Current mood:

excited

MSU
Oh man, where have I been?!

Sick, for one. Sick all week. And yet, I just enjoyed another awesome weekend thanks to henna. I'll back up a week, though, to the weekend of the 18/19th. The 18th was my first evening at Liquid Swordz and it went very well, in my opinion. The music was Way Too Loud, but my location was great. They provided a table and chairs and let me set up on the sidewalk right in front of their store. I was, of course, more than a little taken aback to realize that it's right next door to Deja Vu (strip club). It made me a little uncomfortable, mainly for the kind of men/thugs who tended to congregate outside on the sidewalk. In MI, you acn't serve alcohol at 100% nude clubs (just topless), so guys would go to 13 (a bar/restaurant) down the street and get drunk there and walk past me on the way to the Vu. But the guys in the shop promised to protect me. ;)

A darling old man named J. Dawson stopped at my table on his way home from a spaghetti dinner. He needed to rest. We chatted/yelled over the music for about a half hour and he told me about his family (which has lived in Ypsi since the 1800s) and all the businesses they've owned and the beautiful house they had down the street. I drove past it on my way home and it's a lovely Victorian that's been beautifully maintained. He also told me about his wife who had recently passed away. She'd been in an auto accident and was a parapelegic for over 30 years. They still had children to raise and everything and he hardly knew a thing about how to do it. But somehow, they managed it and they raised their kids and stayed married and still went on vacations and stuff together. I was in awe. And touched. I told him about D and the accident and he was so proud of me and sympathetic. Man, I still really need those experiences. He promised to pray for D and I gave him my business card and he even emailed me.

Business was good that night. Better than most nights at CW. However, Saturday at CW was quiet up until the last half hour. Muruga played again - this time without his friend's poetry, so it was more tolerable once he got past the trippy music. I decided to renew with CW for the next 6 months (though I renewed my UPS box for only the next three months). Still hoping against hope that we'll get to move this winter. I also sat up at WotA for a few hours on Sat and Sun, but did absolutely no henna. I've decided to drop WotA from the schedule. The drive and now the end of henna season just makes it not worth it.

The weekend of the 25/26th brought more henna goodness. Another Friday night at LS and the music was infinitely better. memorysdaughter came with me and despite the infestation of flying ants, the night was marvelous. To top it all off, the Ypsi Studio next door to the tattoo shop was celebrating its grand opening and had $1/minute massage set up on the sidewalk right next to me. And who should come strolling up the sidewalk but my new hero Yarrow. You bet I traded henna for body work! It felt so good, too.. I lay on her table, looking up at the evening sky through tree branches and leaves and it was quite an experience. She says she might be picking up a day or two in Ypsi. I may be scheduling regular massages. memorysdaughter got some work done, too (she's got some very real issues about being touched) and talked about it the whole way home, which was wonderful to hear. Yarrow didn't trigger the badness so it was a really special experience for her to be able to enjoy some touch.

The 26th was a gig at MSU arranged by the lovely and talented shwankie. Normally, she provides the paste and equipment so she knows what we're using, but this weekend she was really busy and asked me to handle all that. A huge compliment, quite frankly, that she trusted me that much on her reputation. I whipped up some lovely henna and went into organizer mode, kinda seeing myself as "senior artist" on this gig since there'd be another woman along. I made two little kits complete with: a baggie of henna, two bottles, three tips (oneo f each size) a baggie of alsohol wipes and an old towel for wiping tips on. I printed out design sheets and waivers and tucked them into sheet protectors. I double checked my directions, wrote down contact info, filled up the gas tank, bought a Rockstar and a bag of mints for my throat. Man, I was so sick.

I picked up Tina around 7 and we drove to MSU. More like we flew: 80 mph. Man, I'm going to die in WA's speed limits. We arrived on campus with enough time to be at the wrong place (I thought it was the Union) and drive to the right place (International Center) and set up before students were allowed in. And then, it was constant henna for 4 hours. Kids lined up within seconds and willingly waited over an hour to get a little three minute design. o.o Tina and I were churning designs out. I did a lot mandalas and flowers and several people let me just freestyle. memorysdaughter found us, too, since she'd just moved into her dorm that day. The best part was my last design, a guy who saw the winged dragon design and said "Umm, can you put a strong arm and little wings and L-shaped feet..?" and I said "TROGDOR!" So, I drew an S and a more different S and lines of majesty and "TROGDOR" over the top. And it was good.

Checks were received, clean up was accomplished, we took memorysdaughter to her dorm and then we flew home. At similar speeds. And I was passed by a cop. :D

Tonight I have a private appointment with a woman who wants pretty henna to wear to temple on Thursday. Exciting!