d.c.

We didn't make it to kentucky. We didn't get anywhere close. Instead we wind up in d.c.- a place katey and I both loath. A city that seems to have endless 14th streets and minimal places to eat.

I could complain for hours about the shitty state I always find d.c. in, but this trip wasn't such a bust. We went to the history museum and saw loads of rocks... ahem, great fun. I will admitt, though, that I thuroughly enjoyed the mammals exhibit. Then we ventured on to grab some food. The place we landed at was good, overpriced, and bustling with people. A rude lady yapped about how she hadn't recieved her coconut and the owner walked around displaying his 8-pack to all of washington. We ate and promptly walked back to the car. The car is how we left it except for a parking ticket pasted to the windshield. Fucking great. The parking sign was hidden behind a huge tree. Fuck, there wasn't even any contesting it now.

Next stop: chinatown. I've been here plenty of times with my family and school shit, but never just alone. We find a place to park, and we're off to find a place to shop or a place to get a tattoo. We land in urban outfitters and ask someone for a place to go. The girl is surprisingly helpful. She gives us directions and such and we're on our way. This time the car is flawless.

We try to take the directions as given, but that shits impossible. We end up making a grid of roads into a corn maze. I can't go home though. Mission has yet to be accomplished and i'm unsatisfied because more than anything this trip was about us getting tattoos. After hours of searching and getting a pretty good feel for d.c. we find 18th street. We find a parking deck- this time there's no risk taking or a single spot to fill on the road. We pull in and we're off to Tattoo Paradise. It takes a while for us to decide. First we ask about our tattoos and how much they'd be- 180, but katey doesn't really want to spend that kind of money. I then proceed to decide what i'm getting. We may not be getting ours, but i'm not leaving without something.

I've always loved pin up girls. Their fierce realism. Their absolute charm and full figures. I search around for something and stumble upon something i really like. It takes a while for me to decide where to get it, but finally i decide to get it above my armpit. This shit is going to fucking hurt. I remember my first tattoo hurting the most when Thea got close to my armpit. I just had to get over it. What the hell is a few hours of pain?

I'm told the tattoo will be 240, so i pull out my green card. [ew, i fucking hate money.] I only get charged 140, and don't ask any questions. I lay down and here the needle start up. I swear there are more nerves in my arm then all of the rest of my body put together right now. I get over it.

Directions back are simple. We make it no trouble. My arm stings, but i'm definately satisfied. An hour into the trip I get a call from Reid. I give him my credit card number and finish paying. I'm upset, but i get over that too.