Late posting, but I went to my second laser tattoo removal appointment. I went on Friday at 3.30pm and again, the procedure lasted for one minute.
For those wondering what laser tattoo removal feels like, to me, it feels like someone shooting sand at your skin at 100mph. It burns, and it’s a lot of pain. If you think “Oh, I can handle it, my tattoo barely hurt” Well, laser treatment hurts 100x more than that. My tattoo on my forearm barely hurt, I didn’t scream, I only winced at a few parts next to my underarm. Within that minute of laser treatment, I screamed. I actually squealed and had to tell the man doing the treatment to stop for a bit to calm down. The main thing to focus on is breathing. If you don’t breathe, you cut off oxygen to your brain and you will pass out. Luckily, the only getting me through it was knowing that a minute in perspective is a very short amount of time, and also focusing on my breathing helped.
In all honesty, the next few hours are worse than the treatment itself. It feels like someone’s burning a red-hot iron onto your skin, and it swells, it’s very sore and extremely tender. It’s two days after my treatment, and I still wince when I accidentally knock it.
My second treatment hurt a lot more than the first because he raised the laser from 7 joules to 9 joules. And next time, it’ll go up again to 12. A lot of places will keep you at the same amount of joules for a few treatments, therefore making the overall healing time a lot longer and you will be a lot more out of pocket.
Results so far: A few weeks after my first treatment, I have seen a radical difference already. The tips of some of the swallow’s wings has started to disappear, the lettering has become thinner, and if you look very, very closely, it looks as though the tattoo has “shattered”.
At the moment, it’s still a little puffy and red, so I can’t really notice much difference. Give it a couple weeks, and I should see even more of a difference.
So, I got a tattoo in December, and immediately regretted it. Instead of just coping with it and living with it, I decided to get laser tattoo treatment.
I went in my local town, their website is here. I had my free consultation and asked him everything under the sun about the removal/treatments. He told me that:
It’s all about focusing the light energy through the incredibly accurate laser pen on the Cynosure Affinity QS equipment; when the energy is focused through the skin and onto the tattoo ink it sucks up the energy, just like a black hat on a sunny day.
After each session your body naturally absorbs the broken down ink over a 6-8 week period, causing the tattoo to simply fade away over a number of visits. Some brighter colours don’t absorb the energy as well and take a little longer to break down, but in the majority of cases there is no trace of a tattoo after 5-15 sessions.
The laser energy gradually breaks the layers of ink down over repeat treatments, reducing it into microscopic pieces; the process is almost entirely pain free with just some minor discomfort for the few seconds the laser is used.
After each session your body naturally absorbs the broken down ink over a 6-8 week period, causing the tattoo to simply fade away over a number of visits. Some brighter colours don’t absorb the energy as well and take a little longer to break down, but in the majority of cases there is no trace of a tattoo after 5-15 sessions.
Overall, my treatment will cost £70 a session, for 1 and a half minutes of being blasted with lasers. I will have one session every 4 weeks, and it should be completely gone in 8-12 sessions depending on how fast a healer you are. I’m quite a fast healer, so I’m hoping that it won’t take up to a year, but if it does, it does. I have no control on the healing ability of my body.
I was told to put these ridiculous glasses on to block myself from the light. then, I was blasted with cold hair to numb the area I’m guessing, or just cool it down. Then the laser started. If you think having a tattoo hurts, then try laser treatment. I’ve never felt pain like it in my entire life. At one point, I yelped because it hurt tremendously. Words cannot explain how much it hurt. that minute and a half was so intense, it felt like it lasted half an hour.
After the treatment was done, it still burnt and hurt, which I was concerned about, but apparently it’s fine. It’s your body healing itself. Even now, almost 24 hours after my first treatment, it’s still very tender.
Here are a few pictures of what it looked like after the first treatment:
Apologies for the bad quality photo, I blame my Blackberry (not poor lighting). But as you can see (especially in the last photo), there’s little red dots all over. At first it was raised and all bumpy, and I couldn’t touch it. But I can see an improvement already, which is brilliant.
Next treatment is on 24th Feb, and I will be tracking my progress on this blog.
Last month, I got a tattoo on a whim. It’s a banner with birds saying ‘I Still Believe’.
I now regret it with every inch of my being. I got it on a whim, didn’t think about the complications etc, and now I have to live with it.
But do I?
I’ve booked in for a tattoo removal consultation. I know I only got it last month, but I absolutely regret it. But at least I’m doing something about it. My consultation is Friday at 3.30pm, and maybe, hopefully, I’ll start it then and there. I’ll track my progress through this blog.
I try not to have any regrets but I try to make the good come out of them. For example:
- Moved to a different town. Yes, I moved back in a week. I regretted putting myself through that pain, but at the end of the day, if I didn’t move, I wouldn’t appreciate home as much as I do now, and I would forever be spending my time with “what if…?”
So, all in all:
I got a new tattoo. I had doubts before and after it. I was proud of it, and I liked it. One day, I looked in the mirror, and I hated it. But, if I hadn’t had it done, I would never know what it would feel like, and I might be full of regret for not having it done.
I hate it. I think it’s because I have a conscience. I have a soul.
I procrastinate…a lot
I’m doing it right now in fact. Hoorah!
I’m actually a quiet person.
I talk to people, sure. But I enjoy a lot of quiet time. I’m not as loud as I used to be especially at uni. I would put it down to nerves but I’ve known these people since September.
I enjoy my own company. Sometimes more than the company of others.
I spend a lot of time on my own. Thinking, observing, watching others around me. And I don’t mind it one bit. A lot of people feel the need to be constantly surrounded by others. I, however, am not fond of it.
I’m not particularly interested in a relationship. I have far better things to do with my time.
I used to be, don’t get me wrong. I used to be obsessed: “why can’t I find a boyfriend? What’s wrong with me?” Seeing all the heartbreak it brings upon others, and spending all their time around them and stuff, it doesn’t particularly interest me at this moment in time.
I daydream a ridiculous amount. It keeps me away from harsh reality.
Especially at work. Many times have I daydreamed that I go to a casting call for a television programme (even though I have no dramatic experience in my life) and get picked out of hundreds, or daydreamed that dogs can talk and how awesome and weird it’d be.
I’ve started observing the behaviour and little things about people. And I enjoy it.
I can’t help it. I adore people watching. That makes me sounds like a creepy stalker, but I love it.
I smoke way too much.
I think it’s boredom. Especially at uni. An hour break? SMOKE MOAR.
I haven’t blogged properly in nearly a year, and I think it’s time I revisit this blog and do something with it. I’ve just spent an hour reading all my past blog posts, and wow, so much has changed.
I started university in September, studying Multimedia Journalism. I moved there for a week, but decided I hated it and moved back promptly after. Make of it what you will, but I really fucking hated it and I was sick of crying myself to sleep every night.
What else has changed?
Oh, I’m working in retail. And I well, it’s not what I expected. Money’s good, and it distracts me from uni work, and that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.
I’ve made new friends, I’ve lost old ones. Not by my own doing, just drifted apart, I guess.
I have moneys! Yes, I thank you student loan company, I thank you, job and I thank you, £1000 interest-free overdraft.
My break from blogging hasn’t been intentional. I got distracted by Tumblr for a while, but it got boring very quickly. So on a whim, I looked at the state of my WordPress blog and it surprised me by the fact I’m still getting up to 100 hits a day, considering I haven’t blogged in nigh on a year. So here goes, the new me that’s blogging again. I need to find my passion again and that’s exactly what I’m going to do
Today I basically did nothing. Nadda. A friend cancelled on me so didn’t really do a lot, just kinda bummed around. Returned my playsuit from New Look, so that’s £30 into my account soon. Today I went to the tattoo studio (the one I highly recommend; Kingswood, awesome guy called Mobi, check it out http://www.kingswoodtattoostudio.com/) he’s done two of my tattoos (one’s on his website, I feel so awesome) and yeah. On my foot, I’ve got these music notes and they look amazing, but I wanted to get it built on for some time. I went in with a few ideas, and he came up with some stars around it, possibly shaded in pastel colours to make the notes stand out more. I’m so excited, the appointments on Thursday at 3.30pm and will probably take about an hour or so.
People always say to me “oh, I want a tattoo but I hate pain!” well, in my opinion, pain is part of the journey, I guess you could call it. I actually don’t mind the pain, when I got my first one I felt like dying a little bit, but now I’ve had a few more, it doesn’t hurt as much possibly because I know what to expect. Ok, yes, it does hurt but the result is the main thing for me, and I’m so excited about it. It’s gonna be on there for life, and so a little bit of pain for a few hours or so is gonna be worth it. And, of course, tattoos can be pretty expensive. But, as I said, it’s worth it in the end.
My beaten up old Converse died today. I was very sad. I bought them 2 years ago and they’re so dirty and I noticed a few weeks ago, the rubber where my heel is was very thin indeed and I knew it was only a matter of time before they split. And today, it was a very sad day because they eventually split 2 years isn’t a long time, but considering I’ve worn them everyday, it’s not too bad. Just means I’ll have to fork out £37 for a new pair. I just have the Converse All Star Oxford Black. But I saw these the other day and I fell in love:
OMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM. I actually love these. But they’ll have to wait until I get paid a little more money. I can just about fork out for my new tattoo and my Converse, but not £40 for these. They remind me of TUK 2 Ring Creeper Sneakers:
Ugh I adore these too. I will also buy these one day when I can scrap £55 together for a pair of shoes. Ah, one day….one day…
I’m serious The lure of clothes/make-up is just too tempting. And I caved.
As my past post states, I’m currently saving up for my bass which is £243.95 and I saved up £230. And then I spent £110 of it. Oops. But I didn’t spend it on crap! Well, maybe a little on crap. But crap that I’m gonna use!
Rundown:
£25 Rent for the Mother
£20 Haircut (mandatory really, pre-haircut my hair looked like a bird had nested in it)
£4.07 at Amazon for 2 books. One, I’m reading now and the other a gift for my mum
£13.98 at Asda. That was on a big tub of Ben & Jerrys, a little tub of B&J, a sandwich ice cream thing and something else. I can’t remember
£9.48 at Superdrug. This was for hair colour (mandatory, my hair was all faded and roots on show…wasn’t pretty) and Barry M Dazzle Dust in Orange. IT’S BRIGHT ORANGE ’nuff said.
£2.75 Costa Coffee. Again, mandatory.
£48 in New Look. Um…yeah, this wasn’t mandatory. But I needed a new bag and this one’s perfect. And a new t shirt that’s lovely and one that I will (and did today) lounge around in. Oh, and a playsuit that was £30 :/ Here it is here: http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/playsuits-and-jumpsuits/denim-boobtube-playsuit_213696140 and I’ve decided to return it. I wasn’t too sure on it when I bought it and felt mega mega guilty about it being very price-y (for my standards anyway) so this morning I decided I will return it because in all honesty, I feel mega fat in it and it doesn’t fit amazingly. To be honest, I wouldn’t even pay £30 for a pair of jeans, and it’s pretty much the same thing. Darn you, New Look!
So yeah. The bass is getting further and further away. Goddamn. But I’ve just found on their website about getting it on finance:
Take it away interest free finance is an Arts Council England initiative to help 18 -25 year old UK residents to purchase a musical instrument and learn to play music. You can buy a guitar, drum kit, keyboard, saxophone or any musical instrument and related amplifier on interest free finance.
With Take It Away you borrow between £100 and £2000 toward the cost of your musical instrument, and you can include music stands, sheet music, amplifier and other related accessories. Your musical instrument and accessories package can cost more than £2000.00 but the maximum loan balance after you have paid the deposit cannot be more.
This is tempting me but I want to know if it’s for real. If it is, IM GONNA ORDER THAT BITCH RIGHT FUCKING NOW!
Also look at my shiny new hair:
I’m trying to get it like this:
But it’s proving hard. I don’t think my hair’s layers are short enough. And also her hair is longer lengthways. Now it’s just mega red and awesome. I wanna put blonde in it but it’s going to have to wait until I leave my work because I don’t think they’d appreciate it too much. Maha. Feelin’ so punk right now
Ugh, I’ve been way too busy for my liking past few days. Everyday I’ve done something and got up early. Well, ok, maybe not on Sunday when I spent the whole day in the sun reading my book (I started and finished Sophie Kinsella’s ‘Remember Me?’ in one day…yay me!) and for lack of a better word, got roasted. Yes, my face actually matched my hair (bright red). Oh, and also my arms. And my chest. And I was in pain when I had a bath and the bath pretty much sizzled when I got in. But with a bucket load of after-sun I went back to my normal pasty colour. Well, my nose hasn’t returned to normal. It’s still very red, but nothing a lot of foundation won’t cover
Work has been overly-insane thanks to the Easter holidays and kids being off from school and whatnot. Everyday we’re being rushed off our feet and I get home and collapse. But longer hours means more pay, which makes me happy this week I’ve done 27 hours which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is for me.
And more hours means more money which means that this baby will be in my arms next week:
LOOK HOW PRETTY! It’s the Mike Dirnt Fender Squier Precision Bass. Ok, I’ve budgeted and I was £20 away from my target, but it actually turns out that I’ve got £53.95 to go. HURRY UP MONEY I NEED YOU! If anyone would like to sponsor me to get my bass, it would be much appreciated. I’d also offer you eternal love. I’m so desperate to get this bass. My Aria STB-something or other is just a pile of shit. One of the tone knobs has fallen off, where it was covered in stickers and I’ve taken them off, it’s now left all that gross residue that I can’t get off, it won’t connect to my amp properly, just a list of things that are wrong with it. It’s also 6 years old so it’s pretty old too. And has gone through a lot of battering. But this new baby will be in my room in 3-4 days starting Tuesday.
The new bass which I will christen ‘Dirnt’ has everything I’m looking for in a bass. Firstly it’s precision, which means less treble, more bass which is a great contrast to a Jazz bass. Apparently, this particular bass is incredibly loud, which is definately something I look for. Louder=better. Compared to my other piece-of-crap-bass, this has only 2 knobs (volume and tone), whereas my other has three. (Not anymore since it fell off. Bad times) and also a side jack plate so I won’t have my lead obstructing my playing as much. EEEK!
So, at this particular moment in time I’m just chilling out listening to Johnny Cash with a cigarette after a hard day at work. I think I may go and make a Baileys Comet in the minute because it sounds like so much nom. FYI, it’s 1 1/2 shot Baileys, 1 shot Disaronno and top with cream. OMNOMNOMNOMNOM. I’ve actually gone cocktail crazy. I’ve got a constant supply of ice, and have stocked my spirit cupboard with Archers, Malibu, Disaronno, Baileys, vodka, Tia Maria (only used for Black Russian’s)…all the favourites! I just need a cocktail shaker.
Ok, so here’s the 3rd and final part of my little 30 Song Challenge installment. Here we go:
Song 21: A Song That You Listen To When You’re Happy
WHEN IT’S TIME TO PARTY, WE WILL PARTY HARD. To be honest, every song by Andrew WK just makes me happy. Every song by him is abouts partying and getting wasted and just having fun. No silly love songs, no deep mournful tracks about how much everyone hates him and his life is sad, he just cares about what he’s drinking tonight and how much fun it’s gonna be. My other favourite song by him is ‘We Want Fun’ where the lyrics are: We want fun and you might as well face it/We wanna have fun and we wanna get WASTEDDD!!! Such a tune.
Song 22: A Song That You Listen To When You’re Sad
This song I always listen to when I’m sad. Some people play happy songs when they’re sad, I don’t. When I’m sad, I don’t play perky and chipper songs, I play melancholy songs so that I can drown in my own misery. When I’m low, I listen to depressing songs and eventually, I’ll come back up again. For some reason it helps, and this song always makes me cry and I love to play it on guitar. It’s such a heart-wrenching song, the vocals are incredible and you can hear the pure talent of Justin Furstenfield seeping out. Sometimes it’s weird how one persons song-writing can really pull on your heart strings.
Song 24: A Song That You Want To Play At Your Wedding
Ahh, love songs. Sometimes I love ‘em, sometimes I hate ‘em. At the moment, I’m kinda loving them. This is one of Green Day’s most calming songs, and love just kinda oozes from every orifice when I hear this song. When I first heard this song, tears sprang to my eyes. It’s such a beautiful song and makes me all happy and stuff inside. Lyrics like: “‘From the first day you came into my life/My time ticks around you/But then I need your voice/As key to unlock all the love thats trapped in of me” just makes me go all “nyawwww!!!” and turns me into one of those annoying love-obsessed morons. Even though I don’t have love in my life, this song still rocks. A part of me thinks I never really will find love like this but hey, it’s nice to have hope. But if anyone out there does love me…it’s time.
Song 25: A Song That You Want To Play At Your Funeral
This song is more of a love song than anything tbh. But it still makes me cry. I first heard it on Scrubs and I was all OMG THIS IS SO SAD IMMA DIE D: I actually have a list of all the songs I want at my funeral. That sounds mega depressing, but if I died tomorrow, people will be all “OMG WHAT SONGS SHALL I PUT ON THE PLAYLIST AT HER WAKE?!” I’ll name a few:
Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven
Everly Brothers – All I Have To Do Is Dream
Frank Turner – Long Live The Queen
Green Day – Whatsername
Yeah, I’m cool.
Song 26: A Song That Makes You Laugh
I think this song makes me laugh because of all the swearing and the general hatefulness of this song. It’s just fucking hilarious. To be honest, most Blink 182 songs make me laugh. Fuck A Dog, What’s My Age Again?, I Won’t Be Home For Christmas and Family Reunion to name a few. It’s only 43 seconds long, but first time I heard it, I sat there guffawing at the undiluted brillance and peppiness of this song.
Song 27: A Song That You Wish That You Could Play
That intro is just fucking insane. Some guitar players might be all “Oh, that’s easy I can play it blindfolded!” I sit in awe in most of Avenged Sevenfold’s songs mostly because the solo’s are insane because they’re mega speedy and I could never play them in a million years. Dayum.
Song 28: A Song That Makes You Feel Guilty
Ahh, John Lennon. Such an amazing person who brought out this inspirational piece of music. It really does make me feel guilty. It makes me feel guilty that sometimes I feel depressed even though I’ve got so much to be thankful for if that makes sense. I have few friends and family who mean the world to me, I’ve never wanted for anything in my life. This song just makes you contemplate the less-fortunate and makes me feel mega guilty.
Song 29: A Song From Your Childhood
This song just makes me think of happier times when I was a little kid and used to dance in my living room like a spaz. It’s such a happy and summer-y tune, and I still listen to it to this day. Something about the pure cheese and boppy tune just reminds me of happier times when all I had to worry about was how to wear my hair that day (ponytail or some little bow?) and when the next episode of Miami7 (anyone remember that?!) was going to come on. Those were the days.
Song 30: Your Favourite Song This Time Last Year
This was an easy one for me to find. All I had to look at was my ‘Songs of the Month’ from that month and I found it. It’s good when you keep a record of these things, or I wouldn’t have remembered whatsoever. I haven’t actually heard this song in a long time, and now I’ve just listened to it and remembered it’s awesomeness. Paramore are such an amazing band that I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing live yet (and since no one will go with me, I probably never will. Unless I go on my own. Which I’m contemplating) Only problem with Paramore is that I feel like I can’t sing along. My singing voice is just incredibly out of tune and I sound like a pig squealing when I sing.
A few days ago, I did a blog post about the whole ’30 Day Song Challenge’ that’s plagueing FaceBook at the moment. But, i put my own little twist on it and instead of crunching up everyone’s news feeds with songs and not being able to give a full description of why I chose the song etc, I decided to put it in blog form So here’s part 2:
Song 11: A Song From Your Favourite Band
For anyone who reads this blog and knows me in person will know that my favourite band is, and probably always will be Green Day. So here’s one of my favourite songs by them, a song that I relate to and just has an incredibly easy but effective riff. To me, this song just crams the whole in-love-with-someone-but-they-don’t-know-and-it’s-all-you-think-about into 3 and a half minutes. Such an awesome tune that not a lot of people know, and I hope you all enjoy the awesomeness.
Song 12: A Song From A Band You Hate
I find nothing worse than listening to this type of music. I just hate it. I don’t mind a little bit of screamo, Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet For My Valentine are about as far as I go, but this is just unbearable. I think I’d rather listen to Justin Beiber or Rebecca Black than listen to this dross.
Song 13: A Song That Is A Guilty Pleasure
I love Glee. It is a guilty pleasure of mine. Others slam Glee and say it’s stupid, the singing is unbearable, it’s cheesy yadda yadda yadda and in all honesty, I love it. It’s a feel-good programme and nothing’s better than when you’re having a rough day, and you turn on Glee and just get all happy from the pure cheese and mind-numbing storylines. I have to physically restrain myself from shouting ‘LIVIN’ IN A LONELY WORLD’ when someone sings ‘Just a small town girl…” It’s such a feel-good track, how can anyone not love this song?
Song 14: A Song That No One Would Expect You To Love
I guess it might seem a tad too R&B/Hip-Hop-ish for my liking, but I actually love this song. It was one of the songs that I was kinda brought up on, many times did I see my Dad on a Sunday and he would blast this out and I’d sing along quite happily to the chorus, not knowing what the song was even about. Aah, happy times
Song 15: A Song That Describes You
This song has so many poignant lyrics and I can’t help but think THAT’S ME, THAT’S MEEEEE! I was going to put Burnout by Green Day, but decided it was a little GD overkill. So here’s I’m Gay by one of my favourite bands, Bowling For Soup. This song is just so fucking happy with the chorus: “Don’t hate us coz we’re happy/Don’t hate us coz we’re beautiful/Don’t hate us if we make you smile or if we go the extra mile/To make someone feel betteron a really shitty day/And if you’re hearing what I’m saying then I want to hear you say, “I’m gay!” It’s such a chirpy and jubilant song and makes you realize:
It’s perfectly fine to be a happy individual.
Song 16: A Song You Used To Love But Now Hate
I used to absolutely in love with this song. When I first heard this, I thought “aww it’s such a cute song, LOVE!” Now I kinda hate this song. It’s just played on the radio over and over and I just think “SHUTUP WE GET THE IDEA! SHE’S BEAUTIFUL AND HAS LIPS YOU WANNA KISS ALL DAY…WHO CARES?!” I downloaded his album, and every song is exactly the same. Boy loves girl so much he would die for her and it’s all lovey-dovey and just pure nonsense. His girlfriend must be so fed up of him keep singing songs about her. I know I would.
Song 17: A Song You Hear Often On The Radio
I used to kinda like this song, until the radio just overplayed it. I hear it all the fucking time and now it’s whiny and just makes me wanna stamp on the radio. Considering when I’m at work, the radio is on all day, at the end of the day I just feel like I’ve heard the song a million times during that day. It just winds me up now.
Song 18: A Song You Wish You Heard On The Radio
It’s kinda sad that I wasn’t alive in the 70′s coz then I could live in the heyday of the English punk era. If the radio station at work played this, I would be beyond ecstatic. Like, wow. And what would make it even more great is if they played it on the day of the Royal Wedding. Maybe I should hijack their studios and play it on repeat on the 29th April…
Song 19: A Song From Your Favourite Album
The first song on my favourite album of all-time, Green Day’s Dookie. This lyric just sums me up in21 words: “I declare I don’t care no more/I’m burning up and out and growing bored in my smoked out boring room” Such an amazing song that gets me in a good kinda angry/excited/happy mood.
Song 20: A Song That You Listen To When You’re Angry
This song is just pure anger and I love it to pieces. When it comes on my iPod, I’m just like FUCK YEAHHHH! Hayley Williams has a brilliant voice, and the lyrics just relate to me so much when I think about friends that I’ve lost and/or losing, and family that I’ve alienated myself from: Well you treat me just like another stranger/Well it’s nice to meet you, sir/I guess I’ll go/I best be on my way out/Ignorance is your new best friend.
2 years isn’t a long time, but considering I’ve worn them everyday, it’s not too bad. Just means I’ll have to fork out £37 for a new pair. I just have the Converse All Star Oxford Black. But I saw these the other day and I fell in love:
The lure of clothes/make-up is just too tempting. And I caved.
this week I’ve done 27 hours which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is for me.
