What a wild weekend for otherwise normally tame people. The overall story is Kim had continuing education classes downtown seattle all day saturday and sunday. I drove her down, and spent the better part of my free time at UW doing homework. I also got to relive my downtown work days by walking around the old hood. During the day saturday I kicked around the idea of going to Slave to the Needles newer, 2nd shop. They are ranked the best tattoo shop in all of Seattle for 5 or 6 years now. But i resisted, knowing I would succumb to an impulse tattoo when I'd rather plan them out more going forward. After class Kim said though she wanted to go, and having already been on my mind, it didn't take much arm twisting. We went, and unfortunately they were booked up for the evening. We set an appointment for the following day, 7pm instead. We then went across the street to an Thai restaurant that was terrific. Sunday studying got boring, so in the afternoon is when i did my Seattle walk. I then at 3pm went to the massage place for a 1 hour clinic where they practice everything they've learned so far. It was a little hokey for me, but none the less. Then from 4-5:30 I parked infront of a Holiday Inn, sat in my car, and surfed the net using the free wireless internet the hotel provides. We then went to the tattoo shop area. Being early, we decided to eat pizza. That went fast, so we went back to the Thai place and split one entree. Now it was almost 7pm. The original plan was to get a moderately sized tattoo, Day of the Dead style (mexican halloween type of holiday) skull on her ankle. The appointment was booked for 2 hours, 7pm-9pm. Well thinks worked out great in the end, but it ended up being a 7pm to midnight stay at the tattoo parlor. First, the artist had to draw up an original design. That took a good hour and a half. Once the tattoo began it was a mere 3.25 hours until completion. The drawing was great, the artist did a nice job on it. The pictures don't do it justice, it's very shaded and detailed, the crappy Sidekick camera sucks. All in all a smashing success, although a long night. Long for the artist as well, as the shop closed at 11pm, and his wife had come to pick him up and had to wait around until after midnight. He did not rush though, as he did very precise details on it in that last hour, when I would have been tempted to rush it and get out of there. It was the guys 40th birthday also none the less. Monday at work was no picnic running on 5 hours sleep, I think I'm still recouping from all the late nights and restaurant eating this weekend.