Goth Awful World

I took today off because I feel like crap. Sore throat and super weak feeling. I slept most of the morning/afternoon but I'm still feeling kinda ick. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be doing better because all of this weekend is going to be crazy with two of the artists away at the tattoo convention and Friday the 13th.

I'm really looking forward to Friday the 13th and hoping I can beat some personal tattooing records. I'm going to tattoo until I can't even hold up my machine. I'd love to do 25 tattoos, if possible. We'll just have to see how it goes. I got a nice big set of designs ready.

I should post something but I'm not really sure what to say. Work is all consuming lately. Yesterday was swamped and we were short a artist but today is super slow. Tomorrow I'm going to the tattoo supply store to pick up some new inks so that should be really exciting!

Over the past week I did a ton of cleaning and finally got my son's room and the living room/dining room area all straightened up. I feel very accomplished because I've really let it go to hell over the past few months. I've instituted new rules for my son to keep his areas under control and he's doing great so far. Also, he's doing well folding all his clothes on his own.

My new meds seem to have settled in really well. I can drink again without feeling like shit afterwards which is fantastic. Although I know it's a bad habit I do enjoy my weekly art and drinking night with my friend. Another benefit of the newer meds seems to be that I'm actually starting to like being in the sun a bit now. I just couldn't stand it for the past couple years which was weird because previously that wasn't a problem.

It'll be interesting to see how this weekend goes. I have a larger tattoo appointment and am looking forward to that. Maybe there'll be a nice photo that I can put up here afterwards.

 It's been crazy busy here the last few days.  Today should be interesting since I'll be alone doing the job of three people and we already had a ton of calls yesterday about coming in today.  I'm looking forward to getting to tattoo today if anything comes in that's small-ish.  I just don't want to take on anything really large with nobody to run the front or pierce otherwise.

I got to put my own music on today so that's nice!  Nobody here to protest and it's a nice change from the pop and hip hop we usually have in the background.

I've been smoking waaay too much lately.  I used to smoke one or two cloves a week but now I'm going through a few a day.  Not a good habit but definitely helps the stress.  Although my meds are making huge differences there's just so much always happening.  I don't know why I let myself get back into a management position.  It's a lot of pressure even in a non corporate environment.

Things are interesting here at the shop now that J is leaving.  He's been upset about me taking the manager position since I first got here at the end of October.   I know that the biggest complaint is that I'm female and everyone has told me that's his big problem with me.  I think he thinks that leaving will encourage the owner to try to bring someone else in and put me out so he can come back.  That's not going to happen!

The owner wants me to tattoo more but at this point there isn't really a demand for it and I can't do all the piercing, tattooing, and managing no matter how hard I try.  I'm cool with tattooing some when there's time or requests specifically for me.  I just don't want to give up piercing considering I really enjoy it and it comes naturally for me.  Plus I'm finally making enough money to survive comfortably.

My boyfriend finally got the approval for his partial disability because of his mental health issues so that's really good news.  It's so hard to get approved for that kind of thing especially if it's not a physical disability so we're thankful that he did.  It's going to be a big reassurance for him since working full time is not an option.

I've been here 8 so far and only 4 more hours to go.  Just getting around to a post because it has been sooooo busy!  That's good though.  It's nice when people come in groups and get a bunch of stuff done.  Certainly makes the day pass quick and no time for my thoughts to run in unhappy circles.

I guess not much to report today.  My son's birthday present, a rainbow ukulele, came today.  I can't wait to give it to him!

Yesterday dragged!  I stayed fairly busy but that was a loooong 13 hours.  Right after all of the artists left I received a call from a customer who had stopped by the other shop but they were booked out.  He wanted a tattoo tonight and no other time would do.  He pitched a threatening hissy fit at me because our artists weren't willing to work until 3:00 am.  I calmly explained that after the first 10-12 non-stop hours (their normal shift) they really couldn't pull another decent line no matter how good of an artists you are.  The guy was still bitching!  I just don't understand why anyone would want a tattoo from an artists that was so obviously fatigued.  Where the fuck is the compassion?!

After that I realized I had forgotten my knife.  I'm thankful that he didn't stop by because I thought I might have a fight on my hands, if so.  My boss gave me a little pocket taser thing for Christmas since I don't carry a gun like the rest of the artists and I get here earlier and stay later alone.  (Plus, the joys of being female.)  I really didn't want to have to carry it but I may just keep it up here as an emergency measure.

I'm not sure what to expect today because although it's almost 80 degrees outside, it looks like it's going to be a rainy day and that usually affects customers.  In addition, the artists that is supposed to be here at noon told me last minute that he wouldn't be coming in until 2:00.  When I ran a retail store this kind of crap wouldn't have been allowed but since were already short on artists as it is they feel like they can just do whatever.  Sigh.

I'm very much looking forward to my two days off after today.  Sounds like the boyfriend and I will be going to play some VR games and then I'll do my normal art day with my best friend.  Plus, seeing my kid is always nice.  There's just not enough time in the world.