else

haha I know. I am turning 20 in April. It's scary to me for some reason... I actually am beginning to feel like an adult, I guess. Its ok though, Ill still get my tattoo fix, my sister is turning 21 in February, and she is getting her arm done. So at least I get to watch that

More often than not seeing heavily tattooed young people bums me out because they have such bad tattoos. At the last Montreal convention there were a bunch of young guys, probably 18 or 19 with sleeves, their hands and necks done, and the tattoos they had were so bad. Like sort of traditional stuff but just done really poorly. I don't know what they paid for their tattoos but it seemed absurd to me that were covered in such shit so young when they could have instead gotten a really good piece or two from some really exceptional artists there and pieced together a really amazing sleeve over time. The folly of youth.
All of this is to say that waiting and saving your money to get really good work instead of just getting covered for the sake of getting covered is the way to go.

For one, I am in between jobs, not going to spend what money I do have on tattoos.
Secondly... I don't want to rush. though my head is filled with grand ideas and this and that, I don't want to rush through getting my body tattooed. It's hard to restrain yourself, but I don't desire to be heavily tattooed, but I do want more. I am thinking, when I finally get another job, I'll save money towards that goal, as a treat...
But getting tattooed willy nilly, especially being so young, has been a recipe for disaster in the area Im from. Alot of guys and women around here get tattooed like that, and they are 23 and completely covered, getting neck tattoos and full sleeves before they even have careers... Not for me! I don't know where I'll stop tattooing my body, but I want it to be a journey, not a race.

@phickey, I can only second and third what others have said and add that that's one of the best tattoos I've ever seen. A panther, a dagger, a cobra, and roses. Everything great, all in one.
Refresh my memory: aren't you the guy who showed up here asking where to go to get good tattoos? If so, you may rival @Scott R for LST's greatest success story.

@phickey Thats the quintessential tough tattoo , overall your stuff shows you can never have too many Roses .

I am obligated to try. At the end of the month I will have had the first two sessions on my back with Mr. Kore Flatmo done. I gotta at least toss it in...

Thank you everyone :) I wouldn't have gotten those amazing tattoos if it wasn't for Scott, this forum, and all if its wonderful members. And all of the other entries were just as worthy as mine, every month gets better and better.
Again, thanks LST mods and all it's members. Looking forward to another year of amazing tattoos!

I spent a year in a "youth home" in Georgia as a teen. It was something.
It definitely contributed to making me the person that I am today (but probably not exactly in the ways they intended).

Oh geez! Did you read the rest of the pages?!?
I only read the next two The Mark of Blood and The Cup of Devils but apparently we're all going to spend eternity in the fiery pits.
- - - Updated - - -
A big part of my family growing up was hardcore pentecostal. My great grandmother regularly spoke in tongues, the devil was lurking EVERYWHERE to tempt the weak. I was even exorcised once as a teenager (a TERRIFYING experience). I really hate all of this stuff. Super anxiety provoking. In my current life filled with people who are very inclusive in their beliefs I often forget that this kind of thing is out there.

To finish off 2012 and the amazing tattoos that have been posted in the years contest the winner is........
@HaydenRose
with the roses from Scott Sylvia while he guest spotted @ Kings Avenue Tattoo, NYC (post #6)
Congratulations!!
Thanks to all who submitted and got great tattoos supporting good tattooers!
PM me your shirt size and male or female style shirt with your mailing address please

I'll of course stop eventually but hope that I still have plenty of tattoos to go still. For me, a big part of why I love getting tattooed, beyond the actual tattoos of course, is that I've met a lot of really amazing people through it who inspire me, who stimulate me, who push me to be a better person in a lot of ways, and I want to continue having that in my life for as long as possible.

I guess the people running that site wouldn't dig my little Baphomet tattoo?

Awww! Thanks @slayer9019 super sweet of you. I wish I was in NJ! I'm in Rockdale Texas, population 5,580. 2 gas stations, 2 bars, a car wash, an auto parts store... the dining out options are pretty much Sonic and Dairy Queen. Ugh!
I spent all day Saturday in Austin though and had a fabulous time. I'm planning to spend most of my free time away from Rockdale for the duration of this contract. I'm used to being in bigger towns with more travelers and we all kind of glom together. I don't know anyone in Austin but I've got a dear friend in College Station which is only about 30 minutes from here so it's not a completely lonesome experience. And I brought my spinning wheel along this time so I'll have something to do in the evenings.

Hi All,
I'm Josh Michaell. I've been enjoying reading the forum posts for a couple of weeks, and i thought now would be a good time to jump in. I've been getting tattooed for about three years now, and it has been a wonderful and profound experience. I'm hooked. I've been tattooed by Thomas Hooper, Jondix, and Robert Ryan. Like David Bragger, I play old-time American music (guitar & banjo.) I've been studying Thai cooking for 8 years and can whip up a pretty authentic curry. I'm a psychotherapist by profession, but I also spend a good amount of time traveling and teaching workshops on Sanskrit and yoga philosophy. It's pretty random, but someone has to do it. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and say that I look forward to being part of the LST community.

Happy B'day, Slayer..ya ol' fart!
Else, look at the bright side, no drive-bys, no screaming in the street, and no getting dressed for dinner!
To all of you that are on the road, out of town, out of money, out of luck, or just plain bummed, not to worry-it'll get worse!!!
Hey, but then it'll get better-it's just the "eventually" part that sucks.
Y'all have a good New Year's Eve, and best of everything for your year coming up.

@MGblues
Aaron Coleman, we got it done in three session. Yesterday we did every bit of color five hours straight...ouch.

@phickey dammit all to hell. that's on you!!!!!!! that's winning at life material.

Bam

Happy Birthday @slayer9019 :-)
This is a bit of a blue New Year's for me...
It's just me and "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in my hotel room tonight. No champagne, but I picked up a bottle of Knob Creek on super sale over the weekend.
On the plus side - it looks like I'll be able to get out of this hotel and into an apartment tomorrow! I am sick to death of eating out of the microwave... can't wait to fire up a stove top and cook a proper meal.

I came across this the other day and thought it was cool.
Edward Deeds, Outsider Artist, Leaves Behind Hauntingly Innocent Drawings From Mental Institution (PHOTOS, INTERVIEW)

Brutal Knitting by Tracy Widdess

So one might say that you're...........carrying the torch for them?

dude, i reblogged that picture commenting on how awesome that was, and also told my girlfriend how cool i thought that was. lo and behold it turns out to be your kids. that's seriously cool as shit dude.

So I'm a glutton for punishment. la Senorita y el Tigre got lonesome, so I'm getting the right side of my ribcage done. Nick Colella, next Friday.
Should be fun.

So, maybe 1977? Around there..I got a parrot done by Dale Grande at Chicago Tattoo. It was partially a cover-up, partially just sumpin I thought was kool. My kids always dug it, and hey-see if you can figure out which is which.
Untitled, So if your dad gets this rad tattoo in the late...
Done by Nick Colella @ CTC this afternoon on a coupla my boys.