Strange how Strapping Young Lad and I are on the same page at the same time, check out his latest if you haven’t yet? It’s a bit of a rant on distractions in this world we live in and how one copes with them. I was also struck with distractions and how we deal with them today after watching this really cool 2 min video clip on youtube showcasing the Light Criticism Project . This project reminds me of why I moved to K-town. Not the only reason, mind you, but a big one, reason #8 or so probably, to get away from excessive distractions, specifically all things homogenous, cookie-cutter, mass produced, and often times corporate. I came to these here hills known as Knoxville to get a breath of fresh air, and to be in a space where there was room to breathe.

One of my favorite things about K-town is the lack of ‘the man’ A.K.A. Corporate America. Granted he’s here, and granted he’s here more and more each year but compared to where I’m from, he’s a tiny whisper at best. We don’t have to do things like the Light Criticism Project in Knoxville because we JUST got our 2 way billboards, and real time highway notification systems. Plus we haven’t come close to the technology they are using in most major cities, nor the amount of advertising, and I love it. More importantly in K-town we have spaces like that wall by Pres. Pub in Market Square where people have just begun creating art, little by little, and it’s OK. Not that graffiti is legal here, I would assume it isn’t, but when most buildings aren’t tagged, and gang signs aren’t spread everywhere the police can be more lax about it I guess? Plus its unfinished ply wood, so it rather begs to be drawn on. Like the walls at my Dad’s house, when I was growing up. My Dad was refinishing the house, and painting the walls was going to be one of the last things, so we were allowed to write on them growing up, and write we did! ‘I love John Taylor’, ‘Duran Duran’, ‘and U2 Rocks’…

I often describe K-town as the Wild West, if you can dream it, you can do it. It’s big enough to provide the resources one needs and yet small enough to not yet have been run over by all things monopolistic and corporate, especially in the music business. Think Ashley Capps with AC Entertainment. He went from digging music and booking bands at a bar to bringing us Sundown booking for most every major venue in the Southeast region, and all things . Then think Scott and Bernadette West; a local couple that has recently hit headlines, true. But, with out their vision and risk taking would we have World Grotto, Fiction, Tonic, and my favorite-- Blue Cats. And of course, last but not least, what of humble knoxville520.com itself, if that isn’t homegrown, I don’t know what is! And that’s really what I’m getting at here – seeing the beauty in things that are homegrown, original, unique, the things you can only get here. Sure Knoxville may not have a Hard Rock Café (Gatlinburg does), and we only have two malls, (although apparently no one south, I mean West, of 275 has ever heard of Knox Center Mall), we don’t have TicketMaster and we don’t have Clear Channel running every media outlet in the city, but what we do have is unique. You can’t go to Tomato Head anywhere but here, or Disc Exchange , or Bijou Theatre. By the way did you go see Umphree’s McGee On Friday March 2nd there? No where else can you see Ben Harper with the Sunsphere thing in the distance on the Lawn at World’s Fair Park

I hear people gripping and moaning often enough, about there being no one here and nothing to do, and I think, huh? Sure there is a vacuum in K-town compared to Atlanta or NYC, but it’s a beautiful one! The vacuum means there is room for those here to breathe, to create, and to put into place the things we want. In many major cities people spend their time fighting what is there, (see video clip above if you haven’t yet watched it). But here in Knoxville we have the opportunity to create and build from the ground up! Think of the difference between painting a deep cranberry wall with several coats of white primer so you can then change the color versus painting the wall the color you want in the first place? Doesn’t option two, just feel good to your soul, soo much less effort goes into creating and building when you don’t have to tear down BEFORE you can even start.

So, people, be inspired! If there is something you feel K-town lacks then I encourage you to get off your heine and make it happen! John Mayer may be speaking for the rest of the rest of America when he says he is ‘waiting for the world to change’ but I’m not waiting. (Did you notice the graffiti connection again? Maybe I really need to finish designing the mural for the garage?) But Knoxville is full of people that think for themselves, people who don’t want to be just like everyone and everywhere else, which I love! Like Todd Steed describes my neighborhood,
"Thank God for North Knoxville
Where this town still looks like itself,
It's the last place in America
Ain't trying to be somewhere else"
—"North Knoxville," Todd Steed & Apelife

If you want to see change than you need to make it happen, and the only thing holding you back is you. There is an entire city for us to leave better than when we came and to enjoy while we’re here. And luckily we have so many brave souls to emulate that have already blazed the trail for us. All I’m saying is I love being here. And this living breathing city and those in it have captured my heart and mind and made me a better person for it.

Posted by the 520 gang at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Posted by the 520 gang at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Heeow – these warm sunshiny days have got me feeling that spring time joy. Have you noticed the bushes are budding? It’s not even March, and there are little leaves sprouting their sweet light green-ness throughout the woods.

Happy Spring my fellow k-towners, it comes quickly round here.

I just got an email that tops the entire ‘spring is coming’ vibe off to a T. Fundamental Elements will be back in K-town this Thursday, March 2. They will be at Barley’s in the Old City, and you so need to be there. These guys have a groove that could get your 90 year old Papaw bopping his head. You just can’t help it with FE. Their self professed sound is “100% Original Blue Eyed Soul” which I’ll go along with but it’s only hitting part of their sound. These guys are such a unique mix, kinda like Digable Planets for the 21st century (pretend they aren’t back together, their new sound isn’t ‘new’). Not that they sound the same, but their sound is so unique compared to what’s out there like The Goats, or Pharcyde were (check out Passin Me By for a blast from the past) back in the day. FE has an original sound mixing acoustic instruments and turn tables. Their sound is like hip hop meets be bop, colliding with soul and then pummeling down Rock n Roll Mountain. These guys have so much energy at their shows it quickly infects the crowd and they begin dancing, even during their few slow jams.

I first got hip to them when they opened for Dishwater Blonde at the World Grotto last year I guess it was? I’d heard buzz about them, so I went early to see if it was hype or legit, and was pleasantly surprised. A few minutes after I walked in the door I had a digital camcorder put in my hand by Russ, the lead singer and proceeded to record the show for them and I’ve been following them ever since. Now I’m just waiting for Untied to be played on 90.3 The Rock? It needs to be, and I bet it will be very soon. Do yourself a favor a listen to it here, and tell me if it doesn’t beg to be blasted from a car cruising down an East Tennessee road under a big sunny sky? Their latest CD is a sound track for a great summer day – pure joy with some pep in your step. Do yourself another favor and come out to the show on Thursday; you’ll be glad you did!

Posted by the 520 gang at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ruby James has hair kinda like mine, so we’re automatically linked, (it’s a girl thing don’t ask.). Here’s is ruby red of course, which makes it seem flaming. I bet she looks like she’s glowing when she’s on stage. Ruby James also has an amazing signing voice, (unlike me). Her voice is a bit Natalie Merchant a bit Stevie Nicks, sung a bit like Mary J Blige and a bit like … Sheryl Crow. I know that sounds like a crazy combo but it’s not really. Think sultry, smooth, alto flavored voice, chocolate mouse comes to mind. And then think powerful, soulful, deep from the pit of your heart delivery. Musically she is a unique combo of rock and R & B, a female John Mayer. I love the way she jumps notes vocally, her mastery of her voice is impressive. And her lyrics come from her heart, she’s got something to say, which automatically gives her points in my book.

She hails from, LA, Austin, Charleston, and Orlando, guess she’s moved around a few times? And she has opened for Soul Asylum, 7Mary3, WAR and Fastball. Tonight she is here in our lovely city; we are blessed to be part of her cross country tour. You can check her out here, listen to a few songs, see her perform live, and read her bio. My favorites right now are Another Day and Fields of Stone. She’s one of those artists that found me on myspace and I’m glad she did. I look forward to checking her out tonight especially because she’s touring with a full band this time! I’ve never seen her live, but I’m looking forward to it.

Tonight: Ruby James at Patrick Sullivan’s 8 PM

Posted by the 520 gang at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(editor's note: we had some difficulties with photos for this blog, so waited to publish til we fixed the problem. Even though the event is over, Tahlulah's blog is still a good read!)

I don’t know if this will get put up in time but in case it does, GO SEE CUTTHROAT SHAMROCK TONIGHT! They are playing at Preservation Pub, probably actually starting around 11 or 11:30, if past shows are any indication.

They are awesome; they are so awesome I have friends that drove over 6 hours to see them last year for St. Patty’s Day. Get out yer pirate gear, yer kilts, and yer leather; these men know how to throw a show! It's pirate music from the hollers of the Smoky Mountains rather than the Caribbean Sea, which does change things a wee bit. There is still dancing and drinking, just in Preservation Pub instead of some tropical isle. You can listen to them here. They are rather Billy Bragg, Pogue-esque-- well if they were kidnapped by pirates and then brought to East Tennessee. And you know you’ve never heard that unique mix before so do yourself a favor and - Go, Go, Go! I bet it won’t be long before their shows move to a bigger venue and a bigger and a, you get the picture. They won’t be a local secret for long!

Posted by the 520 gang at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sometimes, I feel the need to pause for the cause, actually I feel it everyday. Rain or shine, hot or cold, my dog Irie and I go for a walk, the 5 mile or so kind. We have a couple different neighborhood routes; sometimes we go see Libby, Mocha, Gizmo, and the boxers. Sometimes we go see the pack of hybrid-hyena looking dogs at that corner house, and Otis. And then there are the days we get in the car first and head over to

another of my all time favorite places in Knoxville, Ijams Nature Center. I just had to go a couple days ago, when it was so warm and beautiful. Days like that are extra special for those of us from up North, where it actually gets cold in the winter and it never storms in February. I thought it was Armageddon when I experienced my first winter storm a few weeks after I’d moved here! But I digress … I arrived at Ijams later than usual due to the inexplicable construction on Cherry Street? The line of the cars in the detour route was annoyingly long, so I turned off to find my own way – which by the way - is the BEST way to learn how to get around. 5 minutes later I came out at the Weigles above the Old City. See, now that James White Parkway is cut off, you have to take the unbelievably long lighted Hall of Fame, the overly cramped Broadway/ Henley Street route, or the over the river and through the woods no-clue-how-to-retrace- route so you end up behind the police station to pick up James White for a quick hop skip and a jump over the bridge. Eventually we got there and since it is staying light longer (YEA!) we could make up for lost time.

Irie and I have several routes through Ijams as well, depends if we are running or walking, the time of day, and how many other people are there. See, while Irie and I are of the friendly variety we each have an alternate agenda which is not always conducive to being around lots of other people, or any for that matter! I’m praying and Irie is

‘hunting’, which means she’s running around chasing after critters, and smelling things, and never actually catching anything. Even when Ijams is packed though you still have your space which is one of the things I love about it, plus it’s so close! In 10 minutes you can be out in the woods, with the rivers, hills, fields, and the mountain views. You can do a light walk and take in the variety of plants and wildlife in 30 minutes or you can do a hearty 5+ miler and take in all of Ijams, Meads Quarry, and the greenway running out into Forks of the River WMA (Wildlife Management Area). Both Ijams and Meads Quarry have nice hills and views so you can get your heart rate up, (try running up Tower trail) and the trails loop and meander around several bodies of water, which makes it all the more special to me. You know how water always adds that backdrop of sound, by its’ movement? Ahh, just thinking of it makes me want to go to the beach this weekend and listen to the waves, there is something grounding and comforting in the steady movement of water, it’s like looking up at a night sky full of stars and thinking the light you are now seeing first shinned millions of years ago, but it’s just now getting here! Which leaves me feeling connected, albeit slighty geeky perhaps? The other thing I love about the water being close by is the extra sparkle and shine it adds from the sunlight reflecting off the top.

You know how sometimes things hit us in life that make us stop and take stock of what it is we believe in anyway? You know when it seems like the rug is pulled out from under you? It makes you check in and ask, ‘what is it I’m living for’? See, at this point it was after 6 and the sun was beginning to set and we were out along the boardwalk, and the river was flowing, and the sky was lit up, and I was struck by the light. As we walked I watched the sunlight sink down and grow longer, the colors morphed into deeper hues and warmer tones, and I remembered something I used to think on often as a child. Does the sun need anyone to acknowledge that it rises and sets - to rise and set each day? I mean if we all lived like the people that lived underground in the Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis, (one of my favorite authors), and never saw the sun, it still would rise and set. The sun doesn’t need us to acknowledge its dance each day. And just because we don’t believe in it doesn’t make it any less true. When you are in a space where it’s down to the wire and you have to believe in a thing with every fiber of your being. The kind of down to the wire where you can’t go by what you see, otherwise you wouldn’t believe in a thing, like the sun, because you are in the dark at the moment and you can’t see the sun? That’s when you really need to know that you know that you know what it is you believe in. That’s when you need a good dose of vitamin T, Truth. Sometimes all you’ve truly got is what you believe and with the world continuously trying to ram subjectivity down my throat, I need to get away from manicured lawns and memos, and questions of consequence like ‘why did Britney shave her head?’, and all other things we humans revolve our lives around.

I need to be surrounded by sky and water, to listen to the leaves sing in the breeze, to watch the birds soar and the flowers bloom, to pray and listen, and get a good dose of the bigger picture beyond my ‘world revolves around me mentality’. Seriously I was deep in thought and all full of me, and I came round the bend of the boardwalk and saw a river otter not more than 10 feet away floating on his back like seals do, messing with something in his hands, something to eat no doubt. I had seen squirrels scurrying around looking for food, birds soaring and dipping into the water for a bite, and it all came together and hit me! All around me I was surrounded by living things that have an entirely different attitude about life than the one I currently saw myself having. They were in a place of trusting. Trusting there would be enough food, that there would be shelter from whatever next storm was coming, that they would be healthy enough to do the work they needed to get the food, trusting that all their needs would be met. Yet another awesome part of going for a hike and letting the wonder of creation settle into you, it opens the eyes of my heart and mind again so I can re-connect to the bigger picture of reality. It’s one of the things that brought me to Knoxville actually. The mountains, and water, and big sky, I know that’s Montana’s line, but Tennessee has a big sky to me.

I started that walk with a chip on my shoulder, dragging a few bags of the crap one accumulates when you buy into stinkin’ thinkin’; negativity, lies, and the like. You know things that hold you down, like sludge in a swamp. Things that make it hard to grow and rise and experience that restored abundant life we have all been called to. But, after 5 miles of walking and breathing, praying and listening, looking and hearing, I walked out of there a whole new girl. That chip fell right off, the bags were dumped out into that sparkling water and the furrow in my forehead was replaced with smiles and laughter. I know many people swear by their therapists, their prescription meds, chocolate, or shopping, and I’m not knocking any of them, well perhaps shopping therapy? J But, not only is taking a walk at Ijams free, it’s also good for your body, mind, and spirit. And your dog’s, or friend’s, or neighbor’s, or relative’s body, mind, and spirit, so you get 2 for the free price of one. Go check it out and see how many smiling people you walk past. I LOVE Ijams, it is the closest slice of heaven I know of around here, and the best therapy in town!

Posted by the 520 gang at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Is this thing still on…? Did I make it to round two? If you’re reading this I guess I did? Imagine that, with all the competition? Wow, thank you everyone for your vote, it’s an honor to share a bit of my life in Knoxville with you. As a token of my deep appreciation I’ll be sharing some of my all time favorite places here in K-town. This one is especially hard though, because I love it so. And I can pretty much guarantee that when you check it out for yourself, you too will love it, and tell your friends and they will love it, and tell their friends... And you know how it goes. Before long I’ll have to wait in line to get in.

So there is a spot right here in Knoxville that has tacos and a salsa bar that rivals those found in Tijuana. Not exactly the same mind you, for those of you reading who have had the pleasure of a taco stand in Tijuana; you won’t be outside, and you won’t hear honking horns, Spanish propaganda over the megaphone, and get the old school bottles of coke straight from the cooler, nor smell all the smells, but the food is oh so close. However, rather than be selfish and keep the goodness to myself, I will divulge all that is fabuloso about Senor Taco, because you, my fine 520 readers, need to go and experience a bit of Tijuana right here. And because I consider those that work there friends and I would love to see them prosper and grow. Senor Taco has everything going for it, great authentic food, fabulous atmosphere, prime location, and the price is perfecta!

Continue reading "Bienvenidos 520 lectores" »

Posted by the 520 gang at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Greetings Gracious 520Readers,

Has everyone seen the ‘Knoxville Barbie’ email going around? I cried I laughed so hard when I first saw it J I guess I’ve lived here just the right amount of time to ‘get’ all of the references plus know enough people that I can easily think of someone that fits in each of the categories. Well, most of them anyway.

My current top 3 favorites are;

1st Place goes to Alcoa Barbie

“This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a GED and a bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.”

2nd Place goes to Knoxville Center Barbie

“This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9 mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) unless you are a cop, then we don’t know what you are talking about.”

And finally in 3rd place, Gay Street Barbie
“This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow. She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Gay Street Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow bumper sticker for free.”

NOT RIGHT! Who made these up? Does anyone know? I’d like to buy them a beer or a bake them a cake or something. They are, however, missing some key Barbies if you ask me.

Where is 4th and Gill Barbie? The UT Barbie? Where is good ole’ Gatlinburg Barbie? Old City Barbie? K.A.R.M. Barbie (the homeless live here too)? Bearden Barbie? North Knox Barbie? And last but not least the infamous ‘Fellini’ Kroger Barbie?

Can’t you just see it? UT Dorm Barbie could be all done up in the latest Old Navy fashions, her backpack chock full of books, her hair in a ponytail. She’d also come with her ipod and a Daily Beacon in hand.

Bearden Barbie would be in the latest Buckle fashions, driving a Volkswagen Jetta circa 2005 at the latest. Her hair is perfect, her nails are always a French manicure, and she’s on her way to Aveda to get a facial.

Fellini Barbie … she could be the first woman I saw there! She could have raggedy hair, and be missing most of her teeth. She could have on those hot pink stirrup pants (yes, you did read that right) and the flats on, which accentuated the straps on the stirrup pants. Besides the fact that they went ‘out’ 20 years, why was she wearing them, it was snowing? She would have that lime green sweater on and of course she’d have a half smoked cigarette dangling from her lips. She’d come with a Food Stamp card, and a few kids. But she wouldn’t have a cart to shop because Save-A-Lot is just across the parking lot and that’s where she goes. She’s at Kroger’s’ to cash her check.

Can you tell where I live? I can just see them now, each with her unique outfit and style, and specific environment and ‘world view’. I can’t wait to make more,…

So, my 520 readers what Barbies would you like to see and what would they look like? Ken’s too people. Oh and if anyone hasn’t seen the email – let me know.

Posted by the 520 gang at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ha – I just remembered what I did last year for Valentine’s Day. I went shooting at Coal Creek Armory. See, Gypsy Queen was training to be a spy, (apparently you can dream REALLY big after cancer) and we all know that to be a good spy you have to know how to shoot. We were going to go for her birthday a few days earlier, but after drinking a margarita at El Charro we figured it probably wasn’t the best time to go shooting. Then we found out that ladies shoot for FREE on Tuesdays at Coal Creek! And what with it being a year ago, Valentine’s Day was on a Tuesday, perfecta!

The only thing I was concerned with was that the place would be full of bitter women that based their sense of self-worth on if they had a date for Valentine’s Day or not. Luckily it wasn’t, there were no bitter women there at all. There was a bitter guy though, although he let it out with humor. He made a big cardboard woman and wrote, “love sucks’ or something like that and sent it clear back to the far wall before obliterating it with some semi automatic something or other. There was a strange mix of people there though; us, that guy, a family, you know Mom, Dad, and kids all together - what a beautiful sight to see, and a one couple. Gyps and I shared a .45 I think, and went through at least 2 boxes of ammo? We took turns shooting which worked out fairly well, except Gyps has since determined she likes .25’s better. Her hands are much smaller than mine so the .45 was a bit much for her. It’s my favorite gun, well I do like 9 mm too.

Funny though to see how differently we approached shooting. Gyps was very careful, she took her time, aimed and fired. And she kept the target practice sheets. She also improved as the evening wore on, getting closer and closer to the bulls eye. I, on the other hand, unloaded the clip within seconds. I used to shoot with my old boss and he got me hip to the joys of unleashing a clip as fast as you can. If you haven’t done it, try it! It feels great, like a good cry, or a deep belly laugh will, just in a very aggressive, testosterone-ish, manly way. He said that’s probably the closest I can come to know what it feels like to be a guy. Now, I in NO was endorse unloading it on someone those target practices at Coal Creek do just fine. There is so much power in those guns; it’s hard to think about it for me. Kinda like if you’re going to jump off the high dive you have to make up your mind on the ground, climb up, and just jump off. If I stop and think about it – I won’t do it. So, when I shoot I just let her rip, and I don’t pay much attention to aiming – I go by feel – the Yoda way. You know what’s really weird though? I’m not a half bad shot, either.

Posted by the 520 gang at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So, I’m an artist of sorts, I enjoy creating at least. Lately I’ve been into fabrics, but since my sewing machine is from 1932 (literally) and hard to use, I went to Hobby Lobby to get some glittery fabric paint, which then led to the creation of a stencil. Once I saw it completed, I realized that’s it! That’s the image I’ve been looking for all these years! See, I’ve wanted a tattoo for years; I just wasn’t sure what I wanted on my body for the rest of my life. I wasn’t sure what would still look good when I’m 90 and wrinkled, much less what I would still be cool by then? So, I’ve waited a long time to find just the right image. I immediately called Johnny at Saint Tattoo, since it’s the best place to go get a tattoo in Knoxville and out the door I went to show him what I’d like. Butterflies have always represented redemption, resurrection, and transformation to me, the deep spiritual kind like a phoenix like rising from the ashes. There’s really nothing that I can think of that I’d rather have on me permanently than a beautiful reminder to rise up, and not let anything hold me down. This is why I also knew exactly where to put it on my body. That other almighty question when someone is getting a tattoo? For me, it’s on the opposite side from where I broke my back. There’s that redemption again.

Johnny set me up with Anna and I could hardly wait, I would have it done right then if they could have gotten me in right away. That’s the cool thing about spending 10 years waiting for the right image, because when I found it, I knew it, and I didn’t need to think about it any longer. Over the next couple days, as I waited to have it done, I was truly surprised by how many people offered to come with me; apparently it was going to hurt? It had never dawned on me that it would hurt! Seriously, the way I saw it, there are millions of people with tattoos so it must not hurt too much? Guess I got cocky and figured if I could make it through breaking my back then a tattoo would be cake. My dear friend, Gypsy Queen’s offer was different from the others though, she understood the meaning behind this tattoo, and in a special way. I watched her kick cancer’s butt a few years ago, spent a summer text messaging and writing on a chalk board with her because she couldn’t talk. I’d seen her look death in the eye and walk away laughing, and that leaves a mark on a person that a tattoo can’t hold a candle to. Not that she didn’t get another tat herself after it was all said and done!

I met Gypsy there, with her usual Starbucks cup in hand, with her handless headset in place under her black curls and smiling face. Anna took us back to her room and we quickly settled in. As Anna began, I stifled a giggle, from that weird mix of a tinge of pain with a bit of tickle. You feel it sometimes when you get a massage and a particularly tight spot is being worked out. You aren’t sure if you should laugh or cry? It didn’t hurt, getting the tattoo, well, there was a moment or two, a couple seconds rather, that I felt a sharp pain, but for the most part it tickled? I didn’t cry, I laughed. All the while, Anna, Gyps, and I talked about being a woman in Knoxville, what our tattoos meant, Anna’s family, and how she has tattooed several of the ‘Soccer Mom’s’ that go to her church. You’d probably not automatically assume that a woman almost covered in tattoos would even go to church, much less tattoo several of the other women there? Ump, but that’s what we all get for assuming. How’s that saying go, something about

making an ass out of you and me? I’ve noticed three things in this world that can bring all different kinds of people together like nothing else; God, music, and drugs. Think about it. You’ll see all kinds of people holding hands and praying together at church that you would rarely, if ever, see out sitting together at a restaurant. A good band brings a hard-core vegan, PETA loving, dreaded up, bike riddin’, hippie and a beer drinking, big orange T, baseball cap wearing, frat boy together in a New York minute. And drugs have a way of breaking through all socio-economic barriers and make for some really crazy pairings that you would just never expect to see. Like a house cat and blue jay having a picnic together.

I now see there is a fourth equalizer, tattoos. Before I knew it, my tat was finished and I love it! Gyps and I went over to Barley’s for a late dinner and the comments began. I’ve since had the pleasure of random strangers coming up to compliment my tattoo, which makes for good conversations. It’s amazing how many people have them! And everyone seems to have a story behind theirs. There’s not much better than hearing someone share about something they are passionate about, and most people are passionate about their tattoos. I love hearing about what they mean as much as looking at them, especially from the big, macho, touch guy, dudes.

So, who’s got a tat? What’s it mean to you?

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)