I'm not a Mom on tv, but I play one in Real Life.

I’m crossing my first item off the 101/1001 list – #97 Get A Tattoo. After 3 years of debating and waiting, I finally did it. I’ve had this line drawing for years, a phoenix rising. It is so symbolic of me, both my spirit and my soul. My life keeps burning down around me and yet I will always rise. And soar. The eternal optimist. It’s my fiery determination that keeps me going and thriving. My life is better than ever. And I expect it to just keep going that way, getting better every year.

As for the tattoo experience itself, that can be summed up in two words “Freaking OOOOWWWW!!” Yeah, it hurts. A lot. Like hot knives carving me up for Sunday dinner. Crikey! I know there are people all addicted to it and everything, but this most likely is my one and only tattoo! I can’t imagine paying someone to inflict that level of pain on me again – well, not sober anyway! I tried to “zen” out during it, like I’ve heard some of the diehards do. Yeah, that so didn’t work. Of course, neither does that Lamaze breathing crap, so I wasn’t really surprised. But geez, at least when I gave birth they offered me an epidural!

The searing pain aside, Stu (my tattoo artiste) was totally awesome! I felt comfortable with him instantly, which is important since he was carving drawing something permanent on my body. He did a fantastic job, totally put me at ease, talked to me quite a bit to make sure he knew exactly what I wanted and walked me through the whole process. Stu, you totally rock!!

If you’re in the Bay Area, Stu works at Spider Murphy’s Tattoo in downtown San Rafael. They’re open 7 days a week and take appointments or walk-ins. They are like hospital sterile and clean. I knew I’d chosen the right place the minute I walked in. Very professional and friendly. The kind of place I imagine Angelina goes to get her tattoos done.

And here’s the drawing of the tattoo I got (since it’s on my lower-back, I’m not ready to post pictures of that whole “arena” just yet!)