Ink The New Pink

Image via WikipediaIn the past years tattoo art has come from a cultural chapter in the growing of people in tribes to the rebellious youth in motorcycle gangs to the idealistic tramp in the bar that is begging for an excuse to say "yeah you know exactly where to blow"

Tantalizing isn't it/

In any case the tattoo community has blossomed into an adaptable medium in our now colorful world. Every day some 30-something year old mother drives her skimpily dressed daughter to get matching dolphins because they wish they could live so freely. (Joke) Others go for their first piece of of glorious art that will evolve overnight like the black ooze symbiote that once overtook Peter Parker as he became the Black Spider. I can't possibly be the only one who still gets hard after the very thought can I?

Back to my point;

The art means something to everyone else. Whether its getting a tribal arm band ironically, getting your first-borns' feet print or creating a sleeve for those loved and lost, it is carried with them through out there lives. It helps us cope or keep positive, always comforting or motivating to see the outrageous reaches of our personality and mental imagery splashed together brought to you in part by steel ink and electromagnetism.

I've seen, as the tattoo community reaches near Jersey Shore annoyance with shows like New York Ink, how each story is told. It is probably the most I take away from these programs, as if someone would not tell a friend had they just hired a band of hooligans that their shop might as well be shut down before they open because someone will come up drunk or god forbid put an alpha-female and incredible gay male together to clean up shop.... What a quest for ratings, but I digress.


The point is that the best thing, if not the only, to take away from these shows are the people there. Aside from misconduct and extreme lack of professionalism on camera, there are beautiful stories being shared. These tattoos become less asinine once the camera pans out on a master piece that truly tells a story of loss, misfortune, or just begging for courage.


After an epiphany had during my trip home I realized that I was sick of the shit I had been doing in life. I remember back in high school when my skin was yearning for the steady perforation of a 30 mag needle, I had spent all my time designing and talking about opening up a shop.


I look forward ten years and have accomplished nothing of the sort. So came to me my next step. I decided that the days at my current shit hole occupation were numbered and I needed to do something better, bigger, something I actually gave a shit about.


In comes Tattoos. I am going to finally live my dream and help everyone I can to achieve closure in life or just tell their story. Who knows... I could be the next big thing to come up.




Wish me luck.

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When turtles grow old...

Image by Stuck in Customs via FlickrWhat is the recipe for finding one's self? Is it experience, drive and ambition? Or is it some trivial means to discover an identity worth claiming?

It may be the music we listen to sparingly that takes us back to a driveway, street sign or neighborhood. Something that you remember screaming at the top of your lungs all the while thinking this may be the best night you've ever had. Maybe it can even stretch as far as the love we've made and the times we've fucked like there's no tomorrow.

Somewhere lost in the selfishness that envelops us we tend to think of the material possessions we've had once acquired and now take for granted just like everyone else.

Don't worry, I wont be revisiting those old rants and I certainly wont be taking the Tyler Durden route. I think about the phone's and computers I've had and how once these electronics made me happier than shit to be able to be a "functioning member" of society and being able to do oh so much, now they sit dusted and unused in some drawer. All those can't-wait-to-have-it items become neglected as they are replaced by shinier and lighter items.

Over time this behavior becomes part of our identity where we no longer notice these things. We see it every day when some million dollar Viagra patron ends up trading an old, gray soul-mate for a bouncy new play-mate.

Where does it end. When can we control it?

Better yet when is it possible to never have to worry about it again? The chain reaction of life lives constant every day. We make repeat mistakes and dial old numbers. Sending text messages that promise what seems like forever yet swear of a few hours. Highs and lows, the adrenaline becomes another addiction in hopes of finding something more.

When do we move on?

Is it running away if there's nothing left to do, nothing left or achieve or fix?

What do we do to fix things?

What do we do when we don't have the option?

It seem that no matter what the questions is someone always comes out on top despite popular belief. Complacency settles and we get stuck.

This trial and error sequence we call life may be one of those unsolvable math equations they talked about in Good Will Hunting. Even in that movie there is no real idea to how that story ends.

So where do we go? How can we keep moving forward? The best I can even come close to fathoming is that Hope, or as what some may call God, is what keep those winds at our proverbial sails. Take the lessons at hand and slowly drift from insanity of repeat offenses.



In any case, I'll keep running into walls until they give out.

Mental Vacationing

So a week has come and gone as the fastest in my life; funny how this exclusively happens on vacations. However, I did manage to get a lot done. I saw the people that I wanted to for the most part, there are a few souls I didn’t get to see and I just hope I can see them the next time around. I’m actually shooting for an October return to have an autumn experience for once. As much as I love San Diego’s beautiful weather there are a few natural occurrences that I have built a bit of fondness for.

This week was a big one for me. I got to see my best friends, my baby sister graduate, my cousin who I haven’t seen in forever, I even made peace with my mother after years of angst and confusion I just let it go. Who knows how much longer she has with us or myself for that matter so I decided that I would make my time count.

I also learned a few lessons in life and love. I finally got closure to a relationship that had haunted me for years and am confident that my life will be much easier to enjoy.

After all some doors need to be closed so others can be opened, right? I know it sounds corny as shit but I hated being one of those people I couldn’t stand listening to about their lover’s quarrels not giving the least bit of shit but now I can put that to rest.

As always it is never enough time spent with those you care about and for that reason alone we should all take a second to reflect on the way we live our lives. Some may be in that section of their lives where it is nothing but partying and drinking all night long and that may be working out for you. Others may have the fortune of being able to have their play as hard as their work and reach equilibrium, and THAT’S awesome. For other’s sorta living on the cusp, it may be time to re-evaluate.

Call that person you haven’t spoken to in a while, or don’t. The decision is that easy. However the real work, which nobody likes to do and I have certainly procrastinated on my end, is coping with the decisions made. Some people choose not to speak to that certain someone and continue to let it eat away at who they are. Avoiding isn’t dealing. In fact it’s borderline destructive behavior. I realized how much time I have wasted being angry at shit that was beyond my control, or trying to fix things that were beyond repair.

Sometimes the broken needs to be fixed by another. When things end they do so for a reason. That cliché that tells us to let shit be and if it comes back yada yada. There’s much more truth there than I had previously given credit for and now I see why.

Now I’m sure that most people you know will be fine with living that revolving door of a life that will just constantly play back again with the same outcome over and over, and they will continue to ask why and beg for advice they will never take. But you have an opportunity to be that spark to the eventual lighting in the right direction.

Over all I had a blast in Boston, I really don’t want to leave but I have these damn responsibilities that need tending to. I’ll be back soon, maybe one day for good, maybe just for another visit. Either way I hope to learn something new.

Good Night