So this is what I’m thinking about the tattoo:
[aside – have you noticed I start most blog entries as if I’m in the middle of the conversation already? I do that when I answer the phone, too. God bless caller ID. It kind of freaks people out when I answer, “Where did you end up parking the other night?” But what am I gonna do? Pretend (“Hello??”) like I don’t know who it is, when everyone knows I have caller ID? Come on. End long aside.]Anyway. Tattoo: I want an armband. A traditional-looking Celtic one, though it won’t be traditional – I want an aran knit cable, but I want the suggestion of sheep worked in. Leaping blue sheep, worked right into the twists. It’s going to take some kind of amazing artist – anyone know a Bay Area tattoo artist they’d recommend?
Sheep! Did you know Rachael means ewe in Hebrew? And that I’m half Kiwi, and my mother was raised on a sheep farm in New Zealand? My granddad died when my mother was a teenager, and my favorite story about him is how soft his right hand was. He’d stand by the stile and touch each lamb as he guided them into the pen, and that one constantly-lanolined hand stayed silken. Isn’t that a nice memory for my mother to have?
So I think sheep are appropriate (and also just very, very nice).
Speaking of little mamas, mine is in town. Picked her up from the train station yesterday in downtown Oakland, Jack London. I love how the trains have always dominated the face of the Square, and I got there a little early. Trapped by two slow moving trains, I parked on the wrong side of the station and took the aerial stairway over the top. I’d never climbed it before – it’s about four flights up to a steel walkway that goes right over the tracks and back down on the other side. After making sure the little mama hadn’t arrived early, I stood up there and watched the trains pushing under my feet. I could see to the Bay and back the other way to the hills. A gorgeous afternoon, warm and clear. When Mom’s train came in, I grabbed her and we went to lunch with Christy (who works in the Square) sitting outside at Jack’s (of course), watching the pitch of the boats in the channel between Alameda and Oakland. There’s an aircraft carrier docked for repainting, and the wonderful Heraclitus, a coral-reef monitoring junk that’s been to the Amazon and Antarctica, was being guarded by two punk rockers and a man in a scarlet scarf.
Then we just…. hung out. We have doctor’s appointments today down at Stanford, but yesterday was for hanging. We watched a little taped Six Feet Under. I knitted. She napped. Dinner (outside again) with a friend. A little more TV. Oh! Here’s a picture, my little mama having been claimed by Adah.
It’s so NICE to have her here. I wish she could stay longer, but she has four cats herself, none younger than nine, and she wants to go home on Friday to relieve Dad of the Cat Watching Pressure.
But doctor’s appointments aside, we expect to have a grand time today. Hope you do as well!
Hi Rachael’s mom! Ya done real good!
Speaking of middle of conversation stuff, my sister always leaves these lengthy, conversational-type voicemail messages. They are so realistically real-time that I get lured into responding to the recorded message with remarks like “no-way!” or “what did you do!?” And my husband (who noticed the phone neither ringing or being dialed) says “who are you talking to?” And my ears turn red with embarrassment.
Oh, our nasty little secrets.
Isn’t it wonderful when Mom comes to visit? I hardly ever get to see mine, and when she does come, it’s mostly to see her grandkids. I sure do love hanging out with her though. Talking on the phone 5 times per week just isn’t enough…
Your tattoo idea sounds so delightful. I would love to see some action shots of you getting it done. Sorry I can’t recommend any artists. Maybe you could try drawing it on your own? I betcha you’d do a great job!
Yay for moms! I hope you have a great time with your little mama. 🙂
I’ll sign that petition — Rachael’s mom — you did a fine job and you spelled her name just right.
I’m just getting caught up here. My porn name is Fang Mill. That’s got s&m written all over it.
Speaking of phones….Manley taught me a good trick for getting someone off the phone. While you are talking — mid-sentence — just press the receiver button thingy. They think you were accidentally disconnected every time. Works like a charm. Don’t tell anyone I told you.
Rach, You have to share pics of the tattoo!
I don’t have one, never will but am strangely fascinated.
My partner has the teeniest little woman symbol on her ankle- it looks like someone drew it on with a sharpie. The tattoo artist thought she was crazy.
It’s a mom weekend! Scout loves my mama cuz she got the nice long fingernails. She doesn’t like getting all covered in cat hair but he is awfully persistent.
I love your tat idea.
When I had a cell phone I would answer it by jumping right in to the conversation as well. I don’t get the people who *don’t* do that. It says it’s me RIGHT THERE.
LOVE the new tat idea. And hello to the Little Mama!
Yay for new tatoos! My artist, Sasha, is opening her own shop this weekend. She’s a dyke artist who recently learned to knit — how perfect is that? She’s also really gentle and fun. It’s called Pirate Tatoo at 3409 23rd Street at Valencia and the number is (415)550-1445. Her shop will also be a place to buy cheap art by local artists, and that’s the end of my commercial. Oh, and I’d be happy to accompany you to get the work done.