook it in the smoker. Chris said he would be happy to hide out in the mancave while we do our writing. It is a cooler day so we can sit outside (there are several spots to choose from) to write if we want. I just need a break from the outside world for a bit.

Ok, I have gone on long enough. I need to wrap this up. Thanks for listening. Stay safe!