What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas!

Yup, at 47 I got a tattoo on my lower back! I still cannot believe it as I always said "I will never get a tattoo!" I just had this need to get one as a tribute to my Dad and brother-in-law. The irony is my Dad was so not a fan of tattoo's. My sister got one when she was 35 and he always gave her grief about it! (Sorry Daddy...It was just something I had to do!)

The experience was actually pretty exciting...the tattoo salon was in the Mirage Hotel. I figured that the Mirage wasn't going to have a fly-by-night tattoo parlor in their hotel and I was right. The owner, Mario Barth, has another one in Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino and both came highly recommended. We went to the salon in the afternoon and I spoke to the artist who would be doing it and I described to him what I wanted. He told us to go to our show, CHER, and come back after the show and he'd show us his design. Steve got a modified design of the same tattoo, only his doesn't have wings and his says "Jim" instead of "Daddy".

When we got back to the Mirage, it was about 10 p.m. and the whole atmosphere of "King Ink" was changed into a club. Steve and I went into a private room with "Big Tony" (who was one big Teddy Bear!). He was so moved by the events that led me to him and the reason for my getting the tattoo. Anyway, it was a little painful BUT I kept thinking about my Dad and BIL, Jimmy and it was worth the uncomfortableness, believe me! This was also Steve's first (and only) tattoo and he told me it didn't hurt at all...I was just a baby!

My sister, my girls and my sisters children are coming to FL this weekend for my fathers Memorial Service on Monday. It will be another couple of rough days for our family but at least when it is over, we can all truly start the healing process. Today was my sisters birthday and I just wanted to be with her and give her a hug. It will have to wait until tomorrow though. I so want to take her pain away...she is my baby sister, and I wish I could help her more. She is staying until Wednesday as my niece still has school. I will see her again on 6/14 as she is flying down here so that Steve can take us to Charleston to see where the accident happened and we'd also like to thank the Dentist whose office is right there and who was the first on the scene. He tried to help my Dad and BIL and we just want to thank him.

On the Band front: Just when I think I don't have one and am counting the hours until my next fill a week from Monday, I get "backed up" at lunch and full on stuck at dinner! Me thinks bread is no longer welcome! I took one bite of Panara Breads new lobster sammy and WHAM! Tonight, I didn't feel like cooking so Steve made me a hot dog. Same thing but worse! Both times bread was present so no more bread! At least not the soft kind.

I have lost 6+ lbs since my first fill on 5/3 and I am hoping that now that my life will be getting a little more normal again (if thats even possible) I will be able to get back on track with my exercising and healthy eating.

I really have been negelectful in my commenting on others blogs but I swear, I have been trying my best to keep up with Google Reader. I miss you all sooooo much...please know that!