I don't even exercise.

As Josh and I were working on his lion/deadbird tattoo,
he said I could do whatever I wanted with the rest of his arm.
No kidding.
I've had a few of those offers lately,
and I couldn't be more flattered.
(but sometimes it feels like:
"Oh good, my way. Thank you Vizzini... Which way's my way?")

So this is what got started on today;
an elephant shooting fire from it's trunk.
And flowers, of course,
though most of those are tucked under his arm.

It was a lot of outlining,
and since the next appointment isn't for a whole month,
I wanted to share the progress.
Click the photo to enlarge.

Pyrotechnics in Powderhorn

Man, it's been a minute since Painting Mondays were in effect.
But hopefully they are back on track, now,
after getting re-inspired out at Jeff Gogue's shop last week.
I started this one out there,
and finished(?) it this afternoon.
I used a photo that Meryl had texted me that morning as reference,
which you can see it on the "i love dead birds" blog here.
And if you're into that kind of thing,
check out Zadora's addition today.

Oil 8x8

















Some friends came over for a picnic style dinner tonight,
then we met up with our neighbors,
and walked across the street to the fireworks.
Powderhorn celebrates only the best holidays,
and Powderhorn Park is one of three spots to see fireworks in Minneapolis.
I love this neighborhood.

We brought a few blankets,
enough sparklers to share with everyone,
and had ourselves a time.
Meryl has a fancy new camera,
and snapped some shots of everything.


































I hope everyone had a super loud,
and bright bright bright 4th of July weekend.
Back to work tomorrow,
but it looks like a full week of fun on the books.
Some old awesome clients I haven't seen in a long time came out of hiding,
and new ones appeared out of nowhere.
(sounds so good to me)
I hope they're ready,
I just got filled up with lemonade and blackpowder.

30 and a day.

The Cucch stayed at the Louderhorn Inn all week.
Monday to Monday.
Vegan Pizza Day (at Mayday Cafe) to VPD.
Scones and coffee started our morning every day in between.























Having Albie Rock as a mutual long time friend,
and both being from CT,
we got some stuff in common.
For sure.
But matching toothless green japanese dragons?
"We GOT they".















The day after my big birthday celebrations a bunch of us went out on bikes and enjoyed spring.

Adam doesn't even notice if you lend him a bike that doesn't have brakes.
(he wouldn't have used them, anyway)
He just sails along sipping his Pamplemousse.






















This side of Powderhorn Lake is so pretty and nice and full of Spring.
If you go to the west side of the lake,
there's all the dead stuff from Winter washed up on the banks.
So if you like dead birds,
your birthday weekend is that much more complete.

















Back to work tomorrow,
and the party is over.
It sure was a weekend, though.
Thanks to everyone who made it so special.

Spreading the Message

These photos were taken by my brother, Kyle,
while he was down in Australia doing a semester abroad.
(he also took photos of lighthouses for me)
I'm sure you'll see them in print at some point,
but I couldn't wait to share.

















and

Losing Track

I keep getting surprised by how late in the day/month/year it is.
My bedtime keeps getting pushed later and later,
but I keep waking up at the same time.
And it keeps getting colder.
6 degrees Fahrenheit right now.
It makes you want to not leave the house.
(tomorrow will be an exception,
since Dark Dark Dark is back in town to play a show)

The dead bird painting is finished, dry, and photographed.
I've been working on a few other dead bird paintings lately,
but more still-lifey,
and not just floating deadness.






















I had a ton of fun working on this tattoo today.
"A pickle in a wheelchair. Hot rod flames."
There wasn't any big story to go along with it,
other than the client is friends with Chef Ryan.
The pickle is it's own story, I guess.

dead birds ARE sexy

(and the judges agree)

Who's more tired than me?
I tattooed a full 9.5 hours today,
it's 1:30 am,
and I'm waking up super early to go run a 5k tomorrow.
I know, I'm an a-hole.
I can't help it.

First day of the Minneapolis Tattoo Convention down,
and other than being beat, I'm pretty excited.
I got to do two really fun pieces,
and Matt's dead swan took Tattoo of the Day.
Here's an unbelievably hurty looking photo Meryl got of it.



And a shot of the booth while Todd and I tattooed.



Thanks to Matt and Mr Shoemaker for being the two best clients ever,
and for both sticking around to enter their pieces in the contest.
(Matt actually left, and then came back)

I'm not tattooing tomorrow,
(but I'll be attending the convention all day)
and will be back to tattooing Sunday.

And now for a cat nap before I'm off to go run.

Solemente tres dias

I didn't have too many expectations for my 3 day visit to Peru.
I figured as long as I got to see some lighthouses and dead birds,
(and didn't completely starve)
it'd be a successful trip.
It was such a strange and short adventure.
Lima is a city dealing only in extremes.
A coastal city that's also a desert.
It is always grey and foggy,
but never rains.
Old building next to new ones,
with Incan ruins right in the middle of the city.
A business hub surrounded by excessive poverty.

Here's the Faro de la Marina Lighthouse in Miraflores,
only blocks from our hotel.

Lighthouse - check.

Miraflores (part of Lima) from the "beach".

We found dead everything down there,

including some birds.

Dead Peruvian birds - check

Adam and I aren't very proficient in Spanish,
but we got by.
And I found a fully vegetarian restaurant that catered to vegans,
so of course I went every day.
Not starving - check

The rest of it was just icing on the cake.

Lots of sexy old government buildings, churches,

museums and ruins.

We did a lot of tours,

by bicycle, van, taxi, walking, etc.

The best, by far, though,

was inside the Church of San Francisco.

There's catacombs under the church,

with the remains of over 25,000 people.

They didn't allow photos,

but here's a link to exactly what we saw.

So dope.

Most of the world resides in the Northern Hemisphere,

so it was exciting to cross the equator.

Thanks to Adam for figuring out the trip,

and inviting me to join him.

Now it's back to work tomorrow.