I went to Kevins Tattoo Zoo in Raleigh today to get ink. I chose to get it on my right shoulder, rather than the standard calf spot, because I wear compression socks during races. I wore my Trakkers top to be sure that the tattoo was placed just right so it shows up when racing. I want my competitors to see it and weep as I pass them during races.

My oldest daughter, Mary Beth, came with me.   I asked Kevin if he minded if she took photos. He was cool with that, so she got some really great shots. Then we went out for Hibachi grill afterwards, yummy!   It was a fun girls trip for us.

The picture at right looks fuzzy because the tattoo is swollen and covered with ointment. I will take a better picture in a few days, after it has healed.

My middle daughter, Laura, was going to come too, but she has that nasty cold I had last week. She really must have been sick to miss coming see her Mom get ink.   For the past ten days, she kept asking me “When are you going to get your tattoo?”. lol!

My youngest daughter, Becky, helped me design the tattoo.   She is great at graphic design. We included an M-dot in the design, but I am going to wait to add that after I do an official M-dot race. Not sure when that will be yet!   Thinking of putting my name in the hat for the Kona Lottery.  If I find a full time job (which might happen soon), then maybe I can afford the trip.   Course, then maybe I won’t have enough vacation for the trip.   Oh well, I will cross that bridge if/when I come to it!   Anyway, here’s the final design:

It stung alot at times, and I barely felt a pinch at other times. All in all, it was way way way less painful than the marathon run at B2B!!

Kevin was very professional and his studio was very clean.  He recommended making the darker orange a little darker, and the lighter orange a little lighter, for contrast.    That made sense, so I trusted his judgement.   I felt very comfortable letting him do my very first ever tattoo. I never thought I’d ever get ink.  Who am I, anway?  Certainly not the frumpy housewife I was 10 years ago!

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