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Excited and nervous
Going in for a tattoo consult today. I have several tattoos, but nothing really extreme or out there. I have been in the professional world for years and have always wanted to get more, but I've been sensitive to the fact that I have worked in the corporate world. I'm now back to working for myself and am ready to go under the gun again! Have a consult today for a coverup and half-sleeve. It will be flowers for each of the places I have lived in my life (state and national flowers or flowers symbolic of the area).
Wyoming: Indian Paintbrush
Texas: Bluebonnet
Vermont: Red Clover
Kansas: Sunflower
Italy: Red Rose
Hawaii: Hibiscus
Thailand: Ratchaphruek (the yellow national flower of royalty)
D.C. area: Cherry Blossom
Montana: Bitterroot
And I am going to have my two sons' names added under the flowers in the states in which they came into my life (Kansas for my older son and D.C. for my younger).
I'm probably too old for tattoos, but I don't care. 
Re: Excited and nervous
Sure. I'll definitely PIP it when I am done. I've been waiting for years to be able to do it, but really wanted to wait till I was secure in what I wanted, where I wanted it, and knowing that it would not affect my career (which is an unfortunate side effect). It will probably be at least a couple of months. I go in for the consult in a couple of hours. Then, I'll go in for probably two or three appointments at least a month apart to get the work done.
You've lived in Thailand?! Now I'm curious... I've been once for work, and have another trip planned soon.
The tattoo idea sounds really neat. I hope I catch the post where you put pictures. I'd like to see that.
Yeah, when dh deployed for a year, my older son (prior to younger son coming into our lives) moved to Thailand, where I taught English and helped build an orphanage. I absolutely loved Thailand! We lived in Bangkok, but spent a lot of time in northern Thailand, on the border of Burma (aka Myanmar). You're so lucky you get to go again soon! It is probably my favorite country in this entire world!
Cool! That sounds like an awesome experience!
I head to Bangkok for two weeks next month. I'll have a weekend free, and the evenings can be as free as I want... Any suggestions on things to do/see? I got to see a fair amount of the major tourist things last visit (the reclining budda, the imperial palace, a couple other temples, etc), but with a whole weekend there, I'm trying to decide what to do. The last visit to this client was kinda neat - someone from their team was willing to take me around to all kinds of things in the evenings and on weekends, so while I felt pretty "handled", I also got to see some things I other wise might not have (when overseas for work, I tend to go into a high alert personal security level, which means less time out after dark by myself, a lot of care in watching where I am going and what is around me, but when with a client, I can at least go wandering with someone that knows the area, the language, what areas are safer, etc...)
My favorite restaurant (as kitschy as it is, it has a wonderful cause) is Cabbages and Condoms. I also just recommend taking the water taxi everywhere. It's a great way to see the city, meet the locals.
A safe area at night is the area around Ramkhamhaeng University. Just get in a taxi and ask for the university (pr. Ram-kam-pang) and you'll be dropped off right in front. It's away from the city center, but lots of university students and acclimated expatriates. Almost everyone in that area speaks English, but it's an authentic area that is relatively safe (well, secure your belongings and use common sense but don't worry too much). If you walk just past the university about a mile on your right, there is a little tiny restaurant called "Tomato." It's literally a store front, tiny, with a picture of a tomato out front, but I swear she has some of the best food in the city. Order the "American fried rice" (which is not American, at all!). There are also a lot of evening markets in that area. And if you walk behind the pink hotel on that street (can't remember the name, but it's a big pink hotel, as you area walking away from the university), about two streets before, you can catch the water taxi back downtown for about 20-30 baht.
ETA: Also on the same street as the "Tomato," there are two food vendors that are safe and who have amazing food (we lived just off this street, so we ate at from these vendors a lot). There is one that sells fried chicken (no batter, just fried wings he puts in paper bags -- only one on that stretch of street) and then another one that sells corn on the cob. She parks a wheelbarrow with a fire in it in front of one of the gas stations a little further down that street. We used to get chicken for 20 baht and corn for 10 baht for a great meal. Also, just before "Tomato," there is a street that has a school and church on it called "Good News Study Center." Can't remember the street number, but the school is huge and you can ask anyone in the area and they can direct you. Go past that school about a block and there is an outdoor restaurant where you can get great noodles, chicken, and soup. Just bring your own utensils to that one because the ones there are not very clean. But I never got sick eating there.
Those sound really awesome! I love the meaning behind them!
I should be getting my next 3 tattoos soon, hopefully they'll be less of a pain than my last tattoo
That tattoo sounds fabulous!
I have a friend currently living in Bangkok who is a ton of fun if you want me to set up an intro. I do think she is heading back to the states at the end of October for a visit home after being away for a year; but if you're over there before then?
The most beautiful place on earth to me: Glacier NP
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PM me if you didn't get it. I put it out there for a little while, but don't feel comfortable keeping the info out on a public board. But PM me or email me if you need it again!
You've got a PM
The most beautiful place on earth to me: Glacier NP
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