07.31Two Tattoos Update
We got a chance to get our tattoos today while Dad and Lisa kept our girls. Like I posted earlyer, we went to the Hula Moon Tattoo Studio in Pensacola Florida. It took longer than we thought it would. First we had to pick out the lettering. I think the name of the lettering we got was California script. We didn’t have an artist preferance so I guess they just gave us to the first available artist. His name was James. He was great. He made us laugh the whole time which really eased our nerves and made us not think about it too much. I went first. It hurt like hell. Felt like a razor making small slashes over my wrist. Toward the end I grimaced and Shannon said she was having second thoughts. 
It only took about 10 minutes. When Shannon’s turn came up she stepped right up and did great. When James started shaving the little area where the tattoo would go, Shannon asked if she was that hairy. He told her she looked like a fucking sasquatch. Like I said, he had us laughing the whole time. I would say that it was one of the best and most memorable times that I have ever had and I’m glad I got to do it with Shannon.
07.30Two Tattoos
Me and Shannon are seriously considering getting tattoos tomorrow. I have searched online for tattoo shops in Gulf Shores Alabama but could not find one that I was completely comfortable with. I finally thought about looking in Pensacola Florida with is about 30 minutes down the road. I found the Hula Moon Tattoo Studio. I was really impressed with there galleries on there myspace page. http://www.myspace.com/hulamoon . We are thinking about getting each others names on our wrists. It may be a good spot to get the half sleeve that I want at a later date. If we do it, it will be tomorrow. In that case I will post pictures of them afterwards. I’m excited.
07.30Bruno
Me and Shannon saw Bruno yesterday. Wow…vulgar, offensive, crude, outrageous, and utterly hilarious. Not for the thin skinned…there is something there to offend and appall everyone. I enjoyed it. If you can make it through the first 5 minutes of the movie you should be ok. It starts with Bruno and his pigmy boyfriend having some very inventive gay sex…mostly blured out.
Me and the family are on vacation in Orange Beach. We are having a good time. We hot here Friday at around 3:30, got settled into the house and went to the beach for a little while. Shonnie (Shannon’s sister) got here on Saturday around dinner. More beach and swimming. Sunday we did some shopping and then the girls hit the pool again. Monday we spent 3 or 4 hours at the beach. Despite the sun block I burnt a little bit but not to bad I think. Dad and Lisa got here on Monday around 10:30 or 11:00. We grilled burgers last night…well sort of. The grill would not stay hot and I ended up cooking burgers on the stove. I enjoy vacation, but it is mainly for Shannon and the girls. I try to do whatever, whenever they want. I can’t seem to relax very much when we are on unfamiliar ground…especially the beach. I find myself doing a head count on the 5 girls every 30 seconds. Dad is supposed to keep the girls one night so me and Shannon can go do something. Not sure what we are going to do yet. Probably a dinner, movie, and maybe a bar or two. 4 more nights to go. No telling what kind of shenanigans we will get up to.
I have been listening to Grizzly Bear’s “Veckatimest”. What a great album. If you are sick of being stuck in a musical rut then you owe it to yourself to give Grizzly Bear’s newest release a try. Greatness.
05.20Iron & Wine
My favorite band is Iron & Wine. I am not sure if there are more members than Sam Beam but he is the man. He writes/sings/and sometimes plays all of his songs. Not sure what type of music it is…acoustic folksy…fucking great. I would have given’ my left leg to attend one of his shows on the 5 city tour to promote his new album “Around the Well”. Oh well. BUT, Iron & Wine makes there shows available online to purchase at a great price. The shows from this tour are only $5.95. I got 3 of them that have rare or unsung songs. I am in heaven. Do yourself a favor and check them/him out.
Official website: http://www.ironandwine.com/
Recorded Shows: http://www.playedlastnight.com/artists/artist/2/Iron_Wine
ps I pre-ordered the “Around the Well” album on vinyl and it will be in tomorrow. Can’t wait.
Saturday me, Rod, and Jared ran in the Lakeshore Baptist Church 5K. It went pretty good. I was 7:18 at my first mile and held that for a 22:36 finish. A new personal best. Very happy. As always though, it leaves me thinking that I should have dug deeper at the end to shave off a few more seconds. I do feel that if we can get a good flat race where the stars line up and its less humid, I can get a better time. I guess I will have to wait. The race did leave me spent though. The intended 9 mile on Sunday (the day after) turned into a 5.5 miler. Oh well. Rod wasn’t feeling his best and just ran with Jared who turned in a time of just under 27:00 for his first 5K. Later.
05.08My Favorite Quote
” Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies……..God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.”
–Kurt Vonnegut, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
05.02Race Judicata 5K
Holy shit! 5:30 is early. I only went to bed at 12:30 and now I have to get up for this race. I wonder if it is supposed to rain. No…damnit. I guess I do have to go. Ok, shoes…check, shorts, shirt…check. I need something to eat and some coffee. At lease coffee. I run best with coffee. Ok lets go. Sonic has coffie. I will have a bacon, egg, and cheese toster sandwich…I won’t be burping that for the whole race. Damnit, 2 miles down the road and I see they have given me sausage instead of bacon. Bastards. Well, I have to eat something. 2 hours till race so maybe I’ll be safe. Not many people at the race yet. Bathrooms are open…thank god. There’s Rod. Time to warm up on the track. Feels nice and cool out. 1 mile in and the humidity has me huffing and sweating like a mad man. Wanted to run at least a 23:00 in preparation for the Lake Shore Church 5k in two weeks. I want to beat my best time of 22:41 that I got there last year. With the humidity I may have to settle for a 24:00. Race time. Shit, Joe is not here. I was counting on him for my first mile or two pace. Oh well. I will set my own pace. Here we go. This pace seems ok…maybe a little fast. Guess I will know at the one mile marker. Shit, I am puffing only half a mile in. I think I can hold it though. Bloody hell! 6:45 at the one mile. Usually run it in 7:15. To damn fast. Ok hold it for as long as you can damnit. Damn, Jeff is passing me. Thats ok, I will just draft off of him for as long as I can. Its getting harder to get enough oxygen. Legs feel good though. There is the 2 mile marker. 14 something. Shit if I can hold a decent pace I have a chance of beating my personal best here. That would be cool. Damn my mouth is dry…where the fuck is the water stations. I think if I walk for 5 seconds I can hold a good pace for the last mile. Ok 5 seconds is up. Maintain the distance between me and Jeff. Ok, I can do this. Shit this is a long straight away….curve….another impossibly long straight away. What the fuck was I thinking. This is torture. Can see the finish line. Shit, I’m gonna make it. 22:37. I did it! Ok, breath…breath….breath….need something to drink before I start dryheaving. Rod rolls in in 24:08 looking strong. Wish Larry had came. Great run. 5 minutes later and I feel great. Can’t wait for the next race. 2 weeks. I think I can beat 22:37 there.
05.01My Strat Pickguard
I bought a TexMex Fender Stratocaster on eBay last year for $200. The only problem with it was the pickgaurd on the front was faded and the back cover/plate had holes drilled in it. I replaced the back cover/plate but was reluctant to shell out the dough for the pickguard. For Christmas my cousin Brad bought me a tortise shell pickguard for it. I wasn’t sure what it would look like but I finally got around to putting it on. I think it is awesome. The guitar went from an off the used guitar shelf look to brand new custom guitar look. Very happy.
Before and after. Later