A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words…

I've wanted a tattoo seriously for the last two years. Nothing outrageous. Just a small guardian angel on my right shoulder as an homage to my own guardian angel who's run herself ragged saving my sorry ass countless times over the years. But here's my dilemma. I want Kat Von D to do it and haven't been able to make the connection. Either Kat or Kim (from seasons 1 & 2). Until then I'll have to live through you, so my suggestion is — what else — a slice of Cotswold!

Now that would be a perfect tattoo. A slice of Cotswold and a lovely bottle of Beckman Grenache.

Hmmm… I don't really know what to suggest – I don't have any tats, except for a couple of “dots”: one is on my left butt cheek (graphite), the other on my right forearm (India ink), both of which were NOT my idea. So, you could become a member of the “Dot Club”? Or, if you are a HUGE Habs fan, a hockey stick on the inside (or outside) of your ankle. The location may dictate the tat that might be appropriate.

Hey, we heard about the earthquake up there – hope you guys didn't have any damage (or did you even feel it?).

Thanks, but I've got enough people on my back as it is! And really, nobody wants to see my stomach.

Anway, this is a SERIOUS shout out for ideas! Come back when you have something other than the image of your drunken mug…

I thinking getting a tattoo now should be fun, I want another one but they are so expensive. You can look online and find TONS of ideas. You can get pictures of people, cheese or even a tattoo of ab muscles. I googled tattoos and hit images and was stuck browsing for hours.

See, that's the problem! I've looked online, but I spend hours and hours and there are so many really interesting, cool tattoos that I end up not being able to choose! If you come across anything you think is awesome, let me know!

Shouldn't that be saving your sorry size 4 ass?

You are soooo evil…

Nicky, the tats you have are gorgeous. I adore them and you for having them! I think the spiritual brie could be placed on a lovely buttock or perhaps a dimpled knee. It can be small and subtle.

Thank you darlin'! I think I might like the buttock as a location, but not smack in the middle of a cheek…maybe a little higher. The knee, because it doesn't have a lot of fat, will be painful. And because of the bone, it'll probably be worse than my wrist, which hurt like hell!

Now, if you could just tell me what makes the brie spiritual, I could actually start putting together an image…

Now I'm starting to get the picture!

Well, Sweetheart, there's a little more to it of course.

Well, I'm 41, I have 3 boys, I work in marketing, although I worked as an Early Childhood Educator for 12 years before I go into marketing. I love cheese, when I'm not blogging or working or being a mom or studying, I love to read. I was an avid Lost fan. I love music, and have recently fallen in love with the group Cage the Elephant. I think a day without chocolate is a day you do not want to cross my path. I am honest to a fault. I have a total potty mouth. And I don't know if any of this will help! But I appreciate the effort

I checked out the link – that tat is awesome and the guy's story is incredible! I don't know what I'd do if I became lactose intolerant!

Privately, darling Nicky, privately. This information is not for everyone.

She's just being honest, as I recall, you tiny-bottomed woman, you.

Hey, I also love music, and recently discovered Cage the Elephant. My son introduced me to their music. I also love chocolate, I'm honest to a fault, and have a total potty mouth.

On the other hand, however, I'm a lousy mom, I stopped watching Lost after the first season even though I loved it, and I can barely read because I got kicked in the head by a horse when I was 7 and had to drop out of school.

Oh, come on. This is the Internet. This is no time for privacy. Hell, Linda, you had sex twice with Alex on your recent vacation and you didn't keep that private. Spill the beans! The cheese, I mean.

I love your tattoos, Nicky! My friend and I decided two years ago that we would get tattoos together. We spent hours designing our tattoos and then never had them done. One day I'll have it done, I just don't know when yet. But the tattoo I chose for myself I think you might like. I'm going to send you a picture of it when I get home, for inspiration.

I like butterflies…maybe a Monarch, since I am the queen of my castle?

You might have noticed I updated the post. Changes have been made in red. While “nosy” and “bony” were not spelled incorrectly, I've added the “e” to help you follow along with the rest of the class. I know that since the horse kick to the head, it's been a bit of a challenge! I also added the part about the rainbow. I apologize sincerely and profusely for the omission.

Yes, my tats all have a meaning for me. And yes, they were all done during very difficult times in my life. And while I love my tats, and don't regret a single one, I'd like to get one now that represents something happier. I love our blog, and the friends we've made through it, and I would like something that shows that. Butterflies and dragons can be decorative and have meaning without necessarily being profound. Spiritual brie would be decorative and profound because it would show just how wonderful and unique a friendship can be between people who have never met but have oddly parallel lives and eerily similar characters. Now, how was that for deep…and all before 7am!

Honestly, I don't think you could make an unreasonable suggestion! Well, except for Elvis/Unicorn/Rainbow thingy, of course. Each suggestion is based on your perceptions of me, and indicates a little piece of my “essence” that has made an impact on you. I think that is awesome. My 3rd tattoo will remain my secret, BonEyMike, because every woman, no every person, needs one. I will tell you this much about my symbol and the reason I want a new tattoo inspired by this blog: when I got the symbol, I felt completely alone, even when surrounded by tons of people. With this blog, I feel surrounded, and often supported, by tons of people even when I'm alone.

And now, I believe our time is up Dr. BonEyMike. Thank you for listening. I know, you'll have to spend some time Googling to see if you can find out the meaning and I'm sorry I'm not brave enough to spill all. Maybe it was enough to figure out a fourth tattoo just the same.

Twice, Michael? Twice? Surely you jest.

YES!!!!!

I meant no offense by adding the “e” into nosy and bony. They just didn't look right to me, and I did it out of habit, not to make a point. I don't know whether this is the problem, but I attended both British and American schools during my formative years, and have to think about spelling more than a regular person because they do things differently there. It may be that the English use the “e,” while Americans don't. Or maybe I just like the letter “e.” Or perhaps I'm just stupid. I often think so. Anyway, I have since learned that the preferred spellings of bony and nosy are without the “e,” and I will attempt to make the necessary adjustments to my thinking, including reverting back to the BonyMike moniker that 00odoz bestowed upon me. I like it very much, and please feel free–as if you weren't already–to restore your post to its original state, although that would make these comments seem weird to other readers.

Moving forward.

It's very interesting to me that there was a time in your life when you felt completely alone, even when you were surrounded by people. Not to be overly open and honest in a forum where I'm normally the court jester, but I've more or less felt that way most of my life. In fact, I often wonder if I was born on another planet and was sent here by my father for safekeeping when my home planet was about to explode. Except that in this superhero myth, I would have had superpowers on my home planet, but I'm a useless sack of shit on Earth.

I started blogging at a particularly low point in my life, when some of my most significant friendships were coming to an end–and not for good reasons–and I felt very insignificant to everyone but my wife. I still feel very insignificant, in fact, although I'm also an egomaniac with a superiority complex. It's confusing.

I mention this because…well, I'm not sure why I mention it. One of my great character faults is that I'm often too open, too willing to be vulnerable, and it makes people uncomfortable, partly because they don't give a shit, but also because they can relate yet don't want to admit it because it's disturbing. Nevertheless, I want you to know that I understand that feeling of being alone, even in a group. It's not a good feeling, and sometimes it's hard to get past it. Perhaps I need a secret tattoo, too.

That said, you were right about one thing: I am a curious fellow, some people might even say nosy or nosey (depending on how they feel about the letter e), and I'm warning you that I may reflexively try to figure out what your third tattoo means even though you want to keep it private. Regardless, I'm now leaning in a direction about your fourth tattoo. It seems to me that the new symbol ought to represent happiness, but not just a golden sunrise on a cloudless horizon of pretty butterflies. (Actually, that's not too bad.) It ought to represent the sort of happiness–joy, really–that comes from being a vital part of a circle of relationships–with your sons, your real-life friends, and your virtual friends, who seem very nice to me. Now I don't know what that symbol is or could be, but I'll do some research and get back to you with an idea or two.

Maybe it's several things combined. Or maybe you should just get a topless mermaid placed near your décolletage. That'd probably get you a whole bunch of friends, and you'd never feel alone again, or at least never have to pay for a drink again. Here's an example:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2350091927_…

It was indeed the best-written show on television, and I was disappointed in the end. Heheh, my man said Evangeline looks like me, only skinnier. I think that was supposed to be a compliment. In any case, I don't see the resemblance, but I do understand what you mean about her inner quality.

You were absolutely right about Linda MikeWJ! And I have the proof:

http://weworkforcheese.com/2010/06/when-in-doub…