Jump to content
  • entries
    11
  • comments
    48
  • views
    4,793

Welcome to back home... (NOT)


Jennifer Stell

1,894 views

So, last nite... after waiting on prints to get to the shop, and then waiting for a few people to come and get their preorders so I didn't have to worry about selling someones print at the West Texas Tattoo Convention this weekend in San Angelo, and then waiting for the 5:30pm traffic hour to die down, we finally got on the road, way too tired from waking up and packing, and then having to deal with some shop drama, I was tired, he was deliriously tired, and we were both anxious about the show.... (ALWAYS get pre-show jitters, not sure why)

We drove two hours, and I found us in my old stomping ground outside of Parker County, TX... A place known for Peaches, and Minerals... I figured, hey, it's dark, my contacts feel like they have glued into my eyes, and I wanted to crash into bed... I pulled over, gassed up the truck, then I looked up and called a motel that I found on my phone that took dogs, as we travel with our puppy... The man answered, yes.... we take pets, and we have king smoking rooms, come on in...

Five minutes later, I'm there, it's been unseasonably warm here, so I forgot to put my hoodie on, and being that I am not used to dealing with "Plain Skins", I lived in Santa Cruz, CA for like the last 6-7 years before getting together with Richard, and I forgot, oh, we're not in California anymore...

Plain Skins - a non tattooed person, with prejudice towards those whom have tattoos, and no want to even try to see beyond skin color.

Well, I go in, I don't look horrible, ( I didn't think), I had worked at the shop busting a little ass cleaning and running around taking care of some errands, and then the 5 AM packing this morning and load up, I know I was a bit tired looking... As soon as I walk in the lobby there was an African America woman using the computer, and she turned to me, " I love your tattoos, so beautiful", I said, thank you, and proceeded to make eye contact with the front desk guy...

"Hi, I just called a bit ago, and asked if you guys accept dogs... I would like to get a room for the nite..." He looked me up and down, and then looked out at my truck, and my pups ears popped up and he looked at Richard, who saw him looking, and waved.. "How many people in truck" to which I said "just two, my husband and me". Then, his eyes, said it all, he paused and looked me over again....

"I have no room I would put you in", shook his head, and put his hands in a crossed fashion across his chest... In my human sexuality classes in college, and in my psych classes, that typically defines a defensive attitude, and a closed decision.

I knew it was my tattoos, my eyes kinda swelled, but when I have makeup on I try to never cry, I refer to it as "war paint", I always wear my makeup on the floor or at shops we're working at as there is no crying in tattooing... It helps me as it's like a comfort blanket... I shook my head, and then nodded, ok, I see....

The lady on the computer turned around having heard and seen most of the exchange, said, "I can't believe... Oh my lord." I looked at her, and said, yup... Get back in the truck, Richard, was like did you get a room, I said no, he didn't have a room for me... Richard, "You just called, they said they did... What happened? I looked at him, I should have worn a hoodie in... Tattoo Prejudice. He was livid (wanted to go in), I couldn't handle anymore shit... and I just pulled out and over to get my bearings back, I hate driving and crying, especially when my contacts already suck... Got back on the road...

Kept thinking about the drama from the shop earlier, then thinking bout the ignorant excuse for a human being at the motel, and used that anger and hurt to fuel my body to get us here to San Angelo before midnight last night....

My stomach is still turning, and it's just cause my heart took a couple blows yesterday....

Oh well, I have been insulted by better people for worse...

Part of me does want to call or write a letter to the hotel chain, and seriously give them a massive wake the fuck up call. But what ever, the show must go on...

7 Comments


Recommended Comments

keep your head up jennifer, Hopefully someone will get the tiger that richard just painted tattoed this weekend and you will forget about the pea brain

Link to comment

jennifer...You write well. you might keep a diary,as you are leading a beautiful and interesting life. someday you ll look back and laugh. I do have a history of good advice on this subject. PM if you need an explanation.

Link to comment

Very annoying.

I think you should write that letter of complaint - not out of vindictiveness, but if it was a chain that looks for feedback ... Then why not? You might get a free night down the line or something.

Hotels can do bonkers things sometimes. I remember staying in one and coming back to find that they'd decided to move me to another room without telling me (and come in and moved all my unpacked stuff). I lost the plot and read the hotel manager the riot act - no one 'won' that one in the end, we both came away fuming.

Link to comment
jennifer...You write well. you might keep a diary,as you are leading a beautiful and interesting life. someday you ll look back and laugh. I do have a history of good advice on this subject. PM if you need an explanation.

Thanks for the writing compliment... I like to write, so much so that I do keep a journal, and have sine I was 9 or so...

I sit back and laugh here and there about stuff that I can... I posted it up not wanting any pity, just to get it off my mind... I'll shoot you a PM, and I'm not looking to really make a change that would resonate, I just get tired of waking up feeling like I'm going to vomit (anxiety), for a week after something like this happens... I have a horrible anxiety/panic disorder, and I stopped taking medication for it, so places to vent, help...

It's just been a good chunk of time since I last had to deal with straight up prejudice around tattoos....

Link to comment

Yeah I think I will at least write a letter or make a phone call, it was a chain hotel, and it was wrong.... But I don't want Richard to get any more irritated with it.... it's a fucked instance, and we have a lot good, little bad isn't a big deal...

Link to comment

Make me very irritated for you. I've never been denied a hotel room for tattoos, but have been sat in the back corner of an almost empty restaurant (Macaroni Grill) knowing full well why they did it. Sucks in this day and age, but it still happens.

Link to comment

Yeah Its been a while but a long time ago in Sonoma, Nor Cal, A couple of buddies and I were told ''No tables were available'' hehe. we just walked in and sat down. A pretty fancy joint. Ive never really sweated it. Oh well. Ive got the right to refuse also. I ve never liked the prejudice card.

Link to comment
Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Last Sparrow Tattoo Sponsors

  • Blog Entries

  • Blog Comments

  • Posts

    • Thanks. And u just made me laugh, I guess my comment sounded conceded, and I did not mean to sound that way. I guess I'm in freak out mode because it's so on display. I don't think anything will ever meet my expectations because of where it is. So on display. My friend is actually going to my tattoo guy BECAUSE of this tattoo. Removal is not an option. I wont do that. I do have crippling anxiety due to having multiple sclerosis. I'm overly critical of this tattoo. The design is a sun with sun rays  that wraps around and up over my shoulder and a lotus below it. I don't like flowers. Just lotuses. Haha. So it's not your typical flowers down the arm tattoo. It's actually a unique design. I love yoga and zen things although from my post...I don't sound so zen. Haha. I've been going thru it now since summer started. I would say it's going in a while. I wear it out, got a compliment from someone at the gas station, I just don't look at it myself with it. It makes my stomach sink. Like I ruined myself. I'm ocd about it. I continue to get tattoos tho. I dont want to be a lunatic over it either. I always said I would never tattoo my upper arms and I did. And for the life of me, can't figure out why I did that. I was living in the moment I guess. So, if the reality of the tattoo doesn't meet my expectations,  what do u do for that? Add to it? Thank you for responding to me. I appreciate it a lot. I feel like I lost my mind over thos. I just got another tattoo on my forearm, and love it, it's smaller. Maybe that's why. I don't know. I allowed thos to be placed somewhere I never wanted ot, I approved it loved it afterwards and now....maybe cause it's so on display. I'm not used to having such big visible tattoos. Like, why cant I just be cool about it. I LOVE tattoos. 
    • "I'm very fit and complimented all the time how tone my arms are" So if you were fat and out of shape it would be OK?  🤣 Tattoo Anxiety is not unusual, but it really depends on how long it goes on for. Has it been weeks, months, years? You really don't have a lot of options. Despite what laser removal centers would have you believe, you'll never get totally rid of it. Any cover up will need to be even bigger and bolder, don't let any "artist" tell you differently.  Given the tone of your post, "I'm very fit and complimented all the time how tone my arms are," "My artist is extremely talented, there is not 1 shaky line, crooked line," "The line work is out of this workd, perfectly straight," "Everyone loves it" it sounds like the reality of the tattoo doesn't meet your expectations.
    • Hello, So I'm new here and reddit is just awful people so, I wanted advice. So for some reason, I allowed a tattoo be blasted down my arm. My fault I know. I'm very fit and complimented all the time how tone my arms are. So, I got a sun over a lotus tattoo. My artist is extremely talented, there is not 1 shaky line, crooked line, and hes not cheap. Hes been tattooing me and my husband a long time. The line work is out of this workd, perfectly straight. Its a bold tattoo. All black. Everyone loves it. But for some bizzare reason, I can not look at myself in the mirror at this tattoo. Has this ever happened to anyone before? It's healed, but all I do is cover it and hide it. Has this happened to anyone? It turned out bigger and bolder than I ever imagined. From my shoulder to about 3 inches above my elbow.   
    • Good luck. Job hunting sucks. I got laid off from a company after 20 years and it took six months to find a job. I was in the dreaded “middle” management role at an IT company. A little over two years later my new company was  bought out and they did a “restructuring” which means the people doing the work get fired so the people sitting on their fat asses get fatter.  I couldn’t find what I really wanted so I just retired. Might be a good time to think about switching fields.
    • The only "amazing" thing I've been doing lately is job hunting. Honestly, it’s stressful. I’m always worried about having enough money for basic expenses and stuff each month. There are lots of jobs on Layboard https://layboard.in/vacancies/jobs-in-uae/jobs-in-dubai/speciality/baker, where I’ve spent most of my time. I sent my CV to several companies and I’ve got decent baking skills, even without formal training. So I hope they'll give me a chance to do a test task or something to show what I can do. 
  • Topics

×
×
  • Create New...