It's a pheonix bird, if you can't tell.

Thank you, yeah, I was very pleased with the results. The woman who made it was very talented!

Apparently so! Actually stylish enough to get me thinking I might just want something similar done as a regular tattoo. Really brilliant work!

Just what I was thinking! I've been wanting a pheonix tat for quite a while now. Just maybe not on my arm hand like that, I might get tired of seeing it...lol

I think you'd get so used to it after a while that you'd actually stop noticing it.
A guy I know has a tattoo on the back of his hand, only time he thinks of it is when other people remind him it's there.

Hm, that's true! I don't think about my henna other than when people comment on it. Well, I still don't know. I was kinda wanting it on my thigh. Thought it would look pretty sweet.

Yeah, most likely it will. The thing speaking for it on the arm and hand, though, is how the tail actually works its way down even on the fingers - it's just fabulous artistery - and that would be a detail lost on the thigh, but that could most likely be lifted in some other ways, though.

Yeah, I know. This specific design I have now is made for where it's placed, so if I did one on the thigh, it would be shaped to a more suitable design. Something that flows nicely from hip towards knee, maybe.
So, I take it you're interested in tattoos, or art maybe?

I'm absolutely talentless as an artist and my interest in tattoos is fairly limited to subtle ones, not a big fan of large images of this or that. I prefer rather simple forms and smooth shapes. Sort of like tribals, I suppose, but still not that basic.

I hear ya on that. Like people that do these big images on their backs... wtf? I just don't get it. I just got my first tat about a week ago, and it's a very simple symbol from my native culture. Didn't want to start out too big to shock my dear mother. Haha. I would love to get a Hawaiian tribal tat someday though. They are pretty aight. Sweet patterns and shizz.

especially if those big tattoos have some seriously gross or messy image. But I suppose that's just me. I prefer simplicity. I've been thinking about getting a back tattoo, and it would need to be quite big, but I want something easy to look at, something that doesn't really raise any eyebrows but means a bit more to those who actually take the times to look.
Do forgive me for asking, but how do Hawaiian tribals differ from regular ones? I've never heard of them mentioned before.

That sounds cool - and difficult.
Hope that goes well for you!
Well, it's hard to explain, you just gotta see em. When I was in Hawaii the peeps with tribals just had different types than the tribals I have seen before. I think it's because there's more details and small patterns (not like, small: small - it's just more pattern in a smaller space, but that doesn't mean the tat itself is small). Haha, I suck at explaining things, sorry.

Given a bit of time to work on an image I'm sure it will. :)
Hmm, I'll just have to google it and see what pops up then.

Word, Google is your friend!
The Hawaiian tribals are usually very ocean inspired too, like wave patterns, fish, turtles and whatnot.

Yeah, got most of that for the first couple of pages that poped up, also a lot of tribal tattoos that were smaller images conjoined to larger ones. Pretty cool, much nicer than the regular tribals.
Was there any specific type of hawaiian tribal you were thinking about getting?

Yeah, exactly! Well, not really, no. Probably one of em bands around the arm, or a turtle. Maybe both, haha. We'll just see. I'm pretty sure my next tat will be three stars - like Orion's belt - on the inside of my arm.

That's actually one of few signs I actually recognize. Someone taught me that one when I was about three apples tall and it's stuck since. So how come Orion's belt?

Well, the three stars also stands for "I love you" and it's also a sign you can see all over the world. A long time ago when my family moved from Alaska to Sweden, my grandmother told my mom that when she missed her she could look at those stars and remember that she loves her, and they are looking at the same stars even though they are so far away from each other. And now I moved from my mother in Sweden to Alaska, and the whole story just means a lot to me. Even though my mom is so far away, we can look up at those same stars and think of each other.
I know, kinda cheesy story, but hey, I'm a girl.

Between you and me, that story sort of reminds me of a song from the movie An American Tail, and however corny it may be that movie - and that song in particular - sticks.
It's a really sweet story they shared, and even if this sounds like a dock full of gay I have to admit that those kind of things, I mean stories like that, get to me, gives me a bit of a fuzzy feeling. I alsoe must admit I didn't know that about Orion's belt.
So how come they moved to Sweden and why'd you move back to Alaska?

I don't think I have even heard of that movie... I think this kinda stuff gets to people more or less! Some just don't wanna admit it. Well, I didn't know about it either, until my grama told me.
Well, we moved to Sweden when I was a small kid, my dad is Swedish and he got a good job there, so that's why we moved over there. So I grew up there, but after graduation I thought it'd be nice to spend some more time with my grandparents and all my relatives here in Alaska. It made me sad realizing I barely knew them... And it's nice to get away and try something new, haha.

You haven't? Well then I think this link is probably in order: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090633/
It's nothing fancy by today's standards in animatied movies, but still a really great family movie.
I see. Does he still have that job or has he moved on since then? And what is it you do in Alaska, aside of bonding with the family?
So true, so true. :)

Wow, that's an old movie! I've seen parts of this! But not the whole thing... I should try to find it somewhere.. haha.
No, he's got a new job by now.
I'm just working, enjoying my new life with more money than I've ever had, travelling and shopping and just living good. Experiencing Eskimo lifestyle and learning more about my heritage. And I became the youth leader for the church here, haha. Never in my life did I think that would happen... But it's aight. So - are you really Scottish?

Yeah, I remember my grandparents used to have it and I watched it all the time when I was little. Great stuff.
Hey, don't sound to bad! Maybe I ought to get out of the country as well, if there's better employment possibilities elsewhere. Not an entirely easy task finding work these days.
So tell me a bit more about this church group, it being a bit unexpected made it sound a bit interesting.
In all honest truth, no. I'm not born or raised there, still haven't set foot there, but I long to go and see it. You know how it sometimes feel like you're in an entirely wrong place but can't really place the notion of how and why? I've had that for years and I just don't feel at home where I am and for some reason I just feel like I might find my place in Scotland or Ireland, something about them just seem so tantalizing.

Yeah, I couldn't get a job back at home, I got one a week after moving here, haha. Getting out is definitely recommended, it's a great life experience if not anything else!
Well, I knew that I wanted to help out with whatever youth work they had here, little did I know that there was no work at all, and they were actually looking for a leader. So, I said I could and I became in charge of it. Not much more than that. But I like it, the kids are great. :)
I totally understand what you mean. And all I can say is: Get out! go somewhere, try new things, see new things, meet new people. It's really great, and you won't regret it!
I love Ireland. I haven't been there, but I am totally infatuated by it. Someday I will go there. Hopefully soon. I've been to England at least, it was awesome. London is great! So you are Swedish? Your English is better than any other Swede I know. Haha.

Did I ask where in Sweden you used to live? If not, consider yourself asked. :)
Here in Stockholm there are a few jobs to be had, at least if you dare listen to what the loonies at the unemployment office have to say. The rest of the country has it a bit worse, I'm told.
So what do you get to do as a church group leader?
I will, most definetely, just need to stash up a bit and then I'll head somewhere new. I plan on visiting Ireland with a few friends first and travel about with them for a while, after that I'll try to see Scotland with a few other friends and see if either one of them is fit for a new start.
I haven't even been there yet. I've spoken to a few friends at times about going to London for a bit of sightseeing and shopping but it has yet to happen.
Yeah, that's about how fun and special I am. :p But thank you. I haven't used my English that much lately so it feels like it's been on steady decay for a while now. Sort of nice getting it back together while writing and reading here, though.

I used to live in the northern part, a fairly small town called Vilhelmina. Gonna be moving to Hemavan this fall to go to school. I'm really excited about it.
Yeah, the job opportunities are absolutely non-existent back at home. I am very anxious about what to do this summer, I really hope that I get some kind of a job so I can get some money for school...
Well, preach, lead worship (play piano and sing), plan games and things to do for the kids. Not that hard of a job. :)
That sounds like so much fun! I'm envious of you now, travelling is so much fun! well, I will be doing a bit of travelling on my own, but that's not too glamorous, I'm just going back home to Sweden. *sigh It's going to be nice to get back home to all my friends though.
I know what you mean. That's a part of what I loved about moving to America: I got to speak English all the time! haha. It's going to be interesting to start speaking all Swedish again. Man, my mind is gonna be sooo messed up! haha.

Haha, funny you should mention that! One of my closer friends is from that place as well. Another one, not in anyway connected to the first, is considering moving up there for work or studies or something like that.
Yeah, suppose that's the curse of smalltown areas, not much work to be had these days.
I'm sure it will be, as soon as we get to packing our bags and hit the road. :)
Haha, I can only imagine! I suppose the hardest part will be to remember the Swedish words for this and that, a few assorted words, and such. But then again, I live here and still have a hard time remembering the words in Swedish. :s

Which place; Vilhelmina or Hemavan? :p
Do you have a planned date for when you are leaving?
Haha, that's so funny. I get like that all the time, trying to figure out words and stuff. Like, I know exactly what I want to say, and I know the word, but it's just momentarily lost. I just hope I wont get too Swenglish. Although it will be funny. :)

Vilhelmina. I don't think I've heard about Hemavan before.
No, not yet. I'll be moving soon and after that I'll go visit a friend in Kiruna for a while, and hopefully we can get started on setting dates then. From what I've heard it's not that expensive to go to Ireland so it shouldn't take too long, though.
Yeah, don't I know it. But I think you'll manage fine, although the first week might be a bit tongue tangeling. ;p

Hemavan is way up north, towards Norway. It's actually just a couple of miles from Norway.
Wow, Kiruna. Now THAT is way up north. So exciting, haha, I'm silly but I'm really excited for you to go! Maybe because it's a dream of mine to go there one day too. :)
Yes, and I bet I will give my friends and family a great laugh trying to talk normally. Oh well, I'm still happy about going home. It's surprising how anxious I was about leaving the place, and now I'm can't wait to get back again! I bet I will get all uppidy and not be able to wait until I can leave for the next place again though.. Typical me - I can never make up my mind. :)

So somewhere in the western side om Jämtland then? So I've heard, but I've also heard a lot of mixed things about kiruna so I've become quite curious as to how it really is, as a town and place.
Any specific place of Ireland and/or Scotland you'd want to see, and if so, why?
Most likely, but then again, you can always impress with your now impeccable American accent when speaking English. ;)
To tell you the truth, I'm a bit like that myself. I've always hated the feeling of growing stuck, in both personal development and in manner of place of being. I've been standing still for quite some time now and every once in a while it's caught my attention that I have and I'm like "what the hell happened, where did all this time go?", and that's a really crummy way to realize it's time to pack the bags. :p

Uhm, nah, a little higher than that. Västerbotten to be more exact. And I like your little Swenglish you threw in där, haha.
Hm, I've never thought of going to Kiruna before. I'd like to go to Jokkmokk though, just because my older sister grew up there.
Well, no, not really. I would like to go all over Ireland, see different towns, and just see how Irish small town culture is compared to Irish city culture. And all I want to see in Scotland is men in kilts, haha. :) Psyche, not really, but that would be bomb, though.
You mean my impaired Native influenced English? Seriously, they have bad grammar here. But that's only because most people originally speak Yup'ik, the Native Eskimo language of this town, and the grammar is not the same, so their English is a bit off. And I've kinda taken after a bit. But not too much, haha. Although I can show of my few new Yup'ik words I learned! Haha.
Well, yeah, but at least you do realize. Some people never do, and they are stuck in the same spot they started out so many years ago still wondering why they are not happy and why they feel so darn miserable. I do everything to not end up like that. I don't let life's miseries get to me. Life is too short to really be worrying or feeling bad half the time you are awake. Shit happens - make the best out of it, learn from it, and move on. One of my simple life philosophies that's been keeping me going. :)