graybones

I've got my next appointment on my back project set for Jan 1st.
Helluva way to start 2014, if I do say so myself.

Fallout 3 is one my favorite games ever. I think it was my #1 favorite until Skyrim came out. If you're into RPG's it's a must-have, and if you're not, it's still probably a must-have.
I've always been a PC gamer, but I'm tempted by the PS4. I've always been jealous of Sony's exclusives. Might cave and get one next year when they have some solid games out... played about 30 mins of Last of Us at a friend's house and wanted to get it real bad.

Fallout 3 is one my favorite games ever. I think it was my #1 favorite until Skyrim came out. If you're into RPG's it's a must-have, and if you're not, it's still probably a must-have.
I've always been a PC gamer, but I'm tempted by the PS4. I've always been jealous of Sony's exclusives. Might cave and get one next year when they have some solid games out... played about 30 mins of Last of Us at a friend's house and wanted to get it real bad.

The only reason I would buy a PS4 at this point is for the new games coming out in the next year. Right now I am squeezing in every last bit of Skyrim-romping I can before we cave and buy the PS4 in a few months (once it's available again, it's been a nightmare trying to hunt one down around this time of year).
@Diehardonvhs I really want to play Papers, Please. I've only heard good things.

I picked up a PS4 a few weeks ago and I am loving it. I'm currently working on ACIV, Ghosts, Battlefield 4, and FIFA '14. I suck at FIFA. I suck more at Battlefield 4. I suck a little less at CoD: Ghosts. I suck least at ACIV. All in all, the system is a bigger improvement than I thought it would be. Graphics are sharper and the new controllers fit my hands better. I understand that it will take a little while for the system to really shine. Overall, I like it better than the PS3. One slight drawback is that the new controllers are energy pigs and run down far too quickly. They have a gimicky headlight on them that I am pretty sure is death to battery life.

I'm about 16 hours into Fallout 3 (for the third time). Man, this game is fun. It's the first RPG (albeit action) I've ever really gotten into. I'm gonna play Skyrim next.
My mentor bought a PS4, and he is kinda "meh" about it. I think his kids are into it more than him.

I was massively unimpressed with everything the new generation of consoles has to offer so I built a very nice gaming PC instead....couldn't be happier! Been playing Metro - last light, which is excellent, and Assassins creed 4, which has its faults, apart from sailing the high seas with shanties, which is ace. Also playing through Papers, Please, and Spelunky, both of which are fantastic.
I picked up the Witcher 2 as well on the steam sale - not got around to playing it yet, cant wait though!

I can understand that. I am so glad I didn't get any of the stuff I wanted when I was 14, I'd be covered in nautical stars and metalcore song lyrics. I "sit on" ideas for a few months to make sure I still like it and to help me formulate my opinions about what I want from the piece (I currently have several ideas in that stage :D), but it's not specific designs. And when someone who knows way more than you about something (anything, not just tattoos) tells you they think what you're doing is stupid, you listen. People like the guy I'm mentioning think they know everything there is to know about something, with no experience and no research. On this board, I'm still very much a "newb" and that's humbling and makes me want to learn and experience more; however, compared to this guy, I'm an expert on the subject. So when I tell him what will most likely happen with his design, and he goes out of his way to defy me and get his way even after I explain why it's a bad idea...that's not just a nervous first timer, that's someone that's choosing to remain ignorant and gets what they deserve.

Love these photos! Here's mine, taken around Halloween time.

Love these photos! Here's mine, taken around Halloween time.

Love these photos! Here's mine, taken around Halloween time.

Love these photos! Here's mine, taken around Halloween time.

I look back with vivid embarrassment at my first thoughts surrounding my first tattoo... and after reading a post like this, I'm really glad I never really talked about it with anyone, haha. I had mostly come to my senses re: design before the needle hit my skin, thank goodness, but it took so long to get to that point because I was obsessive over everything (design/details/meaning/etc.).
I think it's a really common perspective for people getting their first tattoo. Maybe I tend to have more sympathy for these people than others since I basically used to be like that myself. Of course, I still think they need to educate themselves, but I get where they're coming from. Too much attention to an abstract meaning almost always means the tattoo suffers. But when you think about changing your body permanently for the first time, it's probably pretty natural to want as much control as possible.

A guy at work last night wanted my advice on a design his friend had drawn for him (sigh), because apparently I have the most "bad ass" tattoo of everyone at work. That's not exactly difficult when everyone else has tiny little wrist/ankle scribbles and swirls. The design is apparently "the only thing" he would ever want to have tattooed on him, and he's been holding onto it for months because he's too scared to actually go through with it. It was basically a question mark with an eye. Of course, it had some deep, literal meaning that he had to explain to me (the question mark is because he's always questioning things, the eye is because he's always seeking the truth). The whole thing was just so poorly designed and pretentious that it took all I had to not roll my eyes at him. I basically told him he'd be better off coming up with a vague concept and letting an artist draw something, instead of having someone imitate this design, because it was awful (I didn't say that). Then I got the whole "Well, this is really personal to me and I want to have some say in its design" response. At the mention of another artist changing it, he said he would just go to a friend of the guy who drew it, who, of course, is an "amazing" tattoo artist and would copy it exactly the way he wanted it. Funny how everyone knows someone that's amazing at tattoos. At that point, I just kind of nodded and went back to work, it was a hopeless cause.

Love these photos! Here's mine, taken around Halloween time.

Love these photos! Here's mine, taken around Halloween time.

Love these photos! Here's mine, taken around Halloween time.

Love these photos! Here's mine, taken around Halloween time.

Sorry for blurry pic. Bottom hannya and black flowers done by jeff gogueand took a total of 8.5hrs in 2 sessions. Top hannya and flowers done by shige. Took 8hrs. Not yet complete... :-(

Close up of shige's work. Pretty brutal he hit the nipple, sternum and armpit. That fucker...

I'm a little late to the party but here i am. I went to the release of the Star Trek Lottery ticket at the Dallas Convention center. William Shatner was there.

So as I said, my rib piece turned into a chest tattoo. I'm 3 weeks out, and I'm pretty pleased overall. Sitting was 4 1/2 hours...relatively easy.

Who: Shawn O'Connor shawnocconor.ca
What: bad assfrog (Sailor Jerry flash!)
Where: Ink Machine, Edmonton, AB Canada
When: at a touchup appointment...station was already setup, however i wasn't in the mood for a minor neck touchup.
Why? because it's a god damn sailor jerry battletoad! we were shooting the shit and i was flipping through a jerry flash book. i was like yeah buddy that's a sweet frog! shawn is like yeah buddy i've never done a frog before! we looked at each other and than said let's go buddy! add some pink in the belly! done on whim! took like 15 minutes lol
RIBBIT :cool:
this retarded little frog tattoo captures everything i love about the tattoo experience. the best.
- - - Updated - - -

also got this cool headless owl from Jon Gray (from Hamilton, ONT...guest spot at Lucky Strike in Edmonton, AB).
It was from Jon's own painted flash. 2hrs. Ollie walked by and turned up the volts on the machine and Jon was flying. it was funny. good time and good tattooer!
<nuff side ass, en joy>

@keepcalm
I should add that even though my dad will never accept my tattoos, he still loves me and is proud of me. Your parents can dislike a certain choice you made but still love you!

I made an appointment with Ron Wells for January to extend the masked falcon he did for me into a half-sleeve. First addition is going to be a "sly fox," so stoked. Haven't seen him do a fox yet (just lots of awesome wolves) so I'm really excited to see what he comes up with.
Longest six weeks of my life...