Helping friends, cutting deals

[Jess]

Last April I was asked by my friend Marilyn, piercer and co-owner of the tattoo shop I frequent, to help her piercing apprentice, Dominic, test out for his license. It was a really great experience and he said he felt very at ease using me as his model for the exam. So, when Ron, my tattoo artist, needed a viable test subject to get his Kansas license, I was more than pleased that they asked me to be "the one." (Ron has been tattooing for over 15 years but Kansas licensing laws are pretty strict, the easiest route to a license was a formal apprenticeship with Marilyn's husband, Kevin Wathke.)

I feigned sickness yesterday to go with Ron to his exam. I sat in the lobby of the Kansas Board of Cosmetology, freezing my ass off becuase they apparently are all in full-blown menopause - I think it was around 55 degrees in there - waiting for Ron to take his 100-question written exam. He passed that with a 93%, only missing 7 of the 100 questions.

We then went back to another part of the building for the practical exam, where they make him set up like he was truly going to do a tattoo.....from the point where a customer walks in and says they want a tattoo, to the after care instructions once the piece is done. The exam lady had me sit out in the hall while Ron was setting up for the practical. About 20 minutes later she opened the door and told me I could come on in - that Ron had forgotten something so was packing up to leave. :( Poor Ron, in the haste of some personal issues that came up Wednesday, forgot to pack one small thing....his needle. While they don't actually tattoo during the exam, they do have to show that they are loading the machine properly, etc. The shop was less than a mile from the test site building, but she wouldn't let me or Ron go get the needle, nor would she allow anyone to bring one to him. So, he has to pay another test fee of $50 and go back Wednesday to do the practical. He'll pass with flying colors, I have no doubt, it's just a bummer.

While we were doing all of this, we discussed my reimbursement for calling in sick to help him. I get some free time in the chair, as I had a feeling would be the case. However, I'm more than broke right now and simply don't have money to finish my tattoo anytime soon. So, not only do I get 2 hours free for helping him yesterday, but we worked out a trade deal - cake/cookies for tattoo time. He wants my piece done and said I can just make him food when he needs it and/or pay him as I get money available. What an awesome guy!

SO! My half sleeve will be complete before the end of the year FOR SURE! :D

[jude]

thats great Jess, who could resist your baking anyway??? lucky girl

[Bones]

Awesome!

[Jess]

Yes, it is great news. I was going to wait until after the summer fun to get going, but I think I'll sacrifice a couple weeks in the sun towards the end of July, I'm just ready to have it done and so is Ron.

[Dana]

That's awesome! Nice to be friends with your tattoo artist! And he's a good one...I'm excited to see how your arm turns out too!

[Erin]

Now that is some good news! Yay!