My Life

I feel like the flow chart pictured to the right pretty much encapsulates my life and what I do for a living.

I have been stuck in suburban NY for the last few weeks with a bunch of folks I'd rather not be with. Most of them are Yankees fans to boot (adding insult to injury).

My job is so great that the last few weeks have really made me question my career choice. I mean seriously, who dreams as a little kid that they will be testing interfaces?? Not I. I was going to be a photographer or creating advertising.

Anyway... had to vent about the joys of project work.

The Great White North

I am back home for the (Canadian) Thanksgiving holiday which should be fun. It's always a treat to see my moms and the fam. I am pretty excited for a low key weekend, although I might have to work. Over the weekend. Again. Like for the fourth weekend in a row. Boo.

Anyway, back to work. I guess I am not getting paid to blog whilst listening to Lil' Wayne.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Barack Attack

D. is going to a Barak Obama rally tomorrow in Indy - and I am jealous. I will be toiling away in an office building dealing with retarded technology issues and the people that create them.

Link to the rally:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/inhome

I am watching the debate as I type this. McCain's pathetic cracks at jokes are so painful to watch. You know... I didn't hate McCain before this season began. I have disliked him since he chose that anti-choice, anti-evolution crazy woman from Alaska. Does anyone take her seriously? I often wonder if McCain even believes what she says. If the Red ticket wins - I am so moving back to Canada. Not a joke.

I don't want a president who is Joe or Jane six pack. I don't. I want my president to be smarter, wiser and braver than myself. I also don't want a 70 something year old man in the office either. His expiration date is quickly approaching. Don't let the younger wife and college age kids fool you.

Obama-Biden all the way!

Winds of Change

Ever have a time in your life when you know you have a decision to make? Not a chocolate or vanilla decision, or a beer or vodka decision. But a really important decision that will surely impact the rest of your life? Well, that's where I am now.

I can see my life going one of two ways and I really don't know which to path to take. One path takes me home. Where I know I would be happy. Back to people that love me, and would fill a void in my life that has been growing for 14 years. The other path is more uncertain, yet more familiar. This path has been my life for the last four years. It's been rocky at times, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it. Each path has pros and cons. I just can't figure out which to take.

Colorado Bound

As many of my friend know, D. and I have been struggling with where to live for a very long time. Luckily, I think this may be coming to an end. We have decided to move to Boulder, Colorado. I already feel that Rocky Mountain High. No, but seriously, I do have a laundry list of concerns. They are as follows:

• No significant body of water within 1000 miles. Everywhere I have lived in my life, has been on the edge of some large body of water - either the ocean or a great lake. I like water, it relaxes me. I know I have the Rockies here, but I just don't know if it will feel the same.
  
• The prices. Who knew Colorado would be so expensive? To be perfectly honest, Boulder is the most expensive place (with the expectation of CB, Vail, Aspen etc), so I hope we can find a home. If I wanted to live in a condo - I would have stayed in Chicago.
  
• The ex factor. Can I really deal with that and her putz of a husband for the rest of my life. Vodka give me strength.
  
• The hippies. Seriously, I gag at the smell of patchouli. It's gross.
  
• The sunshine. I like the sun... but it's dreary and rainy here this week and I love it!!

I'll keep everyone posted on how house hunting day 1 goes.

-K

Tattoo removal - take 2, several months delayed

Hello! Here are the before and after picture from my last tattoo removal session. The before pics are actually after the local anesthetic if you notice the little red bumps. Anyway, progress it being made, and appointment number three is in 3 weeks. I can't wait for these to be gone.

As you can see, they are fading at a different rate. The bottom three were all done at the same place and are my oldest. The heart one (that I really do like, just not the size and location) is newer and darker. I recall when it was getting done that the "artist" had a heavy hand.

Tattoo Removal Part One

I have never been against cosmetic procedures. I would like to have my nose done, some lipo, and Botox. None of which I will probably ever do. However, I do have six tattoos (well, technically eight) of which I only actually like three.

After much thought, I have decided to get my old tattoo's removed. I have been contemplating this for some time, but assumed it was going to cost me out-the-nose and I didn't have the cash. This Christmas I spent a lot of alone time with Duke (my feline brother), and subsequently spent a lot of time at Marshall's in Vinnin Square. I picked up several really cute dresses and had planned to wear one on New Years. Well, once again, I couldn't deal with the fact that I had a HUGE tattoo showing (see Tribal Heart to the right) and opted for a shirt with a full back.

Long story short; I did a lot of Googling and calling to respectable tattoo shops for a referral. I ended up at the Ritacca Laser Center in Vernon Hills, IL despite it being almost an hour from my house in the city.

I had only planned on a consultation for one tattoo - but ended up signing up to have all three of the large ones on my back removed together. Yea me. They offer a discount if they treat multiple areas at once, and they had me at 50% the other two. The doctor insisted I get local anesthetic (in addition to the topical) since I was having such a large area done. Again, yea me. So, after 25 minutes of needles to numb my tattoos it was time for the laser.

HOLY CRAP IT HURTS!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly, anyone even thinking about getting a tattoo should get one snap of this laser before they let the needle hit their skin. Hands down the worst pain I have ever felt. In my research I read that some compared the pain to that of an elastic band snapping on your skin. Ugh... no. Maybe if the elastic band was laced with electricity and spikes! The total snapping was only for maybe 2 minutes. Oh, and you can smell burning flesh.

Click here to see an actual laser removal session.

I left the room in daze... Two minutes later, my hands were shaking and my teeth chattering. Next time I am definitely taking a Xanax before I go.

Two days later I feel OK. There was no real pain after the treatment; just uncomfortable because I have the treated areas covered with gauze and some prescription cream. At $610 a pop; I hope I see results before my next appointment April 5th.