TrixieFaux

I got this in 1991 or 1992. It has definitely faded and lost definition over the years but I still love it. I actually considered covering it up with something bigger but then realized that would be dumb since I still like it and it is a good memory of being impulsive and young. I was around 22 and living in Boston. My boyfriend at the time said he was going to NH to get a tattoo from Julie Moon and asked me to go with him to hold his hand. I said sure but instead of holding your hand I want to get a tattoo, too. I am not a pisces and don't care about astrology but I always liked this image of the two fish/yin yang thing and fish in art in general. It has gone through getting all stretched out by my pregnancy and bounced back!

When I met my husband about 9 years ago I had 1 tattoo and he had 0. Now I have 5 and on the day I got my 4th (last month), my hubby got his 1st! I think he's hooked now, as he's been printing out images that are inspiring him for his next tattoo. I'm happy about it. I loved him anyway and would be fine with it if he didn't want any--it's his skin after all. But now that he shares my interest it's pretty cool.

power of your voice: a microphone?

inner struggle: tiger fighting a snake like cfgsteak said! or...how about a two headed dragon fighting itself...

I like this topic. I got my first tattoo at age 22. Then it took me until I was 36 to get my second one... Third at 41. Fourth and fifth just this summer at 42. I'm getting them at an accelerated pace now. Maybe it's midlife crisis! Not really because I'm at a good place in my life. Maybe I'm trying to hold onto part of my former punk rock identity. Whatever it is, I don't care. I think it's just that I like tattoos and I'm settled in my career and so I feel free to do as I wish. People haven't said this to me personally--but when I hear or read about people saying things like, "She's going to regret those tattoos when she's old and wrinkled and they don't look so good", I just think that is just a lame way of saying "I don't like tattoos". Old and wrinkled is old and wrinkled... I don't think an old and wrinkled un-tattooed arm is going to look much better than an old and wrinkled tattooed one. If I live to be old and wrinkled I might just want to cover my arms with long-sleeved shirts if my skin has varicose veins and liver spots. But then, maybe tattoos can cover up liver spots and varicose veins. I think tattooed grandmas are cute and I hope to become one someday.

I teach kindergarten and I have 5 tattoos so far, 2 of them are new as of this summer. There are a couple of other teachers at my school with tattoos that show and a high percentage of the parents in that community have tattoos as well (inner city Los Angeles). When I go back to work in a couple weeks my little owl on my forearm will show more often than any of the others. I highly doubt it will be offensive to anyone and we don't have a dress code rule about it. If I were teaching in small town USA things might be different but tattoos are a part of the culture here in LA. I think in general the times are changing--not just in regards to tattoos but everything seems to be heading in a more casual direction and I'm happy with that. Aside from being able to show tattoos, I'm glad I can wear jeans to work (nice ones) because I sit on the floor with my kids half the day and do messy art projects with them and skirts or dry-clean only type pants don't make sense with what I do. I am not going to showcase my tattoos at work but I am not going to hide them purposely either (none of them are scary though, if I get a skull for example, I would get it in a hidden place). Last year sometimes the cat on my back would show and the kids always liked it. I like how kids are open minded like that. I work hard, I love kids, I am a good teacher, and I have tattoos... I think people can deal with that.

I like cooking...mostly simple vegetarian stuff w/occasional fish. Here are the meals on the menu at my house this week:

-Moqueca - Brazilian Fish Stew w/ Brown Jasmine Rice & Crusty Bread (Moqueca - Brazilian Fish Stew Recipe | Simply Recipes)

-Black Bean & Jalapeño Nachos

-Potato Parmesan Gnocchi w/Arrabbiata Sauce

-Falafel, Hummus, and Falafel Chips

-Twice Baked Cheddar & Broccoli Potatoes (Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe | Simply Recipes)

-Pan- or Stir-Fried Tofu & Veggies w/Brown Sticky Rice

-Amy's Pizzas (Mushroom & Olive/Plain Cheese)

-Whole Wheat Penne w/ Butternut Squash Sauce

I made the fish stew last night using swordfish. It came out so good.

As for drinks--water, coconut water, pomegranate juice, Bragg's apple cider vinegar drinks, San Pellegrino Limonata, coffee!

HAHA best intro to a video.. "it says you fucking like bluegrass, you don't mind amphibians and you definitely get high."

that was my favorite part, so funny. Great series.

Thanks for the replies...I'm still new here so I'll just re-register w/a user name.

Hi, is there a way for me to change my user name from my whole name to a screen name? I can't find a way to edit this in my profile settings...

I got this tattoo a couple weeks ago by Graham Chaffee at Purple Panther in LA.

I have a 3 year old daughter and I teach kindergarten. Where I work most of the parents of my students have tattoos so they don't mind mine... I suppose if I were teaching where I grew up (small town CT) I might have to think twice but here in urban Los Angeles I feel pretty accepted. I don't have full sleeves or anything...just 4 tattoos...1 that never shows and 3 that sometimes do although almost never all at the same time. However, I have a friend who is also a teacher and a mom who is covered in tattoos. I don't think any of the other parents ever complained as far as I know. She's a good teacher and a good mom and that's all that should matter. Still, I'm sure people judge. People judge each other all the time for all kinds of things but I find it best to ignore that type of thing and do what you like and don't worry about it.

I completely agree. This comment I saw on facebook made me really disgusted:

"Sorry, the girl was a train wreck before she was famous. if she had never become famous we would have been just a statistic..instead they call her 'suspected overdose' a tragedy. I haven't much compassion for those who don't even try...stepping off my moral high horse..."

It wasn't from one of my friends but a friend's friend who commented after me on a status update. Those who don't even try? Did you know her? Despite the song lyrics from what I understand she did go to rehab and she was trying. The "I don't have much compassion" and the "moral high horse" pisses me off.

Well, I have compassion. I consider any death of a troubled young person addicted to drugs to be a tragedy, famous or not. I was hoping she would get her shit together and have a comeback. I am sober and am always routing for others with a problem to help themselves.

I actually did get tattooed at her studio (I think it was called Half Moon?) but she tattooed my boyfriend at the time while I got a tattoo from Big Al. I was 22. Since then I have gotten one here in LA from Mark Mahoney and then another from Graham Chaffee. I'm going back to Graham at the end of the month. Were you tattooed by Juli Moon?

Hi, I found this forum through a Tattoo Artist Magazine Twitter link. I'm not an artist, just an enthusiast! I only have 3 tattoos at the moment, but a 4th and 5th are in the works. I live in Los Angeles.

Janet

my biggest cringe though is people who spell it tattoo's there's no apostrophe in the word!!!!!!!!!!

I'm kind of a live and let live type... none of the slang for tattoos bothers me. However, when I read Ursula's post I had to agree. For some reason misuse of apostrophes has been really bothering me lately. Maybe because I'm a teacher...