Baby's first tattoo

Hey Wavy,

I had to go shoot Hot August Nights crapola for the website today so I took you with. Shot lots of car photos (yawn), but there was also a craft fair and such, so we wandered around there for a while.

Well, brown people seem to gravitate towards other brown people in a sea of vintage car enthusiasts, so we soon found ourselves hanging out at the henna tattoo tent, where I got talked into getting a design on the palm of my hand:



She was a nice enough lady, but put the hard sell on me, and I couldn't say no. She played a clever bit of misdirection when I asked what she had available for $15 or less.

"Why do you worry so much?" she immediately asked. She is studying my palms as she says this. "Your mind is here, it is there, you worry too much! Why?" I tried to explain to her that that is what I do, what I am. A worrier. "I know what design I will do for you. It is a mandala, it will bring you peace and balance." She points to a lovely design on a poster behind her.

Wait for it... wait...

"It will be $35."

Ugh. But it's beautiful, no? It's supposed to last 3-4 weeks. And bring me peace and balance. That's worth twice that, at least. While she applied the henna, we chatted more about life and its intricacies, and she nodded sympathetically as I -- for some strange, inexplicable reason -- retched up my life story to her.

You sat quietly and watched, and when she was done, she gave you a little dot design on your foot (gratis, thank Vishnu...) and offered to slip the henna care brochure in my purse for me. "Shall I grab your wallet for you while I'm in here?" she asks. Sigh. Yes, you may.

Shot a bunch more car and truck stuff then, as a reward for my diligence, stopped off at Starbux at the very ritzy, fancy-pants Sierra Summit shopping center for a soy mocha and a chocolate croissant.



"I just bought three pairs of shoes that I'll never wear! And I have this pair of Jimmy Choos that I've only worn once, and I've *got* to get rid of them!"

--Overheard at a table outside of Starbux whilst consuming soy mocha and yummy croissant

Wow. I wish MY life were so damn disastrous.

Anyway, thanks for your company today, and thanks for being so good, especially since it was your first outing in the big-girl stroller. And special thanks for not acting TOO bored and disgusted:



Love you!

PS: Some cake notes.... got a decent response regarding the cake yesterday. It did taste pretty good. It was the recipe off the Hershey Cocoa can. Also notable comments regarding the chocolate frosting. I've got one other choco cake recipe I wanna try, but it's good to know that this one will work if need be. Here's a pic of the inside of the cake: