This article sums up my feelings about tonight’s game.
The Spurs need to remember this series isn’t over until one team gets four wins.
I posted this once on a forum and dug it up `cause I’m tired & lazy tonight. The images in this post are of my tattoos, and for all the newbies out there here are the Do’s & Don’ts when getting a tattoo:
1. Don’t Get A Tattoo On A Whim.
Sure it’s a cool idea now, but what happens tomorrow when there’s no peer pressure from your drinking buddies or that gal you decided to impress is dating someone else? Maybe a tattoo isn’t as permanent anymore, not with laser removal surgery, but stop and think – Do you really want to pay twice as much to have a tattoo removed as you did to get it in the first place? Not to mention the time involved. Also is the Tasmanian Devil what you want to show off when you’re 65 swapping war stories in the old folks home?
“Heh, I remember the time I got drunk and those buddies of mine had No Entry tattooed on my butt!” Ooh, now there’s a cherished memory.
2. Ask Around, Find A Reputable Tattoo Shop.
Not all places are built the same. Before you just walk in and say “Ink me!” make sure you know something about the shop. Get recommendations from friends who’ve had tattoos done, look at an artist’s portfolio, check to see if they use disposable needles and have a clean shop. A good shop won’t tattoo you if you’ve been drinking (thins the blood, takes longer to ink & heal) and don’t be surprised at the number of bad shops that are out there. (I remember a chain of shops that were closed in Detroit due to the spread of Hepatitis from dirty needles). That being said I would never get a tattoo done in another city I was just visiting.
3. OK, So You’re Going For It, Now What?
So you’ve found a shop and you’re going to get inked. Have you given some thought to what you want? I did mention that this was permanent right? Are you getting color work done or just black & white? Will your piece be filled or just an outline? Depending on what you choose, be prepared for more than one trip to complete your tattoo. Generally a color piece can take two days as you’ll be outlined & shaded first, then the color will be added after your skin heals a little. Make sure you ask about the inks. Organic inks are not as bright, but some people (myself included) are allergic to synthetic inks.
4. Where Should I Put My Tattoo?
That’s up to you. If you are work or opinion conscious then you may opt for a place that can be covered like you back or upper arm. Generally the more muscle in the spot the less pain you will feel. Anything close to bone, i.e., toes, knuckles, base of spine, will feel like your funny bone is being pinched. As you can see, I’m literally covered in tattoos, but nobody knows as I generally wear a shirt & tie for corporate gigs. I do get weird looks the first time someone new catches me at the lake… LOL.
5. I’ve Been Inked, I’m Done Right?
Nope. Immediately following the procedure you’ll be instructed to keep the tattoo moist. You can use Vaseline or any Vitamin E ointment so long as you don’t let the skin get dry. You tattoo will have an embossed look and your skin will feel like it’s been sunburned when you touch it so you’ll probably wear loose clothing for a few days. (Take this into account when choosing your location as it would suck not to be able to sit down in those capri pants, cruisin’ while your ass heals) If you don’t take care of the tattoo then you might end up ruining what you just paid for. I had a friend who couldn’t stop pickin’ at his arm after having a wraparound tribal done. It looked nasty after only one month, because he scratched it so much that it was uneven and broken in spots.
In summary, some quick descriptions of my tattoos: #1 The face & heart-skull represent love & loss and the dragon symbolizes wisdom. #2 The cat-face represents passion & creativity, the hawk is ambition, the Indian woman forgiveness & the warrior represents honor. #3 This back piece was meant to represent what I’ve learned from past relationships. The dragons are representative of my persona. The image on the left shows how sometimes I dominate the relationship and smother my partner, while the image on the right shows how my partner takes advantage when I’m too distracted by inner turmoil. The wizard was done by a different artist and while it anchors the piece, it was not part of the original concept.
Sorry for the early morning post, but when you start to render a movie in Adobe Premier your computer can’t possibly do anything else. I’ll have to setup a backup machine so I can surf the `net during those 9 hour sessions.
OK, well there’s not much I can tell you about Game 2. The Nets managed to hold on for the win despite a late rally by Tony Parker & Stephen Jackson. Tim Duncan seemed as frustrated with himself as he was with the changeup in the Nets defense; Dikembe Mutombo & Jason Collins had his number all night. There were many Shaq comparisons prior to the start of Game 2, but going 0-4 on the free throw line probably was not the skill Duncan wished to emulate. Especially when you consider that making those shots might have been the difference in the game.
But then that has been the weakness of the Spurs during the whole playoff series and continuing into the finals. Their free throw percentage as a team is horrible. Personally, I’m puzzled that Bruce Bowen can line up such a groove on 3-pointers and yet he’ll still miss from the stripe. Tim Duncan had a higher percentage during the 1999 finals and he shot about 70% during the regular season. For some reason that percentage almost drops below 50% in the post-season.
Gregg Popovich felt his team took the Nets too lightly after Game 1 and he’s probably right. You need FOUR wins to be NBA champions guys; the series isn’t over until that happens.
Well, my attempt at humor fizzled out the other night and I never really did express my opinion on the whole blogging thing. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Oh God, does EVERY blogger have to chime in on this topic?” Isn’t that the point? There are hundreds of thousands of blogs each unique in their personality, but essentially redundant in the theme of their content. Whether it’s political, personal, thought provoking or bland there’s sure to be somebody else who’s thinking, feeling & typing similar content. Each of these blogs exist as a microcosm, some post into a void while others enjoy the benefits of community.
The thing I find interesting is I’ve yet to meet someone who reads blogs that doesn’t actually write one of their own. This common thread would lead me to believe all bloggers share similar motivations in their writing. As Dawn pointed out there is no right or wrong way to write a blog and I absolutely love this entry by Da Goddess which makes it clear the blogosphere will be here with or without you. Don’t forget Ryan stated twice now it’s all bullsh%t anyways.
I have to admit when I first started blogging I was too focused on receiving reader comments. I would get pissed if I posted something and then days, weeks, months later someone else would post the same thing and they got a bazillion comments. It wasn’t until I really decided what compels me to blog that I could enjoy it for what it is. My reasons for blogging are simple –
- I enjoy capturing my thoughts of the moment, navel gazing is always fun when you can see where you’ve been.
- This website allows people I don’t see everyday to peek into my life occasionally.
- I enjoy taking photographs and sharing them on the `net.
- I have discovered I enjoy writing and constant practice will only improve my abilities.
(I aspire to write as well as Ryan McGee & The Hosemonster)
I once sent an e-mail to Tony Pierce asking him what makes a good blog. Frankly, he said, “Ultimately the best way to look at the blog is worry about good content first and public attention second. Even the best sites don’t get a lot of comments.” Let’s be honest blogging is a selfish endeavor. Unless you’re running a charity site, you can’t claim “I blog for the people!” that sounds quite silly. If comments are what you are after you may be better off joining a really good forum or join a blog community site with authors of similar interest. Don’t worry about losing readers because you may find yourself gaining new ones.
Finally if you figure out how to get people to comment AND comment often, document the process and sell it for tons `o money.
They didn’t give up the lead in the 2nd half. The Nets only came within 9 points and Duncan gave another MVP performance with 32 points, 20 rebounds, 7 blocks, 6 assists and 3 steals. Add 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks from David Robinson (who seemingly turned back the clock) plus a strong performance by Tony Parker and there’s no arguing the Spurs are out to win another NBA championship.
Jason Kidd couldn’t find any rhythm tonight. All the inside lanes were closed and after making two quick baskets Kidd’s drought lasted ten shots into the game. Kenyon Martin wasn’t a factor as he took two fouls early in the first quarter, sat out over 7 minutes in the 2nd half only to foul out before the game was over.
Here’s hoping the Spurs can keep the momentum going to win the series.