The "right" tattoo shop with the Rose-colored heart

I have never been the type of girl to stick with one thing for long. Massage therapy is my third degree. I have moved back and forth between three states. I guess you could say I have always been looking for something that just felt... right. So it's no shock to me that I haven't stuck with one tattoo shop either. I have never found a shop that just felt...right. Now, both massage and Colorado have worked in my favor for the past two years, so could I also find a tattoo shop where I could stay put for a while? Enter Fallen Owl Tattoo Studio...
 
A friend of mine wanted to get her first tattoo and she wanted to see someone get one before she got hers. Enter her good friend who is always game for another tattoo. *raises hand* And since she has this healthy "obsession" with owls (and every review we had read was good), we decided to waltz into Fallen Owl one Saturday afternoon in January of 2012. We were immediately greeted with smiles (yep, smiles) and were told that we were in luck because Freddie just had a cancellation and could take us both. Coincidence? I think not...

I got my Venus flower/star on my right forearm first, and to say the whole experience from consult to stencil to application (the needling part) was a pleasant experience is a severe understatement on my part. Tattoo artist Freddie Arroyo was beyond friendly and accommodating, but would also tell you if something wasn't going to work on a certain body part or the design wouldn't work. Even though the tat went on one of my very resilient forearms (I AM a massage therapist after all), I could also tell that he had a very light hand. The fact that I was comfortable with him and Fallen Owl right off the bat just made it that much easier for the friend of mine to jump on the table right after me. And her experience was equally as pleasant.

But it wasn't just Freddie and his vibe. It was the whole vibe of Fallen Owl that had the friend of mine and I sold from the minute we walked in. Beforehand, I had read some online reviews and no one was talking bad about this tattoo shop. I thought, what makes this shop so special that everyone is singing their praises on EVERY review? Well, I got my answer after walking in there myself. The answer is ... everything.

Everything about this shop makes it special and a step above your stereotypical or "normal" tattoo shops. Shop owner Adam Rose definitely knew what the hell he was doing when he opened this shop almost three years ago. And if you know him at all, you know he put his whole heart and soul into this shop. From the decor to the vibe to the energy that pulses through this small Lakewood, CO, shop, the whole thing is...Adam. And talk about someone who loves what he does...Try finding a picture of him tattooing where he doesn't have a big-ass grin on his face. And that smile and laugh are definitely contagious, which makes for the insanely positive vibe of Fallen Owl.

Oh, and did I mention that they do charity work as well? They had their Sh%ts and Giggles fundraiser over the summer, where they had all of their artist friends paint toilets seats and they auctioned them off for charity. And if you have to have me explain that one to you, you probably shouldn't be reading this blog...

Right now, there is a week left in their Tattoos for Toys fundraiser, which benefits their Colfax Avenue neighbor, The Action Center. Bring in three unopened toys to help out underprivileged kids during the holidays and Fallen Owl will give you a $40 gift certificate toward your next tattoo. This is the second year they have done this fundraiser and, while most Denverites are bringing the toys into the shop, they also have people mailing them in from as far away as Hawaii. And while, yes, they want to help out the kids, most people are doing it because they LOVE this shop and its artists and would do anything to help them. Because their clients love and care about them like they are members of their own families. They probably see them more often than they see their own families. I know I do. :)

And if all of their clients feel the same way I do, they keep coming to Fallen Owl because it just feels...right. From the vibe to the artists (Side note: Paul and Sherley are also artists there. Both are incredible, just wrote about the two who are always around when I am. Haven't met the other two yet. :)) to Tattoos for Toys, Fallen Owl is defying tattoo shop "standards". You don't always get a smile or the best customer service when you walk into a tattoo shop. With this one, you do. I always get a huge smile on my face every time I walk into the shop, which is usually accompanied by a hug from either Freddie or Adam, if they are not in the process of tattooing. I can honestly say that I will continue to get artwork from the artists at Fallen Owl as long as I live in the state of Colorado. And I feel very lucky and thankful that my friend and I stumbled into this tattoo shop that just felt...right.



***Tattoos for Toys runs through December 1st, 2012. Bring your three (or more) unopened toys into Fallen Owl Tattoo at 8789 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215. Visit www.fallenowltattoo.com to check out the artists' portfolios or call (303) 232-1350 to schedule your next tattoo with one of their amazing artists! ***

"Once I had a halo, but then it caught on fire..." and  my Celtic dragon. Tattoos by Freddie Arroyo

The red couch that greets you when you walk into the lobby, along with a stuffed owl and a skull in the display case. :)

This year's donations for Tattoos for Toys and the pile keeps growing! 

My Venus star/flower. First tattoo at Fallen Owl and done by Freddie Arroyo

To all of the people who have affected my life "for good"...

"I've heard it said

That people come into our lives

For a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are lent to those

Who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you." 

From the moment I first heard this song ("For Good" from the musical Wicked), I knew it was going to be something I quoted for years to come. Especially during this time of my life. I have been realizing lately that people really do come into your life when you need them the most. And for some reason, when that happens, it's like it was meant to be all along. Even if your paths had crossed a long time before or at a different time in your life, some people were just meant to be in your lives...forever. And over the course of the last year and a half or so, I have had many people that have resembled that in my life and I thought I would take a moment to recognize some of them...

* Like my friend-turned-roommate, whom I met back in college and we really weren't that close, but somehow when we reconnected a few years back, I can't imagine not having her in my life. 

*Like my friend who was more like an acquaintance in high school than she was a close friend, but when we reconnected on Facebook, we found out that we both live in the same area, we both went to massage therapy school and we both love photography. 

*Like my ex-teacher from massage school, whom I see for energywork because she's amazing at what she does. But little did I know that she graduated from the same high school I did, just 25 years prior. 

*Like one of my favorite clients, who reminds me every session that "Trigger points are jerks", sarcasm is good, and an intuitive massage therapist is better than a practical one any day of the week.

*Like one of my new best friends. We crossed paths at Colorado State many years back and then, once again at Denver School of Massage Therapy, but we were merely acquaintances then. Then, a chance re-connection in the hallway outside of our massage therapist's office sparked a friendship that has spawned enough text messages, sarcasm and flat-out fun to keep us laughing and entertained for MANY years to come...

*And about that massage therapist... I had NO idea what I was in for a year ago when I asked him to work on me. I mean, I knew that he was an amazing structural bodyworker, but I wasn't nearly prepared for all the ways he has affected my life.  From Day One, he and I have been like kindred spirits. He's that person you feel like you've known your whole life, but haven't... He has managed to open up not just my body, but my mind and my heart as well. And for that, I will be forever grateful...

"It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have rewritten mine

By being my friend." 

To all of you who have left a "handprint on my heart", I love you all...

"Does that make us morbid...?"

Ok, so I'm starting to realize that people can bond over the most interesting things. Like cemeteries, for example. Yes, I said cemeteries. For the longest time, I always thought that my mom and I were the only ones who got this sick joy in going to visit cemeteries. She kind of got me into it when I was a kid and, I don't know, I've always had this fascination for them. I like seeing how long people have lived, like trying to figure out if it was some historical thing that they died from (i.e. WWI, WWII, etc..), like seeing everything that has been left on their graves. But I could never really pinpoint it until a friend of mine and I found out that we had the same fascination a few months back...


We were discussing what we did over the weekend and I mentioned that my mom and I had gone up to Central City to check out the old cemeteries, which Central City is known for and has some turn-of-the-century ones up there. I mentioned how I loved going to cemeteries and he mentioned that he did too. Now, through the course of our friendship, we have realized A LOT of random similarities with us so the fact that we shared this in common was not too surprising to me. But his answer was what DID surprise me.


Him: "Does that make us morbid...?"
Me: "Maybe...but I don't think it's morbid at all..." 
Him: "...because I think there is a certain beauty to them..."
Me: "...Oh, absolutely. I don't know how many pictures I took, trying to capture it. And the peacefulness and the energy...I mean, it's almost..."
Him: "...magical?" 
Me: " *deep breath* ...yeah..." 


Now, like I said, this is normal for him and I, but even we didn't realize that the two of us had that random/different thing in common. And it makes me wonder what other random things that he and I, as well as my other friends and I, have in common. You might have things in common with people you didn't expect to have things in common with, but if you take the time to get to know someone, you might actually find out. Get to know someone before you assume anything. You just might find a friend for life or one of your weird fascinations might be one of theirs too...

I loved the contrast...

There were sadly a lot of stuffed animals

"Queen of Central City's" grave

Once again, loved the contrast...

I must confess...I like beer now. Thanks, Grimm Brothers!

I never used to be a beer drinker. Never. Ask anyone who I ever went to a party with in college and every one of them will tell you that I was a "fruity and girly" drink kind of girl. Now, if you know me, you know that there's nothing fruity or girly about me, so why have I never been a beer drinker? Just never had the taste for it. I have gotten better over the years. I managed to find a few beers that I like out of New Belgium Brewery, and, as a Colorado State alumna, I proudly support any brewery in Fort Collins. But I have always been searching for something else...

So back in the middle of last year, I kept getting requests on Facebook to "like" this new brewery in Loveland called Grimm Brothers. Now, I'm all for supporting local breweries and it was the first brewery in Loveland, but I kept wondering why all of my college friends kept "liking" it. So I went on Grimm's fan page and read an article that had been written about the brewery. And there it was in black and white..." vice president and business manager of Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, Aaron Heaton (http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?id=25651)." Oooohhhhh, now I get it. You see, Aaron and I were friends in college, even short-time roommates, so you could say that we ran with the same crowd back then. I hadn't seen him in like 10 years, but that was one of the best things that I had ever read. I mean, it's not everyday that you read about someone you know starting a brewery. 

So I went up last October with a friend of mine, not really knowing what to expect. After finding the tiny taproom hidden amongst the industrial buildings off of Denver Ave., I nervously walked in the door, only to be greeted by a very loud, "Hi, Robin!!!!" Oh good, he remembered me. After catching up with Aaron and his wife Emily, whom I also know from CSU, my friend and I sat down  (in a crowded taproom) with our taster trays of Grimm Brothers brews. And you know what? Every single beer was AWESOME! And remember, this is coming from a non-beer drinker. But I loved them. And the staff was very knowledgeable (Ok, so the "staff" was just Aaron at the time, but it hasn't changed), and to someone who knows nothing about beer, that was a great thing. Now, I may be biased because this is my friend's brewery, but I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't truly believe in the beer or the brewery. And I truly believe in both, as do Aaron and his co-owner, Don. Aaron gave the friend of mine and I a tour and even though I had no idea what he was talking about, he was so excited about it that I got excited about it. His energy was contagious. And I love seeing people love what they are doing. I just giggled all the way home because I was so happy for him and so proud of him. I went again last weekend because Grimm released its first bottle. Yes, BOTTLE, just a mere eight months after opening its doors. It's a hefeweisen called Hare's Bride (oh, and all of their brews are named for Brothers Grimm fairytales - how cool is that?), and it's just as good as everything else they've come out with, maybe better. I got my two bottles and I plan on giving one to a friend to try, to introduce someone else to Grimm. 

And that is also the purpose of this blog. You all need to check out www.grimmbrosbrewhouse.com to see what else they have in store. Coloradoans (and if you went to CSU with Aaron and I, then I'm looking at all of you especially... ), get your butts up to Grimm in Loveland. You will not be disappointed. After all, they converted this self-professed non-beer drinker into a beer aficionado. Guess I finally got my taste for it. And I'm completely grateful for it...and not biased at all. 

Why today of all days I am happy to be alive...

October 28, 1996 . . . 14 years later and I still remember every little detail. It was my first year at Colorado State and, because of marching band, I had 200 new friends. One of those friends was Jeff. He was one of those friends with whom you automatically hit if off. We had only really met about two weeks earlier and yet, had become good enough friends that I was hanging out with him and his parents after a week. We hung out all the time. There was a piano in the lobby of his dorm and he would play and I would sing. We should have done that that night . . . 


We both needed to get out of the dorms so we took Jeff's Jeep (I didn't have a car at the time) and did some four-wheeling up by Horsetooth Reservoir. He even made me drive at one point and, even though I was scared to death, I'm glad he pushed me to do it because I don't know if I would have done it otherwise. We drove back down to Fort Collins and got some hot chocolate at Denny's at Hwy. 14 (Mulberry) and I-25. Remember the hot chocolate. . . 


We drove east on Hwy. 14 where there are many dirt roads. He was driving again at this point. We took this random dirt road and went around the corner and the back wheels of the Jeep didn't catch. We spun 180 degrees and then flipped end-over-end into an irrigation ditch, landing on all four wheels. After the shock wore off (which I honestly don't think happened until the next morning), we climbed out of the ditch and called Jeff's parents (who lived in Greeley) and they came to get us. The Jeep was trashed, the ditch had to be at least 15-20 feet deep and yet, we walked away from that with a scrape a piece and some soreness the day after. Oh, and the aforementioned hot chocolate? Mine ended up in his lap and his ended up in my face, which was the funny part of the whole night. His parents told us we were lucky to be alive. No kidding . . . 


So as I look back on that fateful day some 14 years ago, I don't look back on it with sadness or regret because it could have been so much worse. What if one (or both) of us wasn't wearing a seatbelt? What if we had driven a few more miles out or weren't able to get a hold of his parents? I am grateful that October 28, 1996 happened because it helped make me who I am today. I am grateful for Jeff and his parents, who looked after me like I was a member of the family; I practically became one after that night. I am grateful for my family, who got one scary phone call at 1am that morning. I am grateful for my band family, who showered me with hugs when the news of that night spread like wildfire, as you can only imagine it would. And I am SO grateful that I can look back and thank God that there were no "what if's" that night . . . 

Rest in Peace, Aunt Elma

Dear Aunt Elma,

I got back from my chiropractor's office today and there was a message from Grandma, saying that you had died. It wasn't too much of a shock because you hadn't been doing well for some time now. But yet, I was still in shock because not many people in our family have died over the years. We joke that it's because we're stubborn Germans, but honestly, I think we just have good genes. I have been extremely fortunate that I have not had to go to that many funerals in my life. But now, I have to fly home to California next week to attend yours. And I'm not sure how I feel about that . . .

You were my great aunt. Dad's aunt. Grandpa's sister. But you were so much more than that. You never had kids of your own so you always treated me, Tim, Jimmy and Annie like your grandkids. We would always go over to your house. You were always there for holidays. You showed up for all of our college graduations, regardless of where we went to school. And that was quite appropriate because you always supported us in everything we did. You were always optimistic, with never a bad thing to say about anyone. You wrote our family newsletter, which I thought took a great deal of patience and strength because, let's face it, our family is not always the easiest to deal with - it takes a very special lady to deal with the Heinrichs. :)

You were in a nursing home when I saw you last Christmas. I hated seeing you in there because the woman who I had grown up with didn't belong there. But you didn't have a choice, did you?  All of a sudden, the woman who I thought could do anything, could no longer do anything. That wonderful optimism of yours was also gone, which was how I knew that disease had truly taken over you. That wasn't my aunt in the nursing home - it was Disease dressed up in an Elma suit. So when I got the news of your passing today, I was extremely sad, but I was also relieved. Because you no longer have to suffer. You can be reunited with Uncle Chuck, who was taken away from you too early in your marriage. And you can truly be without pain. It's so sad that you had to die, just so you could actually live again.

My dear Aunt Elma, you were a very special and wonderful woman. I will treasure every moment I spent with you during my 33 years on this Earth. You were/are truly loved and you will be truly missed. And now, you can finally rest in peace.

Love,
Robin

I think I'm going to be sore tomorrow . . .

So I started my "makeover" today. I did my SURGE training (more to come on that) this morning and all I have to say is that for something that only takes you 15 minutes to do, you would not expect to be as exhausted as you are at the end of the workout. Dear Lord, you feel every muscle in your body when you're done. I did better than I thought I would do, but I still have a long way to go. No recipes to tell you about at the moment because Mom and I are still experimenting with a bunch, but I will say that if you need a good healthy alternative to mayonnaise, Veganaise is the way to go! It can only be found in health food stores (usually by the cheese), but it is worth finding. It kind of tastes like Ranch dressing right out of the jar and I usually add some ground rosemary and garlic (and apple cider vinegar if I'm making salad dressing). It makes a great veggie dip and it works great in tuna and egg salad as well. And it's better for you because it's made with grapeseed oil. I use it in EVERYTHING now. :) Anyway, I would love to write a longer blog, but my lack of sleep from last night is catching up to me in a hurry and I'm fading fast. So, for now, Good Night!