A tattoo of redemption
Most of you know I’ve been talking about putting some ink on for some time now. My biggest hurdle was that I couldn’t find the right artist. Of course, it also took a while to figure out my concept… what did I really want?
I wanted the tattoo to turn heads… I wanted it to be original… I wanted it to look like me.
A while back, my buddy Tim introduced me to Melissa over at Professional Tattoo. She had done some great work for him and I knew I wanted her to tattoo me… but I still didn’t have a concept.
A few months later, I had a concept but nothing visual to hand her. I was hoping she might design something from my description. A few days later, I get a text with a picture of her idea.
Wow, I thought… that is exactly what I wanted!
My concept:
I wanted something wicked and visually appalling… in the midst of it’s folly… turning it’s back and seeking redemption.
Mel nailed it. I love it!
Here are a couple pictures of my new tattoo after a week (still healing and scabbing)
Here’s a shaky left handed shot from my iPhone while Mel works her magic!
Here is the mural right after Mel had completed it… red huh?
I will post more pics after it heals up. Meanwhile… I’m already thinking about my next tattoo :-)
Professional Tattoo
2707 Fulton Dr NW
Canton, OH 44718
(330) 452-8044
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My new Bike
That’s right… out with the old and in with the new!!
I traded my ‘03 Vulcan 1600 Classic on a brand new ‘09 Victory Vision. I put almost 2000 miles on it in less than a month and will be posting my ongoing thoughts on this bike.
I can hear you asking yourself… why am I not jumping up and down about this bike? Well… I am… at times.
I love how this bike looks and feels. Its a HUGE motorcycle and I fit into it. No other bike rides like this Vision. You have to ride one.
This Vision just ‘pulls’ you. It has so much power it is crazy. It would be scary if it didn’t handle so well. It is the smoothest riding bike out there. (with the exception of the Gold Wing…who knows) – No vibration, no harsh impact from bumps and it takes corners like nothing else in it’s class.
I love my Vision!
BUT… there is another part to this…
The guys over at Victory decided to satisfy EPA regulations by adding ‘closed loop injection’ with no way to modify the way it performs. Even authorized service professionals cannot change this.
This makes louder pipes almost an impossibility without a bunch of backfiring and missing. The dealer’s hands are tied, Victory refuses to address this serious issue and the only way around it… is to possibly void your warranty using third party add-ons.
The dealer I bought this from has gone all out to assist me with this and I think we may have gotten all the issues addressed. (time will tell)
I will continue to post our progress.
Update:
I think the kinks are finally out. I have gone about 250 miles on the bike with 2 real backfires. The adjustments to the fuel tuner have increased the performance quite a bit.
I removed the trunk to see how much the overall look changes… you can really hear the pipes now.
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The day Midnight died
On July 8th, a beautiful voice was silenced.
‘Angelic’ was how one might describe the voice of Midnight. He produced sounds with his voice that commanded emotion from the listener.
In a world where words have become almost without meaning, Midnight painted beautiful pictures with the English language. A genius, he gave life to some of the greatest, most inspired songs with just his breath. His was certainly one of a kind.
(click on the arrow below to listen to some of my favorites)
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RIP Midnight
Through arching moonbeams of light we glide
in bending shadows of warm starlight
Angels of colors light the night as they fly
transcending into the electric sky
Related: Favorite Hooks -Burning Bridges
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Why I HATE Directv
I was a Directv customer for over 5 years and to be honest, I never had too many issues with them. The service was pretty decent until I ‘upgraded’ to the HD DVR. The equipment was expensive, there was no way to ‘demo’ the service and of course.. the coveted 2 year agreement.
Like it or hate it… you were in a contract. A 2 YEAR contract. I was counting the seconds.. all 63,072,000 of them.
The HD DVR interface was very sluggish… the service sucked. Calling ‘tech support’ meant long hold times and talking to some guy from India or Mexico.
Root canal anyone?
I finally had enough in April of this year. Called and told the rep to get this thing outta my house. She said a box would be coming via FedEx, I should receive it in a couple days.
Guess what… the box never came. Can you guess what did?
That’s right… a bill for $618.
Of course, after a couple weeks, I forgot about the box. She never sent it… and life is busy. But they didn’t forget to start billing me for the receiver.
In May, the big ‘ol bill shows up in my mailbox. I freak out.
Called again, talked to a Billing Supervisor… the key word here is supervisor. After a little back and forth, she removed the charges and promised a box would be sent within a couple days.
I had enough by now and just wanted to cancel my service completely. I asked her “what would it take to buy out the remainder of the contract and cancel the service?” – “hold as I figure the total..” – long pause – “$192.79” She says.
Are you sure? No future bills? “Yes… $192.79” she says confidently.
I must sound like a broken record here… but I even ask her again. “$192.79 is the total sir.”
Don’t believe me? Listen to the highlights of the conversation yourself…
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Just when I thought I was free and clear of these incompetent boobs… guess what shows up a month later???
That’s right… another bill for $56.88
It seems the Billing Supervisor was incorrect and the verbal contract we entered into for $192.79 was negated by the all powerful, faceless corporation.
You’ve heard it before… it’s the insincere rambling you hear right before you get screwed. “We’re so sorry that person told you the wrong thing… but this is the right thing… now pay us for our incompetence”
Assholes.
Last week, I called again and talked to yet another Billing Supervisor… and after a whopping 45+ minutes on the phone, I resolved nothing.
When I explained the previous Directv representative had assured me this would be the last bill… [another long pause] – I’m sorry sir… the previous representative was incorrect, we will not remove the additional charges.
I did get several of those corporately inspired ‘apologies’
Oh well… why go on and on about it… listen to the highlights of the call yourself.
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So my next call was to the ‘Customer Advocate Team’ as listed on the Directv website.
Customer Advocate Team… what a joke this is.
A few hours later, I get a call from ‘Cindy’ – who I can only describe as baiting and argumentative. Her voice reminded me of that stupid Bernadette Peters character in the movie “The Jerk”.
After a few minutes with her… I knew she wasn’t calling to help me. She was calling to shut me down, shut me up… the corporate advocate.
At one point she was telling me “Directv advised me there may be future bills” – when I explained this wasn’t the case and in fact, the ‘Billing Supervisor’ assured me there would not be any further bills.
I then asked her if she wanted to hear the recorded conversation… her words were:
“If you are asking me if I want to hear recorded conversation of our representative telling you there will be no further bills… I choose no.”
WTF? Are you kidding me?
I had to go. After a couple choice words… I hung up. What a bitch.
I paid the damn bill.
Not because I owed it… but because a huge, faceless corporation essentially sent Bruno over… and I need my knees.
Isn’t extortion a crime?
Hey.. we say you owe money.. and there’s nothing you can do about it. Pay up or face the consequences.
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