The Brand
You may remember the lip service I paid toward getting a tattoo some time ago.
After to talking to a few inked veterans, I headed over to Pop’s Tattoo in Silver Spring to see firsthand if this was the place for me. So far, I’ve been very impressed with the service, cleanliness, talent, and laid-back atmosphere offered at Pop’s.
Craig, one of the senior artists enlisted in the war against bare skin, is very cool. He’s a straight talker, which I appreciate immensely. When I showed him my design, he replied, “To be honest, I don’t think you’d want something that crude. Let me have a crack at redrawing that–can I call you in a week?”
His redesign is below.
The tattoo will be the blue card (black outline) over black text. The blue spraypaint will actually be papyrus-like shading, and the beige is representative of skin.
Craig collects joker cards as a hobby, and it shows (for example, the stance is common to jokers from around the globe). The coloring I added in over his pen-and-ink drawing, along with a few adjustments we talked about in the shop today. There’s a ton of symbolism worked in; suffice it to say every major aspect of my life is represented in this fine piece of work. I’m really excited to get it done, and of course I’ll report back with details on the procedure itself (scheduled for August 21st).
In other news, the Day of Excess looms on the immediate horizon and I am seriously stoked. As the national holiday of the Hans Gruber Memorial Exceptional Minds Foundation, this gathering of gentlemen includes mass quantities of meat, unexplored levels of inebriation, and near-deadly mayhem. It occurs over a weekend (Saturday being the Day in question), and it’s usually held in a remote cabin to ensure that our raucous antics will go uninterrupted.
I can’t recall if I bragged quite enough about this, but I designed a crest for the DoE. This crest was intended to be displayed on a flag above a banner motto that reflects our annual promise: “The Worst is Yet to Come.” The flag arrived this week.
As its title indicates, over-the-top performance is our goal on every front at the DoE. Accordingly, two awards are granted annually: the Nick Panno Friday Night Too-Far Award, given in honor of its namesake, who on multiple occasions was drunk enough to perform feats otherwise impossible for the human body; and the Bassett Cup, awarded to the person or persons displaying exemplary knowledge or skills in furthering the goals of the Hans Gruber Foundation (which, I assure you, are diabolical in nature and scope). While I do not have my eye on either award this year, I’m definitely feeling a little excessive in the camping department. Colleague and possible DoE newcomer @jeffmorin warns that such pomposity may result in targeted pranking. If this idea has occurred to anyone else, be forewarned–my paintball gun won’t stray far from my hand.
And finally…my cats are the coolest fucking animals on the planet. Starbuck’s new toy:
Invade the interwebs!
Tagged as art, drinking, food, peeps, pets, tattoo
Categorized as web
Symbolism as in you like to wear a mask and tights when no one is around?
Reply to this comment@Jeff: Techically, Caitlin’s there, but usually she’s dressed up too.
Enjoy that mental image, fucker.
Reply to this commentCrap, so I didn’t actually finish the post before writing that previous comment…I’d like to add in the question of whether Starbuck had to drink all of the Miller Lite’s first before she could claim the box as her own. And second, if Apollo helped her, is he passed out in the bottom of the box?
Reply to this comment@Josh: Ha! I’m imagining your whole crew there (including both kittens) running around in masks like it’s halloween. Makes the image bearable ;)
Reply to this comment@Jeff: You have no idea how real the threat is–Starbuck and Apollo have to be strictly monitored the morning after a beer pong game. It’s a race to the finish–can Josh clean up all the cups before they drink them?
Also, I <3 Halloween.
Reply to this commentWhere am Iiiii in the tattoo, hmmm? And if you say “the heart” and try n play it off like it just so happens to be one of the card suits too, I’ll call bullshit on you.
Jeff – he’s a filthy liar. I’m never home when he plays “dress up.”
Also, I love that the beer case is on a pizza box, so clearly someone was havin a good time. And Starbuck has this expression on her face like “uhhhh, you’re home early…aaawwwkkkwaaaard.”
Reply to this commentCaitlin is right…I’m the one that’s home with her when she plays dress up. Josh just happens to dress up on his own time.
Reply to this commentIt’s been brought to my attention that some readers mistook the acronym DoE for Department of Energy. I thought I’d share how hilarious that makes this paragraph:
“I can’t recall if I bragged quite enough about this, but I designed a crest for the DoE. This crest was intended to be displayed on a flag above a banner motto that reflects our annual promise: ‘The Worst is Yet to Come.’ “
Reply to this comment@Caitlin: Did I forget to mention? The joker is wearing assless chaps in honor of your butt disappearing. Stop working out!!!
@Tom: That was one time only, for your early bachelor party. I hope your real best man can put on as good a show. ;)
Reply to this commentJosh – There is nothing assless about your tattoo. (zing!)
Tom – shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Reply to this commentThat’s a decent price, but tents like that are a mother fucker to set up.
Reply to this comment@Caitlin: You’re the ball of course!!!
Reply to this commentI’m the flaming pearl? Well, actually, pearl is the birthstone (one of them) for June, and I aaaaam fabulous! Man, I’m all OVER this tattoo.
Reply to this comment@Caitlin: If Caitlin get’s to be the ball, can I be the blue part of the tattoo? I’ll be like the smoke monster from Lost!
Reply to this commentJeff- I like it! You should speak in only clicks, and every once in awhile drag someone under a tree.
Reply to this comment