Ten years later and I have finally completed my tattoo! I let an apprentice tatto me almost ten years ago but it was never finished because she left town. So I had three blobs of purple ink on my back yearning to be real irises. Five and a half hours of work later and thanks to my generous sweetie and Erika Jones at Ballard Slave to the Needle I have three gorgeous irises!

ok, no T-shirt. The kids got t-shirts. I got two magnets, and somehow they're both of the Coloseum. But the real gem is the wine stopper she found that matches the bowl and jug I bought last summer when we were in Florence. She also took some wonderful pictures.

Your Birthdate: August 10
Independent and dominant, you tend to be the alpha dog in most situations. - some what true
You're very confident, and hardly anything ever shakes you. - mostly true
Mundane tasks tend to drain you - you prefer to be making great plans. - true
You are quite original. When people don't "get" you, it bothers you a lot. - very true

Your strength: Your ability to gain respect

Your weakness: Caring too much what others think

Your power color: Orange-red

Yo... read more

Leo (July 23-August 22)
Biologists say the speed of thought in the human brain is normally 150 miles per hour. But I'm guessing that in the coming weeks, ideas and intuitions will be zipping around your grey matter at a higher rate. It's even possible they'll break the sound barrier on a regular basis (761 miles per hour), meaning you may hear sonic booms coming from inside your skull. Don't be alarmed if this occurs; in fact, be excited. It's a sign that your intelligence is heating up, bur... read more