pidjones

I'd say if you zip through the reality TV crap, you could see the rest in about 30 seconds (unless you watch the commercials, which are better entertainment).

Good luck. Please use a human proof-reader as well as spell checker if you ever do text.

The number one thing to remember about hot women is that they are the same as other women. Sometimes, they just work on their appearance more and are better with makeup. Because of physical beauty, they often actually have fewer invitations for dates by non-creeps. Suck it up, and get to know them, then ask them out! If there are a bunch of them tied to something like work, volunteer work, etc. (A friend got into beauty contestant entrant circles, and dated local and state winners for years) they will pass the word if you are interesting and know how to behave. But, you need it inside - not on the skin.

I was rear-ended on my way to get my first tattoo by a bimbo that had let her insurance expire. After that, the tattoo didn't hurt at all!

I have a lot of respect for any person that has decided they would spend the extra effort to learn a unique medium not normally taught in art schools, develop the skills and experience to transfer their creativity to flesh. I consider tattooer to be similar to classifying a painter, sculptor, photographer, musician, writer, etc. - are they not all artists?

Wow, awesome and crap both for me. Awesome was a little over 100 mile ride Friday back to my home town over very nice backroads, visit with cousins, then return via different backroads (on my motorcycle, of course). Crap was Saturday moving a very dear friend from her townhouse to assisted living, and then receiving a call that a brother I have known since '93 in India had passed away. He is the same age as me, but was diabetic and had full-on kidney failure (on dialysis for about 10 years). Died during dialysis of massive coronary. He and his brother-in-law are very dear to me. I have stayed in their homes and they in mine. I am sure he will have garlands of flowers for me when I get where he is, just like when we arrive in Madras.

From life-threatening experiences with the oldest daughter - DON'T GUESS AT YOUR SUGAR LEVELS - MEASURE THEM!!!!!

Seems to have a lot of mist/fog over the water. I'd like to see what it looks like without that - maybe with the sun reflecting. Problem is, if it is calm the water will just reflect the sky. But, that may be cool, too.

Well, you guys are right about this - once I had the first, I wanted another. Appointment is for October 5th for my upper arm. Told her to start ~ 1" above the elbow crease and go as high as she needs to. I'd rather post a photo when it is done than describe it ahead of time. The faked line may have to wait until just before I retire. I'll ask my functional manager while he's here from Germany in October. BTW, besides my grandfather having the faked line, and I was Navy too, a faked line is something that has been prepared for use when needed. I feel that each phase of my life has prepared me for the next, even though I didn't know what it would be. And, they can be very decorative. I hope that I never have the occasion for the pink ribbon. Our family has seen enough breast cancer.

My only tattoo so far is a 4" wide x 3" high b&g over my left breast about 3" above the nipple. It was aggravating at most - although she drilled it much deeper for the touch-up and it was obvious! It really only was disagreeable (both times) when she worked the edge near my arm pit. And, I'm allergic to pain! I'm now booked for a wrap-around on my arm starting about an inch above the elbow crease and going as high as she needs. I suspect the first experience will be nothing like this one, as I had been rear-ended on the way to the first one, and I'm sure I had lots of natural chemicals flowing still.

If it still isn't responding and you suspect fungus, your doctor can prescribe oral anti-fungal like used against toenail fungus. It is an oral Lotramin, I think. I had to take it to knock out a killer jock itch that came on due to antibiotics I took. I took a couple months, though (and didn't fix a funky toenail, but that takes up to a year of treatment). If not itching like crazy though, I seriously doubt fungus - also a fungus will spread.

Welcome to the forum. The expert reviewers are probably all busy (one has been getting a lot of tattoos the past few days). One thing for sure-if you don't like it, you should fix it. And, if you really like it - screw 'em!

Yeah, I read the wiki and other articles - that's why I used a peel map with Greenland corrected (with such a small population, they seem to always be distorted one way or another). Peel maps are as if you peeled the globe like an apple (I'm sure there is better terminology, though). Lat and lon lines get broken, but this isn't for navigation. Edit: Ahah! It was a Goode homolosine projection. I like peel map better.

Powerful piece.

I plan to make an appointment this evening for my next work. I know the tattoo will not please many (most, maybe) here because a) it has a lot of significance to me and my life, b) it has a religious tone, and c) it is not traditional. Anyway, here is the idea. The artist that did my dolphins and patrol pin is very good with detail work and has done some dotwork very well, so I will be asking her to do it. I will ask her to clean up the borders and make them a bit bolder, and do something with the font without making it hard to read. The dots represent the world's population ~100000 people per dot (many overlap). The text has been my motto since the 70s. I try to stay with it, but of course I fail. It has been hard to find a good representative map as most I've found are projections that distort land area, more so toward the poles(Greenland often shows larger than the USA, when it is actually 1/3rd the area). I found one that was a global peel, and pasted a properly sized Greenland (cut in half on most peels) onto it after removing the lat+lon and other lines, then squeezed the Atlantic. I want it wrapped around my right upper arm from as high on the shoulder as she wants to go to about 1" above the elbow crease.

How long did it take to stop laughing? You need to make a pact that she never lifts her shirt when you need to concentrate!

It's really not all that large. Has to be bigger than you would think to permit detail. Remember that the biggest remembrance of her should be who you turn into!

Very nice!

The originals aren't going to fit like the one in the picture without taking them to a tailor. And, they really don't keep you very warm. Too many places for wind to get in. Almost as non-functional in today's world as a 13 button square fly, open v-neck shirt with a big flappy collar, or a white hat that doesn't keep the sun or rain off and won't stay on your head in sea breezes. Very functional 200 years ago, however!

For putting on tattoo ointment or moisturizers, my artist put it this way - like you are putting on lotion. Now, for the ladies this might be an obvious guide, but as a guy, I was never a lotion-user until the last decade (I'm 62). Now, my knuckles dry out in winter and crack and bleed. Also my calves get dry and itch so bad I can't sleep. So, I learned about lotions (and experimented with many before settling on Gold Bond Ultimate Healing) and found that you need very little and must rub it in until it doesn't look or feel greasy. Just wiping it on the surface doesn't do any moisturizing. Now, for a wound like a tattoo you obviously rub very gently. There will be no shiny appearance afterward. If there is, you put on too much and should blot it off with a clean tissue. My artist gave me a chapstick-type tube of her special after-care and told me that it should last at least a month (the tattoo see did is only ~ 10 x 7 cm). There was less than a teaspoon full in the tube. The healing was very uneventful, however my oily skin (Exxon wants to drill) pushed out some ink. After deeper touch-up, it looks great!

I like the dragon, but would suggest that the lettering should be cleaned up. As for colors - pick what you want, but listen to the pro about what will endure.

Welcome. I have but one tattoo, but have found the forum very helpful in gaining information while healing this one and planning future art. Do continue to read, study, and ask. Also, I would suggest visiting your best local artists. Discuss your plans, placement, etc. Also look at examples of both their sketches and finished tattoos to see if their style is what you have in mind, and their work is quality. There are several great threads on here to help you to judge quality. You may need to filter style preferences on those threads, however.

I don't care about balance. I'm pretty off-plumb, anyway. I do have desires for a forearm tattoo of a faked line, but since I teach adults from all over the world for a major multi-national, that will have to wait a few years unless my functional manager approves. He is due over from Europe in a few months, and I'll ask him then. He is very fair and knows me pretty well. I know he will say to go ahead unless there is a real problem. I also plan one for my bicep (what there is of it) that should easily cover with short sleeves. These are both for my right arm. My only existing tattoo is over my left breast.

I just commented on others threads, photos, etc. Like 'em, don't, suggest etc.