Unblemished Alabaster Skin

Alright everyone, it has officially happened.  My unblemished skin is no more.  I have been INKED!!!

I’ve always loved tattoos, but when you take into account my absolute fear of needles and the inability to find something I’d want on my body for the rest of my life...I just stuck with henna and markers.  My sister and I got to talking one day and we started playing around with sister tattoo ideas.  Lexi came up with a great design, but I was leaving the country.  We tried to get to each other before I left, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

Some of the tattoo ideas

It’s taken over two years, but we are finally on the same continent, in the same country, in the same state, and in the same city.  DONE!!  This may not happen for another 2+ years so we had to jump on that.

We've made it!!!

She organized us to get them done at Sunday Tattoo after a recommendation by her trainer.  When we came in, we met with Chris who got us ready to go.  When she found out this would be my first tattoo and it was going to go on our feet, she warned me it was one of the most sensitive spots.  I assured her I’d had plenty of time to prepare myself.  ::cough::  I don’t know if prepare is the right word.  Maybe resigned myself to the pain is more like it.

I decided to go first as I knew I’d chicken out otherwise.  I was already second guessing my decision to have this done, but we’d waited so long.  Plus Lexi probably would have killed me if I changed my mind at the 11th hour.

The moment of truth

Holy Jesus Mary and Joseph!!!!  I’m very glad the massage table was sturdy as I probably would have pulled it to pieces with my death grip.  I initially tried to laugh/cry to relieve the pain but she told me it made my foot shake.  So I was left with just crying.  I’ll admit it, I cried like a baby.  A single shot used to be able to bring me to tears.  This was like a continuous, never-ending round of shots.  And then she’d hit the top of the design and…. ::shudder::  I was so pitiful Lexi couldn’t even do the video.  Instead she tried to keep me calm and breathing.  It was finally over and let me tell you.  I will NEVER be doing any design that takes longer than several minutes.

During Lexi’s turn she made faces and muttered a few expletives but was a heck of a lot calmer than my round.  I told her stories from my roadtrip to distract her while I apparently was bleeding on the floor.  Damn gal barely had any swelling and no blood!!

Blood, ink, and cling wrap oh my!

After a couple of hours wrapped in cling wrap, here’s the finished product!!  The design is a heart for each of us with the word older sister (kaikuaana) or younger sister (kaikaina) in Hawaiian.  When we stand with our feet together, it makes the infinity sign. This is why we had to be together to make this design work.  I’m absolutely in love with it and can’t wait to see how it fully settles into my skin.  It’s going to take some time to realize that yes, I do actually have a tattoo now. The pain was worth it...I think. Just kidding Lexi!! You're worth going through the pain. I LOVE YOU!!! And our new tattoos!!!

With our forces combined!

There's something different.  I can't quite put my foot on it.

**All photos are property of Kira Zebroski**

Lift Off!!

Just wanted to send a quick hello and goodbye as I get ready to board the plane that will take me Stateside for the first time in almost 2 years.  You ever notice I seem to find the most free time to write posts when I'm in airports?  Huh...

Anyway, I'm both nervous and excited to be coming back to the old US of A.  It's been a while and the culture shock may be a bit of a, well...shock.  I just changed over some money to USD and it was weird seeing the money all be the same color.  I'm used to the Monopoly color scheme most countries sport.  I'm going to have to look really closely to make sure I don't mix up my notes.

I'm also a bit overwhelmed with my travel schedule.  I never can do anything halfway and so I'm making it to 5 states in 6 weeks.  Whew!

**By the way, I've had very little sleep so my typing style may be a bit slap happy.  I'd apologize but I'm just proud I'm getting a post out.

So those of you following my travels, here's the low down on where I'm heading:
LA 23-24th
Florida 24-3rd
Pittsburgh 3-7th
Rochester 7-24th
NYC 24-26th (oop!  I had the wrong date.  Not bad for only 1 mixup)
Seattle 26-1st
Wisconsin 1-10th

And fly back to Australia on July 10th.  I've actually had to make myself an itinerary with all my flights/buses to keep them straight.  I'll try and keep updated on how things are going but you know how it goes.

They're calling my flight so ::massive hugs, cuddles, and kisses to all::  And see many of you soon!!!!!!!

Me and Monkey Jr getting settled in

**all photos are property of Kira Zebroski**