My Daddy was a Tattoo Canvas (before it was cool)

My (step-)dad was a military man. By 1960, he had tattoos all over his body. The artist(s) who did the work deserve praise. A knife pierced the skin of his right forearm. His rank and insignia was blazoned on his right upper arm. A black panther clung to his left forearm, while on his upper left arm, an intriguing woman sat on her haunches, watching everything with a seductive look. Her hands behind her head, she wore a halter top, and shorts. She was an exception. I don’t mean she was the only female tattooed on his body. She was the only one dressed. All of the other women were outlined nudes, in various poses, along his torso and legs. Each would be considered “soft porn” today, but in 1960, it was scandalous!

As an aside, the woman on his upper arm was only ‘dressed’ because he had gone to his mother’s house while on furlough, wearing a tee shirt. She drove him to the local tattoo parlor and made him “tattoo some clothes on that poor girl.”  (Ha!  Go Grandma!)

By the time my dad passed, the tattoos showed their age. The cougar was an unrecognizable blob, his serial numbers were unreadable, and the women were smudged and faded whispers of what they once were.

“Smarter Every Day” recently released two videos that brought my dad and his numerous tattoos to mind. One shows how tattoo needles work by piercing the skin (in slow motion). The second explains the way tattoos can be removed, and has a demonstration of the procedure as well.

While my dad did express regret, from time to time, regarding the extent of the artistry on his body, I’m not sure he would’ve had them removed. On another note, none of his five children have chosen to get tattooed. So far.

American Flag - Sold

Sad, but true...

Friends of Writers

Friends of Writers

A friend and I were visiting recently. Just before she left, I remembered that I wanted to borrow something from her. I said, "Hey, do me a favor?"

Well, you know you're a struggling new writer when you say that to a friend, and they answer, "Write a review?"

Yeah, that actually happened. I've got to stop bugging my friends.

Corporate Manipulation

One Wednesday night, my family and I decided to go to Miller's Ale House for dinner. At the front door of the restaurant stood a chalkboard with an advertisement for a $14.95 whole steamed lobster. After being seated, we placed our drink order with the waitress for three waters and one beer. When she brought our drinks, we each ordered the steamed lobster special.

The food was delicious, but the service was mediocre to poor. After waiting an extended period of time for the check, the waitress became over friendly. As she chatted my husband up about where he was from, telling our daughter in law how cute our grandchild was, and how she hoped to see us again soon, I signed the tab without audit. We hadn’t seen this server more than twice throughout the meal (we placed an order for dessert with another server) and I felt certain her overture (and purple lines and hearts drawn on the bill) were to gain a greater tip.

The next day, I audited the receipt. 

 

We had been charged two dollars each for not ordering a beverage. I went back to the restaurant and spoke to the manager. He said the charge was corporate policy. Later, when I spoke to the corporate rep on the phone, he confirmed, it was corporate policy. He did apologize for the server not explaining the charge at the time of ordering. The lobster dinner is $16.95, you see, if you don’t order a drink. By the way, a soda is $2.69. I was told the firm had to "defray the cost of not ordering a drink." He also apologized for the information not being on any of the advertisements. 

It's not the four dollars. If I had been told there was a two dollar charge for water, I would have bitched, but I would have paid it. I prefer to drink water with my meal.

But this is corporate greed at its finest.

Moral of the story: audit your receipt.


UPDATE:

I've been informed by Miller's corporate office that this is no longer the policy. So, there's that.

I'd still audit the receipt. I mean, what's next? Bathroom surcharge?