Aww! You guys made me ink!

Sorry about the poor quality of the pictures of my new tattoo, but I think you guys get the idea. It is "forest green" which on my pale ass skin looks amazing! Like I had planned to, I got it at Fate Tattoo on High Street here in Columbus. The artist's name is Chris and he is really awesome should anyone ever want to get some work done, I highly recommend him. Once I get my bonus at work in February, I plan on going back to him to get my rose tattoo as well. It cost more than I expected (with the tip, 20% thankyouverymuch!, it was around $150.00) but you truly get what you pay for. I wish I had better pictures to show all the detail he put into it -- he really took his time drawing it up and doing it. I never dreamed he would be able to put the thorns on the vines, I just thought I would get the vines and that would be it!

It really is beautiful. Of course, me being me, I sometimes look at my arm and just revel over how pretty it is. At other times I look at it and I panic, "maybe I should have done it closer to my wrist!," "what the hell did I do to myself?," "Am I going to regret this later?," "My parents are going to fucking freak and I really don't want to deal with that." However, It was not a spur of the moment decision, like you all know. Also, having it further down my arm is kind of nice because I can hide it better. Plus, I always go through this panic mode and then end up loving the work. This is just the first one that is super visible. As far as regret ... I can't really see that happening. I don't regret any so far.

The next thing I have to deal with is people asking me why I got the design that I did. So let me take some time to explain it as simply as possible.
P.S. -- I included as many links as I could for those of you who are not familiar with the story of the Lord of the Rings (LOTR). Feel free to click on the pink highlighted words or phrases for more information.

1) If you read my blog, you know where the actual design comes from -- the inside of the doorway to Bagend in the Lord of the Rings. I never read the books until I saw the first of the movies, The Fellowship of the Ring. I loved the movie so much that I devoured the books and fell in love with them. I also began reading a lot about the author, J.R.R. Tolkien and was really blown away by how detailed this world was that he created. His story is really brilliant, and I could go on and on, but I won't bore you with it. My new love of the books and movies jump started my own personal writing. In high school and some college I was constantly writing stories and poetry. I got away from it due to the pressure of college and real life. I ended up having no real way to express myself anymore. It wasn't until this new world - Middle Earth - was shown to me that my creativity begin to flow (beginning with an RPG LOTR website). I will forever be grateful to Prof. Tolkien for giving me back the greatest gift -- my writing. I wanted a movie prop because it all began with watching the movie, and on my right wrist because well, I am right handed.

2) Candy. She and I are both LOTR nerds. If it wasn't for her, I would have never had anyone kick me in the ass to get a new job and start doing something that didn't make me miserable. That is why it was so important to have her there with me. I never told her Sunday night, but there was no one else I would rather have had be there. When I look at it, I will always remember her.
**good to know, right? If I ever ask you to go with me, there is a much deeper meaning behind the invite than just company.**

3) Metaphor. The personal battles I deal with on an everyday basis are certainly not as serious as saving the world from pure evil. However, I do feel as though I am on this long journey toward ... something. I was so overprotected as a child, that I am just now experiencing all of the learning and growing that many of you did in your teens. I love my mother, but nothing was ever good enough for her when it came to me. If I was in a school play and remembered all my lines, she would tell me it looked like I didn't know what I was doing with the dance number. I never developed any real self confidence or love for myself. It is her voice I hear when I begin worrying that I made a mistake getting this tattoo. All along the way of my life, like Frodo, I have times that I don't think that I can go on, that I will just look foolish doing the dance numbers. However, I am weak of heart, but strong of head. I want to be happy and live a long life, I want to be confident and sure of myself, but it is hard to face a constant uphill struggle. If it wasn't for all of the Samwise Gamgee's in my life, I would have stumbled and died a long time ago.

4) Allegory. "It’s dangerous business stepping out your door, Frodo. Once you take your first step there’s no telling where the path will take you." --Bilbo Baggins. I am beginning yet another adventure through my new job. It is very scary, and all along I wanted to quit and go back to Barnes and Noble. It is easier to be miserable than to try something new and possibly fail. However, I didn't give up. It isn't always easy at this new job, but I keep moving on. It sounds corny, but If Bilbo had never opened his door he would have never had the adventures he had and would have never become the person he became. Had I never shut the door on my previous job and walked through those big scary doors at Medco, I would have never become the woman that I am developing into.

I guess it is all about walking (or sometimes being shoved) through the doorways that we face in life.