Earth Hour – Daylight Savings Time 8:00 p.m. TOO EARLY in Ontario

It’s a real shame that 8:00 pm was Earth Hour here in Ontario and not 9:00 pm. It would have been wonderful to show many people and cities that there is a universe of beautiful, wonderful stars and galaxies to be seen.

At 8 o’clock it was still so very light out and the sky was blue. At 8:30 I was starting to wonder if the sky would indeed darken before the lights came back on at 9. It was about 8:50 when the sky began to get dark. Not astronomy-loving kind of dark but dark to most people.

However, from this experience, will people cut back and make practical changes to help reduce their individual impact on climate change? Will the idea be remembered year-round?

Hopefully, this is not just another good-cause idea that will fizzle out over time!!.

What Happens in Tattoo Recovery and Care

Part 7 of 7 ~ tattoo education
as I partook in this experience in the Fall of 2000.

Dedicated to the whole truth - my experience ~ from the beginning of the idea to the end of the first week of recovery.

The Next Day - Sunday, November 5, 2000
I had a few bad dreams last night waking up and thinking about the pain I went through to get my tattoo - {feeling like a sharp knife was SLOWLY being dragged across my back and over the open wounds Again and Again}. It is very difficult for me to even think about it and to re-live the experience to type it here. The thought of it has brought tears to my eyes a few times over the course of last night and today. I hope to file it away soon in the back of my brain - never to remember its intense memory again. I am pretty darn tender {that was polite too!} from all the bruising. The bruising feels very deep. There is quite a black bruised area around the entire design that even runs down onto my bum. Every time I moved, walked, sit and stand it feels as though my skin is being ripped apart. I'm afraid to move too much for fear of tearing some of the scabs and crusty bits. These scabs and crusty bits and the bruising will heal during the next few days I know. I am taking it easy tomorrow though just so I don't move around too much putting extra strain on my skin-tight scabbed back.

I love my tattoo. It is beautiful. My dragon is now a part of me - forever. I am very pleased with the way it turned out and I am glad I did it {and got through it!!} but I don't think I'll be able to go through the process again. Nor do I think I want to – for now anyway!

Update:

My Daily Recovery during the First Week {I was inked Saturday}
Monday, November 6, 2000 - My tattooed skin was starting to crack - the entire design was covered in high scabby dry lumps. There were still raised up lumps of coloured skin all over the design. The bruising was not as dark or quite as sore. It was still difficult to bend over from the waist as it felt as though I was stretching scabbed skin too far. It was easier to wear no clothing over the tattoo for it would rub over the tender skin making it feel like an open wound. The tattoo was still very swollen and lumpy - I iced it a couple of times to help take some of the swelling down {eg: the red scratched skin under the outlines}
Tuesday, November 7, 2000 - still tender, bruising not as bad, dry, coloured skin starting to flake off. It still felt as though I was tearing the dry scabs off if I bend over too far in any direction.
Wednesday, November 8, 2000 - very flaky, most of the scabs have been rubbed off from clothing. The tattoo feels much flatter now - a part of me rather than feeling swollen and embossed. Today it felt like sunburn and a very bad rash. It was very itchy. It was much easier to move around. The non-scabby parts now look like they are covered with very fine dry, smooth, soft lines.
Thursday, November 9, 2000 - very, very, very, itchy!!!-I'm dancing here! I started to moisturize the area being careful to only touch the soft, smooth areas - not the raised up scabby bits - there are not many left. The tattoo is tender to touch.
Friday, November 10, 2000 - The tattoo is feeling much better - not as tender although there are a couple of places that feel like the bruising is deeper and there are only three small scabs left. I moisturized the whole design three times today - with a big sigh of relief each time.
Saturday, November 11, 2000 - I still have itchy times - about five or six today - each time I would apply a very little bit of moisturizer. There are no swollen or raised up areas. After a shower, the design looks like it has shriveled up and be very dry to the touch until it was moisturized. If I touch it too hard or bump it the bruising still feels very deep in a couple of places. The colours are very brilliant and beautiful.

Care of a Tattoo:

The First Night: the bandage is kept on overnight
The Next Morning: with clean hands, the bandage is removed. The tattoo is washed with pure, unscented soap {ie: Ivory}. It is gentle lathered with the hands until the layer left by the bandage is gone. Rinsed and patted with a clean towel, this process is done every 2-3 hours only until the tattoo is not weeping anymore {mine did not seem to weep at all - not obviously anyway}
The Next 4-5 Days: the tattoo is washed lightly once a day in the daily shower. It is to be kept dry at all times other than that one wash and it is not to be soaked in a tub, etc. No sun or chlorine water exposure.
After 5 Days: the tattoo can be very lightly moisturized - 2 to 3 times daily. Never saturate or soak the tattoo during this healing stage. Less moisturizer is More! at this point. Any excess can be wiped off with a paper towel. The recommended brand is Lubriderm Unscented hand cream. Never: pick or scratch at a healing tattoo.
For 6 weeks: avoid sunlight, tanning beds, creams, chlorine pools & hot tubs, etc. Eat well and consider supplementing your diet with Vitamin C and E and Zinc to help aid the healing process.
Future Care - Always: use clean hands when touching the tattoo and use clean shirts, sheets, etc. Provide a thin protective layer of Vaseline over a tattoo when swimming or soaking in a chlorinated tub. Beware that the chlorine and uv lighting such as tanning beds and direct sunlight can fade the colours of a tattoo.

In Canada, one is not allowed to give blood within a year of getting a tattoo.

Surviving the pain of getting a tattoo

Part 6 of 7 ~ tattoo education
as I partook in this experience in the Fall of 2000.

Dedicated to the whole truth - my experience ~ from the beginning of the idea to the end of the first week of recovery.

A couple of things to consider:
1} My friend, who has had many tattoos, says she finds getting through a tattoo much more tolerable when she is alone. If anyone is with her during the experience she seems to have more pain. But this is not something I wanted to consider for my first time.
2} What did help me was holding a picture I had drawn of my tattoo - I concentrated on the fact that I really wanted it and I could hold what I was getting. {The picture did not survive the procedure!. It was rather torn up by the end of two hours and had fallen on the floor}
3} It also helped me to know that I had spent a LONG time deciding I wanted this tattoo and that no matter what I was feeling I knew deep down that I was doing the right thing for me and I didn’t have to worry that maybe I shouldn't be getting it.
4} If you do get to have someone with you {or maybe you can comfort yourself this way}, it helped me to caress or have caressed my arms and head and hands. I found it very soothing to have these areas gently petted {like you would a cat}. I often assumed the position of hugging myself - with my arms crossed in front of me - this felt good as well as comfortable. Having others with me I was lucky enough to have one person stand in front of me and I hugged them around their waist while the other person held my hand. Hugs and Hands work well to comfort me.
5} My husband and our friend knew I wanted them to tell me what was happening at all times - which they did - what part of the tattoo he was outlining, what colours my tattooist was working with and describing the colour shade by comparing it with something in the room so I could visualize it. This gave my mind something to think about. My tattooist was great and also talked to me quite a lot about what parts of the tattoo he was working on. Ask yours to do this for you.
6} If someone is with you and you want more comfort - have them talk to you or read from a book aloud to you. I found the human voice very soothing! The tattoo artist may also be willing to chat at times with you - to comfort you and help make you feel comfortable.
7} Prepare mentally for your appointment - I was so run-down, tired, and rushed that day and the day before I didn't get to mentally prepare or think about what I was doing or what I had planned to do. If I had spent time preparing and relaxing I might not have been so nervous and I might have had a more enjoyable experience. Maybe have a long hot shower or bath beforehand or do something really relaxing!!
8} Never forget that it is not too late to back out of it - even with the stencil drawn on you - only when you first get inked will it start to look a little funny if you decide to stop.
9} If a women schedules her tattoo appointment for a time just after her period ends she may feel like she has a little more strength - maybe depending on the individual.

Getting my tattoo was worth it!!! I love it. I'm very glad I did it. What got me through the experience was the pure truth in the fact that I was altering my body and if I chickened out after the outline was started or before the colouring was done I would simply look ugly and stupid - I HAD to finish!! - - and because I KNEW this was me and I wanted it so badly.

I'm not saying it will hurt you as much as it hurt me but let us be honest if someone is jabbing you millions of times with a combination of needles it is going to hurt! {Maybe in the old'n days that is why they use to get drunk to get one?} I also think being inked on a boney area is likely going to hurt more than on a fleshy area {but of course I only have one and can't compare this yet! for myself - oh boy, material for another webpage!?! **Smiles}

So why do people tell us "It doesn't hurt."
My three theories:
1} Maybe because they love tattoos so much and since the reality of the pain disappears over time it doesn't seem like such a big deal to them.
2} I saw a show once that interviewed people who had tattoos - some guys said that the pain was the best part for them. My tattooist also remarked that some people he has tattooed thrive on the pain.
3} I remember when I was younger and I asked people if getting their ears pierced hurt. The answer was no. Well, sure it hurt even if it was just for a short time and when they were done the pain stopped {same as a tattoo}. I asked my good friend afterwards why she told me getting her ears pierced didn't hurt and she said because if she had told me the truth - I would never have done it!

But getting a tattoo does hurt. Even my husband who has a high pain tolerance was squeezing my hand pretty hard and his was quivering at times - his face certainly bore the look of pain!

Being Inked

Part 5 of 7 ~ tattoo education
as I partook in this experience in the Fall of 2000.

Dedicated to the whole truth - my experience ~ from the beginning of the idea to the end of the first week of recovery.

Being Inked {more appropriately titled: Virgin Screams} - Saturday, November 4, 2000
Unfortunately, I had not thought much more about getting my tattoo since I last discussed the design idea with Scott approximately two weeks ago. If I had gotten my inking done closer to the planning stage I think I would have been more mentally prepared for the procedure. I had already figured out that I wanted this dragon tattoo - so I knew I was safe that way. I knew it was something I definitely did not want to back out of. I was not having second thoughts.

But, last night I had the jitters. I wanted the dragon but didn't really want to "go through the procedure." I guess I had my vibes about it - and I was right {stay tuned}. At least I was prepared with a couple of bottles of my favourite red French wine waiting for me back home.

This morning I was mentally slow - very slow getting going. Maybe I was trying to delay? I also felt as thought I was coming down with something - and didn't feel a 100/per. I was about 20 minutes late leaving for my appointment. I just wanted to get the day over with I thought - I wasn't feeling very good. I was more excited about my husband getting his tat today than for me. I thought about the music I wanted to play there to relax my mind - nothing was coming to me - nothing was clicking. I almost fell asleep in the car on the way over.

We arrived. I felt so bad for being late for the appointment. Then I felt really nervous and excited at the same time. I felt more nervous as the minutes ticked away and I watched Scott prepare.

He showed me the design changes. They were great - I was happy with what he had done on paper. Scott made a stencil of the design and we positioned it on my lower back just right where I wanted it. I was to go first, my husband second.

By this time our tattooed lady friend had arrived to help me through the operation. I was glad to have the extra moral support - I now had two people to squeeze to death!!

Scott started and made a quick outline with the machine to let me know what to prepare for. He asked and I said it seemed bearable. But the next line and every line to come seemed MUCH deeper! Since my lower back was extremely sensitive and thin{?} - and my pain tolerance low - the inking procedure was extremely painful. Funny it was more painful on the right side of my back than on the left side and near the spine the pain was excruciating {now that was polite!!}. It seemed to me that Scott alternated inking on the left and then the right side of my back- I was glad for this as it gave me a little bit of a break - from severe pain to difficult-to-deal-with pain. {I'm not sure if he did this deliberately or not but I was glad for it}. I felt as though sometimes Scott was actually bumping into bone - especially near the spine and lower right side of my back. {Scott did mention that he had heard every word in the book...but I did my best to remind him of some of them.}

It took 3/4 of an hour just to outline the design on me in black ink. I just about died. I didn't know if I really wanted this beast coloured now or not but I know I would never be happy if it wasn't - I would just have to do it. Once started - I couldn't back out, no matter what, because if I did my body would "not look right" and I would be miserable with it. I also knew how difficult it would be for me to come back and finish knowing the pain I was going to have to endure so I decided it would be best to just carry on. I was swimming in sweat - it was dripping down my forehead and it was running down my legs. {mixed with tears flowing down my cheeks} My neck and shoulders hurt from tensing up so tightly. I was only half way done. I wanted to squeeze my supporters even harder than I was but sweat prevented me from doing so {maybe it was a good thing for them}.

A great relief came periodically during the entire procedure. It was when Scott wiped down my back with cold disinfectant soap. Compared to the burning hot skin it was a wonderful feeling! A couple of times I remember asking - is it time for a "cold one?"

Scott and my friend assured me that the colouring stage felt different. It was a gentler feeling compared to the outlining procedure. Just the same - I was already totally exhausted and not interested in proceeding too much longer.

The colouring stage was different in some ways, yes - much more vibrating! But it still felt extremely painful. Where were my endorphins?!?!?! Scott was very sensitive to my pain. He would talk me through what parts he was colouring, he would tell me what colour he was doing next and ask me what I thought of his artist's decisions when creating the coloured areas I had not been sure what to do with. He always checked with me first to make sure I approved. He even counted the lines aloud when it was painful so I would know exactly how long each part would take. Thank you - this was a great idea!

Sometime during the colouring of my tattoo I needed another mental passageway out. The music {on loud and demented} was starting to lose the touch. I was unable to focus on my breathing. I felt as though I was starting to have a panic attack. All I could think of was the soothing sound of the human voice. I asked, demanded or begged {I don't remember which} for my husband to talk to me - to recite a story - non-stop. As he did this I was finally able to float - I felt as though I was not "mentally in my body" to experience the pain. I listened to his voice constantly but never heard what he said. I started tapping to the music and quietly chanted in my head what I needed to hear myself say. Unfortunately, this peaceful calm was not to last as long as I wanted. I couldn't get it to come back either. It was still rather a painful time but I was at least experiencing this calming feeling for a short time and it gave me some mental relief. I can't say now that I remember which cds were playing during my inking time or what, if any, conversations went on while I was being inked. I was too focused on getting through my pain.

After Scott coloured the claws and teeth of my dragon. I asked how many colours were left to do. He said I was all done - I remember feeling like I was going to pass out just from pure joy.

I had literally survived another hour!!

I could not stop the tears from flowing now. I HAD DONE IT. I looked in the mirror and admired the beautiful dragon. He was now mine. I hugged my husband tightly for quite a while. I WAS DONE. I was so happy. I was crying for joy and it took a while to stop!

We had a breather and admired the dragon.

Next came the thick application of Vaseline and the bandages which were taped onto my skin. This process was to keep the air out, to help the tattoo heal from underneath and to help seal it to stop the oozing overnight. After a while my bandage felt completely soaked from the Vaseline as it melted against my hot skin.

Thank you to my husband and to our friend for I think I inflicted some of my pain onto them. {they mentioned something about squeeze marks!!}. They were great for talking me through the entire procedure as well. I know this was difficult to do, to sit through and boring as well.

Thank you Scott for being sensitive to my pain and patient with me.

My husband's experience was next after an hour's break. But that is another story…

Tattoo Designing and Colours

Part 4 of 7 ~ tattoo education
as I partook in this experience in the Fall of 2000.

Dedicated to the whole truth - my experience ~ from the beginning of the idea to the end of the first week of recovery.

My Design - October 9, 2000
I picked up my design on the Friday. I took my first look at the dragon drawing Scott had designed for me and I immediately said "this is me". I loved it. He did a beautiful job! I wanted to be sure everything with the design was right so that is why I stared at it over the Thanksgiving weekend as long as I could between long hours of work and resting a swollen foot. With a couple of small minor alterations and figuring out colour combinations, I can not wait to have this protective-looking beast a part of my body. I'm happy with the dragon and excited about getting this tattoo work underway. Unfortunately, it will take a few weeks yet to find time in my schedule to meet with Scott before being inked.

Altering the Design and Discussing Colour - October 14, 2000
I met with Scott again this morning, this time to discuss a few minor changes to the dragon design and to figure out colour ideas. I was so excited I could hardly wait to get there. Scott was patient with me as I showed him my efforts at figuring out colours I liked with my design.

I had page after page of a dragon coloured all sorts of ways. This may have sounded and looked corny but I decided it was important enough for me to go through the process. I didn't want to end up with a red dragon and later regretting not looking at the possibility of a green one.

Before the appointment, I had also cut out the design of the dragon in different sizes and taped them to my back figuring out what size I liked the best and exactly where it was that I really wanted this beast to sit on me. I wanted a design that would, for size, compliment my back and fit proportionately rather than looking too large.

I felt it best to follow though with every different idea that came to mind - size, colour, etc. I knew that this process would also tell me whether or not I really wanted this dragon on my body forever.

Conclusion: yes, I feel extremely comfortable not only with the idea of the tattoo but also with my dragon design, the size I have chosen, the colours I have chosen and the areas of the design that I have decided to leave ‘free’ for the artist to choose colours at his own discression and to detail up at his own discression. I hope Scott will have fun with it.

I came home very pleased and happy. Scott will work with my dragon one last time before my tattoo appointment.

There is only one last thing left for me to do - gather a couple of cds to take to the tattoo appointment and get me a squeeze toy stuffed animal (my husband's hands may get rather sore if I squeeze them to death for two hours straight).

P.S. - my husband also left his own tattoo design with Scott. He may even be tattooed the same day I will be!

Watching a Tattoo Being Created on the Skin

Part 3 of 7 ~ tattoo education
as I partook in this experience in the Fall of 2000.

Dedicated to the whole truth - my experience ~ from the beginning of the idea to the end of the first week of recovery.

Watching a Tattoo Being Created on the Skin - September 20, 2000
I had so many butterflies this morning...like I was the one preparing to be inked. I showed up at the tattooist's shop this afternoon to watch our lady friend being tattooed (her 16th one!). It was a cover-up over a "bad" tattoo design she had done on her leg many years ago. Scott, the tattooist, was outlining a complicated rose design freehand on her leg with marker when I arrived. The machine was wrapped up in plastic bags and the sterilizing process of the equipment was explained to me. The machine's tubes hold needles which vary from a combination of 2 needles up to 9 needles {maybe more but that is all we talked about today}. Two - three needle combinations are used to outline the tattoo and to produce fine lines ~ up to the nine-needle combination is used for colouring in larger areas.

Scott worked with gloved hands creating and smiling. It was a great opportunity for me to see if I had any hesitations about Scott or his work. I didn't. The outlining procedure {which was done in black ink} and these fine needles apparently hurt more than the other thicker needles which fill in larger areas. The patient had brought in her favourite cd to play to distract her mind and her good-luck soft beanie dog {who had a "taped" on tattoo on his back} which I noticed she squeezed quite hard once the procedure began. Once Scott was done with the freehand design on the skin the machine started up. Scott started work on the outline by drawing on short sections of lines at a time - not one long line. He never looked as though he was pushing into the skin. At one point I remember commenting about the fact that he looked like he was just floating the needle above her skin hardly touching her. He wiped her leg often with a paper towel to remove the extra ink and marker lines when a small area was tattooed. Each black outline had a slightly raised up, swollen red look to it underneath the skin - just like you would get from a scratch. There was very little blood even during the colouring phase. Periodically her leg was sprayed with a disinfectant and the area wiped off totally so the design could be seen clearly unfolding as the tattooist created. I think it took approximately 1/2 hour just to tattoo the outline. After taking a fifteen minute break, after the outlining was tattooed on, she commented that it would take her another ten minutes or so to relax once Scott started inking again. I have heard that it takes a few minutes for the body to send out endorphins. The stopping and starting of the buzzing machine did not upset me like I thought it might {but it might if I'm the one feeling the needles!}.

It was an interesting process to watch during which I had over an hour and a half of time to kill familiarizing myself with the procedure, the tattooist, the room and the atmosphere. The tattoo would take much longer to finish but due to time I couldn't stay any longer. I know for certain that watching today has eased my mind about the procedure and my general feelings toward the whole event. I was also glad I got to see the different stages involved in getting a tattoo from stenciling to outlining to filling in colour as I will not get to see mine unfold if it is done on my back. I would strongly recommend watching the inking process up close if you have any hesitations or questions before proceeding with your first "nerve-racking" tattoo. It was really neat to watch. I would recommend the experience of watching a tattoo inked on the skin even if you never want or never get a tattoo. (It definitely looks different up close than on t.v.)

I left my own tattoo design and ideas with Scott, with a deposit. I will now have to wait a couple of weeks {No!} to see what he has done with my design and we'll take it from there. I left the shop quite excited feeling and hoped that he would call me sooner!

Questions for the Tattooist

Part 2 of 7 ~ tattoo education
as I partook in this experience in the Fall of 2000.

Dedicated to the whole truth - my experience ~ from the beginning of the idea to the end of the first week of recovery.

August 2nd, 2000 - After deciding on a design I met with a tattooist to ask some basic questions. I really did not know much about price or pain or style or colours or how much the artist puts into a design idea that the client brings in.

I made an appointment and my husband and I met with the tattooist, saw his studio and some of his work up on the wall. He showed us the equipment and explained that all needles are new and are opened in front of the client to see that this is the case. I was comfortable speaking to him even if his looks were not "typical" of a small town businessman. He was covered in tattoos and wore a few piercings. Ok, so he advertises his work. I was comfortable - that was the first thing I was wondering about.

Q: Which area of the body would be the best for a beginner to get tattooed re: pain?
A: Each area of the body {chest to legs - fatty to boney} will feel different when pricked with a needle - "oh, yeah right. Isn't pain ‘PAIN’?" - was my first reaction. It would be best for you to get the tattoo you want where you want - you may not be happy settling with something different. The tattooist and his wife both have had numerous amounts of tattoos. They both told me differences in their pain experiences when comparing tattoos on the same areas of their body. Also everyone’s pain tolerance levels are completely different. So, in other words, they couldn't answer my question. I would have to find out for myself. I'll keep you posted...

One more thing to consider: certain areas of the body compliment differently shaped tattoos better than others. ie: symmetrical tattoos look better on the lower back due to balance ie: an off-to-the-side shoulder tattoo is better for designs that are heavier on one side than the other.

Q: Can he perform Japanese style tattooing by hand vs. modern western style with machine?
A: Yes! - I was happy to hear this. I had seen the Japanese style performed and had seen the results - they are so beautifully soft - they look like velvet compared to the modern machine technique. There are a few differences in technique to consider: he prefers to perform the outline with the machine as it provides a solid border that would not show the colour bleeding as much. The inside of the tattoo can then be coloured by hand technique. The hand technique can be at least as twice as long to perform but the machine is loud and bothers some people when constantly turned off and on but it is faster. I have had experience with machine sounds fluctuating and it does bother me. I love the look of the hand technique - but would be best done on a small tat for timing.

Q: How small can a tattoo be - considering bleeding of lines and how it reacts to aging?
A: Lines that must be close together are better further apart to start with as bleeding of the colour does happen forever. Tats with a large amount of detail must be big or else over time they will eventually look too fuzzy and loose detail - possibly blending into one big mush.

Q: What about the price of a four inch tattoo or an arm band to give us a rough idea? And how long does it take to get one?
A: It would take approximately two hours depending on the detail involved for that kind of size and the price {from designing to the in-the-chair work} is approximately $200.00 for the package. Now this is a real rough estimate considering we only have an idea for a design so far.

Q: What colours can you get in a tattoo and what colours look good on the skin?
A: This man had every colour imaginable throughout his own body tattoos. It is a personal preference as to what colours goes good with ones skin. Skin tones vary. Any colour shade can be mixed and made up to use in a tattoo!

Q: How is the design created?
A: If I take in a black & white sketch or picture of what I want to start with the tattooist will then sketch up, in detail, a design that we can "work" with as anything I find will likely be modified to suit my tastes anyway. It is best to give guidelines as to what you want and what your likes and dislikes are allowing the artist to create freely yet within your tastes. It is, after all, custom art work you are searching and paying for. After he has done this, an appointment is set up to discuss and possibly modify the design. When you are happy and the final design is agreed upon your tattoo appointment is arranged.

Q: When is the best time to get a tattoo?
A: He recommended fall because during the first few weeks you can not expose your tattoo to the sun. In the fall people are generally done with sitting out in the sun and going to the beach. Chlorine is another big factor - the tattoo must be covered with a thin layer of Vaseline when swimming in chlorinated water. For long term care: the sun and chlorine fade tattoos: either protect them or have them fade.

Q: Can touch ups or cover-overs be done?
A: Touch ups to a tattoo - outline or colour can be done at any time in the future. You can also cover over a tattoo with another design if necessary.

We went home with new ideas to consider. I would have to prepare a design on paper as I was working from a broach. I would have to decide on the size, where I would have it done on the body, colours I was interested in as well as likes and dislikes in the creativity. The whole idea was not so scary now that I understood more about the business.

It also helped ease my mind to have an acquaintance recommend this particular tattooist. After being tattooed by several different tattooists before, she particularly liked this man's work and said that he was a very gentle artist compared to some. And with her having had many different experiences - this was great to know. When I asked her about the pain - she replied that some areas on the body hurt more than others - just depends.

I'm happy with the design idea I have chosen. I want to think about the size a bit before taking the art ideas to the artist. I'd like for the tattooist to recommend what to do with it {re: size}. I do not want a large tattoo but I want one that will look good with some detail and one that will compliment the small of the back or even off center a bit. I have imagined that a dragon would look best on the lower back area. I also want to consider how it might change or look in the future. This is also a factor in deciding the size and detail of the design.

Our lady friend will be having yet another {!} tattoo inked on her body next week. {September 2000} She has agreed to let me watch the "operation" so I can get a closer look at the procedure. I am excited and look forward to the appointment. I wonder what else I will learn that day about tattoos.

Thinking about Getting My First Tattoo

Follow me through the experience as my tattoo develops from an idea - into a design - inked on my body.

Part 1 of 7 parts ~ tattoo education
as I partook in this experience in the Fall of 2000.

FIRST-TIMER QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED in these 7 chapters ~ Dedicated to the whole truth - my experience ~ from the beginning of the idea to the end of the first week of recovery.

No one I asked beforehand ever told me about the swelling or the bruising or how the healing process works, etc. so I hope my webpage will bring some knowledge to the new people. I believe the more knowledge you have about a subject the better off you are. You may be more mentally prepared to be inked than I ever was because you will have someone's first experience to read about.

Thinking about Getting My First Tattoo

I had often thought about getting a tattoo over the past few years. Not a big, bold, ugly tattoo but something classy and elegant. I love body art and have no problem with the idea of exhibiting it. I bet it has something to do with growing older, a taste of youth, that mid-life crisis stage. I have attended Ink Shows and watched people from all walks of life show off their body art work. I have over the last few years played around with henna and the "fake" tattoos and the more I wore one the more I wanted to show them off. My first feelings on the subject were: I'd get one but keep it to myself. The more I played the more I thought: "I would not have a problem "showing off" a tattoo either. I loved the idea."

Tattoos are serious business. It is, after all, with you for life. The tattoo I get will have to hold some special meaning for me. Not a rose either as most females get. As much as I like to be classy I do have a touch of the wild side to me. Now how am I going to fit all this into one tattoo?!!

During the last couple of years my tattoo design ideas have grown. I seem to be hooked and I haven't even gotten ONE yet. I love the idea and images and the attitude of dragons. Dragons can be classy, elegant, bold, wild, strong, demented, cute, powerful, and sad and scared all rolled into one. A dragon's idea and attitude and representation can change with my personality senses of the day. I'd like to get a small bonsai tree (to represent my love of plants and trees and to celebrate my trip to Japan). I think an arm band would be great - especially those dainty, thin, classy ones. I'd like one on my shoulder and my ankle. I'd never have the guts - but I LOVE the Japanese idea of getting "one" body tattoo which tells a story. They are often seen covering the entire back. My husband is not opposed to the idea of getting a tattoo but would be careful as to where he placed it. He has agreed to share a tattoo with me - that we design together - representing our life together - if we ever get it finished! He doesn't have one yet either but he's hooked - he has already had a consultation with the tattooist re: a different design for his arm.

Over the past few months, I decided on a dragon. Not just any old dragon but one that is resting on thistle branches and flowers. It has a taste of that Scottish background that is so much a part of me. I had collected many dragon pics over time but found a dragon design I fell in love with on a broach, although the design will have alternated a bit. “He” will be for me only - not in a great place to show off.

I was asked to think of getting a tattoo from this point of view: IF I only ever get ONE tattoo - what would it be, what size would it be and where would I put it - from here I decided which design would be the first and most important. We don't want any: - "I should have gotten..." thoughts and decide afterwards that I can't go through the experience another time.

Recognize the Ego in Others

See ego in other people (role playing ie: becoming the positions they play in life for recognition, or by controlling situations or by complaining) – and recognize it is not them – it is the mental illness. Recognize it and therefore your action that follows in the NOW may change others (to become awakened to their true awareness of self).

Partial quote from Eckhart Tolle’s webcast March 17, 2008 in speaking about A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose – more on pg 107

Suffocate, ~ Written by Me

Heavy pounding blood-vessels
Swollen fluid-filled brain
Objects wobbling
Air is thin
Sanity I must retain

Reality beyond the hand of touch
Racket roars-crack dawn
Overcast haze
Silence screaming
Abandoned and withdrawn

Swirling, turning guts misplaced
Temperature drops-low
Have I reached
Hell on Earth?
Submerged in weeping sorrow

Sharp stinging nerves they stab
Collapse truth out-there
Mystical soul
Strong escape
Death by black nightmare

WRITTEN by ME, March 24, 2008

Art of Blogging for the Beginner

As a first time blogger I’m learning the Art of Blogging! through research and experience. There are a lot of tips and tricks and much to read on how to blog.

Here are blog links that I’ve found helpful and interesting as I tried to set up my first blog and wondered where to start, how to make the page, what to write, blog language and how to write it..

Free Blog Service: facebook, yahoo, bravenet, blogger – just to name a few
{I’ve used them all..each has different free options available – its personal preference}

General blog tips:
Skinny Moose Media
41 Blog Success Tips
How to Get More Bookmarks
Laws of Blogging
Writing Headlines
Blogging Mistakes

Managing Subscriptions:
{updates ppl receive to blogs they like to read often}
FeedBlitz
Copyblogger
Google What are Feeds etc.
Increasing traffic to your blog:
Blogrolling

Directory
Blogs Canada - {blogging resource site and directory of Canadian blogs}

Sunshine ~ warm, bright, serene

I’m not much of a birder but there is something to waking up early in the morn’ and hearing birds singing a variety of tunes and seeing the sun shining! Feels like it takes 20 lbs off the body! especially if you haven’t heard or seen such events over a long period of winter months.

You become invincible, powerful and so positive. Feeling the warm light of the sun as both the light and the warmth penetrates the body, lifts up the spirit. You can even smell the warm earth. You no longer have any worries…so long as the weather co-operates!

The Subconscious Cage, ~ Written by Me

hammer
beat the beat
scratching
blue
floating high
deep
light
living dead
beat the beat
core
fresh
torn rags
ochre
AGH
bubble air
inside out
numb
raw smell

WRITTEN by ME, March 12, 2008

The Smell of Mud

Imagine: you wake up to birds chirping in high pitches to one another and singing their colourful songs. The sun is shining blindingly so lemon yellow. Your mind is light, empty, free, peaceful with no agenda. You delight yourself by skipping out onto the pavement and jumping for joy. It’s a warm spring morning. The green of nature is predominant to the eye. The puddles of melting snow line the sides of the gray paved road. Stopping dead in your tracks…the odour of fresh, wet, thick dirty mud fills your nostrils and hits the back of your brain. You are in love! The smell of mud tells you warmer weather is on the way, your friends will be out to play, there is not a care in the world you need to worry about today and the beauties of nature are starting to be born in the garden…You want nothing more in life than to stay outside all day touching the earth! ~ Memories of Childhood

Welcome to Electrical Charges of Gray Matter Musing

This blog's purpose is to provide you ~ bloggers, readers, visitors ~ with some comical, maybe even inspirational entertainment from the electrical charges inside this human's gray matter.

Journal expressions are glimmers of a one-sided nature. More to the point, this journal is a guardianship of “Ramblings of My Mind” - one thought leading to another not necessarily logical or in any order or in pure sentence form ~ just how I think. Contact and Home Page: http://cedar-oaks-studio.com/

To embark and partake in this subconscious growth... Welcome ~ comment and share your own experiences as well as take a journey through mine.