GrayCatLove

I submitted a piece to a major magazine. AND I have three days off after working eight nights straight. Pretty sweet.

You know, nothing beats picking a quality artist who does what you like, making a deposit, and going from there. :) I'm sure your piece is doable, and welcome.

My mother, who believes I only have one tattoo from undergrad, was openly rude to a young girl at a book store, asked her how she intended to get a real job, this store would be gone in five years, etc. I said nothing at the moment, but when we got in the car, I went in, apologized, told her my career and showed her my tattoos under the guise of getting something from the bookstore bakery. I hadn't eaten in 24+ hours which is common with my shift/food choices. When I went to the next store,l with her, some girl had a sparrow on her arm. And Mom just has to look at her and say, "Jesus Christ! Isn't that cute?" At this point, I lose my temper and say, "You were Queen Mormon until one of your kids comes out as gay. You said yourself.times are changing. Maybe you need to change on this, too." Then I had to hear how I act like a ten year old. Yeah. I'm the one pointing and going, "Ewww, gross!" and I'm immature. Okay.

In my old job, I had to write a lot of people up for visible tattoos. Rule of thumb: I'd warn you until I knew my supervisor was going to be around, then I had to. I have all mine so they can be hidden by a modest cocktail dress. If I had visible tattoos, I'd be out.

Just like a "frequent flyer" at the ER, frequency does not guarantee good judgment. No matter what our professions, we must protect ourselves from morons, because guess whose side is usually taken? - - - Updated - - - I agree people should be able to look after a tattoo without being told not to do obviously dumb things. However, my point was, when you are essentially creating a wound best bet is to cover your butt. - - - Updated - - -[/i] @daveborjes Your personal attacks, sexism, and incorrect assumptions warrant no further reply from me. You seem to be a respected person here, but I'm not going to extend the olive branch for disagreement.

Oh, clearly I'm a n00b because I disagree that purveyors of services have legal responsibilities. (I've been getting tattoos for about a decade, not that it makes me more or less correct.) Yes, the client has a responsibility, just like someone who has a wound and gets out of the hospital has a responsibility to make sure they properly care for the wound and the person who buys and registers a car as a responsibility to demonstrate they can properly operate it. However, first, they have to have received proper information or they are not legally responsible. These people aren't properly trained tattoo artists. They don't understand the anatomy of the skin. And trust me, people are going to agree with that, people like judges and juries. That's a bit extreme, but there's a reason why artists cover their butts. - - - Updated - - - While it's understandable, it's not excusable for him to forget. Accidents happen. No one's going to drop dead, but still, you should have received those instructions for the reasons others and myself have mentioned. I hate the itchies. :( Like the others, some slapping does wonders. ;) (Your tattoo, not others.) - - - Updated - - - I'm not pissing on you. I'm not sure what I did to deserve your vitriol, but I'm not pissing on you as another professional. Tattoos are wounds. I don't think comparing it to healthcare is "retarded" at all. Even the most experienced collector needs to be reminded of proper care so that artist is protected and that tattoo can remain healthy and bright. I'm not ditching the tattooer or jumping on her. And you're not going to piss on me because you disagree or had a bad day or whatever. I'm not here to take your shit for my differing opinion, so knock it off.

Agreed. You know what else is bullshit? Hospital discharge instructions and lemon laws. I mean, buyer beware. Purveyors of goods and services have no social responsibility to ensure the client's well-being once the transaction is over. Good business practice is for pussies.

Hello, and boy, those sure are some faces only a mother could love. ;)

That tiki tattoo looks like my dad when he sleeps. <_<

Yesterday, I got a cute black dress, matching shoes, snakeskin ballet flats, little hand-crafted earrings, a toy for my parents' dog ($10 coupon), and cat treats. Took Mom out for a sushi and udon dinner. Got sick on excess sushi.

For now, they're mostly on my torso, one on my thigh, about to be more on the thighs. And no one wants to see that shit at work, so the tattoos aren't even in the equation.

Should be okay. Just no soaking. Don't worry too much.

Well, I call Ryan this Friday with my schedule and we work out a day where he can tattoo my inner thighs with lovely dark blue flowers. :) It should be done this coming October, the sooner, the better!

This is very true. It was particularly popular at the turn of the century in the Industrial Age. ;) But we got better stuff now, and I have active bowel sounds. Don't you worry a thing about me. ;)

I just showed my mom my first one and she ran and told my dad. He got over it pretty fast since it was small and not always in his face. I respect his opinion more than my mom's, although I disagree with it. My mom, like many things, is still holding it over my head. I will never be good enough no matter how many degrees I have, how much of my work is published, and how many senators shake my hand. The tattoos are just a bigger reason to treat me like yesterday's garbage.

Long fingers. I meant "far superior." Mea culpa.

I like to be adequately healed before starting the next one. In order for the tissue to get back to where it was the moment before the needle hit your six, it's six weeks. Really, going before then won't kill you, but it's a good practice, although one I'll be breaking soon. I tend to go to for the less visible spots first. My first tattoo was my upper thigh, and it's smaller. Then I got Tengwar on my ribcage. (Nerd!) Beneath that I got a pink rose as a tribute to "A Rose in Misery." Then I got my scar covered where my ten lb. abdominal tumor was removed. That was a big, two session job. Then I got a tiger on my left hip. It all covers up in normal clothes. I've focused on my torso, and since it's a big bundle of nerves protecting the important organs. My future plans include some inner thigh tattoos. After that, a wolf on the tip opposite of the tiger. Beyond that I have so many ideas, but they're less planned out and in order. I want to save my back, arms, legs, and the most visible areas for some really god tattooing, though my current guy is an outstanding artist. :) As the art develops and I get more settled in my career, heck yeah. I'd love to keep some blank spots, but I don't even have the next ten tattoos planned out. ;)

Good morning, starshine!!!

It's funny. I had a conversation with my primary artist who was doing a tiger tattoo on my left hip. I'd like a wolf on my right hip. We were discussing how the old school wolves are the coolest, and both of us found new school rather silly, and it's a piece he'd really like to do. I really look forward to it after reading this thread. Love the wolf with the owl, the wolf with the head in its mouth (though, a tad bloody for my tastes), and the wolf lithographs. Very cool stuff that inspires me after that next tattoo.

I will find a good place for him. Unfortunately, no top of feet tattoos would be cool at my job, and I hate to limit my shoes at conferences and such.

I actually am a medical professional and been working on these suckers for years, but the advice is still appreciated and solid. Cocoa butter based lotions seemed to yield the best results for me, but for different skin, castor can be fart superior, but almost two decades later, I fear this is as good as it gets. ;) Those anemones are gorgeous. I can't wait to see what he does.