It appears that I am in the doghouse yet again with Heidi sending me there because of my constant negativity towards people with tattoos……………and because Heidi wants one.
The subject came up last night and one minute I was happily munching away on some sugar free Jell-O when Heidi (who had been reading yesterday’s blog) told me I was unfair to people with tattoos. So much so in fact that she wants to get one herself on her ankle of something called Tweety Bird….. wearing a sailors cap…what a load of bollocks.
There was a time when a tattoo would demonstrate that you had been in prison or the armed forces or where a member of some beardy bike gang who ate dead dogs for lunch, but now pretty well everyone I ever see has one.
Has Oprah Winfrey got a tattoo of a giant snake eating Hilary Clinton on her backside? I wouldn’t be at all surprised.
I have never actually thought of having one myself as I hate needles and until I met Heidi I never had a girlfriend long enough to warrant having her name stabbed onto my arm.
The other thing I do not understand is people having tattoos on their backs……….what is the point of suffering through all that pain never to be able to see what it looks like unless you can perform a contortionist act in front of the mirror?
I wonder how tattoos started. I am sure it must have something to do with war paint and people who used small leaves as underpants. Tattooing has been around since the dawn of time, but if we examine the work of all the great artists we find they would apply their skill to walls and ceilings and canvas. I am sure Da Vinci never once thought about painting the Mona Lisa on his girlfriend’s bottom.
I see so many of the entertainment staff, especially the dancers now have tattoos and some of the technicians have so many they look like a heavy metal album cover.
One of the other reasons you have more chance of seeing me at the height of summer sipping coffee at Cafe Le Pong in Paris than a tattoo studio is the artist who is there ready to doodle all over you. Artists are usually dressed in baggy comfortable clothing wandering the banks of a river looking for inspiration. Tattoo artists are usually dressed in black leather and judging by the number of crosses round their neck they expect to be attacked by vampires at any moment. Artists practice on canvas and bits of paper while tattoo artists practice by painting the side of an old Ford truck.
The biggest problem though is while they look cool and exotic when you are young it is a different story when you get older. I have a friend who has a Ferrari……………he is a die hard Ferrari fan……………….so much so that he has had the Prancing Horse Ferrari symbol tattooed at the bottom of his back. He is only 34 and when he dresses in his tight Armani jeans the girls will all go “oohh and ahhhh” when they see Danny’s Ferrari tattoo ……… when though he is older the girls will surely be asking why Danny has a dead donkey crawling towards his buttocks.
So, we are at an impasse…..I am in the doghouse and Heidi wants a tattoo….let the fun begin.
You all never cease to amaze me…………………I read the comments following on from the blog I wrote about my serious intentions to lose weight from June 1 when I start a very strict diet. Your support and offers to join in and also try to drop a few pounds is amazing and I think that this may start something special. I intend to post a separate daily blog with what I have eaten and there will be a new header every week with hopefully …………. how much weight I have lost.
Thank you again to all of you for your help……………..I need to drop some pounds and I know you will all be there to support me……………….cheers.
Today, I had lunch with an old friend……………….shrimp salad by the way …………… starting slowly!
Anyway, before I tell you about some of the things we discussed let me tell you how we met.
It was 1994 and I was the Cruise Director of the Carnival Sensation and the ship was hosting a group of 1,000 plus who were all sailing together. The group was called “Crime Stoppers ” and was made up of Police Officers and people from all over the world committed to fighting crime.
There were many guest speakers from places like New York, Canada and Australia and it was very interesting to stand at the back of the room and listen to what they all had to say.
It was while I was at one of their sessions that a gentleman was introduced as a guest speaker. His name was David Bright and to give him his full title He was Detective Superintendent David Bright from my home county and who it turned out lived just 10 minutes from me back home in Essex.
Well, I became great friends with this charismatic man and have remained so all this time. David is never one to blow his trumpet so I will do so for him. Before recently retiring David was one of the UK’s most senior detectives and responsible for bringing to justice some of the UK’s most disgusting criminals. He was awarded the O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire) for his work and for his great charity endeavors, as well.
David has just written a best seller here in the UK …………it is called Catching Monsters and tells of some of the people who thanks to David are now rotting away in jail.
David now runs a successful Private Investigation company and also acts as an advisor with major TV Dramas that portray the Police.
Interestingly he also lectures aboard cruise ships where he takes passengers behind the scenes of a police investigation. Unfortunately he does this for a ………. ummmm …..competitor line but once, on the Carnival Triumph when he and his wife were sailing with me he told his gripping stories to a packed aft lounge of 400 people…………not one left……………and they all demanded a repeat performance……………I will work on getting him to lecture on Carnival Corporation ships…………nobody tells a story like David.
Anyway……………that’s a long introduction to what I wanted to share with you all. Today, we met at a little pub called The Pipe of Port and as we chatted David spoke about his next book that he is currently writing. One of the chapters will be about an armed gang who David and his team caught after a serious security van robbery in which unfortunately people were shot.
After their arrest and their homes were searched they discovered plans for their next heist…………the eight men……………..were planning ……….in 1979……………..to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds ……………..from the Queen Elizabeth 2. They discovered detailed plans on how they were going to use fast speedboats to come alongside while the ship was anchored in port and steal all the money from the foreign exchange, casino and the passengers themselves.
It was great listening to David’s accounts and if you are ever on a ship where he is due to lecture make sure go…………he is unmissable.
I just finished an interview with the Cruise Writer for the Miami Herald and she asked some superb questions. Many were about you…………..the bloggers……………and why this format is somewhat successful. I hope you will enjoy my answers and as soon as it goes to print I am sure I will be able to post a copy here on the blog thingy.
Finally……………….today was a double doghouse today. I went to the shop this morning as I always do to buy the newspaper and was instructed to buy Heidi a magazine which by the time I got to the shop I had totally forgotten which one to buy.
Woman and Home. Home and Garden. Garden and Hair. Hair and Beauty. Beauty and Slimming. Gossip and Health. Healthy Women. Healthy Home. Healthy Hair, Healthy Bugger All…………… I couldn’t remember and not having my phone with me I was not able to contact the Mrs so I took a chance………………..and of course it was the wrong one.
How the heck was I supposed to remember and choose from an endless amount of magazines that all look and sound the same?
It’s easy for a man. I know we should pick a book on poetry or a self-help magazine like All Men Are Wrong All the Time Weekly because this will make us appear sensitive and caring
And yet, what we buy is Esquire and FHM magazine and look at photos of naked Australian surfers being attacked by killer white sharks. We pretend we buy GQ magazine for the serious articles by Henry Kissinger and George Stephanopoulos when really we skip these and head straight for the center spread of Keira Knightley wearing only a smile.
Anyway, regardless Heidi does not have the magazine she wanted and because of this she is says she is getting a tattoo. I tolder if she did so was I …………I am getting the word BLOG tattooed on my bottom…………..shouldn’t be too expensive…………..I wonder how much they charge for a B, an L and a G.
Goodnight
Your friends
John and Heidi
Filed under: Europe, Tales from the Ship, Travel | Tagged: Carnival Sensation
Oh John……………..
You are in trouble for sure. Giving a woman an ultimatum is never a smart thing to do. You’ll soon be visiting the tatoo parlor & I’ll bet it doesn’t feel very good when that needle hits your bottom.
Good Grief! What a mental picture that idea produced.
Oh John, you did it this time!
You should get Sylvester to go along with Heidi’s Tweety Bird.
But a fascinating story about your friend, Mr. Bright. I would love to hear him someday.
I checked my old Carnival Capers, and Captain Pagano was captain of the Triumph when I was on her in 2003. So calm seas to him on the Splendor.
Take care,
Carol
I agree. Sorry, Heidi. I agree with John. I have no use for additional permanent marks on my person. I have enough scars to fill a scrapbook and I’m not adding to them voluntarily.
John, what are the chance of getting good Mr. Bright to do a guest spot on the blog… perhaps a few details about the failed QE2 heist… I’m betting it would be a favorite!!
We men are, it seems, doomed to be cast into the doghouse whenever there’s a woman concerned. No amount of apologizes for bringing home the wrong magazine would have saved you. When I was married I was in the doghouse quite often… The door to the doghouse was one way… ‘In’ it said… there was no ‘Out’…
All the best to the tatooless Heidi and kudos to the MOB, Stephanie for all the great work she does!!!
Cheers!!!
GregB
John,
I don’t know how you constantly can make me laugh! Every day, every blog finds me laughing out loud and having to explain what is so funny to any that are around when I am reading it. I will certainly share this blog about tattoos with my daughter who recently got a clover shaped tattoo with the US flag painted inside, placed above her ankle. Now, I am with you on this one for sure–I HATE TATTOOS! Being a nurse, all I can think about are how stupid so many of these people are going to look when they are 80 years old and some poor nurse is turning them over and sees a drooping winnie the pooh or some such item on their backside. Or, the old woman who once had a rose tattoo placed on her breast, and it has now become a loooooong stemmed rose! DISGUSTING!!! Well, at this point I feel it necessary to share with you the funniest tattoo I have ever seen. As you know, I am a labor and delivery nurse. One day a doctor called and told me that he was sending a patient over to the hospital, and would I please check her and call him back and let him know how far dilated she was. Well, the patient arrives, gets into the bed and I have her get in the appropriate position to examine her. When I pull the sheet back, what greets me are 3 tattoos. One on each of her inner thighs and one at the top of her pubic hair. On one inner thigh were the words, “MERRY CHRISTMAS”. On the other inner thigh were the words, “HAPPY NEW YEAR”. And at the top of her pubic hair were the words, “COME SEE ME BETWEEN THE HOLIDAYS”. Well, I lost it–I couldn’t maintain my composure, and burst out laughing. What I said to her was something along the lines of, “obviously someone came to visit between the holidays”. I have never forgotten that, nor, I am sure, will I ever! So, Heidi, think long and hard before you get your tattoo. Both about where it is to be placed, and what it will look like in another 40-50 years! And John, I thank you again for all the laughs–laughter burns calories, and if I wasn’t laughing, either with you, or about something you have written, I would probably weigh an additional 50 pounds, and I can’t afford that! Trust me, if you get “your” tattoo, it will be a lot cheaper for just 3 letters than Heidi’s will be. And for you, probably the only one to ever see it would be your good doctor, “Ben Dover”, next time you have a physical! Thanks for the visual image!
Sheryl
John,
I also do not understand why people get tattoo’s either. Many of my friends have a butterfly tattoo on their ankle or hip or shoulder. Yes, they are pretty but why?
But then again…I never understand why they would get their belly button pierced??
Is my age showing? LOL
Princess Susan
John, PLEASE don’t lose this one. If you give in and let Heidi get a tattoo I will be in the doghouse till I let Pat get one. I can just see me with a CLIMB THIS tattoo on my belly. Lance would end up suing my for misuse of his great design idea.
BIG ED
Inkless in Michigan
Good Afternoon John,
I agree with you about tattoos. At one point I thought I wanted one so I got a temporary tattoo put it where I thought I wanted a permanent tattoo and went about my business. Well I needed to try on dresses for a party we had been invited to. When the sales lady came into the dressing room with a “few” more dresses to try on and saw my temporary tattoo, I was embarrased. Needless to say I am “body art” free. Both my daughter and son have them and everytime I see the tattoos I just grit my teeth. When they were born they were perfect little babies with no unsightly art. Hmmm guess I should get off my soap box. Sorry. I do have to say I have seen a few tattoos that are interesting I just don’t like all the body art, one in an out of the way place I guess is OK but the roses on the b–bs will eventually be long stem roses. Enough said.
I’m happy to see you getting in the groove of losing weight even before June 1! Good for you. Everything in m o d e r a t i o n ;D. Look a your fist and that is the approximate size of your stomach, it’s a rough estimation of what a person should eat at each meal.
Take care
Joan
John, I agree with you.
Please answer:
Now, I have a question that I hope you can answer. There will be 4 couples on the Aug 6th sailing of the Splendor and on the list of tours for Copenhagan there is a tour called Castles of New Zealand but when we went to book it it was not offered. We were really looking forward to this tour. Can you explain why it is on one list but not the other?
Thank you,
Jennifer and Danny
Sorry it’s been a while since I last visited… Been camping in our Airstream travel trailer for the past month. Hello to you both!
John, I’m not a big tattoo fan, either. I just don’t get all that stuff. But then I’m fairly conservative. I just can’t see myself as an 80-year old with a “stamp” on my backside. It just ain’t right for me…
Hugs!
I’m with you, John. Not a fan of the tramp stamps. Like that great philosopher Ozzie Osbourne recently said (not that anyone could understand him), “Everyone has a tatoo. If you want to be different today, DON’T get a tatoo.”
Well John maybe if Heidi reads these blog replys she will change her mind about the tattoo. When my daughter was 22 she also decided she needed a tattoo of a red rose on the cheek of her back side. Lord only knows why excect the fact she was “22″. It hurt so badly she stopped with only the outline, no color at all. She admits it was one of the dumbest things she ever attempted. Hopefully Heidi will have a change of her thinking although I do love Tweety Bird!
David Bright sounds like a fascinating fellow. When it is published his book sounds like one I’d enjoy.
BTB, did you offer to go back to the store for the correct magazine?
Heidi,
Why don’t you try the “temporary” Tweety tatoo first? You KNOW you don’t want John to get the tatoo he is threatening! Blaaach
Are you excited about John’s diet plan? You must worry about him what with the diabetes, extra weight and the stress some people cause him while on the job. Maybe you could wear something “skimpy” and let him chase you around the jogging deck when you guys get back to the ship. A little exercise could do wonders. (How come he doesn’t go to the gym onboard? Aren’t you guys allowed to use the facility…or do you have a private one somewhere out of sight?)
Glad you enjoyed your holiday. It sounded very relaxing. Are you ready for the madness to start?
Best Wishes to you both,
Myra
Hummmmmm… Seems like I am in the minority on this one.
I have two tats. Got them when I was 25 years younger. A very good friend of mine was the artist and he was dying and I wanted something of him that I would always have. Thus my tats came to be.
I have never regretted them and at the ripe old age of 56 they still look pretty good.
Should Heidi get one?? That is a very personal thing and only she can decide but if done well, I think they are pieces of art to be enjoyed.
Sallie
John,
My husband hates tattoos also. So when I was on the Liberty on the Med. cruise with my cousins, I got one of those temporary tattoos of a butterfly on my ankle. I arrived home and chatted with the Mr. all the time with my leg up on the sofa so that if he didn’t see it, maybe he would trip over it. Well, he finally did notice it and thought it was very pretty, but his voice sounded a little strained.
His statement was: Yes, it is very pretty,,,I like it,,,,,,BUT *here it comes…..*People will think less of you. So, that was his opinion of my tattoo: rode the fence and avoided the dog house by blaming his opinion on the people that I don’t even know.
I had a good laugh and finally told him it wasn’t permanent and he shouldn’t be too upset.
Would love to hear the stories from your friend Dave, he sounds very interesting.
I have to make notes of what my husband wants at the store or I will get the wrong thing too. Heidi should but a sticky note on your forehead.
Hope you resolve the tattoo issue with not too much problem.
Ciao, Kathleen
Heidi, I am afraid I agree with John on this one, NO to Tattoos. First of all if God wanted you to have one you would have been born with tattoos. Also, I would never get one because I do not like PAIN! I can’t see any reason for them! My girlfriend has angel tattoos on her ankle, one time I kidded my husband and said If I get an angel tattoo would he get a devil tattoo, and he said, YES, lets do it, and I said FORGET IT! My girlfriend LOVES tweety, I will have to tell her to get a tweety tattoo! HA! So, John PLEASE START answering the blog emails again! PLEASE! Linda
Heidi, Everytime I go into the hospital for surgery one of the questions they ask me is “do you have any tattoos including cosmetic tattoos?” I finally asked them why they always asked. They said that if you have had tattoos you might have gotten Hepatitis C. If you could get that isn’t it also possible that you could get Aids if the needles weren’t cleaned good after they used them?
That was enough for me to forget about having my eyebrows tattooed on. Guess I’ll just keep on using eyebrow pencils. You might reconsider having one.
Carolyn…. a concerned friend
Heidi,
Please reconsider the tatoo thing. I have seen many and after several years of looking good then you either get pregnant or gain weight and they they look like bloated ugly designs. They are not easily removed.
I strongly urge you to get a temp tattoo and wear
it proudly for a year before deciding to go with real lifetime art.
I was in the US Navy and rode a motorcycle for many years and never thought it was the thing I wanted on my body for life.
Dave Myerly
Ayyyyy John!! No tienes remedio!! BLG ?( it took me a couple of seconds but I got it. LOL… OMG
I cannot fathom defacing one’s body with ink…..sometimes copious amounts it…. scattered all over in every conceivable nook and cranny…… Some call it art…an expression….whatever….to each their own……I don’t get it….perhaps I am showing my age….
I have however had a tattoo in the past……the kind they used to put in a cracker-jack box….it was gone after a shower or bath.
Mark
The Flying Dutchman
Thanks for the good laugh, John. Our daughter (now 24) got a tattoo when we were out of the country! We were not happy & now just look forward to her wishing she had not had it done. I agree with the temp tattoo . and, please guys you can not “loose” weight, you must lose…sorry
John -
Every time I think of Tattoo, I think of Ricardo Montobaln’s sidekick who cried “Da Plane, Da Plane” at the beginning of each episode of Fantasy Island. Perhaps you should consider getting that tattooed on your chest in response to Heidi’s decision.
Seriously, I don’t understand the draw of the tattoo for people, but if Heidi wants to do it, where is the harm. It’s her body and I can’t see how her having a tattoo of Tweety Bird on her ankle is going to make you love her any less – unless, of course, you have difficulty perform your manly duties in front of a Tweety Bird.
Best of luck in this matter. I pretty much guarantee you will come out the loser, but isn’t that always the way of the man?
Jon
OMG! My eyes! My eyes! What a mental picture has been seared into them forever! You John, are too much!
dude! tell her if she HAS to have one to get a rose on her boob, when she gets to be my age it will be a long stem rose anyway…
heidi: tattoos suck girl!!!
and dude, one other thing. carnival does not offer lectures. i would go if they did. something to consider???
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
(still in florida)
Heidi don’t listen to him. If you want one, get one.
Sorry John, but I must support Heidi on this one.
John, I can just see Mary in the bedtime story pulling down your smily face boxer and we all see(blOg ). I tried to got this way (BLoG ) but the lower case “o” was to small for your umm…….. I wish we could change fonts and type size in here I could have done it right.
BIG ED
I, too, must be in the minority here. I love tattoos when done appropriately, and I have one of those infamous “tramp stamps” on my lower back (it’s a shark). (I’m female, by the way, though my name is somewhat misleading.)
To me, there is nothing more delicious than seeing a well-defined man’s bicep with a tattoo, as long as it’s not of a naked lady, a cartoon character, or his ex-girlfriend’s name. :-0
I’ve had my tat for 8 years now, and I have not regretted it once (I’m in my mid-20s). That is truly the one part of my body that seems immune to saggy skin or weight loss/gain, so I think it’s pretty safe that my shark won’t turn into a snake one of these days.
Heidi, if it’s what you want, go for it! Talk John into getting a matching one!
Hi John & Heidi
John I gotta say I agree with you on the Tattoo. I don’t like needles either and wouldn’t be able to get one if I wanted to. However, I would never want to after working in healthcare and seeing all the infections and sores that people have gotten not to mention the risk of Hepatitis C and possibly Aids depending where you would go to get the done and whether or not they are using clean and sterile needles. Sorry Heidi :0(
I am excited for you regarding your blog yesterday about losing weight. This is always a tough thing to do, but a great decision to make. The worse part of the battle is making your mind up to do it. After my son Cody was born in 1993 and diagnosed with Cerbral Palsy I went through a big period of depression and I weighed 130 lbs when it started. Well I just left myself go and ended up at 204 lbs in about 4 years time. In 1999 I just came home from work one day and said this is it! I got up the next morning and made a pack with myself that I would eat only salads, cooked chicken, tuna, baked fish, and any kind of fruits and vegetables. I also quit drinking any kind of ice teas and sodas and began drinking all water. Now this was tough cause I cut out all sweets, all fast food all chips and snacks and dairy except for yogurt. But I started this on Saint Patricks day in 1999 and by November 10th 1999 I I had lost 79 pounds and weighed 125. I went from a TIGHT size 18 down to a size 4. I felt like a different person and that was the end of the depressing feelings too. I began enjoying life again and was so eager to take Cody out to the park and walk or take him and just spend time with him being a mom and enjoying all he had to give me.
I know you can do this and we will all support you!
Good Luck
Cindy
Oh no Heidi – don’t get a tattoo — you are too beautiful to mess yourself up like that!!! Almost everyone is sorry after the newness wears off.
John,
You do know what they call that tattoo on a girl’s rear, just at the waistline, don’t you? The common name for it is “tramp stamp.”
Heidi, you are too pretty to be disfigured, no matter how good the so-called tattoo artist things he or she is. Don’t do it!
Mark
Hi John,
I personally have no desire to have a tatoo. But to each his own. I do think they can be tastefully done. But, why risk the chance of hepatitis or whatever else, if the needles are not properly cleaned.
Good luck with the weight lose program. Glad to hear that you will be working with a nutritionist on this. With your diabetes, it’s best to do it the right way and keep the weight off. I decided to join you in the effort…. I have been putting it off to long.
Hello to Heidi!
Princess Barb
Not that I would ever desecrate my body, but I do understand a little of why some do.
In most cases, depending on where the tat is, I’m still waiting for the exclamation of “Who Sank My Battleship” from a few.
I’m Going to pretend I did not just read that one part. You should get that guy to be an honorary guest blogger and give ol’ Sheriff Roscoe P Coltrane and I some familiar company.
_BigMike
Security Boss
John,
I’m with you and many on your blog thingy… NO TATTOO!!! I have been know to put a lick’em and stick’em tattoo of the jolly rogers on my arm for a grin… or a rose on my breast for get a reaction… or a smiley face on my butt just to see if it’s noticed… but those wash off after the laugh has passed…
Now my daughter has some… She remembers her Daddy with one, and fallen firefighters with another, and (my words) her stupidity with the rest! But, I pick my battles and she is an adult with a vote of choice — or so says the state!!!
Heidi, think about a temporary, but very good, tattoo. Like make-up, you can put them on and leave them off… That’s the mystic a woman can have… Is she or isn’t she, will she or won’t she, does she or doesn’t she… It’s ours to have!
And getting one, may actually put you in the doghouse for a few days… Hummmmm… a turn of events….
Now John, your idea of a tattoo is a hoot… only problem is, even if you do it temporarily, if we catch wind of it, we’ll want photos, a video, and to see it in person… and maybe slap that blog thingy!!! EEECCKKK…
Thank you again for your humor and also sharing your friends with us! What an interesting writer!!! I’d love to hear Mr. Bright recant a story and tell us about his life!!! I will look for his books to read!
Heidi, think about the tattoo… Stephanie thank you for your abilities and making everything easy for us… John, thank you for your words and charm and humor!
Lambie
You know, people here in the States have a name for tattoos placed on one’s backside… they’re called “tramp stamps” …. although some temporary “Climb This!” ink might be fun!
Random thoughts from a random mind,
Kathi
I am trying to picture either of my grandmothers with tatoos.
Okay, some things simply do not bear thinking about!!!
Remind Heidi that she wants to have children. The likely result is that eventually she will have grandchildren. Ask yourself….when you take your grandchildren to the beach and they see you in your bathing suit, do you want to hear their precious little voices crying, “My eyes! My eyes!”…???
Just something to think about…
Terri
Hi John & Heidi,
I joked before about the tattoo, but seriously I agree with everyone else. Not a good idea Heidi. It’s painful for one thing. And having it removed is doubly painful (so I’m told). But everytime I see ladies’ arms covered with tattoos and wearing a formal evening dress, I just think it is really unattractive Why not try the temporary ones that they sell for kids. I’ll bet there’s a Tweety in the lot.
Don’t keep John in the doghouse – everytime you want him to get something for him – write it down and give him the paper. Of course, making up after the doghouse can be great fun!!!
Take care,
Carol
Your retaliation ”BL O G” tattoo would be considered a tit for tat….or in this case tat for tat……..perhaps bum for tat….tat for bum…..
John
My daughter has been bugging me for a tatoo for ages. Like you I do not like tatoos (although we did the airbrush ones on the Valor for a laugh) and although our body might look good in one at a young age, as we get older and skin stretches one way or the other it looks so grotesque.
I offered to pay for a year’s supply of airbrush tatoos for my daughter if she doesn’t go permanent – so far she hasn’t taken me up on it.
I am trying very very hard to be an open-minded parent, but I just cannot agree with it. Ultimately I know it is her life and she gets to do it if she wants to, I guess I will have to live with it then. I only hope when she gets older she doesn’t regret it.
Heidi think long and hard on this one, once it’s there you’re stuck with it. John please put all your persuasive energy into convincing her not to do it.
Eva
John, As you are probably aware a most popular TV reality show the “Biggest Loser” has become one of the most admired shows since it really promotes health. We all have that extra baggage and I am not talking about ones with wheels or carrying straps. Would’nt be great to start a “biggest loser” thingy for Carnival. I do not know how this integrates with the typically large and very well equipped work-out facilities on the ships but that would be a great opportunity for creating an “early morning” exercise class on the ships right before your morning chat.
Might be another Carnival great!
Be well, Jim and Mary
Good Morning John and Heidi!
I was glad to see that there was a new entry on the blog today since I had something I wanted to share with everyone. First of all, let me apologize for veering away from commenting on the most recent blog.
My husband, Jim, called me on my cell phone as I was en route with our granddaughter this morning. She had an awards assembly and I was going to be there for her. His comment was,”You must not have looked at the paper this morning.”
A lady who was my very best friend for many, many years during a difficult period of my life had lost her husband. Needless to say, I was speechless. Immediately I started thinking of all the wonderful times the four of us had shared. We had even cruised together one year over spring break. The saddest part was that at some point, that friendship had faded. I truly regreat it and really miss talking to this person. When I left the assembly, I called her. After eleven years, I still remembered her phone number. (We used to always joke- we would be somewhere and someone would ask her for her phone number. She
would always look at me and I would tell them her phone number.) My point is this, if you have friends that you have lost contact with, try to get in touch with them. The two of us would often have coffee or lunch. I want to get back to that because she was there for me when I was going through a lot. Renew those friendships before it is too late.
Secondly, this makes “family vacation” time even more relevant. So many people live day to day. They make no long range plans and it is sad.
Every year when we board that ship we know that we are getting ready for more wonderful family memories. Don’t make the mistake of saying that you’ll get to it at some point. That point may never come. Cherish those times as a family and make the most of them.
Enough of my ramblings! I just wanted to get this out there because today it is on my mind!
Ruth
Heidi,
I just remembered that my daughter got a toe ring tattoo and it actually looks nice everytime she wears summer shoes. She said she wouldn’t do it again because it is painful.
JUst something to ponder?
Ciao, Kathleen
Heidi, I just looked at some artwork of Tweety wearing that sailor’s cap… and that cap looks, well… French!
Heidi,
I hope that if you really want a tattoo that you aren’t going to let other peoples opinions of beauty deter you. I would also hope that you don’t have to have your husband “let” you do anything. People keep saying that you are too pretty to ruin yourself with a tattoo but I don’t think it will compromise your beauty. I just think some are being a little too judgmental.
Most people don’t regret their tattoos either (like some bloggers will have you believe). If they put time and thought into the decision they are usually happy with it and don’t experience regret.
“People keep saying that you are too pretty to ruin yourself with a tattoo but I don’t think it will compromise your beauty. I just think some are being a little too judgmental. ”
Thank you DMW13. I was beginning to feel under attack.
As you stated, most all of the people (women & man) that I have known that have tats do not regret them.
As far as getting HEP, well that is exactly why you make sure your work is done by a reputable artist and that he follows “State Mandated” health & safety codes.
One good thing about all this discussion though. John, you will definitely be able to recognize me on Bloggers v2. I’ll be one of 2 people on board with …… TATTOOS! LOL
Hi JOhn/Heidi:
I’m sure Heidi would love seeing you in that tattoo. What a picture.
As you’ve said before if its not one thing, its something else.
The crime you mentioned almost sounds like something you’d see in a movie. Please let us know when the book comes out. Sounds like a great read.
Thanks for the great blog today!
David
Sorry Heidi, i have to be on John’s side of the tatooey thingy, in honesty I have 3 kids two of which went for the body art. One regrets it now the other still likes it but had some chinese script that doesn’t mean what they told him it ment,(it was supposed to his dedication, turned out to be something about a female dog), hopefully he doesn’t run into many chinese where he lives. You don’t paint flames on an aston martin, you don’t dye the mona lisa’s hair green, and you don’t paint buckingham castle pink and purple. Sorry kiddo don’t mess with a work of art.
John, I appreciate the monty python references, keep up the good work, been a fan for decades. When we meet on the Fantasy if you need a volunteer for the fish dance count me in…. Lastly perhaps you told us (if you did sorry must be suffering from old timers) Who would you invite to dinner past and present personalities?
dayton dan
The difference between people who have tattoos and people who don’t is that people who have tattoos don’t care if you don’t have one.
Pat
Tell Heidi that if she goes through with getting a tattoo, make sure it has a sentimental value. I have three.
1. An armadillo with the words Krazy Cajun. Armadillo for the couple of years I lived in Texas but you see just as many in Louisiana. Cajun because I was born in New Orleans and my mother’s side of the family is Cajun. Krazy speaks for itself.
2. An English Bulldog head with a campaign cover with the letters USMC under it. Surrounding the tattoo is a partial US flag. It stands for the time I spent in the US Marine Corps.
3. This one I got just last year. The words Caribbean Soul. It has a gecko on it. The tail of the gecko makes the “S” for the word soul. The lettering is done in the blues of Caribbean waters. It stands for the love I have for the Caribbean.
Now the question is, is the Funnel next? 14 Carnival cruises in two years, nine months. And three more booked.
Dave
Sorry, but I have to disagree about the tattoo bit. I have two, and I was dreadfully afraid of needles… got over that right quick during the first tattooing! My wife has five (two of which she had me draw up for her) and plans to get at least 3 more, and I plan for the same. Everyone always argues “That will look awful when you get older” or “Think of the nure/doctor/whatnot that’s going to be caring for you when you’re older.” Ummm… last I looked, most people in my generation HAVE tattoos (or body piercings, or both), so it won’t be anything unusual to them. And for the record I’m 34 and my wife is 31.
But that being said, tattoos are not for everyone. If you don’t like them, then don’t get them. But don’t knock someone for having them (or wanting to get one…).
OMG – your B L….G is hysterical. PLEASE DON’T! My husband got a tat one year for his birthday. He thought it was a brilliant idea. (Of course this was after a few drinks with the boys.) He now has a giant eagle on his upper arm. I was furious! I kept asking him if he knew where that tat would be when he turned 70? Certainly not on his upper arm – and I doubt it will look like an eagle. I don’t think I talked to him for several weeks after that. At least now I can look at it and not see RED. Although I still make the occasional comment; in his best interest of course. (What else is a wife supposed to do?)
Lori
Hi John:
Wishing you good luck on your new goal to lose weight. They would have to wire my mouth shut if I was constantly cruising – especially around those yummy chocolate thingys!
We just booked on Carnival’s Glory for the August 23rd sailing. I needed a cruise to tide me over to our Jan. 31, 09 cruise on the Splendor. Would you know who the Cruise Director might be on the Glory at that time?
I’m anti-tat as well and have had to work hard to change my initial reaction when I see a nice young woman wearing a tattoo. The best I’ve ever seen, for its subtle eloquence, was a small simple ocean wave shape just at the edge of a shoulder blade. She was a life guard and loved the ocean so it was a great little icon for her.
I’ve also had women friends who got vividly colored, densely inked tattoos (like a floral bracelet design with the big flower about 1.5 X 1.5 inches). One of them was allergic to the chemicals in the red ink and that part of her design got very swollen and scary looking for weeks after it was done. You can still tell the skin was damaged and is a different texture. Apparently over time you can develop problems with some inks that were ok before.
Our local paper had a series of articles a while back, about teens trying to leave the gang life behind, and a doctor who was using laser treatments to break down the inks and erase their tattoos. A very long and even more painful process than getting the tattoo. The doctor warned that the broken-up ink particles circulate in the blood stream and then lodge in the liver, so it’s more dangerous for people who have a liver concern anyway (drinkers, people who use too much Tylenol, people with hemachromatosis, etc.)
So it has a medical dimension as well as a personal expression dimension.
Hope you are happy with whatever choice you make, Heidi!
Cassie
Dear Heidi, please forget the tattoo, after 56 responses I think that should convince you not to get pierced with needles and keep John happy, maybe he could take you shopping in his ‘favourite’Paris, only kidding about the place, but you should get a little reward for your decision if that is what you decide,and John when you lose the weight Heidi can take you shopping, so then you will have 2 happy people with just gorgeous clothes and jewelry? did I not mention that Heidi? oh how silly of me, yes jewelry always comforts any decision for the man. John dear I am still laughing like crazy over the skit you did on the Victory 6 years ago with Mary, we have the video and we laugh alot with you, so much fun. Thanks.
We own a tattoo shop. We do not wear baggy clothes nor crosses, we don’t even tattoo crosses, it is against our code of ethics.
I think you are stereotyping.
Tattooing is art and the people who tattoo, artists.
Maybe not by your definition, but certainly by ours.
Hi Heidi,
I’m with Sallie, Jimmie and DMW13 on this one. My husband & I have matching tattoos on our outer calf and we have never regretted getting them. Our two daughters (aged 19 & 22) have tats on their lower backs and I can assure you neither is a “tramp” and they are both still beautiful.
We did our research, came up with a design that had meaning to us and found a reputable establishment and artist before getting it done.
Don’t get one just for the sake of getting one. Like jetskier said, make sure it has “sentimental value” to you, because it will be with you forever.
I wish I had shown you ours on the bloggers cruise. If you decide it’s what you want you won’t regret it. Sorry John, I had to stand up with my fellow inked on this one.
Mary & Randy C.
Next generation is beautiful. They seem to know something. They are tatooless.