New York City

This city is intoxicating.

There are times I walk down the street and think to myself how lucky I am that I live in this city and then sometimes I look around and wonder how much longer it's going to take for it to completely eat me alive.

This came across my facebook the other day...

"NY 1o1: I'll rob you and cheat you. It'll take your friends and turn them on you. It'll kick your ass and break your heart. But then it'll pick you up again, make you feel so totally alive and untouchable. It's the center of the world, it's the best place in the world, and once it's in your heart, it'll never leave you."

NYC plays with my emotions. It's a fucking rollercoaster. One day I want to stay here forever and then the next day I want to run away to a foreign country as fast as I possibly can. ?!?!?

Follow the yellow brick road

Whenever people talk about "Grandpa and Stacey" they can't help but reference the Wizard of Oz. It was our thing....our bond. That's why at 17, when I attended his wake and they played "Somewhere over the rainbow" specifically for me (well, I guess for him too), I knew watching that movie or hearing that song would never be the same for me.

That's why when I decided to get a tattoo at 20, there was no doubt in my mind would it would be...

Ruby Red Slippers, of course.

I love tattoos, but could never bring myself to get something so permanent unless it meant a lot to me. One things for sure - I've never regretted getting that tattoo.

Anyhow - last Saturday I was walking around Soho with Hayley and passed a really nice tattoo parlor called "Wooster Street Social Club". Because of my love for tattoos (it's really tempting not to get many many more), I've been wanting to add to my ruby reds. It may sound a little reckless, but I went in, asked when they could do something for me, they said "tomorrow at noon", I said okay, and booked my time.

Sunday at noon - I was there before they even opened. I didn't have a picture or drawing of what I wanted - all I knew is that it needed to be a brick road and it needed to be BIG.

I feel like I have to defend my spontaneity a little. Once my friends start saying "Stace" after their comments, I know they don't approve haha. I know them too well. I've gotten a couple "omg that's huge, Stace, what were you thinking" or "isn't that a bit much, Stace"...I've also gotten "I liked just the ruby reds alone, but if you like it that's all that matters, Stace". Luke Wessman, who has appeared on Miami Ink and NY Ink drew my brick road for me and brightened my ruby reds. Even he was questing me before he started, but I insisted I wanted it.

I cannot explain how happy I am that I did it. I've never been closer to anyone in my life, as I was my Grandpa. I was his little princess and he showed me how truly loving a man could be. Everyday I have to look in the mirror and see this tattoo. And every day I look, I smile.

That's why I did it.