Yesterday I did my 14th and 15th tattoos on skin, and it was also exactly one month since I started tattooing on skin. Still also practicing on fake skin, drawing, and observing the artists in the shop as I continue my apprenticeship. Still enjoying it a lot!
Working two jobs full time has been catching up to me though. I'm a little mentally spent/fried, but doing my best to take it one day at a time!
Of course two jobs isn't enough lol, and I've been training for a marathon in October. I signed up for it right before I got my apprenticeship, and I guess I could have deferred the race entry to take something off my plate, but I've been finding that running or actually keeping me sane. So, despite everything, marathon training continues. A friend asked me to run another marathon with them in December - and I'm probably going to do that one too. It's slow season for tattooing anyway, and I'm really hoping to finally get a couple ultra marathons under my belt next year since covid fucked me over the last couple of years.
And while I really wasn't expecting this for several years... I'm less than two weeks away from closing on a house?? I had the opportunity to assume someone's existing loan at a 2.7% interest rate. That rate plus a low-ish upfront cost made something I thought was financially impossible actually... Possible? Not getting too excited until we actually close, and the house does need a lot of work. But I'm excited to have a place that's mine, not worry about rising rent costs (though there'll be plenty of maintenance 😅) , and to not have to stress about rising home costs in this area.
So. Two jobs. Marathon training. Packing and dealing with lenders and underwriters. It's a lot. Too much, tbh. But it's temporary, and I know long term - when I'm able to afford to quit my day job and only tattoo, and then come in the evenings and enjoy my little home, I'm going to be so happy with what I've built for myself.
