sourpussoctopus

I'll be traveling to London in a couple of weeks to get tattooed by Valerie. I missed her during her guest spot in NYC, and I'm just stubbornly determined to get the pieces we talked about.
I'm really pumped for the tattoos, but kinda freaking out about the trip in general. It'll be my first time traveling on my own and my first time in Europe. I've traveled for tattoos, but never this far. Seasoned trekkers: any tips? Also, if anyone's got suggestion for things to see/do/eat, I'd love to hear it!

My tattoo want list is to finish my sleeve, get tattooed by Anderson Luna, Jason June, Tamara Santibanez, Eva Huber (again) and Ron Wells.
But my one true wish is to graduate from this goddamned PhD program, and get a preservation/research job with the National Parks Service or the USGS, ideally in a position that combines laboratory and field work.
And @mmikaoj - dude, the numbing cream is kinda awesome, though. An artist used it on me once (not at my request, she just did it), and it made the transition from hour 2 to hour 3 pleasant. However, it wears off rather quickly (after an hour or so), so if your session is long, you'll be hurting all the same at the end. It just gives you a bit of a respite mid-session.

I'll be traveling to London in a couple of weeks to get tattooed by Valerie. I missed her during her guest spot in NYC, and I'm just stubbornly determined to get the pieces we talked about.
I'm really pumped for the tattoos, but kinda freaking out about the trip in general. It'll be my first time traveling on my own and my first time in Europe. I've traveled for tattoos, but never this far. Seasoned trekkers: any tips? Also, if anyone's got suggestion for things to see/do/eat, I'd love to hear it!

I'll be traveling to London in a couple of weeks to get tattooed by Valerie. I missed her during her guest spot in NYC, and I'm just stubbornly determined to get the pieces we talked about.
I'm really pumped for the tattoos, but kinda freaking out about the trip in general. It'll be my first time traveling on my own and my first time in Europe. I've traveled for tattoos, but never this far. Seasoned trekkers: any tips? Also, if anyone's got suggestion for things to see/do/eat, I'd love to hear it!

I'll be traveling to London in a couple of weeks to get tattooed by Valerie. I missed her during her guest spot in NYC, and I'm just stubbornly determined to get the pieces we talked about.
I'm really pumped for the tattoos, but kinda freaking out about the trip in general. It'll be my first time traveling on my own and my first time in Europe. I've traveled for tattoos, but never this far. Seasoned trekkers: any tips? Also, if anyone's got suggestion for things to see/do/eat, I'd love to hear it!

I'll be traveling to London in a couple of weeks to get tattooed by Valerie. I missed her during her guest spot in NYC, and I'm just stubbornly determined to get the pieces we talked about.
I'm really pumped for the tattoos, but kinda freaking out about the trip in general. It'll be my first time traveling on my own and my first time in Europe. I've traveled for tattoos, but never this far. Seasoned trekkers: any tips? Also, if anyone's got suggestion for things to see/do/eat, I'd love to hear it!

I'll be traveling to London in a couple of weeks to get tattooed by Valerie. I missed her during her guest spot in NYC, and I'm just stubbornly determined to get the pieces we talked about.
I'm really pumped for the tattoos, but kinda freaking out about the trip in general. It'll be my first time traveling on my own and my first time in Europe. I've traveled for tattoos, but never this far. Seasoned trekkers: any tips? Also, if anyone's got suggestion for things to see/do/eat, I'd love to hear it!

I don't get asked these questions. I recommend you start giving off unfriendlier vibes.

I'd have to run out of skin before getting anything on my ass unless it was a full Japanese suit.
Of course, my dad told us the same joke for years:
I just had to large M's tattooed on my ass so when I moon people it says, "MoM".
When I roll over and kick my legs up is says "WoW"!

Finished. I've decided to do a full sleeve. So blowouts are not the end of the world after all. I think it turned out ok.

I love the fact that EVERY ONE of my tattoos have imperfections...I'd choose character over a body full of perfect "stickers" any day but that's just me...... :)

I like alliteration, assonance and words that rhyme but don't normally go together. Awful waffle. Enemy anemone. Sourpuss octopus.

Each first time I see this Jeff Srsic snake & peonies back piece, my jaw stays dropped.

Here's my latest, courtesy of Karrie Arthurs: https://instagram.com/p/9NAjS4Iwu-/

another new sensation to add:
back of the neck...especially as you get behind the ear. i had to actively keep my teeth clenched to prevent the jaw bone from rattling around. back of the head was heavy sharp pressure. overall back of the neck/head felt more like getting cut open with a steak knife rather than getting scraped with a fork. gnarly shit. so far healing has been easy, a pea drop of lubriderm each morning after healing dry and raw for 72 hours.

Never get confident! Always imagine that the next tattoo you get will be the worst pain you've ever felt! This way, if it's anything less you'll be pleasantly surprised. The worst thing is starting to think it won't be bad and then finding that it hurts more than you had imagined.

Having had about 10 hours total on my calves, I can attest that they were not extra sensitive unless you get to the backside of the knee. I wouldn't worry much.
Each person is different and will have more sensitivity in places that others have no problem with. No matter where, you'll need to find your own way of managing any pain you go through. If you tighten up and fight it, you'll suffer more and will be more likely to move around when you need to be still, etc.
For me, I can mentally put/project my pain and consciousness outside my body by focusing on an object in the room and placing "myself" there. I strive to be as relaxed as possible, breathing smoothly and slowly. As soon as I feel any part of my body tighten up, I focus on relaxing it.

Here's my latest, courtesy of Karrie Arthurs: https://instagram.com/p/9NAjS4Iwu-/

Here's my latest, courtesy of Karrie Arthurs: https://instagram.com/p/9NAjS4Iwu-/

Second session this month. Scales are now all done and every little thing we do is just making the whole thing pop a little bit more. Super happy.

Here's my latest, courtesy of Karrie Arthurs: https://instagram.com/p/9NAjS4Iwu-/

Here's my latest, courtesy of Karrie Arthurs: https://instagram.com/p/9NAjS4Iwu-/

Here's my latest, courtesy of Karrie Arthurs: https://instagram.com/p/9NAjS4Iwu-/

Tony Firstbrook posted this yesterday. Made me think of you, @PinkUnicorn:
https://instagram.com/p/9Jq_xwGstZ/

Here's my latest, courtesy of Karrie Arthurs: https://instagram.com/p/9NAjS4Iwu-/