else

Went to an NA meeting in SF tonight. It was marked an atheist meeting, but they still had the traditional 12 steps. Seemed odd. Anyway, I went, introduced myself, and heard the stories, all of which I related to in a very deep way. The speaker held the room without any seeming effort, and I enjoyed what he had to say about changing the way one views life. One word of advice, and I can't speak for all NA meetings, but do not drink the coffee at NA meetings. It was beyond scalding and there was only powdered creamer and refined sugar. What possessed me to drink it in the first place is beyond me. Took one sip and politely set the styrofoam cup under my chair. After the meeting, I took some of the pamphlets, and chatted with one of the members about taking the first step and how he was working on his higher power. After the meeting, I took it upon myself to get lost for an hour and a half trying to find my car. Just got home and wrote this post. Going to a meeting tomorrow, perhaps with my sister's boyfriend, who has attended meetings before. Yay me.

I have an appt with Steve bryne in august

Getting tattooed in the summer is the WORST! And yet... we are due to go to Spain (for "work") next month, so...

Doesn't look like anyone is slowing down for the summer? I guess we are all committed a lifestyle of sitting in the shade and avoiding swimming pools.

I second Iwar's point about the consultation. I have multiple tattoos that I didn't know what I wanted, just who I wanted to do it - so I went to them, showed them the space available and asked for some ideas and went with the least objectionable answer.
People who aren't "into" tattoos will harangue you for getting something that doesn't have the "Miami Ink" story to it, but don't let their foolishness dissuade you - if you appreciate art and like the artist doing it then that is more than enough meaning.

A full back tattoo to kick off the month! Nice one. Better follow suit then.
Tattooer CP, Australia. About 6 years old.
Cheers.

Back-piece finished a few weeks ago.
Valerie Vargas, Frith Street Tattoo, London

Just imagine how awesome this t-shirt would look on you:

If you win the LST Tattoo of the Month contest it will be yours for Free Free Free Free Free Free
(or if you don't win you can always order one here: LST Store | Last Sparrow Tattoo)
The rules:
The tattoo picture that gets posted in this thread for June 2014 with the most 'likes' for the month wins! The contest starts on the first of the month and ends on the last day of the month.

Your tattoo picture must be posted in this thread (both tattooers and tattoo customers can win) in order to qualify.
Include with your photo/post...tattoo artist name & tattoo shop.
You MUST be the one who has the tattoo or did the tattoo.
You can 'like' as many tattoos as you want.
It can be a finished or in progress tattoo.
You cannot enter the same tattoo in more than one contest.

I headed over to the Okey Doke tattoo shop on College St. in Toronto this morning to get a tattoo by Franz Stefanik. What an amazing experience. Here is my latest tattoo, as I continue to work on my legs.

I got this from Tom Yak at Electric Tattoo on Saturday. It's not a great picture because it's hard to take a picture of the back of your own arm, but you get the idea. Electric is a great shop.

I would like to think many a good times started with this introduction

Squid stance and all the glory of being a foreigner busting out kung fu steez in front of the famous Beijing Shi Cha Hai Sports Institute (where Jet Li trained):

This thread has really encouraged me. I started on my thigh today!

Oh! @Colored Guy
I've been away for a long time and just catching up around here... I'm so sorry to hear this.
Love and comfort to you and your wife.
I've worked with hospice and I have the utmost respect for what they do.

Thanks. Best of all, Matt drew it on, then tattooed it in an hour and a half.

I realized that besides for instagram photos in the Latest Tattoo Lowdown-thread, I haven't uploaded any proper hi-res healed pictures of any one the tattoos I've gotten since I first registered here 3 years ago. I'll make sure to get to that. Anyway, here's my twiggy pale legs at their current state:


Left leg, top to bottom:
Rose - Eli Quinters
Judas wearing devil mask - Iain Mullen
Heart factory-thing - Rudy Fritsch
Dietzel masked girl - Joel Albertsson
ACE-script - design by my friend, tattoo by Iain Mullen
Swampy horned skull - my friend Isabel
Crocodile bird - Joel Madberg SOOS
Man with birdcage head - my friend Isabel
Ancient aliens UFO with wings and bird claw - Iain Mullen
Gorilla in tower holding skull - Deno
Crossed bones RMA - my friend Isabel
Återkomst - some scratcher named Jens (traded for a small photo)
Badly healed heel tattoo - Iain Mullen
Upside down skull - my design, tattoo by Iain Mullen
Right leg, top to bottom:
Shaman and hyena - James McKenna
Rock of ages, upside down cross - Peter Lagergren
Girl sleeping in moon - Jaclyn Réhe
Human cuddled in egg shape - my friend Isabel
Whispering devil + indian symbol and three moons - Iain Mullen
Baboon head - Matty D'Arienzo
Saraswati/indian looking head - Adde Ramstedt
Behive - Knibbe Pallius
Upside down eye of providence and snake - Ville Prinsen
Big angry snake head - Deno
Cat reaper - Joel Madberg SOOS
Funky tiger coming out of flower - Cezilia Hjelt
Equaly badly healed heel tattoo - Iain Mullen (both to be redone in a few months)
Bum dreaming "C.R.E.A.M." - Frej Lind
Hårda Tider-band logo on toe - my friend Isabel
Edit: Oh wow, long post. Thought they were thin enough to go side by side in pairs. Well.. enjoy

OK, I'll play. These show most of my legs. I won't bore you with the sides of my knees or ankles. And I'm too lazy to type out who did what, but I'm happy to answer any questions.

diggin' this thread. dreading the knee ditch and inner thighs. here's what and who, so far...
Upper left
- three wise monkeys: my brother
- tribal knife: myself
- gypsy head: jill bonny
Upper mid
- third eye skull: my brother
- sun, moon, web knees: trevor taylor
- hardy bulldog: myself
- butterfly: myself
- daruma and candle: myself
- umbrella eye guy: trevor taylor
- green flame/symbols: myself
- doll head: shawn barber
- BnG snake: myself
- flower: beppe strambini
- fox & stars: hideki kobayashi
- horse head: myself
- bird: myself
- cherry blossoms: my brother
- 408: my brother
Upper right
- snake and kewpie: christopher ayalin
- lucky 13 cat: matt arriola
- eagle and clipper: mike Wilson
- hippie snail: my brother
Bottom right
- horse head/ring of flames: myself
- shark: myself
- BnG pattern: myself
Bottom mid
- naismith: cris cleen
- fu manchu snake: jeff rassier
Bottom left
- holey heart: myself

Here's my right leg, taken post run (#shortshorts). Slowly chipping away at it. I'm starting my right leg with Grez in July and (hopefully) Scott again.
Rose and dagger - Scott Sylvia
Blue crab - Todd Noble
Wolf and genie lamp - Ron Henry Wells
Cats - Grez
Pineapple - Drew Rash
Lilacs and mom banner - Keith Reed (unpictured, but posted in latest tattoo lowdown recently)

I'm no where near that free spirited, but now that I have been going big I do agree with the sentiment. There are about 200 things I would love on my body. so I am assuming any combination of them would make me more than happy if done well.

I love everybody's squidpants!!! :)

I love everybody's squidpants!!! :)

I love everybody's squidpants!!! :)

I love everybody's squidpants!!! :)

I'll add my sorry sticks to the thread.
Visible tattoos:
Hot Stuff and the ankle cuff are by Nathan Draper.
The hot air balloon and the cat are by Chad Koeplinger.
The pyramid (Higgs flash) is by Glennie Whittal
The skull, clown, and boxer are by Tim Pausinger.
Not visible is a space torch I picked up from Mario Desa at Great Lakes, a hand of glory by Chad, and some more work by Tim.
This September I have a session with R.H. Wells to fill in some more of my legs at the Montreal convention. Who knows, maybe I'll find a few more fillers before the end of the summer.