Jim Skamarakas

My better half got the bill yesterday for the tombstone she purchased for her grandparents. This is part of the proceeds from the sale of the previous gaming website. Another big chunk of it went for her Irish Wolfhound puppy.

The 2nd thing was the additional of our last child to the family tattoo on my left upper arm. After many trips to try and catch the original tatoo guy, Mark Longnecker,  we went to the place 200 yards from our house. He had a clean shop, worked by himself, has been in business for years. But his decor was very dark inside. Lots of hothic, a few masks and such. Not a few bright and cheery place. But to give him credit, he suggested a great idea. Instead of another ladder rung, close up the tattoo with some flair or flourish for the last childs name. We did not have him do the work that night because we stopped in to check his hours and see if he would do the work. He offered to do it on the spot, but we didn’t want it rushed, and this was a change of concept for us. We just wanted to think it over.

 A larger shop down the road from us a mile advertises, has a website and a myspace. Their waiting room is clean, just artwork and photo albums and some leather couches on plain walls.  They did a piercing for us, and we found out these people new Mark as soon as we mentioned his name. Seems he had worked there and one of the guys talked about going to work at the shop in Ft. Lauderdale. Karma, random dumb luck or whatever, we had our shop.

We went through a few artists, showing them the work, letting them suggest something. They all agreed no ladder, finish it up with a closoure to the piece. The first was too busy, the second wanted to add rays of sun or other items to the claddah at the top. By the tattoo agreement of 2000, this would require my wife to have her tatoo redone also. When we had it done, she agreed to get the same thing as me with my name on it. In heated moments I will ask her who owns her and where is her brand. She is generally not amused at the joke.

The third guy we were told to see because he does a lot of celtic work. After a few missteps, we finally met up with him yesterday. He saw the current tatoo, had some ideas Anna liked, and we booked an appointment to come back after dinner. When we came back he was already sitting at the counter drawing ideas. Another 20 minutes or so, and Anna ahd a design she agreed to. Some final fingers on teeth, thinking out loud, and asking the other guys what they thought, and she said go ahead.

Now we go back into tattoo care mode. Suprisingly, what we did before, bactriban in little tubes every day, several times a day, is no longer recommended, just a general moisterizure. Even checking on the web, several guides to caring for a new tattoo say clean it, no Bactriban, and lots of moisturizer. Times change. Glad we asked before we left the shop. Oh and no tanning booth for a bit. My sweet base tan will have to wait a bit
I will like a picture as soon as Anna takes it.

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