TattooedMumma

What does it mean?
"It means I like tattoos".

If you really don't want to talk to them, you could always respond to their questions with a series of clicks and chirps.

I'll tell ya, Daryl Rodriguez from Hold It Down just did an awesome Dumb and Dumber parakeet tattoo.. :D

It could be because I'm a long-haired and bearded burly dude with skulls tattooed on my arms, living in a place where I feel I see more tattooed people than non-tattooed people, but I don't really experience people asking me about what my tattoos mean. I think that women on the whole get this a lot more than men. People mostly leave me alone. I was a little bit concerned about getting "what does it mean" questions about my (in-progress) sleeve because there's a specific visual reference there that I don't really want to explain, but thankfully the raven's head there is hidden by a t-shirt so hopefully I'll mostly avoid that question while I figure out a stock bullshit answer.
I have nothing against tattoos with meaning (for that matter, I have nothing against tattoos without meaning either) I just think that the way most people go about getting a "meaningful" tattoo is all wrong. From what I've seen on the internet, the "meaning" takes priority over the strength of the image, and that's all backwards. You're going to associate your tattoos with whatever meaning you choose to give them anyway, there's no need to have hidden initials or a representative number of flower petals or whatever there. I spend too much time looking at pictures of tattoos on the internet.

I'm also curious about how you go about protecting a place like your inner bicep or inner thighs during healing, especially when wearing heavier winter clothing. The former's going to be relevant to me in the spring, hopefully.

Ha! pass... though there are plenty of people I wouldn't mind sending there......

The spirit of adventure calls, eh? :)
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Oh my god, yes! haha! would you like me to go into all of the reasons why I think this is a terrible idea?

I'll second that.
Unless there are three-boobed aliens there. Then I'm down.

Ha! pass... though there are plenty of people I wouldn't mind sending there......

Ha! pass... though there are plenty of people I wouldn't mind sending there......

Ha! pass... though there are plenty of people I wouldn't mind sending there......

Bad photos (part of the reason I dont upload many tattoo photos) heres my dotwork tibetan skull so far . Its still to get more stuff added

Fuckin spot appeared right in the eye whilst healing :)

@hogg If you're a fan of Chad Koeplinger, i got this done by him today! Took about/Just under 2 hours!

Not sure why I thought to do this tonight, but I decided to see how long of a drive it is to New York City and also to Montreal. Found out that from my house it's almost exactly the same length of trip (6h35mins vs 6h38mins).
Driving to NYC to get a tattoo is something I definitely want to do someday, but it has always seemed so far away - I really thought it was more like an 8.5hr drive. Montreal, on the other hand, I've driven to several times (mostly for hockey games) and would definitely do again.
I have the feeling that this knowledge is going to cost me money in the coming months/years.

This is an interesting topic with a lot of grey area. As a tattooer, it's pretty disheartening and insulting when someone blatantly rips off your work. As a client, well.. I was talking to Mr. Campise about not putting my piece online as to skate around the biters and he laid it out pretty simply. Nobody is ever going to do the original justice, and it's pretty much just free(albeit really obnoxious) advertising. Nothing can ever outshine true authenticity, and whoever ends up with the copy ends up walking around with a permanent bummer. So that's kind of where I sit on that matter... It sucks, it's inevitably going to happen, don't do it if you tattoo, and don't get down on it as a client.

off topic...
ha! most of my sentences either begin or end like this :Dwas going to do a huge reply but instead will just nod and agree with whats already been said...

My experience f cops has been mixed. I grew up in one o the roughest areas in my city , the cops there have a tough job and a lot of them are good. some of them are pricks too. cops are only human. some humans are good and some are pricks , if you cant see that then you are being naive .its human nature. Im really drunk right now and I apoligise if im not making any sense.

Here's something to think about, you just made a broad generalized statement about folks who do tattoos. And then wonder how it is that someone can make a broad generalization about police officers.

I say just laugh it off. Probably half the time the people are thinking about that tattoo they wanted when they were young and did not get. So they are just envious of yours. When My wife and I go to the public pool I always come out after her so I have to gaze around till I see her, every time I always think to myself, man why are these people looking at me. Then I remember I have a crap load of tattoos. The stares are funny. Get used to them and laugh.

The Bible does say you should not mark your skin. Next time tell them it also says "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned," "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." and "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?"
These hypocrites only read the part of the bible that allows them to be judgmental blowhards.
As to the stares, I'm 6'2" 195 with hair halfway down my back. I stare back :-)

Kyle Sajban from Red Rocket Tattoo NYC.
Back hurt A LOT more than I thought it would.

I got both my thighs tattooed this year by Ade Stacey at Nine Tattoo in Brighton. Awesome guy and I love the pieces that he did for me. Baku on one side and Kirin on the other. Something a bit different. The picture of the Baku has come from Ade's own website as you might have guessed from the water mark. In terms of the twitching I got a bit of that towards the bottom of the muscle near the knee but otherwise it wasn't too bad for 5hours+ of tattooing each time.

Made it a point to see more concerts/shows/festivals, and I am actually following through
Testament last Friday
Slayer Tomorrow at MSG
Megadeth on Friday
Also got tickets to see Gorguts in December as well as tickets to Suffocation and Pyrexia.
The grand win of it all was getting my 4 day pass to Maryland Deathfest (which sold out in 2 hours). So many shows, so much hearing loss!
Scoping out tickets to Black Sabbath, as apparently this is their last tour ever.

I am two assignments away from finishing a holistic health program I started over two years ago! Woot!

ok so I have finally finished researching everyone's amazing suggestions ! what can I say ? wow!! thank you all so much! @Dumpleton : wt Norbert! I checked that link and fell in love with what he does! one pic says he is in Sydney which is only about4.5 hrs from me, so not too bad travel wise! I would love for him to do my thighs or just one seeing I also checked Rose Hardy and was very impressed! she is brilliant!
@Gregor : like I had said earlier, I saw Crispy lennox in a magazine I have here and got all excited. I think I need to add him to my list ! no idea for what, but I really like his work. I checked out Ali, she is in Brisbane. thanks for suggesting her too!She is a wonderful artist! would love to get something by her at some point!
god you people are going to send me broke ;)
@Amok : I ended up finding the article :) I also looked him up on the web and remember why he stuck in my head. brilliant!
@Graeme : not sure I would get Trevors work but I really did enjoy looking through it! thank you for the suggestion! I do enjoy looking at Japanese tattoos, and reading about the tradition and how certain elements go together and others just don't.
so again! thank you all for suggesting these amazing artists! now I must think a bit harder and save a bit more. definitely don't want to just rush in to my local artist for my thighs now, happy to wait a bit more and hopefully get something by some of the above artists :)