I'm sorry, sj. The good news is that prostate cancer is one of the most treatable ones there is; my grandfather was diagnosed a few years ago, and he's fine now after chemo and radiation.

BLESS Matilda and her toes! Bless!

And dear lord, how did Princess Em get so big?

Fay! Have you seen examples of your tattoo artist's work?

She's done 5 of my friend's tattoos, and they're exquisite. Granted they're a very different proposition from my own design, being black line work rather than outline-less colour work, but 3 of them are VERY complex - a very detailed & ornate buddha design, a matching female buddha (?) and a Ganesh - all of which were custom done. They're all lovely. She's also done one piece of colour work on him sans outlines, which was all red (the stylised Japanese setting sun thingy), but gradiates very subtly from the strong red in the centre to an ever softer and more faded-out red at the edges, using different inks.

Is she genius enough to render a peacock feather?

Judging from the photographs of her own work that she's got up around her studio, she's done plenty of colour work with designs of orchids and lillies and butterflies and suchlike, and I'd say she's as good an artist as I am. Using pencils it only took me 10 minutes to copy a feather from a photograph and fiddle with it until it looked about right. The design itself is detailed, but it isn't complex - certainly it's less complex than the designs she's already done on my friend, and there's a lot more flexibility about how one renders individual barbs on the feather than there is about the details of the Ganesh or Buddha image. The fiddly bit will be making the colours on the eye work, and trying to get it as detailed as possible. However, I've just bought four peacock feathers from the market this morning as an additional visual aid.

Are you sure you want to start with something so big?

Yes. Because the thing of it is that I'm thinking about the whole body as the canvas in which empty space is as important as line and colour, rather than thinking of a nice wee design and then sticking it somewhere. The shape interacts with the space, and because it's a feather, and quite a flexible and haphazard one, hopefully it should still work and look good regardless of how the body moves (or indeed changes shape). I like the idea of having something beautiful and dramatic which is in a place where it won't be casually visible - and of having no other tattoos. I may add to this design (I was pondering getting some wee outline-less colourful stars around it, but decided to leave that until later and stick with the feather for now) but I don't think I'll be getting another one.

I have concerns.

Well, it's kind of you. I know that my wee sister and my parents will be gutted if and when they find out, because none of them like tattoos AT ALL (although I have some hopes that they may come around to seeing that it's a very pretty thing after all). My best friends are REALLY not keen on tattoos either. I know that even though I feel very positive about this it's still possible that I may be making a mistake, but you know, I've spent five or six years thinking about getting a tattoo, and this design seems really right to me.

And also... I spend my whole life NOT taking chances. I think that for once I'd rather regret something I have done than something I haven't.

And also - I can't think of the last time I considered any part of my body beautiful. I mostly just try to ignore it. I really like the idea of having something beautiful on my skin - even if nobody but me and the cat ever see it.

Apparently the RIAA has been given exclusive rights by the US Copyright office to collect all royalties for every song played on internet radio, even if the artists are not members, even if they don't want them to. And to get the royalties, you have to pay to join their subsidiary.

[link]

Anyone around?

I need a second opinion. My nose started running badly yesterday, and the post-nasal drip ripped up my throat. I'm up after only 4 hours of sleep and the nose is still running and it hurts like a bitch to swallow. Claritin didn't touch it, and the good Sudafed only made a small dent. I have to be on a plane a week from today for work.

Do I go to urgent care or wait and see if I feel better?

How much do I enjoy the fact that TCG and I could sleep in today and we don't have to worry about strangers in our home? So much.

We ended up putting in an offer on an apartment that I am not sure I want to live in. The apartment itself is very nice, but it's on a busy main street. It does have an off street parking lot, but it might be difficult for guests to find parking. Again we offered less than what the landlord wanted, and he said he wanted the weekend to think about it. We'll see.

Maria is the mucus colored or clear? If it's the former, you should probably go to the urgent care.

sj, it's primarily clear. I've developed mild allergies over the past 4 years, but it's never been this bad (IF it's allergies). My glands are slightly swollen but I don't have a fever.

Blech. This sucks.

Allergies are very bad this year, so it could just be your mild allergies reacting to the horrible season. If you think you're going to be very uncomfortable flying, you should go to the urgent care. They might give you a nasal spray that could help.

Maria, have you considered a neti pot? It may bring you some relief, especially if it's allergies. (And, because of the season even if it's viral/bacterial the tree sex is probably exacerbating the situation). Also, since you're so short on sleep, I'd go the Benedryl route. If it doesn't stop the dripping, it may push you over the edge to sleep. Feel better!

sj, I would just like to hear that you're free of all the troubles you're having with your current living situation.

Some fellow who bore a strong resemblance to my DH got up and made me waffles this a.m. and then did the laundry. I'm torn about wanting my old DH back or whether I like this imposter better.