I Have Moved My Blog

I have decided to run my blog from my own web site. Click here to go there... See ya!

Dizzy Me, Where's My Pride.

Good grief, I drove all the way into Portland, at least a forty-five minute to hour trip this morning, to watch the Gay Pride parade. I looked it up online and I'm sure I looked at the date.. I must have... It's right there and it clearly says Sunday, June 18th.

Anyway, as I found out today is Saturday the 17th... oops. There is a festival area down at the water front today but I had to wait around until noon before it opened. Not much there just a few food booths and trinket vendors along with several other clubs, groups and political booths. Portland Police and Multnomah County Sheriff both had a booth for recruiting. Didn't see a lot of people showing interest at their booths. I did manage to spend $15.00 on a t-shirt from a Seattle company called ajaxx63. I got the bear shirt to go with my new tattoo. Have to work Sunday so I guess I will have to wait until next year to see the parade.

My Weekend At Last

This has been a long work week. It always seems that way when I do more administrative work. I didn't get out on the road much this last week. Meetings, interviews and lots of paperwork kept me in the office.

One of the hats I wear as a sergeant is the equipment, uniforms and kind of the logistics officer. We recently promoted two new sergeants so I had to get them set up in their offices, get phone extensions, cell phones, pagers, uniforms, computers, business cards.... the list seems endless. I think I have a pretty good handle on it now but I am sure something has been overlooked.

It's my weekend now, three days for myself and I am heading out to fire up my Massey Ferguson tractor and get some work done around the property. I also have to haul it over to our friends house as I promised to cut down some brush for them. I hope the weather holds up and it doesn't rain too much.

Saturday is the Pride parade in Portland. I plan on getting down to check everyone out and hopefully see some friends. Hopefully I will get some good photos to share. Well better get off my butt and get with it.....

Everyone Loves A Parade

For sure one of Portland's Finest

Every year I try to get into Portland for the Grand Floral Parade at the Rose Festival. I don't go so much to watching the parade. I go to see old friends that in many cases I haven't seen since the last parade and hopefully meet a few new. I also go to watch all the interesting people a large festival like this attracts. I always take my camera and love to catch people being themselves.

Two good friends. I don't think they have missed a parade in 20 years.

I don't think I saw a third of the parade this last Saturday. I usually try to head out of town before the end. I hate all the traffic, it's always an incredible mess with over a hundred thousand people all trying to get home at once. This year was very festive though, and the weather was great with no rain and a little cloud cover. Often it rains but Oregonians are use to that

2006 Rose Queen Camille Clark

I didn't see as many friends as I usually do. I guess they just needed a break this year. Next year is the 100th anniversary of the Rose Festival. You can bet I will be there.

I Got Inked

I got my long awaited tattoo yesterday. I had been working with an artist named Willow from Two Chicks Tattoos (see My First Tattoo) who was working on a design with a bear theme. She worked up a piece for me and although it was very good it didn't jump out and grab me. It was a bear in a dream catcher and although I wanted some Native American influence in the tattoo it just wasn't what I wanted.

Just by chance while I was researching tats on the internet I came across one that I really loved. In fact when I saw it instantly knew it was the one I wanted. The original tattoo was all black/gray art work and I wanted some color in my tattoo so I touched up the picture in Photoshop and then took it off to Willow for her to look at. She loved it too and after a couple of adjustments we agreed on the design.

So yesterday I lost my virginity, well at least as far as getting my first tattoo. I lost my other virginity so long ago I can hardly remember. I had been a bit anxious the last couple of days but when I got to the shop I was pretty relaxed. I arrived about 1:30 and after signing all the disclaimers, hold harmless and warnings that your arm may fall off, we got going about 2pm. By 5pm we were finished. It wasn't as painful as I guessed it would be, I guess I would describe it as uncomfortable. I had heard so many different opinions from people about the pain level that I just tried to put it out of my mind and not think much about it much. The most discomfort came when she was wiping off the ink and cleaning it up.

The tattoo is a fairly detailed piece and she told me that it may take two sittings but I wanted it all done at one time so I was determined to endure. I will say that at three hours I was about reaching my tolerance level but we got it done.

I think my partner was rather apprehensive about me getting the tattoo but after he saw the completed work he was very pleased. He wanted to come and watch and no doubt taunt me but he had to work so he didn't get to see it until later that evening when I took the bandage off. I only told a couple of my coworkers that I was getting inked so it will be fun showing it off at work next week.