Matt's Blog

Actual album artwork

Actual Tattoo

 

On March 10, 2011 I a got my second tattoo .  I anticipate questions from friends and family as to why I chose this tattoo so I decided to collect my thoughts here.

There are two images - one  is the actual artwork from the Rush album 2112.  There are several variations of this, some in black and white and others in color.  The other is the actual tattoo.  Using Google I found a sample I liked.  A girl had tattooed something very similar to this on her back in honor of her deceased father who was a fan of Rush.  I modified it slightly for  my purposes.

The tattoo is located on the top of  my right arm. 

I had previously submitted copies of this to the tattoo artist Rich so he had a chance to look at it prior to my arrival and prepare a template if necessary.   A previous artist, who did the goshawk head tattoo I have on my right shoulder blade took the image I submitted and made a transfer similar to the temporary tattoos we used as kids (put it on the desired location, add a little moisture, and you have a temporary tattoo.)   Rich took a similar approach.  He drew the image first,  somehow copied it to what feels like an iron on transfer page, reversed it, applied alcohol to my arm then applied the image.   It gives the artist a template to work from on my arm as he applies the ink.  The tattoo took about 60 minutes.  The pain was manageable.

And now for the “why”…The tattoo is based on artwork from the musical group Rush.  I started listening to Rush at the impressionable age of 16.   Rush is by far my favorite band due to the lyrical content and unique musical style.  

The image is commonly referred to as the Starman.  Side one of the 2112 album is a conceptual story influnced to some extent by works of author Ayn Rand.  The common interpretation of this logo is it represents individuality.  The star represents the a tyranical government and the man is the hero of the story, opposing a government that controls every aspect of human life – “the words you read, the songs you sing, the pictures that give pleasure to your eye” and thus denying people of individual thought.

To me it has come to represent all that I have experienced from the music and lyrics of Rush.  Branding myself with this logo is a validation of what I have become  as a result of the influence Rush has had on me.

Lyrically speaking, Rush is not your normal pop band. Rush has been referred to as ”the thinking man’s band”.   The lyricist, Neil Peart, is not focused primarily on love (as many pop songs do).  He doesn’t ignore the topic (read on…) but instead chooses subjects such as  human behaviors, human psychology,  human struggles, historical events, mythical tales, philosophy, etc.  Over the years I embraced many of his lyrics, the thoughts behind them, the message they communicate, and they became part of me and my every day life.  It became a way to express some of the thoughts and beliefs I have.  In a way it validated or solidified my beliefs.

Example 1, from “Manhattan Project” about the end of World War 2:

Imagine a time when it all began
In the dying days of a war
A weapon that would settle the score
Whoever found it first would be sure to do their worst
They always had before…

Imagine a man where it all began
A scientist pacing the floor
In each nation, always eager to explore
To build the best big stick
To turn the winning trick
But this was something more…

 Example 2, from “Territories”:

They shoot without shame
In the name of a piece of dirt
For a change of accent
Or the color of your shirt
Better the pride that resides
In a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides
When a colorful rag is unfurled

Example 3, from “Closer to the Heart”:

And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones who start
To mold a new reality
Closer to the heart

Example 4, from “A Farewell to Kings”:

When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?

And finally, from “Faithless”:

Like the willows in the wind
Or the cliffs along the ocean
I will quietly resist

I don’t have faith in faith
I don’t believe in beliefs
You can call me faithless

Halloween is upon us once more.  Each year I carve a pumpkin.  I can’t honestly say why I make it an annual ritual.  I suspect it started when I was a kid, became something I almost had to do to pass on the tradition to my 4 children, and yet I still continue  to do it after the kids have outgrown the desire. Can’t explain it.  As is the case with many parents I pretty much carved the pumpkins for them.  After they cut off the lid they didn’t have much of a tolerance for grabbimng the gooey insides.

I use the Pumkin Masters carving kit (http://www.pumpkinmasters.com).  You can find them at Walmart, etc for around $5.    This kit provides you with several tools to make the carving processes easier – a saw to cut the holes, a scoop to get the pumpkin guts out, and a punch to outline your pattern.  It also comes with a variety of patters.  You can buy kits geared for kids of all ages and even some for adults. 

I was originally going to carve a raven but couldn’t find a pattern I liked.

 This year I found a new site to download pumkin patterns – http://www.jamminpumpkins.com/.  The patters are about $1 a piece if you only buy one or two but you get a discount if you buy in volume. 

To many this may appear to be a skull and nothing more.  This is actually the logo from the comic book called “The Punisher”.  I’m not into comic books but loved the  movie adaptation  in 2004 staring Thoman Jane.  I think Jane is an underrated action hero and I suspect that chick probably like him to for his chistled physique and good looks. 

In the movie the lead character Frank Castle was a cop.  He busted a corrupt group who had the law paid off.  They retaliated by killing his wife and son and killing Frank… or so they thought.  Castle took it upon himself to distribute punishment to those responsible for the vendetta.

One of my favorite movie lines can be found in the Punisher:

 ”In certain extreme situations, the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy, it is necessary to act outside the law. To pursue… natural justice. This is not vengeance. Revenge is not a valid motive, it’s an emotional response. No, not vengeance. Punishment. “

After another day of hiking, we stopped by the Kinzua Bridge:

Kinzua Bridge

Bob and I in a local drinking establishment – The Mountain Inn, home of the Buffalo Balls!

Lunch at the Mountain Inn

I’m wandering through the forest looking for goshawk nests.  Here are a few interesting photos from our journey:

We started seeing an abundance of butterflies gathering in the warm afternoon.  Here are 4 gathered together… there was as many as 12.

Butterfly Collection

A shot of me, none worse the wear after hiking a few miles:

Matt enjoying the day

The toll bridge we had to cross where there was about 3 inches to spare on either side of the tires on my truck.  25 cents to cross.

Covered Bridge

This is a typical section of forest we hike through to look for nests.

A beautiful section of woods

The 2010 Olympics are over.  The biggest event was without question the final hockey game of US vs Canada for gold.  Canada viewership for the game was reported to be over 50% of the country.  Incredible.

My wife Lori works at the RBC Center where the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team plays.  Four members of the Canes represented their respective countries at the Olympics – one for Canada, one for the US, and two for Finland.  Each of the team members had their medals on display at the RBC Center during a recent game.  This included one gold medal, one silver, and two bronze. 

Lori got to spend a fair amount of time admiring the medals before the doors opened for the game.  My daughter Mallory and I arrived soon after the doors opened.  Fans were allowed to get their picture taken with the medals if you made a $3 contribution to a local charity.  Mallory and I waited 20 minutes in line to get our photo taken. 

It was great to see them up close.