Here are the two pictures that Colin at Red Sky Tattoo was working from…and I asked him to add the phrase “With You Always” to the piece…

My Favorite Picture of Them Both

I got the recommendation to use Colin from the shop owner and I visited him a couple of weeks ago and set an appointment on the spot. When we showed up he took about an hour to do the stencil and once he showed it to me I was no longer concerned…it rocked! Here’s the stencil on the arm…

It's Big! Anita thinks too big, I think just right!

It took 2.5 hours of actual chair time to finish. I was in the shop a total of 5 hours, but that included the drawing time and breaks. Here it was after the first break…

Looking Good

There are three questions most people ask me about the tat the first time they see it. I’ve already answered two of them (where did you get it done and how long did it take). The first question is usually, “Did it hurt?” Answer: “YES!”

But the final result was SO worth it (added the photos so you can see the comparison “side by side”). It’s hard to get a good photo right now since it’s still healing, but you get the general idea…

Love It, Love It, Love It!!

The whole thing was a great experience and I absolutely L-O-V-E the tat. It was worth waiting to find the right person (and I highly recommend the entire crew at Red Sky Tattoo in Castle Rock). I miss both my brother and my sister-in-law very much, but they are always close to me now!

Next year he’ll be going solo…a week away from family all by himself. Part of growing up and becoming his own man. Has me a little nostalgic…I can still remember bringing him home from the hospital. But it’s great to see him learning, growing, and becoming…well, Logan.

Not exactly sure what’s in store for the two of us next week (aside from some rock climbing and an obstacle course for me…and hopefully some R&R). However, I full expect it to be yet another chance to build some memories…even if we are on two sides of the camp.  ;o)

Are you a “journaler”?

And if so, why? If not, why not?

My answer is both “yes’ and “no”. I have a journal and every once in awhile I even use it. It seems to go in cycles for me. I’ll journal for a good 6 months or so on a consistent basis and then for some reason I stop and don’t pick it up for awhile.

Right now I’m in a “down cycle”…not journaling much at all (aside from blogging, but I don’t think that counts). My suspicion is that journaling is quickly becoming a lost art. Maybe Facebook has taken its place…which is not really good since Facebook is done in the open for all to see, while journaling is a private affair.

Maybe it’s time for me to pick mine up again. What do you think…?

Boy. Was. I. Ever. Wrong!

When did toothbrush technology become so advanced? All I wanted was a simple toothbrush…but, no! There are now so many choices it took my the better part of the evening just to recognize the options…vibrating, tooth whitening (in the brush?), left-handed, multi-lingual (okay, I made those last two up, but I bet their coming).

I just wanted a standard, plain-ol’ toothbrush and that was nearly impossible to find.

But I persevered…sort of. Way down at the bottom of the shelves were the “standard” toothbrushes. And yet, the one I got still has more technology than I think is necessary (flex bending head, squishy thumb hold, etc).

When did life get so complicated? I think it started with THIS (click the link to read my last rant).

Okay, I feel better now…back to our regularly scheduled programming…

And I also realized that I miss it. It’s a good outlet for me even if nobody else is reading or cares about what I’m writing. It’s good practice. It’s cathartic. And I simply haven’t been doing it. In the memorable words of Kyle when he was 2: “I busy!”

I can’t even promise that this month will be any better. But I do intend to try and fit some writing into my schedule. I’ve been working on a novel for years with little progress…but this isn’t quite that level of effort.

Busy? Yes. Using it as an excuse? A little. Going to do better? We’ll see…

;o)

This post is mainly for those who grew up in Denver or have lived in Denver for any significant amount of time. If you’re in that boat with me you know that KOOL 105 has always been known as Denver’s “Oldies” station. When I was growing up it played mostly 50′s and 60′s music. Not exactly music I wanted to listen to so I largely ignored the radio station.

Here’s my distress. I discovered it this week. I “accidentally” listened to KOOL 105 last week (thinking I was on Jack 105.5)…and found out that I like the station. A lot! How did this happen? All of a sudden they’re playing music from the 60s, 70s and 80s (and most of that from the last two decades). When did MY music become “oldies”??!?!?!?

So, I’m listening to the station…but I absolutely REFUSE to assign the station a preset on my radio dial. I just can’t bring myself to do it….yet.

;o)

I was hoping that writing about it would help, but so far no luck!

I did read something this morning in the book of Numbers (a book I was dreading, but am now finding that I am enjoying). It was about Moses…more specifically about how God defended Moses when Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses (how cool would that be? To have God Himself come to defend you personally?). Here’s what God said about Moses:

But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:7-8, NLT)

Two things I notice here. First, God says He speaks to Moses clearly…with no riddles. I know a lot of people who wish that’s how God would speak (although I think He does and we just make it hard). Second, Moses “sees the Lord as He is”. I love that phrase. Moses saw God without any filters. He really saw God. I want that.

So I’m off to try and find some focus today…maybe I’ll learn to hear and see God more clearly in the process.

There, I admitted it. I can’t help myself. And no, I’m not making light of the situation (okay, maybe just a little…but only to make myself feel better…it’s another thing I do).

Ever since I started losing weight the first time (several years ago) I became a scale watcher. I weigh myself several times in the morning and at least once at night. It’s not a bad discipline for those of us whoa re trying to lose weight. After all, you need to know where you stand…so to speak.

The problem for me is that it becomes an obsession. A focus that is just a bit off center. I did…and still do…need to lose weight. The scale did…and still does…help keep me on track. I know when I need to become more disciplined…now would be good…and when things are moving in the right direction…down.

But do I need to weigh myself before AND after a shower? Do I need to weigh myself in the morning AND at night? Do I need to consider getting a new scale because the one I have now is a big-fat stupid head (and don’t even get me started on that Wii Fit thing!)?

No.

What I need to do is get a little more discipline in my life, use the scale once in awhile to make sure I’m on track…and enjoy life in the process. The scale is a tool (in more than one way). =0)

I’m sure there’s a spiritual application here somewhere, but I’ll let you hash that one out on your own (leave a comment if something really good comes to you)…I’m off to see if I’ve lost any weight from the calories I burned typing this…

Ever read something in Scripture that makes you say, “HUH?!?” Happened to me this afternoon as I opened my study in the book of Judges. Here’s what I read…

Adoni-bezek escaped, but the Israelites soon captured him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. Adoni-bezek said, “I once had seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off, eating scraps from under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” They took him to Jerusalem, and he died there. (Judges 1:6-7, NLT)

First of all…OUCH!! Second, who thinks of doing that? Not me…that would be the last thing on my list of punishments. Third, this had to be one funny looking dude once his punishment was done (yes, that’s how my brain works).

Obviously God had something to do with the punishment since Adoni-bezek had done this to others…but still!

I never cease to be surprised by Scripture. Always something there to get your attention.  ;o)

I heard the first “beep” and thought nothing of it…pushed it aside. A minute later…another. And another. And another. Finally I had to get up to see what that infernal interruption was! Arrrrgggg! It was one of our smoke detectors notifying us that it needed a new battery! This is a great feature and will likely end up saving our lives at some point (we have two boys…fire is coming at some point, right?). But I have a few questions born out of this frustrating night (and I wish it was my first, and last):

1. How do smoke detectors know that it’s night-time?
2. Why do they only start beeping when it’s dark out? I’ve never had one beep during daylight!
3. Why does the beep happen so infrequently that it takes 20 minutes just to figure out which detector is the culprit?
4. Why do you never seem to have a 9-volt battery when you really need one (thankfully that wasn’t the case this time)?

This is one of those eternal set of questions that we may never have the answer(s) to. And, no…I won’t be asking Jesus any of them when I see Him face-to-face.  ;o)