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Almost my whole life I have always ran with people years older than me so I think I forgot and often times still forget they are older than me, set in their professions, and lots of other variables that I forgot/forget when starting to get visible tattoos. Not gonna psychoanalyze it and I don't regret it one bit, however, do know even living in SF/Bay Area it has limited me in certain cases here and working elsewhere. I do know I've had to and continue to have to prove myself to many people in my profession not familiar with my work due to being "heavily" tattooed. I wear suits to my contracts to compensate for the tattoos though I do have an obsession with suits and think i partially developed it due to the visible tattoos and my work. Bottomline, I totally get the argument and support the argument to get a fair amount of other spots done first. I had to goto other tattooers early on as Scott and some others would not tattoo my hands, fingers, and/or neck until more recently like the last two years or something. My first finger/thumb tattoo was done by I can't remember who around nine years ago. My first hand tattoo which is a small one in between my thumb and pointer finger was done by Tim Lehi around nine years ago at Tattoo City and had a mutual friend of ours take me in-between some of Tim's other appointments. Tim didn't seem too phased by the fact I didn't have my arms fully covered. For my other hand tattoo I went to Zach Johnson when he was at Picture Machine in SF which was a spur of the moment thing. I swung by the shop to hangout with some of the guys there before dinner and one thing led to another and blammo, hand tattoo covering the whole top and missed my dinner reservations. My fingers were also done at Picture Machine except I believe by Iggy and I was pretty well covered on my arms and about half my front done by this time. I went to Nick Rodin when he first moved up here to do my neck tattoos as Scott Sylvia refused to do my hands and neck for many many years though I had almost both arms sleeved and my front pretty well covered in tattoos. I totally respect Scott for his reasons and acted like a kid hiding something from their parents, haha. I remember my heart beating pretty damn fast hoping he didn't ask what I was in getting tattooed that day. For those who don't know they both work at Blackheart so I just acted like I was there getting a regular old tattoo from Nick. I remember when Scott walked over mid tattoo, looked at what was going down, shook his head and gave one of those chuckles/laughs he does. I am very satisfied with the tattoos Nick did and Scott even came over and gave Nick some visual help on the front of the neck tattoo as Nick asked for his advice. Scott has since given in and tattooed my upper knuckles and sides of my fingers. As mentioned above, I don't regret them though know it has limited me and will continue to limit me and/or put obstacles in my way. Yes, Scott and some of the other older friends were right and can say, "I/we told you so".

There is nothing more nerve wracking that making a tattoo on someone else that you know you will see every single day for the rest of your life. I'm hard enough on my work as it is.

Ron Henry Wells (The Hyena in here)! The man has been tattooing for like 4 years, which boggles my mind. Great shit allready. I have only exhanced few emails with him, but apparently he is also a gentleman and a schollar. My hats off to him. I will put here few of his things that I like, hope you dont mind Ron. The Laughing Hyena

Dude, this was during the initial event. Thats how mad I was. After she walked out I listened to Blood For Blood and drank myself to death with good scotch.

Or this...

i walked into American Graffitti one afternoon , im thinkin Scott was probably there, I believe it was the late Eric Hogan, had put on the neck of a friend/customer,'' Capricon''. I suggested he get a dictionary. he said" i did look it up" and produced a dictionary with the word misspelled. i believe i suggested he get a better one.

I know that in 2012 it will be 2012 tattoos. I have been actually thinking that it would be cool to get I survived 2012 NOW, just to fuck with all the "doomsday" bastards. Because I base my prediction on logic, so its a shure bet." edit. Then again... There really isn't going to be anything to survive from. So maybe the idea needs little work. Maybe like a check list type thing with all the predicted doomsdays going on as far as they go. Maybe even make some dates up, then all of them crossed before hand and Carl Sagan slapping a face with a text such as "Carl Sagan - slapping bitches back to reality 1934 – 1996"

Slightly off topic but the people with neck/hands done and no other visible tattoos never tip good (I work food service-not tattooing.) They're dumb asses in more ways than one it turns out.

The morning after can be awkward sometimes..

This is the rice to get Tammy. Its a bit expensive but makes all the difference.

I would love to get my hands and neck tattooed. Here's why I'm waiting/saving them for last: 1.) I've got an entire back, stomach and right leg that are bare. 2.) I'm not in an industry where I can get away with it. (Maybe in ten years if I'm some kind of superstar..) 3.) I truly feel that those spots should be earned, especially if you're not a tattooer. 3a.) Nothing lamer than some dude who only has hand and neck tattoos.. especially when they're tiny. 4.) I have two little tattoos on the inside of my fingers -- they were excruciating. I plan on being extra choosy about who tattoos my hands. And neck. 5.) I live in NY. Tattoos very accepted here but it also means I have to see everyone's half-assed hipster hand tattoos.. which really forces you think about em. 6.) How do you have the balls to walk into a shop with only a few tattoos and ask to get your hands tattooed? I'd be bashful even to ask my tattooer friends right now..

Hi Deb thanks for the poetic insight. I feel ya. When I need a good quote, I look to Mark Twain for inspiration. He seemed like a timeless man, full of wisdom when it came to watching the trends of time pass and renew themselves. "The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out, the conservative adopts them". Mark Twain. My father talks of the same changes...having been a biker in the sixties til around the nineties. I remember people pulling off to the side of the road in fear of us coming along side them on the highways in LA. Of course I was just a little one then, wondering in awe, why I saw fear in those peoples faces. I realize now, my pops and his friends looked like demons to them. Now. Well, lets say when I see someone riding by on their new Harley, with their shiney new Harley gear, tassles and all. I know. Its just not the same. Im happy to know the difference. Im happy to have witnessed a small part of the small tattoo clan that existed. The clan has grown for sure. Some will never know what it was like to be disowned from family/friends because of our want to be tattooed/die our hair blue/cut it into a mohawk, fight to show our individuality, in a time when society looked down on us for choosing to go against the norm and follow the life we loved. Quality still shines, even then. Because of quality, mainstream adopted us. Love and respect, Mikki

Four days of reverse pyramid heavy weight training with a Crossfit influence and a "Bodyflow" class on Sundays (mix of yoga,pilates,etc). I've been going to the gym with a co-worker and I have to say, it's awesome having a workout partner to spot your form and keep you motivated. At some point in the future, we might switch to a more BJJ/boxing-based workout (my highschool friend owns a Gracie Juijitsu gym in my neighborhood). I like the idea of real-world strength; it's nice to look good with a shirt off, but it's better to be able to do something with it.

I recently had a young lady make fun of the awesome eagle on my chest. She also said that people with tattoos just get them to make up for their lack of personality. I told her to get the fuck out of my apartment.

Bolohead if you are happy with this tattoo ,then that is all that matters. As journeymen, skilled craftsmen in the trade of tattooing we look at tattoos from a technical standpoint. You must have looked through the portfolio of the person that did your design, prior to getting the tattoo, and chose to get it. My only recommendation is to leave it as it is.

My wife and I just booked with Stuart Cripwell. We are stoked!

Haven't been on in a while.

My buddy Bruehl and I once conspired to get on LA INKED by telling the producers that we were two of DR. BRONNER's adopted children, and that we wanted Kat to tattoo portraits of him on us. With banners that read ALL ONE OR NONE. Had we just said we were addicted to porn.... we wouldn't have had to lie.

Funny side story. I was working at Gill's underground shop in Daytona---- he went out and the the police raided the shop while he was gone--- we all got arrested , our equipment confiscated etc etc etc but the press he got in all the magazines!!! --- I do believe he called---he and Mr Tramp were of the PTBarnum school of thought "even bad publicity is good publicity"! ---- Also, the same shop I was manning the shop alone when Roy Boy and his lady friend came looking for Gil. While there, a group of 1%s from Pa came in----- so what did Roy Boy do? Left me alone there with the group. Someone took one of my machines. A fight went on in town afterward, over my machine. Someone got very hurt. The following year after having tattooed for 4-5 bike weeks in a row-- I cocktail waitressed instead ---in a bar that featured David Allen Coe along with go go dancers Those were dark days. And now roy boy is gone and crazy ace too

All I saying is I want more of them... maybe like a full sleeve, cinnamon roll, cup cake, french bread, mexican pan, dinner roll... ohh well maybe 2012.

Talking about yourself in the third person=when I start walking away from you.

Hahaha zing you ignorant motherfucker!

Some dude came in the other night with "FUCK COPS" HUUUUGE on the side of his neck asking how much to cover it up. It wasn't even healed yet. EWPS!