As pictured from left to right we have Hannah, Eva, Sarah and Liza but if ordered in another way the initials might spell ‘S.H.E.L.’ . All are sisters from a musical family in Fort Collins. Tonight their dad played bass and their mom sold CDs on the side.
Plus Live Fireworks!
Because of the High Park fire and the hot and dry July in NoCo our normal 4th of July fireworks display was delayed until mid-September when we had a bit of rain. It worked out well.
Posted in Music | Comments Off on Happy 4th of July!
At last count there were at least 22 parlors in town where one or more tattoo artists apply their trade. I plan to visit them all some day just to add what I find on Roadside Mysteries because it is a mystery why there are really 22 tattoo parlors in a town with a population of a little over 140,000. While I have yet to visit any tattoo parlor I am fairly certain that if and when it happens I will not subject myself to indelible markings. Think Department of Corrections Category: Cross/Trible Tattoo on Right Forearm, Dragon Tattoo on Right Arm, D.C. Tattoo on Back. Identifying marks on the body. No! I won’t do it! However:
In the interest of science, I recently submitted to a rather unusual marking of my skin.
It’s a Bed Bug Tattoo!
I decided to get a tattoo of my favorite local bike shop brand : Black Sheep Bikes. Their logo is a sheep. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be a BLACK sheep, but red is the only color a bed bug knows. So, what are Bed Bugs?
Bed Bug Tattoo artist of the genus Cimex
A bite from a bed bug can cause skin rashes (the redness in color important for tattoos), various allergic symptoms (it’s a chance you have to take) and possible psychological effects (who could tell?) . The little buggers need human blood to survive and after their bite and the resulting color change due to irritation on the skin the markings could be used as body art to some extent: It’s a Win – Win situation. Bugs get fed, You get art!
If you would like to have a bed bug tattoo I have illustrated some steps you will have to follow in order to do this right.
1) Select the artwork
I have chosen to get a tattoo of the company logo for the Black Sheep Bike Company located right here in Fort Collins, Colorado. If you go to the website of the Black Sheep company, at the top of the site are the words “Black Sheep” and there’s a little graphic of a sheep. It’s kind of cool, and only those that are “in” to custom bikes will recognize it for what it is. There are other logos out there, but some are easier to work with than others, so read further before you choose the artwork for your tattoo.
2) Choose a suitable mask material
Here’s the thing: The bed bugs are going to have to bite in specific areas of your skin in order to create an image that is recognizable. The mask allows the bugs to do their work in the interest of art and science. In this case I am using an Avery Badge Label #5895 for the mask material. The adhesive backing on the Avery label will help keep the mask in place during feeding and it will also help keep the label on the computer screen if you carefully remove the backing on each corner of the label before attaching it to the screen.
3) Trace the artwork onto the label
This is fairly easy. The label paper is thin enough that you can see the screen image through the paper. A pencil works well for this purpose.
4) Cut the mask
This is the hard part. You have to cut away the part of the image that you want to transfer to your skin. It’s best not to choose a logo that is too complicated. Also, if your image includes any kind of lettering (text), the cutout on the non-adhesive side should be a mirror image of the text.
In the above example, I used a single edge razor blade. You may find it easier to use one of those X-Acto type cutting knifes; I couldn’t find mine, so I used a razor blade.
5) Find the place where bed bugs live
In most developed countries in the 1950’s, bed bugs were almost unknown as human pests due to the use of strong insecticides such as DDT. Now you can find them lots of places in the U.S. but since some say that bed bugs could be infected by as many as 28 human pathogens, you may want to check out a few “clean” bugs from your local entomologist. Hey, I know where there are clean bugs! They live at the Insectary of course. We visited there in 2011. Time to go back and check out some bugs.
6) Prepare yourself for the bite of your life!
Here I am in the entomology lab with my right arm exposed. In my left hand is a Mason Jar full of little starving bed bugs who haven’t had a good blood meal in months! The top of the jar is covered with a light mesh material and on top of the mesh is the finished Avery label with the black Sheep logo cut out. Check the clock! You need to hold the inverted jar on your arm for at least 25 minutes to ensure that all the bed bugs get at least one bite!
7) Pain in the Name of Science
No, not too bad actually. You can feel the little buggers bite into your skin, but it’s not anything that I would consider painful. Bed bugs are typically night feeders, so their bites usually will not wake you while you are asleep. These guys were very hungry and they got down to business right away. In 25 minutes it was over!
‘8) OK, so where’s the tattoo?
After the required 25 minute ordeal, you must slowly and carefully lift the jar off your skin to make sure that the bed bugs have time to remove their blood sucking sippy straws. This is a critical step as you don’t want to harm the bugs and you don’t want used insect mouth parts left in your skin.
So, where is the tattoo? As far as the bug art is concerned, it is up to YOU to get your skin rash on. Any number of things could happen. It might take a few days for the full color to develop. It might itch like crazy. Don’t scratch the tattoo as it might become infected!! Wash your arm thoroughly in the area of the bites just to stave off infection.
If I get any weird skin reactions, I shall report them, otherwise, I’m out of here for now. Damn, the Tour de Fat was last week and I haven’t bloggered it yet!
They’re all going to the drive-in; an outdoor theater where you park your car and set up chairs or couches in a parking lot and watch a movie. How strange is that?
On acres of undeveloped realestate
The owners of this theater have had offers but they don’t want to see this theater die. It’s the last of about 380 such theaters still in operation in the U.S.
Tonight’s the last night
For the season that is. And it’s the last night to see a 35 mm film show. Yes, like everyone else, this theater is going digital next year (at a cost of $250K). It’s also the owner’s birthday so you can get in for $10 per car load!
The view from the screen looking in the direction of the snack bar
It was a nice night to sit out on lawn chairs and enjoy a movie under the stars. The posts between the parked cars have those old metal speaker boxes (some work, some don’t, some have been ripped off) but most people just tune into the movie broadcast frequency on their FM radios for the audio.
Looks like the show will start in about 10 minutes
The sun setting in the direction of the “Big A” on the foothills. Not just a movie theater, it’s the natural setting of the sun and the meteor showers after closing that attracts us to this place.
Snack Bar
Here the theater attendants are outside grilling up cheese burgers and bratwurst. Inside you can get root beer floats, cotton candy, funnel cake, churros and all sorts of glow sticks. It’s the snack bar that keeps this theater in business; make sure you visit it early and often.
The movie
We saw a double feature: The Bourne Legacy and Ted. We knew what to expect with the ‘Legacy’ movie. Ted was actually better than we thought so we stayed for both features. See you guys next year!
Posted in Movies | Comments Off on Wesley’s Birthday Party
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