tattoo number two?

So I've been toying with this idea lately (for the past month and a half) that I'd like another tattoo, probably in the form of some sort of armband. Perhaps needless to say, Al isn't really into the idea (he hates it). He doesn't want the tattoo to show at, perhaps, a wedding where I'm wearing a sleeveless dress. At least, that's what he says. He probably prefers that it never shows. Ever. Because he doesn't like tattoos. Last night, however, I got a preview of what such a tattoo might look like--especially if it was done by a very bad tattoo artist who was a bit too giggly while she was working.

Yesterday was a wonderful, procrastinatory day in which I spent way too much money, hung out with friends, and so far do not regret in the least (I'm doing my best to ward off the, "What in the world was I thinking because I couldn't afford the time or money I spent doing that" regrets that are almost inevitable in the life of a grad student). It started off the usual way for a Saturday with a workout on the elliptical machine and a Perkins breakfast with Dana. I spent much of the time bemoaning the work I needed to do. Then, as we were getting up to leave, I said, "I really want to go to New York & Company." I knew they were having a 40% off everything sale and, being one of my favorite stores, I was having a very hard time passing it up. It didn't take much for Dana to convince me that we should spend our afternoon shopping. Five hours and $250 later I had new unmentionables from Victoria's Secret, two new skirts, a tee-shirt, a purse, and a necklace from NY&Co., and two new pairs of wedding shoes (a pair of heels for the reception, flip-flops for the ceremony) from DSW Shoe Warehouse. Then, when we arrived home, I decided I wasn't possibly going to start working at 6:30 at night (it takes a while to drive to the city with a real mall--I felt like I was actually back at home in civilization while I was there), so told Dana I would pretty myself up and head on over to get an early start on our going-out plans for the evening.

I arrived at Dana's and Kate's apartment and soon everyone was there--everyone being us three and Stephanie and Scott. Sometime during the night, Dana pulled out a black Sharpie marker and decided to give Stephanie tattoos. I got one, too--an armband of viney leaves. It is bee-you-tee-ful--and still on my arm, although in all fairness I haven't tried to wash it off yet. The night was fun (well, except for the other people's party part--people whom I don't know and a party after which Kate was tired and decided to leave us) and included half a glass of ice-water being poured down my shirt, Dana losing a shoe, Stephanie finding out that she's really bad at table football, and Scott having parmesan cheese dandruff. Oh, and gyros bought from and prepared by two of my favorite students, one former and one current. Finally, a night worth writing about. I was worried that my life was getting boring!

No, my life is not boring, not all the time. I have another physical reminder of that (besides the pretty tattoo) in the form of a pulled leg muscle that runs, somehow, from my calf to my hamstring on my left leg. It's a bit painful with every step I take, and although I went to bed without the pain--and got up and wandered around a few times during the night without noticing anything--for some reason when I finally rolled out of bed at 9:30 this morning, it was there. I have no idea how I could have done something like that in my sleep, but I also know my memory cells were in no way damaged by last night's festivities. This is a mystery to me, one that I hope fades away by the time I try to work out tomorrow morning.

The end.

P.S. The pic, by the way, is of Dana and Kate, but not from last night. Don't worry. They still look pretty much the same. :)