reverend1

I think you should keep it, I mean you made your username based on it. Just get more tattoos and you won't even worry about it any more.

No matter what, remember that without your job you can't afford tattoos.

I don't see a lot of wind bar/rocks/koi in Japanese work. I think that dynamic with the rocks and mayber finger waves could really set your sleeve apart.

That's one of the reasons I signed up, to show off my new work.

That's great to hear. I will say as an employer, I draw the line at tube-tops. No-one looks good in a tube-top.

Any female applicant 38DD and up... I hire her on the spot if she shows up in a tube top. Keep her around just for the jiggle factor.
Rob
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Jeez... one of my vendors has an employee that did the guy-to-girl thing recently. The vendor had to get on board with the whole deal, counseling for the other workers (on the clock...) as well. It was part of the medical insurance he supplied the employees.
I've known the person in question for maybe 10 years and the scary part... she/he is pretty passable as a female... yikes, would not plow though.
Rob
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When I buy shirts, I take a good look at them to make my ink won't show through the fabric. White shirts are outski... gotta be careful with the light colored stripes too. Oxfords have good coverage in all colors.
You're right, let your co-workers know as little as possible about your off-work life. This goes for politics as well.
Rob

So this is it almost totally healed. I guess it healed ok.

Nice. It does seem like a lot to incorporate into a three quarter sleeve.

awesome.

Well hell, that doesn't surprise me, y'all paid Teddy the K's salary for how many years?!?!?!?!?!

Whatevs, someone is just nervous that he is not going to hold up as well when getting those spots done as his super tuff wife. :)

I work in a corporate environment. When I first started with this company there was no policy against visible tattoos, I didn't have any visible at the time. About 2 years in the company got bought out by a larger corporation, the dress code changed over night, visible tattoos were no longer acceptable. We have now been bought out a third time by another larger corporation. There is no longer any company policies specifically worded for tattoos visible or otherwise. I have visible tattoos now and have many friends with visible tattoos but all of them are cover-able.
I feel like if you are going to work in a corporate setting its best to keep your ink concealable if possible, you never know when that dress code my change.
I was speaking with one of my co-workers about tattoos a couple of years ago (they have since moved on). He was in a management position and we were discussing tattoos. He told me that in an interview once they had a man that interviewed quite well but when he got up to leave the room they could see the outline of his tattoo through the back of his shirt and that was the reason he got passed over for another equally qualified candidate.
It sucks that it happens but it is still a fact of life that people discriminate against tattooed individuals.

That's great to hear. I will say as an employer, I draw the line at tube-tops. No-one looks good in a tube-top.

Just curious, Hank, but I've never heard of a guy wearing a "tube-top"...how does that work.
As an empoyer, if one of my employees wanted our insurance to pay for a sex-change operation, they'd be down the road. I couldn't care less what a persons sexual proclivities are, but I wouldn't participate in financing them.
.02

Just in case anyone was wondering or didn't read this.
Dear readers,
First of all thanks again for all the support! We can’t thank you enough!
A lot of people are asking questions about the situation at the moment. The story is so complicated I can imagine it’s not really clear if you’re not in it as we are. It’s not even clear to ourselves actually… I will try to explain it as clearly as possible in this blog.
Most of you probably don’t know me. I studied cultural heritage and started working at the museum 1,5 year ago, a few months before the opening. I primarily joined because I love what Henk is doing as a collector. There are not many people that have such passion for collecting as he has, these days.
Henk spent a few years searching for a museum to take care of his collection. Curators and experts told him the collection had the most value if it stayed together. That’s when he started thinking about building a tattoo museum again. He met a reintegration company that was looking for working places. They had some money to invest, Henk had his collection, and so the idea of a cooperation was born. This company would pay the rent for the first 10 years and the museum offered working places to people who are fundamentally separated from the working community. Due to a lack of time and in good trust we started building the museum without putting any of these agreements in a contract.
Part of the agreement was that the foundation Amsterdam Tattoo Museum was going to pay for departments like promotion, events, exhibitions, etc. But as long as there wasn’t a signed contract al the revenue went to “Partners aan het werk” (the reintegration company). And also the invoices because the museum was already up and running and you can’t have a museum without promotion, events and exhibitions.
But during the short time the companies were working together it became clear there was somewhat of a cultural difference. Something simple as replacing a lightbulb became a bureaucratic process. And as you can imagine this is not really how Henk was used to work. I’m not saying the lightbulb caused the problems, but it might have something to do with it ;) Henk might have had a bad temper now and then, but I know this was always from his passion for the museum.
Small discussions turned into bigger ones and the fact that there still wasn’t a solid contract didn’t help either. In the meantime board members left, some just gave up because of the nasty negotiations, personal accusations. This was not what they signed up for. The board members leaving slowed down the process and the whole negotiation thing turned in a vicious circle. In the meantime the Dutch politics changed and less money went to commercial reintegration companies, so also to “Partners aan het werk”. These changes hit the company hard, salaries were payed later every month. From the perspective what’s best for the collection the new board of the foundation Amsterdam Tattoo Museum decided to end the cooperation with Partners aan het werk. The unpleasant way the meetings went had a lot to do with this decision. There just were too many accusations and disagreements.
Then everything went really fast. One day we where negotiating with “Partners aan het werk” and the landlord (the building is rented by “Partners aan het werk”) and the other day we received a letter that told us we were all banned from the building: Henk, Louise, his kids, the board and his employees. The letter also said we were given 14 days to get our collection out. We were surprised by this development and decided not just to give up. We see the design of the museum as an artwork on its own that Henk made and don’t want to just give this piece of art away.
We tried to get the art we lent from Sailor Jerry out, because the owners don’t trust the art to be save in there without Henk around, but the answer was no. So much for them telling us to get our collection out…
What’s happening next? I don’t know. The most important is to get our collection back. We hope we can stay at the Plantage Middenlaan but there is a chance we have to look for a new building. One thing is sure: we need money. For starting up -again- in our old building. Or to build a new museum somewhere else in Amsterdam.
I know one thing for sure: we can do this. I’ve never seen something like this before, the support is overwhelming. Tattoo and art lovers got together and are ready to fight for what is ours. Even without a clear plan we already received a lot of donations. There are some events organized: auctions, tattooing, benefit events. I tried to make a complete list here, if you miss something or organizing an event to raise some money yourself email me and I’ll add it to the list.
Thank you all so much for everything, all the support, donations & offered help.
Hope to welcome you all soon in our museum.
Tessa

Instead of trying to think of a design or an idea first, try either checking out some shops or some tattooers whose work you might like. I know not everyone wants to pore over portfolios, especially for a small tattoo that may be your first, but it can definitely point you in the right direction and get you thinking. Like @CultExciter said, let us know where you're at and maybe we can get you started.

That is something that's easily covered. Which in turn opens up a large amount of options that understandably makes it difficult to make a decision. It would be best to talk to your artist in person so that He/She can help read whats right for you and narrow down the options at the same time. Roses, Peacock feathers, and motion off a larger designs are my personal favorite to use covering up things like that. hope this helps.

Hi Hank, welcome!

Well here is my first tattoo. Done by Kore Flatmo at Plurabella Studio in Cincinnati. WE got around four hours done yesterday. I will be back right around thanksgiving to finish it. It was a great experience KOre was great to work with, he is a true gentleman, and a credit to his profession.

I also am heavily inked. I always found it funny that in my Marine Corps career that I was rarely judged because people realized that I was a respected Marine first.
Now in the civilian life, I dont see much "to my face judging", maybe because I am not a little guy. I also live in Mormon alley and in my town it is obvious who drives the minivans and who doesnt.
I guess I just dont care if any one does judge me. Married for 26 years, 3 kids graduated from college already, Chamber Prez, Rotary Prez, with quite a resume and still getting a bunch of classy body art.
Although, I know that I have changed a few opinions and have done my job as shaking the "he must of been in prison" stigma.
I am guilty of judging myself, but i feel we all go through life judging as it is instinctual. We judge clothes, shoes, bosses, cars, etc. and even people. The difference is that I treat all people with respect until I have a reason not too.
I also think those of us that take tattooing seriously as an art form are a very special breed. We have each other and we need to remember that.
There are very few people that don't know someone with a tattoo, whether its a hidden Hello Kitty or an entire sleeve, don't let them fool you or pretend they are better than any of us..
One more thing, there is also an entire camp out there that is just jealous but have that wife, husband, father, mother, job, etc. that just will not allow it.
Good luck everyone.
It takes money to join a country club, but it takes commitment to join our club.

A couple new flicks... By Richard Stell

In our household... we like our Battle Royals with cheese and no whine, in one shot... Preferably in one sitting. I'll post a couple pics...
It was his kids first tattoo, one sitting, like 8 hours...

That panda roll is awesome! And I'm sorry for anyone who has family that suffers with PD, but it's always great to see someone who is in their 80's, still working and being a productive member of society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY_qW865L3Y"

that's my viewing for tonight sorted!