Your Help is Needed - Campaign for Rita's Tattoo!!!

[Lulu54]

Cosmobirdy started a post about tattoos  here this week - the thread is at

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Tattoos/show/1209052


I have already sent an Email to LaINK about her wish, and hope that more of you will join me in writing to them.  

If we could get Rita's  dream tatt done, and the story of MS out there in a combination - that would be great!!!

Please jump in and help to let LAink's casting group know that we think this is an excellent idea by sending them an email.  We have so many excellent writers here, this is a chance to use those powers of persuasion for a very good cause.

Unfortunately MH won't let us post email addresses on this open form, but you can get their email address through  their website -

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/la-ink/casting.html


If you have problems or a question, drop me a PM.

Also, do me a favor and help to keep this post bumped up for a few days so everyone gets a chance to read it and respond.  

BTW - if you had a tattoo done to symbolize MS, what would it be?    Give it some thought and share it here if you wish!  I'll tell you mine in a bit.

Lu

[meg321]

Me too, want to see the video.....

[Mand125]

Just wondering how it is all going with this, did you get the video done?

Good luck

Mand

[Lulu54]

Shell,

Yes, yes, yes - they need to keep hearing from everyone what a good idea this is .  Rita and I are working on getting a video done and uploaded for them to see soon!

keep the cards and letters coming!
Lu

[sllowe]

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Do you still need notes sent to the Co?

I'm tattless myself but always enjoyed watching miami ink (where Kat came from).

Rooting for you Rita!
xoxoxo
shell

[Mand125]

This is great news, I am really excited for you

Mand

[meg321]

OMG Rita, this is great....sorry i was not on for a couple days... I am not surprised at all, i think they look for good stories......

I am so excited !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now what?

love you, meg

[Cosmobirdy]

OMG!!  I just got the email from Laura about this - I just can't believe things have gotten this far!!  I'm sitting here smiling like I have brain damage (well, I guess I really DO, LOL!!).  

I am hoping Laura can help me make the video, and that when I do it, I don't come off looking like an idiot, lol.  I don't have a video camera or a clue how to do this, but if Laura doesn't either, I will put out the word to some of my other friends - surely SOMEBODY I know around here knows more about this than I do, lol!

Thank you SO MUCH to all of you who sent emails to LA Ink on my behalf - Laura totally surprised me with the idea, and you guys surprised and humbled me by doing so much for me... :)  Taking the time to write emails for someone you've never even met, and getting excited about the idea.....  

I have said over and over how grateful and blessed I am to have found this family, and how much you all mean to me.  I joined this forum before I ever got diagnosed, when I was scared and confused and frustrated.  The people here welcomed me with open arms, calmed my fears, gave me so much information, and so much support.  It has brought me so much comfort to know that I belong here, and to know that we are all free here to say what we feel and be who we are, and ask whatever "crazy" questions we have .... :)

I haven't participated much for a while now, because I have been struggling for a long time now with various MS things and getting sick all the time on top of it.  Winter has been long and hard for me ... :)  

I just can't tell you how uplifting it has been for me to have this Big Dream to think of - and I want you all to know that even if it turns out that I don't get picked in the end, or that I get picked but can't afford to go, you have still given me such an incredible gift, with your enthusiasm and support - I can never thank you all enough .... :)  I'm getting teary now, so I will talk to you later .... :)

Bye for now,
Rita

[Lulu54]

this was in my email from work tonight----

Rita is moving on to the next round.............here's the canned reply I just got.  I'm smiling a lot right now!  - L



"We have received your request to be considered as a potential client for LA INK.   Please read the following carefully as it explains how to proceed to the next round of casting.

  

  In order to continue on to the next round of casting, we will need to see and hear how you express yourself and tell your story. We would like you to upload a home video to youtube.com . Once the video has been uploaded, please email us the link.

  

Please upload a 3-5 minutevideo telling us in more detail about the tattoo you want and why you want it. We want to hear the story behind the tattoo in as much detail as possible. Make sure you are in a well-lit room, and frame it from the waist, up to your head (not too close, not to far). Be as outgoing and expressive as you can. If you can give us a specific anecdote related to the tattoo, or story, (I remember the time she...\") that would help.

  

Make sure to include specifics such as:

  

- Describe the tattoo in as much detail as you can.

-Exactly where you want the tattoo?

-Please show the area you want covered up

-How big you want it (in inches)?

-Color or Black and Grey?

-Are you open to artist interpretation of the piece?

- How much were you anticipating spending for this tattoo?

- MOST IMPORTANT: WHY do you want this tattoo? What is the motivation for getting it?

  

Thanks for your interest in LA INK! "

[Cosmobirdy]

Hi Michelle,

Thank you for taking the time to do that for me!  I really appreciate it!  I haven't heard anything since they contacted Meg for more info, so who knows if anything will come of any of this - but the Big Dream has meant alot to me after a very long and hard winter for me. .... you all have given me a much bigger gift than you will ever realize, just by taking the time to surprise me and do this for me .... :)  I will definitely keep you all posted, even if I just end up getting it done locally.  

THanks Again!
Rita

[michelleric]

I just sent an email for Rita.

Good luck!  I hope you get chosen!

Michelle

[Cosmobirdy]

Lulu,

Thanks for bumping this up one more time ... :)  By my last count, they have gotten at least 15 emails about me, between people here on the forum and other friends of mine.  I have not heard anything more from them, have you or Meg??  Meanwhile, I'm just working on my drawing and trying to investigate local places that may be good in case this doesn't pan out.  Don't want to get my hopes up TOO much, you know?  Trying to be a big girl and be reasonable and sensible, lol!

Shermay,

I will PM you right now, so we can get that rolling ... :)  It's just good to hear from you!  Talk to ya soon...


Rita

[shermay]

Hey Rita,

Still waiting for your PM :))))  

We have one life right??  and a girl gotta do what a girl gotta do :))))

It doesn't have to be a large tatoo, but it's the priciple of women doing 'their thing' :)

Remember Sister Sledge the group???  

Sisters are doing it for themselves..............yeh:)))

Come on Rita, you jump first, and I'll follow ;)

Love,

Debsxxxxxxxxxx

[Lulu54]

bump for everyone to see this request - we hope the sheer numbers of emails will help to convince LA ink that this is a worthy idea.   - Lulu

[meg321]

Hi Laura,

Yes, Rita sent it to me and I sent what I thought was important and Rita's email and phone # and told them what the tatoo is that she wants,

I told them to contact me if they need more.

Has anyone else heard back from them?

I don't have a tatoo but I think everyone I know does and some have quite a few, my daughter has a large one on her back.   I have always wanted one but I just don't get around to it.  So i don't really care now but this could get me thinking again.

Not sure if its a bigger thing here in California or not.   And LAInk is in LA so I could go down ..if I could drive.

Plus we need lots of letters sent, the more the better ....even if they are just a simple note.

hugs, meg

[Lulu54]

Meg,
Did you get all the info you need for them?  If not, please send me a PM and I can give you more!  This is exciting.

-L

[Cosmobirdy]

Don't worry, I'm not going to put the tatt on my butt, lol.  What I want will be very beautiful, and very special to me - very meaningful because it represents my journey on this path with MS... all the difficulties I have made it through ... all the blessings I have received because of MS .... how my faith has increased to a level I never imagined ... and will always be a reminder, when I look at it or touch it, how God is always right beside me, each step of the way, giving me exactly what I need ... :)  (If you would like, I can PM you with the details of the exact idea in my head ... ).

It's definitely not something that I just got a wild hair about, or that I'll regret later ... because it is basically my own, special design concept, with meaning really only to me.  If it doesn't work out with LA Ink (and let's face it, that's a REALLY long shot), then I will do alot of research and find a place closer to home that can do what I want with it.  I want the flowers to be softly shaded and realisitic looking, and I want to find a tattoo ARTIST who can look at my basic design and tweak it to make it look even better, and flow even better for the area I want to place it ... :)

My mom has always been anti -tattoo (mind you, I'm 47 and she's 75, lol!), but even SHE thinks this would be a great thing, because it means so much to me and it isn't just some spur of the moment thing.  I always wanted a tattoo, but could never find the "right" one - one that had special meaning to me and that I knew I would never regret getting ... and now I have found it ... :)  

Thanks for being interested ... :)  
BYe for now,
Rita

[supermum_ms]

I would not know where to start, i really cant understand the tat craze but just call me old fashioned i seriously dont mind. My daughter has one, i freaked lol she liked the symmetry of the pentecostal star, to me its a satanic symbol and i was not impressed by her choice, though now when ever i see it, i see it as a symbol of her natural innocents, pure of heart.

I like the idea of a little ying and yang symbol, surrounded by a meaningful verse in decorative script, something that sums up your spirit. I've never seen the point in words written in swarheeli, no one can read it, though i suppose you could then change what it means to suit your mood. lol

If your going to put it on your butt, what about 'turn the other cheek' or 'what are you looking at?' lol

Cheers........JJ

[Cosmobirdy]

Meg,

Hiya!  I just saw your post, and sent you a PM with a bunch of info ... :)  I can't believe they contacted you already!!

Ren,
THank you just for any positive thoughts you put out there, and for being exicited about the possibilities of dreaming big ... :)

hbananas,
Too funny about the squished fairy!  I would have never thought of it, lol.  But at this point, I don't need anything else to draw attention to my butt, lol - I'm trying to make it smaller as it is!  :)

Bye for now,
Rita

[hbananas]

Since you mentioned fairies, I just had to throw this one out there.  My sons have a friend who has a squished fairy on her hindquarters.  I would guess she sat on her fairy accidentally, but maybe you'd like to put your dragon or some other mean thing underneath your topside on purpose?

[rendean]

This is exciting! Sorry I can't help with the details but I'm happy for Rita!

Ren

[meg321]

Okay, listen up !  I just received an email back from LAInk asking where i lived and what the design is like?

So what shall I tell them now..I did tell them it was for someone else and the MS part...has anyone else heard anything?

hugs, meg

[PastorDan]

Not a tattoo person, myself.  I've long felt that life left enough marks on me already!   ;>D

[Cosmobirdy]

Hiya!  
Just wanted to thank you for your efforts on my behalf and taking the time to do that ...  I am just so humbled and honored to have such a wonderful family here!  Sounds like you already have at least one tattoo - I hear they are addictive, lol!!

Bye for now,
Rita

[Mand125]

Bump

Ok I have e-mailed them, I really hope you get chosen to get a tattoo Rita, I have been watching re-runs of that programme for weeks now on UK TV, also Miami Ink.

I'm not sure what I would have for my next tattoo, I  like the idea of a guardian angel and today was watching Ami at Miami Ink do a really good one.

Mand