The best kind of family bonding

A few months ago I got a message from an old friend of mine. Her family would all be getting together this winter. Her mom and older brother still live here but she'd be coming in from Seattle and her younger brother would be in from Korea. I practically grew up with these guys. My sister & I went to school with them and they lived just down the street from our grandparents.

While they were all together they wanted to get together for a family portrait, but that's not all she wanted. During this visit they would all be getting their first tattoo. Matching family tattoos. She asked if I would document the occasion and I was more than happy to.

[Carol's wrist bird]

There was a little miscommunication and Dale (the oldest) had never intended to get a tattoo of anything ever. He did show up to watch but just the other three actually got the ink.

The tattoo artist asked everyone where they wanted theirs, and when Jan said her neck we all stopped what we were doing and said "your neck?" He said if you get a neck tattoo your street cred will go up about 20 points. I guess we all pictured it up front somewhere. Where she actually got it, on the back lower part of her neck, it's not as hard core looking as we thought but still pretty tough.

(The bird comes from the design on a necklace Jan's mom used to wear a lot when she was younger.)

The next week we were pounded with snow and ice so when we got together for the group session I thought it may not have mattered where we went because everything seemed to look the same and was equally dangerous to try and walk on. We had a good time though, and it warmed up a bit that day which I appreciated.

These four get very silly. I think most of the photos have some sort of funny face or light hearted posing going on. Then when we were done they couldn't help but indulge in a snowball fight.

Oh yeah, and here are the tattoos, almost all healed:

(tattoos were done at All American Tattoo in Florissant MO)

The Randy Dandies

In an earlier post I mentioned and showed you Mimi Le Yu and Swifty Deeds. After that show I ran into them at an event at the Mad Art Gallery. They told me about an upcoming show with their comedy burlesque group, the Randy Dandies. It sounded like such a good time that even though mother nature has seemed set on trying to keep me from getting out of my driveway we ventured out to Off Broadway to check it out.

The show was based on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. The audience were given clues and won prizes if they were the first to yell out the correct answer. The prizes were even related to the destination. It's obvious they put a lot of thought and work into the show.

Where's Waldo hosted and each performance was related to the place where the clues lead.

[Gretta Garter in China & Roxy Red Rockets in Australia]

Carmen Dandiego had been mustashioing landmarks in each of the locations. In the end she tried to mustashio the moon but Dora the Explorer came to the rescue. They fought, tore off each others clothes, and Carmen, as always, ended up behind bars.

Keep an eye on what the Randy Dandies are doing and check out a show. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed.

Group Shoot at the Lemp Brewery

The other day I was invited to join several other photographers & models on a shoot with no real agenda but to get together, meet people and make pictures.

The studio space is an entire floor on one building of the old Lemp Brewery in St. Louis. It's an incredible place shadowed by what it once was. There are people using sections of the now "business park" but it still felt very empty.

There were lighting set-ups spaced all around the floor. I used them some but found myself more interested in all of the fantastic natural light spilling in through the large windows and focused mainly on that. 

A lot of the girls brought bikinis and lingerie for their photos, which I got some of but for the most part wasn't too inspired by. Not this day at least. What I did love is that Meredith brought her guns. Pretty women with guns is a combination like tattoos & babies for me. I think it's just great.

Good Times With Pretty Ladies

Well, more accurately smokin hot ladies.

The other night Cobra Kai hosted their second evening of "Tassels & Tunes" (burlesque and a band). For January's show the band was Hope & Therapy who I am a fan of. You should check them out.

  Gogo McGregor returned to Mardi Crawler's stage bringing along friends Mimi Le Yu, Swifty Deeds, Rennee Risque and Swisher Sweetie. Rennee and Swisher are both newcomers but they rocked the stage like pros.

The night was also celebrating Missy's 30th birthday. Missy is one of Cobra Kai's creators. No one with a microphone forgot to remind everyone to buy her a drink and she got a special "boylesque" show from Swifty Deeds.

The finale number is probably my favorite out of all the shows I've seen yet. It was a "Mrs. Robinson" theme & super sexy. I loved it!

By the way, I think I have a crush on Mimi now.

Something Good From Something Tragic

I think what the Westboro Baptists didn't realize when they first started protesting is the more exposure they get, the less steam they have. When you catch people off guard at an emotional time preaching horrible things you're sure to anger them and get the reactions you're looking for. But the more people are aware of their existence, the more they understand what they're all about, the more common it will be to see people react appropriately. They should be ignored and dismissed.

Today some members of that "church" were in Bethalto IL to protest another military funeral, but as I drove into town I was overwhelmed with positive energy. All the major streets I came across were covered in American flags, big and small. People were gathering all along the side of the road to show support for Lcpl Kenneth Corzine and his family. Any business with a sign out front gave respects. I've never seen anything like it. It was incredibly moving.

I walked around quite a bit but never got as far as where the Westboro people were. I really didn't care to see them anyway. The overall feel to the day was not about them, at least not anywhere I was. It was all people sharing stories about their time in the service and other anti-protests they've been to. Sympathy for the family, respect and thanks for the troops. Hatred successfully absorbed in my book.

It was so cold out it took my entire drive back home and then some to warm my body back up & I wasn't there nearly as long as a lot of these people. They braved the cold for hours to be a part of something they really believed in. I'm so glad that I was there to experience this. It's amazing to see what people are capable of and to see so much good come out.

Baby Anna

In June my cousin Sarah had the first great grand baby on my mom's side of the family. They live in California until she's discharged from the Marines so we don't get to see them too much. I'm pretty sure it drives all the grandparents crazy to have to be so far away from the new cute little baby but she still gets pretty spoiled even at a distance.

They came home for Christmas so I got to take a few 6 month photos.

Cobra Kai's 2nd Anniversary Party

Cobra Kai is a local entertainment promotions group that I do some shoots for sometimes. The other night they were celebrating their second year and released their second volume compilation CD with tracks from some of the bands they've brought to town this past year.

I Stabbed My Landlord

Evan Mitchell One Man Band, who is always a good time, premiered his acoustic show and I think I can safely say is the first act to perform on the bar at Mardi Crawlers.

The boys from Benedict Arnold were just a blast. They put on a great show and had a lot of fun. I hadn't seen them play before but I'm sure I'll see them play again.

I Stabbed My Landlord singing a long with Scene of Irony.