Chris Brown Tattoos

Chris Brown is in an awful mess these days dealing with the allegation of basically beating up girlfriend Rihanna. While Chris has remained pretty quiet about the whole incident, one thing is for sure he has a huge love for tattoos. He broke all sorts of laws when he was 13 years old when he got his very first tattoo.

Below is a list of Chris' tattoos:

1. He has three stars behind his ear.

2. Jesus with the music notes on the upper part of his right arm, which Chris says signifies the gift to god gave him to sing.

3. The letter C (looks like a graffiti tag) and added a hand image on the upper part of his left arm. The hand means Chris holding his own name, his own destiny.

4. 2 ups 2 downs on his left arm under the C and hand.

5. A spray can underneath the 2 Ups and 2 Downs on his left arm.

6. The letter B for his last name

7. A skull with a halo above it on his right hand.

8. A angel and a ninja on his right arm that are battling each other and in between them are the words Darkness to Light.

Chris explained the reasoning behind his angel and ninja tattoo:

"me being a kid but being bad, being with the wrong crowd, doing the wrong things, but following my own path. This is the demon that I used to fight when I was younger, this is the angel, they just battled."

Chris is also quick to admit that his mother was not very pleased with him when he told her he wanted a tattoo when he was 13 and was even more angry when he went behind her back and got one anyways.

Popularity

Or, more precisely, how to be UNpopular.

Just in case you were wondering how to achieve this famed state, I offer the following, with guaranteed results:

Tell boys they may not whack the heck out of each other with the sticks in the yard {playing, not fighting, but still...}.
Tell the wild man that he cannot skateboard off the brick stairs at any speed, especially not high speed.
Remind them to take their medicine even if its yucky.
Make soup for dinner.
Tell them no ice cream for breakfast.
Or lunch.
Tell them to turn off the tv.
Tell them to go outside and play.
Or do their homework.
Or that you quite ready and happy to go in and clean their rooms, without their help.Tell them that they cannot wear flipflops to Mass.
Make them salad with dinner, again.
Enforce the chore schedules.
Ask the daughter if she has cut her hair, again.
Tell the teen that she cannot wear makeup to the football game.
Then tell her she cannot wear makeup um, anytime, she's too young.
Then tell her that her nose is only a little bit broken and it is still cute (just a little crooked).
Go on a date with your husband, only.
Ask them to water the flowers and garden.
Consider, out loud, getting a giant Sprinter van.

Now these are only a random selection from the past two days. But, the list, it keeps on growing and growing...and I am an expert on this one!

Fred Durst Tattoos

Limp Bizkit has decided to get back together and put aside their difference and make a new album that will drop sometime this year. They have decided to get back together and put out another album because they feel there is no good music out right now. One thing is for sure, Limp Bizkit's front man Fred Durst has a huge love for tattoos. Before his metal/hip hop band, Limp Bizkit made it big Fred actually worked as a tattoo artist. This probably explains why Fred has so many tattoos. It is unclear to exactly how many tattoos Fred has, he had nearly half of his body covered in them. He has both arms completely sleeved, half of his back done, some of his chest, as well as one on his neck, one on his hand and a few on his legs.

Below is a list of a few of Fred's tattoos:

1. A very large angle design on his back

2. A fairly large flower tattoo on the back of his neck

3. Some sort of spiral design on his left leg.

4. Two black x's on his middle right finger.

5. The Mona Lisa on the inside of his upper right arm

6. A portrait of Kurt Cobain and Elvis Presley on the left side of his chest

7. A moutain with the sun coming up from behind it on the top of his right shoulder

8. Barb wire around his right bicep

9. A fairly large portrait of Albert Einstein on his right calf

It is safe to say that Fred will be constantly adding to his tattoo collection.

Supernatural Smile for A Sunday

Now, this is an odd one and maybe you've seen it. But seems somehow fitting for a Sunday.
This monk smiled, AFTER he died, after he was prepared for burial. Not a single muscle contraction, but a full face smile.
Go, read and see for yourself. Ya gotta wonder.....It makes me smile too.
h/t: the Anchoress.

Tom Cruise Shaggy Hairstyle

Tom Cruise shoulder length hairstyle


Tom Cruise shaggy hair

Tom Cruise Shaggy Hairstyle

Tom Cruise shoulder length hairstyle


Tom Cruise shaggy hair

Martrydom of St. John the Baptist

Carvaggio, 1608

Ok, that title is a more polite way of describing this event. In my house full of rough and tumble boys, they tend to use the other, more graphic title: The Beheading of John the Baptist.

Sigh.
I guess in our modern era of shock tv and horror movies, even this grisly story seems tame.
What a shame. Maybe it should shock and make our stomach's flop and faces wince.
It does mine.
I used to (still do, really...sometimes) wonder why we had to have these gruesome stories in the bible, and even commemorate them. I mean, really? As they say, "Why can't we all just get along?" Why can't it be "nice?" Let's just look at the pretty stuff.....yes, Pollyanna....

But as we all know all too well, REAL life isn't always pretty. Real life has real hurt, real gore, real unexplainable happenings, that can't be explained away....except perhaps by the real existence of evil and our all too human nature to be seduced by it.
And this true story, that we remember especially today, is about evil, to be sure.
I mean, Salome asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter...because her mother told her to ask as she danced. Her mother was so torqued at John for calling out Herod on his adultery (with her), that she pressed her daughter to ask for his death, and decapitation at that.
Talk about a vengeful woman...

Anyhow, this story is not only about that evil impulse and gory act. It's about John the Baptist being both a harbinger of Christ and His sacrifice to come, but also a man who stood up for Truth - no matter what.

Massimo Stanzione c. 1634.

Now, even in our modern days, holding onto truth can sure get hard. Especially when so much of the idea of truth has become a dull gray slide rule......there is not much black and white anymore; absolute truths or rights or wrongs. Or, so it seems in our popular modern culture. And yet, of course, there still is real truth, but it's not always popular or 'pc' or whatever. And while I haven't heard to too many folks getting beheaded for being 'non-pc' lately, there is still a pressure out there to just...not. Not get involved. Not care. Not worry about anyone else. Not call it like it is. Not get into anybody's business.

But really, it IS a fine line. I myself have more opinions than most, but I find the words "Judge not" ring in my ears. So, how to jive that all up? I don't know. I tend to do the best I can on the fly. Which is probably pretty poorly, most of the time. I'll either get too timid to speak up, or too tired, or I will speak up and stick my foot in it. Typically I just throw my opinions out there anyhow.

So, I can let my boys play with swords and be good guys and bad guys; acting out the scary hard ideas of good and evil, right and wrong. And this story can have a place in that sort of teaching, eventually. St. John the Baptist teaches us that we should not be afraid. That speaking the Truth is hard, possibly even dangerous. There is real danger in life, and sometimes it cannot be escaped. But, it is worth it.

And the caveat is: the Truth is Love. Love is Truth. And so....if you (ok, me) can try speak of Truth/Love, with courage....then you or I will live it as well.

Icon written by Constantine Youssis

Beehive Hairstyles

Beehive hairstyles are a type of woman's hairdo that is named after and resembles an actual Beehive. This hairstyle is truly unique and a work of hair art.

The Beehive is also sometimes called the B-52 for its resemblance to the nose of a B-52 bomber plane.

The hairstyle was most popular in the 1960's and worn by famous people such as Audrey Hepburn and Dusty Springfield.

Beehive hairstyles have seen a resurgence in recent years as many famous celebrities have sported them at award shows and movie premieres.

Feast of St. Augustine!

Its the feast day of St. Augustine!
Ok, now this saint, from north Africa, is one of the biggies: a doctor of the church of course and one of the great writers throughout Church history. I like him for so many reasons, not the least of which is his connection with his mom and her devoted prayers for her son. You know, I will always have a soft spot for a mom and son....

His teachings are noted throughout Christendom for their lasting influence and, simply put, their beauty. Perhaps it was his years of living a life that was wild, utterly hedonistic, and dipped into all sorts of heresy and convoluted ideas of god.....but when he returned to the Faith, he did so in a big way, using his brilliant mind to convey the beauty of Truth to generations to come.
"Late have I loved you..." Indeed. And perhaps, that is part of his appeal to so many, so many of us (ok, me), have really felt that, lived that. Late, have I loved You. I missed so much, for so long. The "band width" of my life was so slim, and I didn't even know it. But I was fooled by the hedonistic life I lived into thinking it was so wide. I was arrogant enough to think I knew it all. Only, later, later when I finally "let go" of my grip on that did I finally come to realize how small it all was.
And then St. Augustine, once more, came through for me with one of his most famous prayers: "You have made us for yourself, oh God. And our hearts are restless, until they rest in you." Ah. I know, I'm paraphrasing that quote, but that's how it sticks in my head and heart. And that about sums it all up: St. Augustine, life in general, me in particular.

Happy feast day!
St. Augustine, pray for us!

Usher Tattoos

The very talented R& B/Rapper and father of two is no stranger to the tattoo gun. The soulful singer has a small tattoo collection of his own, that he loves to display to anyone and everyone who will pay attention. Unlike most celebrities Usher does not try to hide or cover up his tattoos. He has them in fairly noticeable places.

Below is a list of Usher's tattoos:

1. Usher has a small black star on each hand in between his thumb and index finger.

2. He has a fairly large black tribal design on his left shin.

3. A colored tattoo of a break dancer on right shin.

4. He has Usher tattooed on his left bicep in graffiti type writing with a sword going through his name.

5. Just last weekend in Las Vegas Usher was getting a sleeve worked on. No details on what the sleeve is of. The only thing that is known is it has special meaning to Usher.

There has also been some speculation of two other tattoos that Usher has. One of them being the name James tattooed on his upper left calf. (James is Usher's brother's name) Also there has been some talk that Usher got the letter K that sits inside of a heart tattooed on one of his hands. Supposedly, Usher lost his virginity to a girl named Karen or something to that effect and he felt the need to mark that on him for the rest of his life. However, not one single picture can be located of either of these tattoos. So one may think that this K thing is just a rumor.

Feast of St. Monica

Painting of St. Monica, by John Nava

Today is the feast of St. Monica!
Here is one of the premier examples of patience, especially for us moms.
Really, I should unofficially consider her a patron, because here is a mom who showed such patience and perseverance in prayer...and these are some of the traits (especially that whole patience thing) that I severely lack.

Painting of St. Monica, by Janet McKenzie

St. Monica, a saint from north Africa, prayed for the conversion (successfully) of her husband and his mother. But, most famously, she prayed and prayed faithfully for the conversion of her wild, wayward son, Augustine. Augustine was a son that would give any mom many sleepless nights and teary phone calls with girlfriends. And while Monica wasn't of the phone call era, I suspect she had many a night awake fretting over her boy. He was wild and ignored her pleas, getting into all sorts of revelry (can read more about him tomorrow on his feast day!).

But Monica persevered, because this was her son, she knew the truth and she had the faith that her prayers would be answered according to God's will....sooner or later. Well, it was something like 17 years later, but it happened. Not only did Augustine turn his life around and step back onto more solid ground, but he converted to the faith and was ordained by St. Ambrose himself.

I like to think it is in no small part due to the faithful lasting sure prayers of his mom, as well as her prayerful example and steadfast love, no matter what. She didn't shun him. She might well have corrected him, being his mom and all (whether or not he listened)..... {I know this is an old holy card image, but it makes me laugh.
It's St. Monica praying for St. Augustine,
but that's the same look my boys have when I'm giving them advice...
which is surely also a scene from the life of these two!}

....but she never stopped loving him. And that is what will turn even the hardest furthest of hearts back to the truth of Real Love. So I love St Monica, and she reminds me to never give up. Ever.

Happy feast day.
St. Monica, pray for us!

Christina Ricci Tattoos

The child star probably is most well known for her role as Wednesday in the Addam's Family movies has several tattoos of her own. Christina's tattoos range from text tattoos, to traditional tattoos, to girly tattoos and so on.

Here's a list of Christina's tattoos:

1. A lion on her right shoulder blade. It is suppose to be Aslan from the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Which was one of Christina's favorite books as a child.
2. A fairy on the inside of her right wrist.
3. Praying hands on her left hip, which used to be a bat.
4. A bouquet of sweetpeas on her lower back.
5. The words "Move or Bleed" on the left side of her ribcage.
6. The name "Jack" on her right thigh for a dead pet.
7. A sparrow on her right breast.
8. A mermaid on her left ankle.

Christina Ricci has confessed her love for tattoos, but knows that being an actress in Hollywood you have to be careful where you get your tattoos. As of right now all her tattoos are in places that can be covered up fairly easily. Because a lot of time producers in movies do not like their actress's to be covered in tattoos, because it is a pain to have to cover them up with make up if their clothes do not cover them up. However, Christina is hoping that she will become super famous one day so she can get a tattoo on her arm.

"I can't wait until I'm super-famous. I'm at the point when I should really hide them, because directors don't like them. When I'm really, really super famous, I'm going to get one on my arm - because nobody cares then."

David Beckham Ponytail

David Beckham ponytail hairstyle

David Beckham Ponytail

David Beckham ponytail hairstyle

UB40

Ub40 and a few peices from around Digbeth. Graffiti IS cool.

HERE

Happy Birthday Mom!

It's my mom's 75th birthday today!
Now, she may not be thrilled with that number, but I am!
I think it's a fantastic thing, 3/4 of a century, and she is still going strong...
healthy and busy and happy.
I wish so much I could be with her today and give her birthday hugs and wishes in person.

And while not everything has always been simple with mom, we clash on opinions and ideas sometimes, when it comes right down to it, it's the simplest thing in the world.
She's my mom.
I love her.

As you can see, I have her hair!
I have her hands.
I wish I had her skill with sewing and the patience that goes with it.
She is artistic and creative, always has been.
A terrific, dedicated tennis player (I wish I had that skill too!).
She taught me how to cook.
She taught me how to juggle lots of kids.
She probably passed on her love of reading to me too, as well as her love of crosswords and puzzles.
She loves to do water aerobics nowadays and always been a fiercely good loyal friend.
Even as a kid, brought home stray puppies and still loves nature, from bugs to ocean waves.
A grade school teacher before she was a mom, still a great teacher and nature lover.
She is so smart, but never really gave herself credit for it.

Over the years I have fussed at her and about her, for different things, big and small.
I was young and foolish, mostly, but didn't even know it.
As I too, age up a bit, I notice more and more that things I didn't understand before, now make more sense and I have more insight into the why's of them.
And they don't make me fuss anymore, they make me understand and accept.
I can only hope that my children will follow that same path, eventually.

And I hope that as I grow older I make it to my 75th, as healthy as she has.
And that while I have her hands, her hair and her feet, I hope I also have her capacity to love.
Because no matter what, when it comes down to it, if I or any of her kids really need her, she is there: caring, helping, biting her tongue if she needs to maybe {or not, ha! we gals in this family are nothing if not opinionated}, but loving all the same.

Happy 75th Birthday Mom!
I love you.