A non-artist in family full of (lowbrow) artists

I cannot draw to save my life. Seriously, the best I can muster is stick figures. So how is it that I come from a family FULL of artists? Two of my nephews are artists and Tattoo artists. So how did I come to be surrounded by artists? GOOD QUESTION.

My nephew, Zac, started drawing when he was about 4, I believe. I remember walking into my sister’s house and seeing him sitting at the coffee table in the living room with pencil and paper and in front of him was a soda cup from Little Caesar’s Pizza Pizza. As I looked over his shoulder to see what he was drawing I was shocked and amazed to see that he had drawn the Little Caesar’s mascot exactly as it appeared
on the cup, except twice as large. Then and there I knew he was talented. And that is when I made the commitment to ALWAYS encourage his art. From buying him drawing and painting supplies to paying for him to take extracurricular art classes. Even taking him to Renaissance Faire at the age of 10 expanded his artistic nature.



My nephew Rob also started drawing at a young age. He started tattooing at an early age
and thus Zac began his apprenticeship with his big brother at an early age. Both are now amazing artists and amazing tattooists.


Now I realize that many people see tattooing as “Lowbrow” art. But really, so what? Art is art. Ed “Big Daddy” Roth is considered lowbrow, Chris “Coop” Cooper is considered lowbrow as are Brandon Bond, Dave Mann, Frank Frazetta, Frank Miller, Joseph Barbera (of Hanna-Barbera), Tim Burton and virtually every comic book artist that has ever laid pen or pencil to paper. Lowbrow art is art for the people and lowbrow artists don’t have to wait until they are dead for people to appreciate their art.

I am incredibly proud of my nephews. They can take pencil and paper or tattoo machine and ink and create beauty or whimsy out of thin air using only their imaginations. This ability is something that should be encouraged wherever it is found and in whatever style it is found. Whether it is in the traditional arts such as drawing/painting, sculpting, photography, design or in the performing arts. In these days of budgets cuts when schools are cutting art and music classes I feel that it is the responsibility of everyone to make an effort to encourage children to draw, play, sculpt, design, sing, dance and act whenever and wherever they can. They are the future and a future without art is a very dismal future and one that makes me sad to even think about.

So how did I end up surrounded by artists? I have no idea, but I consider myself LUCKY.

1,000 lifetimes...always the same

We've been together in dozens, maybe thousands of lifetimes. I have been in love with you for an eternity. It's always the same. We're never together. How many lifetimes have to pass before we can be together?

 So, here, now, in this lifetime, tell me the truth. None of your false bravado, none of the "I can't let my feelings get the better of me", just the pure, unadulterated truth. Does the thought of me being in another man's arms bother you?

The "Cult" Called Roller Derby

Oh sure, it starts innocently enough. You decide to check out a roller derby game to see what all the “hub bub” is about. You watch and think,"what the hell is going on out there?” Then the teams do a demo and the announcer explains how the scoring works and you start to think "hey this is kind of cool.” Then you go to a couple more games and you begin to call them “bouts”.

After that you get the all consuming urge to go out and see movies like "whip It " and "Blood on the Flat Track" and you find yourself up late at night searching for roller derby videos on the internet. Eventually you hear from your local league that if you volunteer to help at the next bout you can get in for free, so you volunteer. (This is where it REALLY starts), first you just help to check wristbands at the door. Then you decide “I can do more” and you start frequenting the WFTDA website and reading up on the rules so you can volunteer as an NSO (non skating official). Just the fact that you know what NSO means should be setting off the alarms, but you pay no attention to it.

Now this is where the “cult” of roller derby gets really serious…..you start thinking of a “Derby Name” because, ”well EVERYBODY has one”, and you think it’s just weird that everyone is still calling you by your given name… from this point it can go a couple of different ways….

You will think “Well maybe I will just buy a cheap pair of skates and learn to skate, maybe buy a striped ref shirt, that way if someone can’t make a game I can fill in, I wouldn’t want to leave our girls in a lurch (The fact that you think of the league as “our girls” is the second warning)

OR

You think….I really was a good skater when I was a teenager, maybe I should go back to the rink and start skating again…..I don’t really want to be a roller….but wait, it looks like so much fun! And it has to be a good work out….look at them!

NO MATTER WHAT, DO NOT BUY ROLLER SKATES! Once you buy skates They have you!

You will find yourself wearing a striped shirt and skates and yelling “I said go to the box!” at girls…. You’ll spend countless hours at the WFTDA website studying rules and requirements to become a WFTDA certified ref. You’ll join ref groups online and you’ll start filling out applications to hopefully get in as a ref at Roller Con or March Radness, or any other event or tournament that you can make it to.

Or

You will find yourself in full pads, skates and a helmet and being called “Fresh Meat” by the newbie coach. If you get this far, I’m afraid that there is no hope for you. You have been inducted to the “Cult” of roller derby

Your friends and family will only see you when there are no practices, fundraisers, bouts or committee meetings. Oh sure you’ll be home on the weekend, but you will be glued to your computer trying to watch 4 different roller derby tournaments being webcast that weekend by any number of leagues or via the WFTDA website., You will have bruises everywhere and when someone sees a bruise on your arm and says “Oh! That looks painful” You think nothing of saying “oh that’s a small one, you should see this one on my ass!” as you start to lower your pants to show your friend the prize bruise you have….so what if you’re out to dinner…they NEED to see this.

Yes this is the “cult” of roller Derby and eventually your family will join too, they will have to if they ever want to see you again.

The Psychology of me at work and other places.

If you are not on top of your own business and you incur late fees because you “forgot” do not expect me to waive said late fees. Pony up with the cash and pay your bills. I don’t care why you “forgot” or why you didn’t come in to pay on the day that you said you would.

No you cannot intimidate me. If you try, you will only serve to achieve the exact opposite that you were hoping for.

I don’t get scared, I get pissed off. Then I get even.

Yes, revenge does make me feel better.

If I make a point of ignoring you, you should probably be worried.

The Opposite of Love is NOT Hate, it is Indifference.

If I tease, taunt and harass you, it’s because I care for you, NOT because I don’t like you. (Remember, “You only hurt the ones you love.”)

I can be your best friend or your worst enemy, the choice is yours. Be sure you choose wisely. If you choose enemy, it is not likely to change in this lifetime.

I cannot watch anyone bully another who can’t or won’t stand up for themselves. It is physically impossible for me to not get involved. As such, I have often found myself in arguments or fights defending total strangers.

I am honest, but not necessarily nice. If you ask me for my honest opinion or for an honest answer be very sure that is what you really want. Chances are you won’t like what I have to say and I will never apologize for that.

Bigotry in any form is NOT ok.

Animal cruelty, neglect or abuse is not merely wrong, it is IMMORAL

Loyalty is paramount to me.

Yes I do have children. I have 2 perfectly loveable Pit Bull “Children”.

Yes, I have been known to cry. No, you will probably never see it.

Yes, I do have tattoos. So? What I put on MY body is none of YOUR business(Unless you are my tattoo artist).

I will defend my family and friends with every fiber of my being until the end of time.

Good morning....?

I have a friend, a wonderful man that would practically give you the shirt off his back if you were in need. When he posts to his facebook status %99.9 of the time it is something wonderfully happy and silly that just makes you smile. He is happy and upbeat and rarely posts anything that is a complaint.

I have other friends that will post complaining about how much the weather sucks, or how noisy it is at their hotel in Las Vegas, or how hot it is in Vegas, or about how much it sucks that they didn't get into the class they wanted at Roller Con. Or they complain that they didn't sleep well, or "how dare that cop give me a speeding ticket!". The difference between these friends and my wonderful gentleman friend is simple.

My complaining friends are perfectly healthy, out doing what they love to do with no hindrances or restrictions.

That wonderful gentleman that I know, at the age of 40 he has had a quintuple bypass, has had to medically retire from work to save his life and has been told by doctors that more than likely he will need a heart transplant. So really....who should be complaining here?

Friends you need to remember to thank the Universe every single day for everything that you have. I get so tired of logging on and seeing nothing but complaints from people that simply don't know how good they have it.


As for me, I just want to say thank you to my gentleman friend for always making me smile with his posts and thank you to the Universe for everything that I have.

2 minutes.,.

That's all just 2 minutes they had to hold it.....and they fell apart. It was disgusting!

Age is just a number.....

Age is just a number. It does not define who you are or dictate what you are capable of.

When I hear someone that is years younger than me say, “I can’t do that. I’m too old”, I really just lose all respect for them. There are things that I am doing that some believe I am too old to do. There are some that are too afraid to even attempt the things that I do or am planning to do. They are the ones that will allow themselves to grow old and die in a hospital bed somewhere of old age. They are the ones that live their lives in fear….fear of getting hurt, fear of losing their advantage of saying “I’m too old”, fear of LIVING. Because a life lived in fear is no life at all.

If I get hurt doing something that I love to do, I will heal. If I die doing something that I love to do, then I have died happy. It is not a tragedy to die doing what you love to do. The tragedy is dying never having done what you always wanted to do.