Happy New Year, 15(ish) hours ahead.

The Minneapolis Airport, snowy and cold on December 30th.



Welcome to Japan, more than a day later.



Oh man,
it's not even 5 am here New Years Day in Japan,
and I've already showered and been up for an hour.
We lost a day there, somehow, and I haven't completely figured it out.
13 hour plane flights aren't the end of the world,
but the whole time change thing is so weird.

We're off to go see the sunrise,
the very first sunrise of the New Year.
That's a special thing over here.
And since we're both wide awake,
we're ready to start 2010 off right.

I wish you all an awesome New Years,
whenever it reaches wherever you are.
No time for looking back at 2009,
we're off to see Japan.

Getting out of Town





The footprints, and the footprint makers.

This was the quietest Christmas I can ever remember.
We usually spend the holiday with my parents,
my sister, and my brother in Maryland,
and that house's decibel level becomes terrifying.

If you think I get too loud,
get ready for this admission.
My brother Kyle is far louder.
The volume only multiplies when everyone is trying to shout over everyone else.
The first couple years Meryl hid behind the couch,
until she realized that we weren't actually fighting.

This year, there was none of that.
We had Adam around,
and Ryan and Rebecca brought sexy presents
and vegan cheesecake Christmas Eve.
Then Christmas Day we had Casey, Ardeshir, Adam, and Camden
around the table with us chowing down some banana pecan pancakes that Meryl made.
So good.
In between all of that,
there was a lot of shoveling happening,
and planning for Japan.

In 48 hours we'll be on a plane heading West.
So West It'll be Far East.
Lots of last minute preparations to get done today,
especially since tomorrow I'm cramming in one last work day.
What an a-hole.
(it sounded like a good idea when I booked it)


Someone stole a bag of melting salt off of our front porch last night.
And last year someone took our shovel.
But I won't have to worry about all of this after tomorrow.
It's a balmy 50º in Tokyo right now,
can't wait to be there.

Tribal Tattoo The Upper Arm

Flower Water Tattoo

Tribal arm tattoo

Unique Female Tattoos

tattoos for girls

tattoo removal for a girl

PERMANENT by Riot Productions



PERMANENT @ Infusion
2nd Jan 2010

A union of steel and flesh, the art of ink and skin – PERMANENT will dispel the taboos surrounding the world of counter-culture in Singapore.

Join us for a New Year party like you’ve never seen before at the aptly-named Infusion, and prepare to experience a mesmerising night of art where the skin becomes the canvas. With live tattooing and piercing exhibitions and sessions from four of the foremost tattoo studios in Singapore, as well as professional skin airbrushing, Henna painting, and a mind-blowing graffiti showcase, we promise an evening that will be permanently seared into your mind.

Location: 16A Dempsey Road, Infusion
Doors Open: 9.30pm
Door Tickets: $18
Presale Tickets: $16
Each ticket entitles to 1 free drink and 1 airbrush tattoo
For Presale Tickets please contact Kenneth Sim @ 9691 0569

Participating Tattoo/Art Studios:
1)
Immortal Tattoos
2) Primitive Art Piercing & Tattoo Studio
3)
Visual Orgasm
4) Art Inflict
5) Attic Gothic Lolita Punk
6) Path (Body Art & Special Effects)

Event is gonna be a tattoo exhibition/new year party.
Activities going on are the following:
1) Live Tattooing from all studios
2) Live Piercing (Walk-in)
3) Airbrush
4) Henna
5) Body painting showcase
6) Body Piercing showcase
7) Graffiti showcase
8) Live spinning by DJ Nel of Riot Productions

*send your questions to info@riot.sg

Whiter than White

White Christmases.
It looks like we're getting enough snow to last till next December.
We've received 7 inches so far,
and they're promising another 7 today and tomorrow.
Adam made it to Louderhorn Inn just in time to get snowed in again.

But good thing the snow didn't start till last night,
because I packed an entire week of tattooing into just two days.


Almost every time Adam comes to town,
he gets another tattoo.
This year alone I think we've done 5.
An octopus, a narwal, an aircraft exit diagram, and Kissena.
He got a puffin tattoo this trip,
and right before the close of the year.



Sheep goat hybrids are real.
And real dope.
(and real sterile, like mules)
Amanda is sleeving her arm with my weird little animals.
(that's her booby's blue foot right above it)



And Chef Ryan came in to work on his kitchen themed sleeve.
Antique wood stoves are so sexy.





Adam has been insanely helpful with this japan trip coming up.
He's the best ever personal travel agent, for sure.
He's been to Japan three times,
and uses the Google like no one else I've ever seen.

Adam gave us the insider tips,
Meryl found our passports and atm cards,
and Casey's staying at Louderhorn Inn with Shamira while we're gone.
So we're pretty much ready to leave on the 30th,
we just need to pack now.

Cobra tattoo

cat skull tattoo

butterfly tattoos

King Ink Coming to Las Vegas!


Mario Barth is teaming up with the Mirage Resort & Casino and The Light Group in Las Vegas to bring a new tattooing experience unlike any other. The new concept titled, King Ink, combines tattooing and night lift inside the Mirage Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

The 4,000 square foot venue includes an exclusive lifestyle tattoo studio, interactive lounge, and bar room. It is set to launch early Spring 2010. We can’t spoil all the surprises yet, but be sure to check out King Ink Las Vegas Website and subscribe to be contacted with more information leading up to the launch.

Also, if you are a Tattoo Artist or Piercer who wants to advance their career, apply for a job now with King Ink and get in on the ground floor!

Cross and Wings Tattoo

cross and Wings Tattoos

Cross Wing Tattoos

Free Tattoo

Heart Flower Tattoos

heart flower tattoo

And when the dark takes over, don't you worry dear...



Happy Winter Solstice, everyone.
The first day of winter,
and the Dark Dark Dark(est) day of the year.

Adam was supposed to fly out to MPLS on Sunday,
but the big snowstorm scared Delta into canceling all of their flights.
Then he went back and forth for a while,
and about ten minutes ago I found out he's landing at 1 am tonight.
Awesome.

He spent Xmas out here two years ago at our house,
but we weren't there that time.
No kidding.
He came out here to stay with Shamira (my dog),
and visit some of his other Minneapolis friends.
I'm excited he'll be here again this year, especially since we will be, too.

I don't really get into Christmas much.
(Meryl and I don't even usually exchange gifts)
But this year seems different.
Meryl decided that since we'd be around this year,
we needed a real tree.
So I bought some old ribbon at the thrift store,
and decorated it up.
We even got a real wreath for the front door.
I think it has something to do with owning a house.
It's got to look good, you know?
Louderhorn Inn is nicely put together,
it's the first day of winter,
and guests are on their way here.

While Adam was busy not arriving on Sunday,
Meryl and I were in Redwing with Molly and her husband Ryan.
It was snowing, but not too cold (read: above zero),
so we went for a little hike.
This winter thing hasn't been too bad yet,
but, of course, it's just the beginning.