Carebear Tattoos

Tattoo shops should be a place for everybody (okay, except children and assholes). For too long, people with dark skin have been discouraged and even excluded by the tattoo community due to misconceptions and bias. The truth is, a skilled artist can work collaboratively with clients of any skin tone to create beautiful body art! 

If you’re on the fence about your dream tattoo because of your skin tone, I hope this information encourages you to reach out to a reputable tattooer. If you’re an artist, I hope this inspires reflection on how we can make the tattoo industry more inclusive for everyone.

Racism/Colorism in tattooing

It would be remiss of me to discuss inclusivity in tattooing without acknowledging both historical and current discrimination in the tattoo industry. You may be reading this after an artist turned you away, saying your skin tone was the reason. Or maybe you’ve seen multiple instances of colorism on tattoo reality shows. Or you’ve felt unwelcome due to the climate of certain tattoo shops. This is wrong and needs to change. 

Systemic racism influences every aspect of our culture, and unfortunately tattooing is not immune. It takes artists and shops standing up against racism and colorism to improve the industry. It is our responsibility as the experts to familiarize ourselves with color theory, learn to tattoo all shades, make space for artists of color, and consult openly with clients using factual information. 

How does skin tone affect tattooing?

Tattoo ink sits just below the epidermis, or outer layer of skin. It’s oversimplified to think of skin as a piece of paper to draw on because it’s more like a filter we view tattoos through. Everyone’s skin is unique, but there are general color schemes and tones that work well together to make the art pop. 

Skilled tattooers have an understanding of color theory and can collaborate with clients to choose the best colors based on the individual they are tattooing. Let your artist know if you are prone to keloids or have any other concerns about your skin so they can be aware beforehand. Following the aftercare instructions provided by your artist will also help the healing process.

Rather than turning people away, artists should be actively supporting clients in the process of creating a tattoo that works for them. Adjustments can be made by a skilled artist to ensure the tattoo holds up over time. 

Get a test tattoo!

If you have a color scheme in mind but aren’t sure how it will look, a small test tattoo can be a good first step. Think of it as a color swatch. Once you see the color in action, it can help you determine if a larger piece would meet your expectations. This can be especially beneficial if you’re interested in using colors.

Finding a trusted artist that is open to having these conversations during the consultation phase is important. It’s all about communication!  

Book a consultation

Okay, are you ready to get your dream tattoo?

Book a consultation with a reputable artist. Let them know if you are prone to keloids. Be open to their feedback. Consider getting a test tattoo. And remember that tattoos are for everybody (except children and assholes)! 

Since you’re here, I would love to talk with you about your ideas. Check out my work and contact me if it sparks your imagination! 

Most offensive video games ever made

Self-expression comes in many forms. For some, it is displayed through tattoos and piercings; for others, it’s conveyed in poetry, songs, and art. However, call it a form of self-expression or a super offensive way to pass the time, but some video games are disgusting fixations for the masses. Below are the top five most truly heinous video games ever made.

Bonetown

Fist on the list is “Bonetown.” Need I say more? The whole premise of the PC game is to get laid. Bonetown describes itself as a “naughty role-playing game with the free-roaming atmosphere of Grand Theft Auto.” The game involves plenty of booze, drugs, bar fights, and women to try to hook up with. The more missions the player completes, the bigger his balls get and the hotter the girls. It sounds like a guy’s dream come true, no matter why it’s such a popular game.

JFK Reloaded

Next on the top five is called JFK Reloaded. The game is history-based on the assassination of JFK back in 1963. Albeit somewhat educational, it is highly offensive to many, including senators Edward Kennedy and Joe Lieberman, who both condemned the game. Other history buffs think the simulation is important and keeps the controversial assassination top of mind. As a matter of fact, it was released on the 41st anniversary of the president’s assassination, and people can’t see to get enough. There’s even a cash prize offered to the highest scorer – aka the best Harvey Lee Oswald shot. It’s good old-fashioned twisted fun.

Custer’s Revenge

The third most intrinsically messed up video game on the list is Custer’s Revenge, which was made for Atari 2600 back in the day. You didn’t need cutting-edge graphics to simulate ethnically-tinged sexual assault in the ’80s. In this game, players manipulated a naked cowboy inspired by the infamous George Custer sporting an obvious (albeit pixelated) erection. The objective was to roam across a rough desert landscape, evading obstacles like incoming arrows, in order to hook up with a naked, anatomically exaggerated Native American woman who is tethered to a post. It is a controversial game but one of the first adult-themed games to ever be released, so it earned a spot on this list.

Operation Pedopriest

Forth on this offensive list of video games is Operation Pedopriest. The punny title kicks ass. The game allows you to protect lustful priests from the police and negative media attention while innocent children are tempting them. The player gets to control the movements of Church enforcers dressed in crimson robes as they intimidate adult witnesses before they can make it to a telephone to report sexual discretions to the authorities. There’s even a limited option of being able to exile guilty priests in the Vatican without counting against the player’s score.

Postal

Finally, the fifth vilest video game on the list is Postal. As the name suggests, Postal follows a man with mental health problems, aka a dude who has gone postal, as he kills civilians and law enforcement. The first-person shooter game was popular enough that sequels, spinoffs, and an awful film were all made following its debut. This game was so violent and disturbing that it was banned in several countries across the Globe.

video games

Regardless of whether life is imitating art or vice versa, there is no shortage of artistic expression in most video games. These games have inspired tattoos, t-shirts, paintings from local artists, and more. They are entirely distasteful and pretty damn disturbing, but there is a desire for them on the market. I guess people are more twisted and dark than most appear on the surface. While I in no way condone or endorse the real-world atrocities these games portray, I can appreciate the sick sense of humor behind them. For some insight into what goes on in my brain, check out one of my latest pieces of work.

Bandana Invention

Bandanas are a bold statement piece. But who invented these colorful handkerchiefs and why? The bandana, as it’s generally known today, is linked back to the late 17th Century in the Middle East and Southern Asia. In fact, the word “bandana” is actually believed to come from either Hindi or Urdu. Either way, the word “bāṅdhnū” roughly translates as a tied or bound cloth. It was in those areas that the black printing processes emerged. The method comprised of pressing pre-carved blocks into tiny pieces of woven fabrics, after dying them with indigenous plants and materials.

The Early 18th Century

A short time later, these square pieces of printed fabric started making their way over to Europe. In the early 18th Century, they were marketed mostly as women’s shawls, and one of the first patterns to gain popularity was the ancient Persian “boteh” pattern. The repeating arrangement of curved teardrop-shaped figures eventually became known among European consumers as “Paisley.”

Then, in 1921, more than 10,000 mine workers in West Virginia came together and wore red bandanas to demand unions and better working conditions. The event, at the time the largest armed uprising of citizens since the Civil War, became known as the West Virginia Coal Miners March. This revolution is thought to have contributed to the coining of the term “redneck.” The red bandana was also wildly popularized by the artwork featuring Rosie the Riveter. And lezbehonest – Rosie has been a lesbian icon plastered across LGBT+ walls for decades.

Bandanas

The fact is, bandanas have served an essential function for generations, worn by sailors, farmers, cowboys, bikers, miners, and construction workers. More recently, the use of bandanas has extended to the LGBT+ community, gangs, and general hip-hop culture. The two-tone paisley-printed cotton cloth has undoubtedly come a long way from its early roots. Nowadays, it aids in the promotion of popular culture and other twentieth-century forms of advertising. Walking through a Pride festival, you could easily pick up a dozen rainbow-branded bandana designs from local businesses. Local artists, including me, are even hopping aboard the bandana train, and why not? They are fashionable, fun, and can be worn a shit-ton of different ways. Whether you want to tie it around your neck, on your wrist, or wear it in the back pocket of your jeans, bandanas rock. My design is hands down the coolest bandana I’ve ever seen — it is black and white, featuring subtly placed genitalia. Okay, I digress; the design is not so subtle. It is a bandana filled with dicks . . . You heard me right. Dicks and sperm in a variety of shapes and sizes cover the black cotton piece. It may not be the traditional paisley pattern most people are used to, but it definitely stands out more. If your wardrobe is lacking that one accessory you just couldn’t put your finger on, look no further. You can order it here and thank me later.

Big boner bandana for sale

Cunt. There, I said it. I got the taboo word right out of the way!

But where does the term cunt even come from, and why is it so offensive? Plus, what does it have to do with vaginas? You’ll probably be surprised to learn how the c-word has changed over time and the history behind it. So, continue reading below to have all your burning questions about answered about the word cunt.

WHERE IS THE WORD CUNT DERIVED FROM?

Truth be told, the history of the word cunt is quite interesting. Seriously, if teachers taught this to us in history class, we may have actually listened! There are dozens of unique sources for the c-word, from Germanic to Scandinavian, with some Latin thrown in between. Indeed, in Latin, the word ‘cunnus’ means vagina. #TheMoreYouKnow

Dating back even further than those cases, there were inscriptions found on pre-alphabet runes that read ‘kunt.” So, in essence, we can compare those markings to present-day crass drawings on a nightclub stall. It’s good to know that some things will never change . . .

“Cunt” has also been used in vulgar Renaissance verses, including Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. However, it wasn’t until Shakespeare’s time that the meaning of cunt began to shift profoundly. While no one can really isolate just one origin of the word, it has appeared quite a bit in literature, and good ol’ Shakespeare was clearly a fan.

So, the answer to whether or not Shakespeare invented the word “cunt” is both yes and no. However, he is chiefly responsible for common cunt euphemisms. Although the word dates back thousands of years, its use today is predominantly because of Shakespeare.

When Did the Term Become So Offensive?

Most women cringe at the word cunt, but when did the term become offensive? There’s so much to uncover with this four-letter word, but at least now you know where it comes from. The truth is the word cunt only started becoming offensive when puritans decided to stigmatize sexuality. In the Middle Ages, Christian clergymen give sermons regarding the idea that a woman’s genitals are a potent source of evil. I mean, speaking from experience, they do have a valid point, but I digress. The term “Cunnus Diaboli,” means “Devilish Cunt.” And during that period, the divinity of the cunt was something to be hidden and ashamed of.

Taking the Power Back

Therefore, if cunt simply means vagina, then what’s wrong with vaginas? Vaginas are freakin’ awesome! They provide people with pleasure, they give life, and they’re even a naturally developed lunar calendar! So, why would someone refer to a pissy person as a warm, squishy birth canal? That beats the hell out of me. As someone who loves words, the ill use of cunt is entirely mind-boggling. It’s undeniable that language changes over time. Nonetheless, as responsible, mindful citizens, we should work against constructs that steal power from one group and hand it to another.

I genuinely believe that it’s time to embrace the term cunt again. It’s a tiny word that bears a lot of weight, but it should be anything but scary or offensive. It can be a massive dose of love instead of an enormous force of hate if we actively define our vocabulary rather than letting it define us.

When you’re ready to rock the ‘cunt’ revolution – you can order your pinback button here.

Anyone who grew up during the ’80s was surrounded by a few common denominators: Cabbage Patch Kids, fanny packs, mullets, and slap bracelets. But another incredibly repulsive, yet nostalgic finding from the ’80s, was Garbage Pail Kids. Personally, when I first learned about this ironic spoof on Cabbage Patch dolls, I cried from fear. I was only 4 or 5 years of age at the time, and the grotesque images really got to me. Soon the fear became invigorating and I fell in love.

Work of Art

I wasn’t the only one who loved the gruesome cards. More than 800 million of the mucus-covered Garbage Pail Kids have been purchased over the years. Parents ended up mortified, and psychologists wondered if a preoccupation with the grotesque images could affect a child’s development. In hindsight, I guess that was a valid concern when I think about some of my friends who grew up during that era. But I digress; the cards certainly pushed the envelope between cute and creepy. It’s a combination I grew to emulate in my work as an artist and love to use as inspiration to this day. 

Wacky Packs

Those of us who lived during the epic times of Garbage Pail Kids may even remember schools banning the cards from campus. They were too much of a distraction for kids, and teachers couldn’t stop students from trading their new ‘treasures’ during classroom instruction. Garbage Pail Kids were initially made to be included in Wacky Packs in 1985. Topps Company, known for their baseball cards, actually made more money selling the satirical Wacky Packs during the 1970s than traditional baseball cards, according to top traders. Garbage Pail Kids are making a popular comeback these days, as people are getting their favorite cards inked onto their bodies as tattoos. Retro t-shirts, lunch boxes, stickers, and other memorabilia are still wildly popular after all these years. 

Garbage Pail Kid Series

There were 660 different card designs in the Garbage Pail Kids series, and each illustrated babies covered in ooze, vomit, blood, or pus. Fan favorites included “Barfin’ Barbara,” “Leaky Lindsay,” and “Unzipped Zack.” Some of these cards are now crazy valuable, raking into the thousands, selling on eBay, and at conventions. However, three cards are worth as much as $7,500! The most valuable one is known as “Nasty Nick” – it’s the very first card in the series, featuring a 1a. The artwork features Nick, dressed as a vampire, ready to bite the neck of a female doll that resembles a Barbie. Personally, it’s one of my favorites for a multitude of reasons. The next card on the list is “Adam Bomb,” and it’s worth $4,000 in mint condition. The reason for its popularity is because Adam’s head exploding into a mushroom cloud is the image used on the cover of original boxes and packs for the first five series. Ironically, the image of “Nasty Nick” is the same graphic used on the third most valuable card, “Evil Eddie.” In the early days of the series, there are 41 “a” and “b” cards, for a total of 82 cards. The only difference between the “a” and “b” cards is the name of the character. The “Evil Eddie” card in mint condition is worth $2,500. On that note, it might be worth a trip to your garage or storage shed to see if you have any old Garbage Pail Kids that could be worth a small fortune. 

The impeccable combination of clever puns and bodily fluids on the cards wasn’t for everyone. But it opened my eyes to a world that was okay with truly demented, off-colored artwork. Life isn’t always pretty, and the Garbage Pail Kids embraced the different, the ugly, and the outcasts. If you’d like to relive your childhood by rocking a Garbage Pail Kids necklace today, visit my shop: https://carebeartattoos.com/product-category/necklaces/ 

 

Pin Buttons

Whether you’re trying to make a political statement or just rocking your favorite band on a retro jean jacket, pin buttons are an easy way to express yourself. But where the fuck did they come from? That’s a good question — and I bet you wouldn’t believe me if I told you that pinback buttons have been around for hundreds of years!

Badge Pin or Button

The concept of a pin button was patented in 1896 by The Whitehead and Hoag Company. They were the leading American manufacturer of advertising novelties at that time. Whitehead previously had patents for various designs of ornamental badges and medallions, patented as early as 1892. But then another patent was issued to Whitehead & Hoag on July 21, 1896, for a “Badge Pin or Button.” The design used a metal pin anchored to the back of the button to fasten the badge. This is very similar to the buttons we wear to this day.

Advertising Methods

The popularity of this newfound advertising method soared all over the country. The buttons had to be made by hand, so millions at a time were put together by local factory workers. And even in the 1800s and early 1900s money and greed were ever-present. Whitehead and Hoag, not willing to lose a single button order, maintained a strictly non-partisan stance. They set it up so small groups such as the Socialists, Communists and Prohibitionists could place their button orders just as easily as the Democrats or Republicans.

Politics and Pin Buttons

Politics, of course, were a huge reason for mass button orders, especially during presidential elections. They were an easy and affordable way to spread the word about a favorite candidate (or crush whomever he was running against.) Aside from politics, cartoon characters and artists made up another significant portion of button demands. As far back as 1898 early buttons were printed with a popular cartoon character, The Yellow Kid. The novelties were offered as prizes with chewing gum or tobacco products to increase sales. Cha-ching. Later, open back buttons were introduced, which allowed any type of advertising or message to be inserted into the slot. The idea was pretty badass and made for walking billboards all over town.

Branding with the Pin Button

In 1945 the Kellogg brand jumped on the button bandwagon. They started inserted prizes in the form of pin-back buttons into each box of Pep Cereal. Pep pins have included U.S. Army squadrons, along with characters from newspaper comics. There were five series of comic characters and 18 different buttons per set. And guess what? People are selling the complete collection of Pep pins online for hundreds of dollars today on eBay. Some of the more popular pins have images of Superman and Popeye emblazed on them. Honestly, they’re pretty cool. Check them out here if you feel so inclined.

Buttons and Marketing Approaches

In the 1950s and 1960s, the pins displayed images of Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and the infamous sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. They became more of a popularity piece and conversation starter than anything else. Then, of course with the Vietnam War in full swing, protest buttons were all the rage. Buttons have always been a way to share personal angst, diverse viewpoints and to otherwise stick it to the Man. My personal favorite from that era: “Draft Beer – Not Students.”

Local Artists

Today, local artists can create their own pins based on their favorite pieces of work. Businesses share cheesy customized buttons with employees as ‘gifts’ and parents proudly plaster their kids’ baseball picture-button on their blazers each spring. Whatever the reason may be pinback buttons have been around for hundreds of years and aren’t going away any time soon. If you feel the need to tell someone to “Eat a Dick”, or want to give a “Cunt” button to your boss on your last day of work click here- I’ve got you covered: https://carebeartattoos.com/product-category/pinback-buttons/.

 

 

Queer Artists

There is no shortage of talented queer artists for today’s youth to look up to. Even when I was young and growing up in a small southern town, I didn’t have to look far to find inspiration from other gay artists across the Globe. For many people who are struggling to express their feelings, individuality, and confusion about sexual orientation, art is the perfect outlet. It provides the necessary mediums to say the things we frequently can’t put into words.

LGBTQ

The fact is the LGBTQ community and all minorities, for that matter, experience the world differently than others. The art we create to express ourselves sheds light on those differences. Society doesn’t have the words necessary to speak our experiences into reality as often as they should. And this is when we find alternate ways like art and other avenues of expression to set us apart and speak our truth.

Artistic Inspirations

One of my biggest inspirations from an artistic standpoint is Frida Kahlo. She overcame countless obstacles during her life, including being impaled and suffering severe injuries in a car accident when she was only 20 years old. She continued painting for decades, even after dealing with a miscarriage, a divorce, and other challenging situations that could’ve stopped her. Frida’s work was beautiful and included many self-portraits enhanced with graphic and surrealistic elements. One of Kahlo’s most famous works is called “The Two Fridas”. The well-known painting depicts two versions of the artist sitting side by side, with both of her hearts exposed. One portrayal of Frida is dressed in white and has a damaged heart with spots of blood on her clothing. The other Frida wears bold-colored clothing and has a fully intact heart. These figures of Frida are said to represent the “unloved” and “loved” versions of Kahlo. I always valued the juxtaposition of her work; it inspired me to tap into my own darker, more complex sides without the fear of conforming to the norms of society.

Los Angeles Artists

Another artist worth mentioning is a Los Angeles based artist named Nao Bustamante. She has been sharing her performance art, sculpture, installation, and video work across the world for more than 25 years. Her artwork has been so influential for the LGBTQ community. For that reason, she is strongly supported by the gay community, which appreciates how risque her work may be. One of her boldest pieces of work is a body-narrative is called “America, the Beautiful.” Through the rituals of feminine transformation, Bustamonte uses clear packing tape and haphazard make-up to create a distorted reality of beauty with all of its passion and pain. The performance takes the viewer on a bizarre circus-like adventure of ladder-climbing and breath-holding tension. She is continuously motivated to shape a more equitable and loving world that mirrors her own life experiences. According to an NBC news feature, she says, “I stand at the intersection of many communities: queer, feminist, Latinx, artist, and educator,” she said. “I live all those identities at the same time.” That versatility and open-mindedness of her views are what makes her so successful and unique.

Super Queer Artist

Another amazing queer artist who paved the way for the gay culture in the United States is Colleen Coover. She began her career in 2000 with a queer-themed erotic comic called “Small Favors.” The bisexual artist is married to a cis-hetero man. However, she says she’s always identified as queer. She’s been creating queer-themed comics since the 1960s. So, she was elated when Marvel introduced its first gay character, Northstar, in 2012. Coover also illustrated a well known graphic novel, “Gingerbread Girl.” Her work is vibrant, unorthodox, and perfectly captures the spirit of a variety of queer themes.

Artists from California

Finally, there’s a remarkable, trailblazing lesbian artist from California, and her name is Lenn Keller. She made a name for herself as a black lesbian photographer in the 80’s. One of her most famous works was titled, “Black lesbian glockenspiel player w/ SF Lesbian & Gay Freedom Band, SF Pride Parade, June 1983.” The large black & white photos offer an alternative history to typical California life. Keller recognized a need to document and showcase the Black lesbian community during an era when “gay” usually came to mean white men.

Gay Artists

There are plenty of famous gay male artists who’ve made a mark throughout history. However, well-known bisexual and lesbian artists are a bit harder to come by, even in 2020. If you have the chance to support a local queer artist, you definitely should. Whether you purchase a canvas print from a street fair or share an artist’s work on social media, every gesture helps. If you’re interested in some of my gay-friendly, sarcastic, and satirical pieces of art, please visit https://carebeartattoos.com/shop/.

 

Pop Surrealism

Lowbrow Art:

Lowbrow art, also known as pop surrealism, is a visual art movement that began in the LA area in the late 1970s. Its cultural roots were motivated by underground comics, punk music, street art, skateboarding, and hot-rod cultures of the street. The phrase lowbrow and pop surrealism can be used interchangeably. But no matter what you call it, the style is often humorous, sarcastic, a little twisted and ironic.

Pop-Surrealism:

Most pop-surrealism artwork is expressed in paintings, toys, digital art, sculptures, collages, and of course, tattoos. The genre exudes technical strength while remaining rebellious and unapologetically dark. It is morose and distinctive, typically character-driven and narrative-based. Pop Surrealism is characterized by its unique stylistic traits, which include doe eyes, large heads, and dream-like cartoon-influenced landscapes.

Lowbrow, or pop surrealism, started as a product of political and social times, a revolution against the academic conceptualism of the ’60s. However, it has continued to morph and thrive into the 21st century. The unique style remains an unpretentious blend of possibilities, open to flux, and devoted to beautifully polished works. Pop surrealism seizes our imaginations and kicks off a journey into a wide-eyed, candy-colored, beautifully disturbing world of artful madness.

California

Growing up in Southern California, I was drawn to the irresistible nightmares and enchanted dreams of pop surrealism. I found myself completely enthralled by images of delicately ghoulish little girls, wicked bunnies and other wonderfully peculiar fairy-tale images. My love for art began with an unassuming drive for self-expression as a child. I was a tormented soul stuck in all-American town, spewing my most extreme emotions into visual art and music. Everything I created was a “screw you” to authority figures, media hype, and social norms. This mentality understandably caused some problems during my teenage years, but it also provided me with the outlet I honestly needed to survive.

Artistic Influences:

One of my influences from a young age was Robert Williams, the American painter, and cartoonist. He is known for taking credit for the term Lowbrow Art in his famous magazine Juxtapoz. The painting, “Skulldy Dumpty,” really spoke to me, as did “Appetite for Destruction.” There were so many others who I looked up to, including Mark Ryden and Daniel Merriam. San Diego and LA were bursting with talented street artists sharing their eccentric pieces with the world. I began becoming increasingly engrossed in the culture and world of pop surrealism, which inspired many of my early tattoos and art pieces.

Suffice to say, pop surrealism is a passion of mine and always will be. I thrive on creating the perfect display of juxtaposition and dark humor on my client’s bodies. (In fact, the crazier the concept, the better.) So, if you’re looking for a giant marshmallow roasting a human or a kitty cat face with an octopus body, look no further. Our artistically minded creations will have something for all different senses of humor.

“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” -Winston Churchill

It started with an exciting idea – what If I could make a playable piece of art?

I bought a cheap homemade guitar body online, collected affordable parts including a brand-less neck and low cost electronics, and set forth with the expectation that I would have a custom guitar that’s both visually appealing and musical.

In the end, I made a guitar shaped paper weight.

The process was tedious, yet satisfying. I applied around 40 coats of paint, glitter, and lacquer. Then, I taped off the individual frets (what a pain in the ass) so I could paint the fingerboard.

The first sign of trouble was when the tape pulled some paint off the fingerboard. Oh well, I figured, maybe no one will notice. 

Next, I bought a clear plastic pickguard. It looked so cool when I was done painting the underside in reverse. This would prevent any paint from scraping. How clever, right? Turns out, this was the only thing I did right.

When I tried to attach the neck to the body, I drilled right through the fretboard.
I knew this was the beginning of the end, and that my little guitar would never be plugged in and played.

Of course the plastic was too frail. It broke when screening the tone plate down.

There was no point to even wire the electronics.

From a distance, I really love the aesthetic of the guitar. It turned out visually almost exactly how I had imagined. 

The point is… I have failed at many projects. I have ruined paintings, made tattoos that I wasn’t happy with, and written song lyrics that make me want to puke. All of these failures have roused me to work harder, be more thoughtful, and find ways to appreciate aspects of my mistakes. In this way, I have been able to find success in even the most frustrating absolute failures. 

I have another guitar body, so maybe I’ll try again. Or maybe I’ll just call a luthier…

It feels like it’s all out of control. It seems as though there is no hope. But alas… who needs hope when nothing matters. Why don’t we just have FUN?