You got Inked! ...do you regret your tattoo?

Tattoos are a permanent, visual reminder of past choices and unless surgically removed by a professional, will be etched into your skin forever with no turning back. So the question arises...to ink or not to ink?

I've been asking myself this question for over twenty years. As a rebellious teenager my right of passage included getting my ears pierced repeatedly and taking up smoking, one of which wasn't too bright. But what I really wanted was a symbolic tattoo that marked my transition into womanhood like a flower or a butterfly. Yet I kept coming back to the realization that having an artist's rendition of my 'feeling' permanently etched into my skin could easily become a regret.

My last desire to repeatedly have myself stabbed with sharp needles resurfaced a few years ago while on vacation with an old friend of mine. Both her and I want a tattoo and felt the timing of our vacay would be the perfect and memorable for the occasion and guess what?...we chickened out!
The reasons I use to justify neglecting this 'want' of mine comes down to a few things; the pain, the forever quality, the fact it may not turnout and that people may pass judgement.

If I look back, I've never even dated a man with a tattoo, is that wrong? This seems odd as nowadays the beaches are loaded with tattooed bodies. Men with their arm cuffs of barbed wire and women with their lower back tramp stamps. Tattoo's are not the taboo brand of an outlaw biker or gangster, they've become accepted almost commonplace. Trendy parlours and shops appear on main streets rather than in seedy, offbeat locations and TV shows document tattoo artisit's and their clientele. I'm personally a fan of Kat Von D, her artwork is absolutely amazing. If she would consider being my tattoo artist, I'd consider letting her poke me enough times to get a whimsical, fine line dragonfly out of her. Pssst, pass it on ;)

What I'd really like to know though is if you have any tattoos that you now regret having? and what do you did you do about it? and how do a tattoo created 25 years ago on young, tight skin look on not so young skin? Have people questioned you over it so much you're sick of explaining or do you love telling the story? Is it stretched out or distorted from weightgain, pregnancy or simple gravity? Feel free to leave your comments...

Read about Tattoos and Tattoo Removal at Wiki or check out tattoos inspired by Guerrilla  marketing techiniques in the world of advertising, ewww!

Have you think all tattoos are cool, check out Tattoo Failure for a chuckle!

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer Light

Movie Review - Precious

Welcome to What wrinkles?

Movie Reviews

Some movies are worth the watch while others fall flat and disappoint.

Here's what I think...

Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire
What wrinkles? Movie Review is... 5 out of 5!Drama - Released in 2009
Starring - Gabourey Sidibe who plays the lead character of Claireece Precious Jones
Supporting Roles - Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz

Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire portrays the heartache and lifelong, traumatic events suffered by an amazingly strong young woman known as Claireece...and Wow! this moving is realistically shocking. After watching this movie I felt very, very grateful for my life and thankful for those I love, for those who love me and for all I have in this world. I definetly recommend this movie and a box of tissue.

Hot Flashes at 40?

I'm not sure if I know what a hot flash is but if it feels anything like a hot rush of heat lingering across your entire body as though you've been lying naked on a black tin roof...then I may have had one and they suck!! For fear of passing out I actually had to sit on the floor until went away about a minute or two later.

According to my detective skills it's very possible that I'm entering Perimenopause! Well, isn't that just freakin' fantastic because I thought I only had Menopause to look forward to! Guess what ladies? Because we're so special we may even get to dabble in some long term Postmenopause as well, wtf!!
In other words, it's going to get worse before it gets better and it may never, ever really get better.


If Menopause means being bitchy, gaining weight, loosing sleep and feeling dried up all while sweating like a pig, then I  want out! If this is what men's spouses, girlfriends, friends and sisters turn into then it's no wonder men pass away earlier! Apparently one can look forward to Perimenopause beginning when you're as young as 35 and it continues until?...everyone's different so it's anyone's guess.

To prevent hot flashes and reduce their severity professionals suggest avoiding triggers such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, smoking, tight clothes and warm temperatures. That's where it gets tricky. Stress is sometimes unavoidable, I love Pepsi along with social drinking and spicy foods all while chillin' on a sunny patio wearing figure flattering, fitted clothing (plus I still smoke shhh, don't tell anyone)...hmmm what to do, what to do...? Remove most things that give me pleasure in hopes of alleviating symptoms that may or may not get worse?

Other symptoms include but aren't limited to...

- night sweats, cold then clammy sweats, irregular heart beat, irritability, sudden mood swings, irregular periods, no sex drive, fatigue, anxiety, feelings of dread, lack of focus, disorientation, mental confusion, memory lapses, incontinence, skin crawlies, aching, tender breasts, headaches, indigestion, flatulence, nausea, bloating, depression, hair loss yet increased facial hair (huh?), body odor, soft gums and weak fingernails.

For the moment I'm going to assume the odd hot flash has nothing to do with any of the above information at least until my doctor tells me otherwise.

Project Aware is an informative site directed toward ladies in all three of these 'pleasant' stages or visit Wiki for their explanation.

Note to self: stock up on ice, buy a fan and...oh shit, what was that other thing?!

Rediscover Yourself! - Find your Inner Child

Advisors suggest that adults will be happier in their chosen careers if they revert back to something they were passionate about as a child. I totally agree, but believe it not only pertains to work but to life in general! However, if you've always been dictated to, directed, bullied or swayed you may not even know or even remember what your passions are!

To recapture your inner child, is to find your innocence and start anew. Kids are full of wonder and whimsy, they're impressionable, untainted and naive beyond our worst fears. They ask far too many questions, love big, cry hard and stumble often. They're not jaded and their curious spirit allows them to dream large and imagine unbelievable things...As a the child gets older both enviroment and time inevitably changes their perspective, appearance, knowledge and skill level. While the personality traits obtained by genetics and learned behavior do not necessarily change but are changeable.

What about your own opinions, likes, dislikes and wants that were forgotten, buried, kyboshed, over ruled or otherwise unattainable by no choice of your own? Your lack of control as a youngster aided in making you who you are today by simply being exposed to other people. Quite possibly carried on into your adult life by being more of a follower than a leader. Parents innocently yet consistently express their distaste, fears, want and needs using overt adult opinions while little ears and eyes absorb this information like a sponge. Children are constantly bombarded with negative experiences which mold and shape their young minds. Many children don't ever learn to develop their own thoughts or sadly they were not allowed to even begin exploring them. If this continues the child begins projecting opinions they've adopted from someone else's experiences rather than their own and by no choice of their own.

As an adult, you can now reclaim those lost pieces of yourself, if you haven't already! You now have total control over who you are, who you want to be and your opinions and actions are your own.

Recapture your inner child by allowing yourself some precious 'Me' time with no interuptions or distractions. Focus on you by revisiting your childhood to rediscover yourself through the eyes of your inner child but this time, it's by your own rules.

Ask yourself a few questions to determine the origin of your opinions, traits & mannerisms such as...

What did you like to eat, were you allowed to eat it and if not, why not?
What did you hate to eat, were you forced to eat it and if so, why?
What were your hobbies, were they your interests or your parents?
Were you forced to participate in activities you didn't like and if so, why?
Were you not allowed to partake in your own interests and if so, why?
What did you consider fun and interesting, why did you stop and who made you stop?
What did you consider was boring, scary or sad but your opinion didn't matter and why?

Are you doing or not doing what you want because of you or someone else?

Do you change who you are depending upon who's in the room?

Recapturing your inner child occurs when your heart and mind are open thus allowing yourself the opportunity to obtain a new perspective on an old 'topic' and utilizing your freedom of choice.

By allowing yourself to dream you provide the ability to begin achieving that dream!

Those days of wearing tube tops are so over!

That's right ladies, the days of sexifying yourself in tight n' slinky tube tops and bandeau's are so over! It's time to retire those highly detailed, time consuming to design garments that apparently were originally a mistake (go figure!) and put them out to pasture. No, not you silly, toss those ugly, unflattering articles of clothing that for some sad reason became a staple in what I imagine to be the most tragic of closets!!

I've never had an affinity towards tube tops even at a young age. That would be thanks to Mr. Stork who apparently forgot to pack my breasts ;). Hind sight is a blessing in this case so I will be thankful. Maybe a funhouse mirror is sold with every tube top? When the lady puts it on she thinks she looks like Madonna!? Whereas I see something about as sexual as Spongebob!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ladies including your eyes. I love that you love yourself enough to think you look stunning and as a whole person I believe that you are, it's just your tube top that isn't!

The only exception to this rule might be that you're under the age of 25ish, have perfect perky breasts or amazing fake ones, zero body fat and still wear a strapless bra underneath. If you qualify, then go for it. If you don't gualify, please reconsider placing this fashion faux pas anywhere on your body!


How to Recycle your Tube Tops

- use them as dust wrags
- take in half the width of fabric and use as a girdle
- place your legs inside so you don't kick your spouse or friend for letting you wear these things!
- use them as a sun hat (to tan the top only)
- wear as neck or hand warmer
- recycle tubes into a crafty fabric chain (like you do with paper) and decorate your home
- place them around your bike tires, for color
- slide one over the toilet seat and cut a hole for woo woo... hmmm texture
- sew a long tube out of many, crawl inside and use as a summer sleeping bag
- slip over your books or grouped magazines
- stitch the bottom closed, add a handle and now you have a purse or lunch bag
- cover eyes when sleeping, fits two people even!
- place over your toaster, microwave or other kitchen appliance
- cut in half then restitch two mini tubes, now you have leg warmers
- pull down over your lamp shades to match the new fabric chain you could make
- pet sweater or mailbox cover
- cover your fire extinquisher


Seriously?...just say NO to the tube top, toss those babies to the curb, now!!

Need more tips? Visit Girl, where did you get that outfit?

Become a Pole Dancing Sex Kitten!

That's right, a pole dancing sex kitten! Let the tiger out of you, unleash your inner prowess and get movin' and groovin' on the pole. I've always admired those dancers who seem to move on the pole as though they've done it their whole lives. Yet, we both know most little girls don't grow up wanting to be the best pole dancer ever. How do they do it? My guess is lots and lots of practise and loads of self confidence! A great hairday, an outfit that rocks and the perfect pair of high heels may help too, for confidence of course.

Pole dancers need to be strong, fit and able twirl on 4" heels so balance, core workouts and the endurance to sustain motion for a three song set. Whew, I'm out of breathe just saying that. I've always admired a Dancers ability to perform a dazzling routine on stage and look stunning doing it!! To this I applaud and give credit to those woman and for those men who sit in gynecology row, try not to look too creepy and don't forget to tip!

Becoming a sex kitten on the pole is a feat not easily achievable but certainly attainable if one tries. Right!? So, I'm going to give it a shot too and I will keep you posted as to my progress. I imagine it will be rather comical, potentially painful even to watch ha ha!!

If a twirling with a long piece of cool steel between your legs doesn't work for you? No problem, don't miss gettin' your groove on, there are alternatives! Such as...

Salsa, Hip-Hop, Tango, Belly Dance, Swing, Samba, Meringue, Tap, Lambada, Moshing, Techno, Square, Cha Cha, Jazz, Clogging, Step, Conga, Chicken Dance, Break Dance, Disco, Line Dancing, Grind, Hula, Jig, Macarena, Pachanga, Stomping...

Here is an example of what dance pole not to use and just not what to do in general!





Update

The search for a safe, fully useable, safe (did I say safe?) dance pole has been unsuccessful so far, not for lack of trying. My rural location is hindering my search so cold calling adult boutiques to find one in stock begins the process. However, only one business within a reasonalbe driving distance had one pole in stock and it's not the pole I want.


I've researched this particular pole already and found that it is a novelty pole. Not for swinging, twirling or putting your full body weight on. Be sure when you are buying yours that you check for this. The price was $100 so perhaps you get what you pay for. I don't need to spend that to have a shiny piece of steel to pose against hence one may need to spend more to get the right product!

Online shopping, here I come! I'll keep you posted as too what I find, perhaps with more specifics on each product, to make it easier for you.





Next Update

Alrighty, so it's taken me a few days to explore. Cold calling was ruled out after the first few calls. I found most adult novelty shops are the only places nearby that have any and they are all low quality poles. There are numerous manufacturers that offer dance poles. The most popular seem to be Peek-A-Boo, Carmen Electra, lil Mynx and X-Pole. Out of those four, I've narrowed my chosen model down to the X-Pole. I encourage you to do your own research too, make sure all the angles are covered for what is in your best interest ie; safety, quality, price etc. If you do learn something bad, please let me know!


Apparently the X-Pole offers a 50 mm chromed steel dance pole that is designed for strength, durability and portability and weighs 20kg in total, minimum height is 7'4". They say first time users will take just 10 minutes to install the pole and all the information and equipment that you need is included. Extensions are also available (not necessary for myself). The X Pole can be both static and spinning depending on your preference.


This site offers reviews on various dance poles, this site offers more reviews. The following video goes through the set up process of the X-Pole and really shows just how durable and sturdy it is.





Now, it's my turn to try...hmmm, which style of dance ought to I shoot for videa a) or video b)?! ;o)