An expensive week

I actually made a little money by being laid off because I got a job that'll start a month from that date but also got six weeks of severance and a little UI. But before I knew how well all that was going to go, I canceled a tattoo appointment to save the money. And felt terrible doing that to the artist but she was very understanding. Everything fell into place a few days later, though. I had an offer, and she announced she'd be spending a day tattooing in Everett again, so I wouldn't even have to drive down to Seattle to see her. Perfection.

The reason I wanted to see Madi specifically is that she has done a few really great Tom of Finland style tattoos recently. But you know me, I wouldn't just get a regular pinup guy, there's gotta be a twist. I spent a few weeks wondering what that twist should be. What's a masculine image that misses the mark just a bit? Something a little off? Out of the blue, it hit me one day.



If you don't recognize this image, I feel bad for you and jealous at the same time. This is Sean Connery as Zed in Zardoz, a notorious sci-fi movie from 1974. I don't like guns, though, so I messaged a friend on tumblr to ask if she had any ideas for something to replace it. She had two! Either an old-fashioned brick of a cell phone, or a rubber chicken that would stand in for a penis. The latter represents a flipping of the theme of the movie: the penis is evil, the gun is good. She definitely understood the assignment, and gave him a rubber chicken to choke. So I asked Madi for Sean Connery in Zardoz in the Tom of Finland style, with a rubber chicken instead of a gun.

Jimmy who owns the shop is off this week, but stopped by to see Madi and give her some flowers, and got this shot of her working on me.



It was kind of funny how my black boxer briefs and black tank top looked like an old-timey swimsuit since I'm much more of a speedo person.

I went to the shop not knowing yet where the tattoo would be or how big, and told her she could have the ribs area on the right side of my torso or anywhere she wanted on my left thigh. I'm kind of glad she chose the thigh because it didn't need to be huge and that leaves a lot of space for something big in the other spot later on. When I told Garrett about this tattoo he said I should get it on my butt, but that would have actually been too small. I have a terribly small butt. Anyway, it turned out great.



You can see all my tattoos here

...

Former LJ user and current friend and Chew Crew collaborator Mellzah recently launched her line of luxury pet goods! I'm not sure if there are more products coming, but right now Mythic Familiar sells leather pet waste bag dispensers. There are five designs featuring five dogs she loves in real life, or she'll paint your pet onto any of them. I was more than happy to celebrate the new job by ordering one because I hate the sound of the plastic dispenser clacking against the handle of Tuvix's extending leash. I was very impressed with the packaging and how the packing slip is folded shut and sealed with a wax stamp of the company logo. It even came with custom-printed waste bags covered in dog drawings and the same logo!



The portrait of Tuvix is super cute.



Our leash doesn't have anywhere for the luxurious metal clip to attach, so I ordered something else the leash needs, which is a long metal attachment that lets you slide a knotted waste bag into it so it dangles from the handle and you don't have to carry it in your hand the rest of the way home or to a garbage can. I'm constantly finding pet waste bags at walking spots and wish every dog owner had one of these things. It'll take a few days for the new hardware to get here, but that's fine. So far Tuvix has never pooped or peed during a walk, so we haven't even needed the original plastic dispenser. Except when we take him with us to Garrett's mom's place. He's more than happy to poop in her yard. We also got baby gates that we keep there which contain him to the kitchen and den. Maybe one day he can be friends with her cat, but definitely not while he's still a puppy.

Another expense I'm very much looking forward to is Tuvix's first visit to the groomer. They're not allowed to go until they've had all their shots, and we couldn't get his final one until a few weeks after we got him. When he was current, we called to make the appointment and learned it'd be well over a month before the first open appointment. I swear, it feels like time is going slowly and even backward when I think about the groomer. If we had any idea how popular this place is, we would have called sooner. Of course he's cute with all his fluffy puppy fur, but I'm really looking forward to his dapper coiff.

An expensive week

I actually made a little money by being laid off because I got a job that'll start a month from that date but also got six weeks of severance and a little UI. But before I knew how well all that was going to go, I canceled a tattoo appointment to save the money. And felt terrible doing that to the artist but she was very understanding. Everything fell into place a few days later, though. I had an offer, and she announced she'd be spending a day tattooing in Everett again, so I wouldn't even have to drive down to Seattle to see her. Perfection.

The reason I wanted to see Madi specifically is that she has done a few really great Tom of Finland style tattoos recently. But you know me, I wouldn't just get a regular pinup guy, there's gotta be a twist. I spent a few weeks wondering what that twist should be. What's a masculine image that misses the mark just a bit? Something a little off? Out of the blue, it hit me one day.



If you don't recognize this image, I feel bad for you and jealous at the same time. This is Sean Connery as Zed in Zardoz, a notorious sci-fi movie from 1974. I don't like guns, though, so I messaged a friend on tumblr to ask if she had any ideas for something to replace it. She had two! Either an old-fashioned brick of a cell phone, or a rubber chicken that would stand in for a penis. The latter represents a flipping of the theme of the movie: the penis is evil, the gun is good. She definitely understood the assignment, and gave him a rubber chicken to choke. So I asked Madi for Sean Connery in Zardoz in the Tom of Finland style, with a rubber chicken instead of a gun.

Jimmy who owns the shop is off this week, but stopped by to see Madi and give her some flowers, and got this shot of her working on me.



It was kind of funny how my black boxer briefs and black tank top looked like an old-timey swimsuit since I'm much more of a speedo person.

I went to the shop not knowing yet where the tattoo would be or how big, and told her she could have the ribs area on the right side of my torso or anywhere she wanted on my left thigh. I'm kind of glad she chose the thigh because it didn't need to be huge and that leaves a lot of space for something big in the other spot later on. When I told Garrett about this tattoo he said I should get it on my butt, but that would have actually been too small. I have a terribly small butt. Anyway, it turned out great.



You can see all my tattoos here

...

Former LJ user and current friend and Chew Crew collaborator Mellzah recently launched her line of luxury pet goods! I'm not sure if there are more products coming, but right now Mythic Familiar sells leather pet waste bag dispensers. There are five designs featuring five dogs she loves in real life, or she'll paint your pet onto any of them. I was more than happy to celebrate the new job by ordering one because I hate the sound of the plastic dispenser clacking against the handle of Tuvix's extending leash. I was very impressed with the packaging and how the packing slip is folded shut and sealed with a wax stamp of the company logo. It even came with custom-printed waste bags covered in dog drawings and the same logo!



The portrait of Tuvix is super cute.



Our leash doesn't have anywhere for the luxurious metal clip to attach, so I ordered something else the leash needs, which is a long metal attachment that lets you slide a knotted waste bag into it so it dangles from the handle and you don't have to carry it in your hand the rest of the way home or to a garbage can. I'm constantly finding pet waste bags at walking spots and wish every dog owner had one of these things. It'll take a few days for the new hardware to get here, but that's fine. So far Tuvix has never pooped or peed during a walk, so we haven't even needed the original plastic dispenser. Except when we take him with us to Garrett's mom's place. He's more than happy to poop in her yard. We also got baby gates that we keep there which contain him to the kitchen and den. Maybe one day he can be friends with her cat, but definitely not while he's still a puppy.

Another expense I'm very much looking forward to is Tuvix's first visit to the groomer. They're not allowed to go until they've had all their shots, and we couldn't get his final one until a few weeks after we got him. When he was current, we called to make the appointment and learned it'd be well over a month before the first open appointment. I swear, it feels like time is going slowly and even backward when I think about the groomer. If we had any idea how popular this place is, we would have called sooner. Of course he's cute with all his fluffy puppy fur, but I'm really looking forward to his dapper coiff.