I have a whole ritual, because my tattoo artist still lives in my hometown which is about 370 mile drive.
Two months prior, I make the appointment because that's seriously how far in advance he's booked. Then I have to get hotel arrangements, because I no longer have family or friends in the area. Then I fill up the Honda and drive, drive, and drive. One time I actually drove STRAIGHT to my appointment at the shop from LA
But usually I settle in the room and go to the shop the following morning.
We've been working on my two sleeves since 2009. This requires a lot of emailing of ideas back and forth. My tattoo artist is the kind of artist who won't even do your piece if he thinks it will look stupid or doesn't like it for whatever reason. He's also the owner of the shop, so he can do that. So it's usually a lot of me saying "I would like it to be black and red" and him saying "no, we're doing it brown." I have a tattoo of an angel on the left arm which I wanted to be on my right arm beneath the waves and pirate ship, and he was like "you want him to be flying under the ocean? That doesn't make any goddamn sense. We're putting it on the left arm or we aren't doing it."
Anyway, so I drive for 6 hours and usually book a 6 hour appointment. There's a vegetarian restaurant fairly close by that I absolutely love so I always go there immediately afterward for fake chicken burgers and a vegan shake. Yum.
I never wear makeup to the tattoo shop because I know after a 6 hour drive I'm just going to look like shit anyway so who cares.
I usually go in either June or August. I'm going to try to see
@Kelly next time I go up, she lives only about 45 min away from there. BUT MAN IS THAT 45 MIN DRIVE ON A CRAZY, TWO-LANE MOUNTAIN PASS OR WHAT.
This is the most embarrassing piece of work since Clint Eastwood painted his wagon.
(the question is, to eat the previous day or not to eat 
)
Let’s definitely meet up. Let me know as soon as you make your appointment 
Yellow Kelly 
