Permanent Marker

I passed the GMATs! Well, I didn't pass, but I got a high score - enough to get into grad school and perhaps get a scholarship! So, go me! Yay!

Onto the basis of this post. One of my very best friends works at a Tattoo Shop. Yea, like on L.A. Ink, only with real people that aren't real bitches. And she's about 10,983,029,834,837 times cooler than those reality TV "stars". Anywho, I went to go visit her one day for lunch as I had promised a few months ago. (Better late than never?) And, of course, hilarity ensued. Or, rather, craziness ensued, as is usually the case on the streets of great old Philadelphia. (As a side note: there is a tattoo parlor down the street. While my same friend was getting tattoo'd there a few years ago, we ran into a homeless person with a gorilla mask on, making money by posing with tourists kids. Go Philly.)

Let's call my awesome friend Lyla. Lyla works as the shop girl. She's answers the phones, gives price quotes, is a poster child for cute tattoos, and generally helps everyone out. When new customers go in, there's a likely chance they'll talk to her first. If they are intimidated by her, chances are they will also be intimidated by the large needles that will permanently ink their skin.

While we were standing outside a woman walks up to the shop. In order to save a cigarette, Lyla stops her before she walks in to talk to her about what she wants tattoo'd on her.

A little background on this woman: 6' 4", with three in heels on. Definitely either was a man, or still is. African-American, MAC makeup artist.

She wants a tattoo of her boyfriends name across her throat in 4-5 inch letters. Lyla explains that the artists won't generally tattoo something somewhere so visible unless the person already has visible tattoos and how maybe the woman wants it on her hand so its easier to cover up, just in case, God forbid, anything happens.

As we walk into the tattoo shop and grab one of the artists for a consult, the tranny mentions she also wants some cover up work done on two other tattoos and proceeds to show us the other two tattoos. Are you ready?!?!?! THEY WERE TWO OTHER DUDES NAMES IN HEARTS AND FLOWERS. Are you stupid??? Yes, yes you are.

After the price quote of around $400 was given for each tattoo, I'm sure the tranny will never return, but if she does, I fully expect Lyla to call me so I can come in and watch. And laugh. Luckily the tattoo shop is right next to a liquor store. Perfection.