Odds, Ends & My Hula Girl Tattoo

So last weeked at Hard Rock Park, I got a hula-girl tattoo on my left bicep. (Is it still a bicep if there isn't actually a muscle in there?). This was a pivotal moment in SD history, seeing as how I don't even like pen ink on my skin (or, for that matter, watches or jewelry, especially, it seems, wedding bands).

But there was something in the air up there, so I slapped the money on the counter and some hipster inked me up. Sure, this art was only meant to last a week. And the Forever Fiancee mocked it as soon as I got home. But I've grown rather fond of my grass-skirted gal. She even has a coconut bra. She's kinda ghosty now, with only a day or two left, but I'm gonna miss her.

Maybe I should get a real tattoo? Any suggestions?

Anyway...I'm still on a minor siesta, taking off yesterday and today, trying to regain energy, sanity. But I thought I'd check in, remind you not to forget Mother's Day, for any and all mamas in your life.

If you missed it, I recently spent time with MY NEW BEST FRIEND ROBIN ZANDER FROM CHEAP TRICK. That's right, RZ is my boy, my bro. He's working on a cool Beatles project (with original Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick), so I wrote a big fat feature on it. You can read that HERE.

Is there anything else to report? Oh, if you're an American Idol fan, Syesha Mercado, a Top 3 finalist from just down the road in Sarasota, is in town tonight to warble the national anthem at the Rays-Angels game at Tropicana Field. HERE'S THAT report from our pop-culture desk. (I'll be at the game Monday. Not singing, just drinking. Stop by 113 to say hi.)

Okay, that's that. Hula Girl and I are driving off together, maybe to the beach for a final fling...

Comments

[Marissa]

Hey, at least the temp tat was on your arm and not in the 'tramp stamp' location. Now THAT would have been classic. Especially after the numerous Red Bulls.

[Sean Daly]

Actually my buddy Patrick from Maxim mag got the tramp stamp. Hilarious. A skull with butterfly wings. The thing is, we were sober when we did this. (Well, relatively.)

[Marissa]

Oh man! That's a spooky concept. Nothing purtier than a tramp stamp right above a hairy man-crack. Unless, of course, that man is porpoise like.
I apologize in advance for anyone who might lose their recently consumed meal as a result of this visual.

[sparky]

Why don't you get a wedding band tatted on the ole ringfinger?

[Sean Daly]

Wow, Sparky, good post, terrifying, like a taser to my naughty bits.

In fact, I actually blurted "Oh fuuudddddggge."

Except I didn't say "fudge."

I have issues, don't I?

[Jeremy]

I'm actually thinking of getting a tattoo as well. I think there's really only two ways to go: really cool or intentionally stupid. I think the tats that people think are cool usually wind up being unintentionally stupid whereas the stupid ones wind up being pretty cool. I'm considering getting Mr. T on my bicep (the cartoon Mr. T -- from that cartoon where he was a bus driver for the gymnastic team). What do you think?

[Sean Daly]

I totally approve of any and all Mr. T skin art. Animated Mr. T makes way more sense. Trying to recapture the nuances and inner-rage of B.A. Baracus would no doubt result in an epidermal travesty.

Jeremy, if you do get the T-tat, please send a Polaroid so you can share your triumph with everyone here at Pop Life.

[sparky]

Sorry to give the ol' sucker punch but it is Mother's Day Sunday so that one was a gift for the FF.

[Guy]

The only people who can successfully pull off tattoos are rock stars, bikers and inmates.

If you don't fall into one of the aforementioned categories, do us a favor -- save yourself some $ and embarrassment (especially if you are considering a tattoed calf/ankle/foot).

[NickWithAnAxe]

I worked with a guy who actually has a Mr. T tattoo. It's on his back...and it's...wait for it...a picture of Mr. T eating a hot dog. I wish I could make something like that up. It's a true pice of art. T with his mouth agape, ready to bite into a nice, juicy frank. He says the ladies love it. Who am I to argue?

[Dude]

Along with some other basic uncomplicated principles, one of my basic rules of dating is never date a girl with more tatoos than I have. How many tatoos do I have? None.

[bigmac]

On one episode of LA Ink a guy got a tattoo of a chunk of cheese. He had other tattoos of food items too. Strange one. My son brought some Spiderman "temporary" tattoos home from school, and darn if my kids don't still have the Webslinger on their arms three weeks later.

[Marissa]

When I divorced in '99 I considered a tat. I thought of it as a right of passage. My head first jump into uncharted waters. I am so happy that I opted against it. The biggest question was where would I put it?
Finding out the small of the back was considered a 'bullseye' or 'tramp stamp' helped push me toward the decision to leave my fair skin untouched by ink.

[Bassnote]

Sean, this has nothing to do with your post. I was in Walgreens getting some household things, and as I was checking out I hear the dulcet tones of Lou Gramm coming over the sound system. Ah, 'Midnight Blue', Sean's deflowering song.

[Marissa]

Bassnote, whenever I hear that song NOW I feel a little dirty and turn away for no apparent reason.

[chase]

It's a subject near and dear.

And I'm no hipster.

Here's a link to my latest experience, last summer, ...

http://dirtyrunningthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/08/denver-ink.html

And here's the best advice I've ever gotten:

a) make sure it means something to you, get something custom drawn, if you want a hula girl, have a competent artist draw the ff's face on there.

b) go large, or go home. Biggest mistake you can make (aside from getting drunk and having "Robert" tattooed on you) is going too small. You want a tattoo, or not? Bigger allows detail, color Be bold, Be meaty, Be Frank. (But not Robert)

c) black and white portrait art can be astounding, but get someone good. Look at their portfolios. Atomic Tattoo in Tampa has some good artists, be be satisfied with their work. You might consider having a couple portaits of your young'uns on you ... they aren't likely to go out of fashion with you.

d) Say, what about Funyons. Just sayin'

c