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Seeing Eddy Deutsche in a couple weeks. Really fucking excited.

I sit here, sore, swollen, in a daze... but I have to share my story. I am an apprentice tattooer and have been in my apprenticeship since September of 2014. I have always had a deep respect for tattooing, but it has now been solidified even deeper. Last year at the Lady Luck Tattoo Convention, my teacher was asked to receive a traditional Samoan tatau by Sulu'ape Si'i Liufau of A-Town Tattoo. My teacher has known Si'i for about 10 years through the convention circle. We were sharing a booth with A-Town, so I was preparing for a pretty close view of the event. As they were preparing, Si'i came to me and told me that he only had his apprentice, Genesis, available to stretch skin for the tatau and they would need my help. I have a previous post describing the experience, so I won't elaborate further on it here, but it became one of the biggest honors of my life to be involved in that tatau on my teacher. Fast forward to this past weekend: We were working the Lady Luck Convention again and had a pretty slow schedule of clients. My teacher intentionally did so, because he wanted to hopefully help stretch on a tatau. It is a huge honor to receive a tatau, but it is an equal honor to assist in one. Saturday night, we are all in the bar, relaxing and having a good time. It was a group of about 20 tattooers from all over the country. Talk of the process of tatau began and I took the opportunity to interject and publicly thank Si'i for asking me to assist on my teacher's tatau. I told him it was one of the biggest honors of my life and I would never forget it. He nodded to me and said, "What are you doing tomorrow?" I said, "No tattoos, just working our booth." He said, "I should give you tatau tomorrow." Without hesitation, I stuck my hand out and said yes. We shook on it and he went over to discuss it with his apprentice. They were making gestures around the lower thigh area and kinda laughing a little. I jokingly said, "You guys are laughing too much! You gonna fuck me up tomorrow?!" Si'i responded, "We're gonna try something new on you, Nate. You're not gonna like it... but you're gonna like it." The next morning, I went over to the A-Town booth and Si'i had me remove my shoes and put on a sarong. Without discussion, he started shaving my knee area, all the way around. He drew on a couple reference lines, where he then called over my teacher and told him he would be assisting his apprentice with stretching of the skin. I've already written a lot, so I will skip along. It took 3 hours of, by far, hands down, the most painful tattooing I've ever received. Almost my entire knee, and all the way around back, through the ditch. At the end, I was congratulated. I didn't move. I didn't squirm. I made no sounds. Inside my head, it felt as though they were cutting my leg off, but I knew I had to show my respect and gratitude by being silent. It was incredible. To be a part of my teacher's tatau and for him to be a part of mine has bonded us even closer. We are both so humbled and blown away by it all. As he did a final cleaning of my leg, I asked Sulu'ape Si'i what I needed to pay him for this (I was actually kind of worried, because I'm a broke apprentice). He said, "Meaalofa. It's a gift for you. You earned my respect when you sat for hours and stretched for your teacher last year." He also said, "Now Nate, this tatau has the ending placement of a traditional Pe'a, so when a Samoan sees it coming out of your shorts, they are going to question you. When they do, you tell them it was a gift from Sulu'ape and if they have any more questions, they can come talk to me." I'm still in awe. I look at my leg now and it is so much more than a tattoo. It is history. It is honor. It is respect. I just wanted to share my story. Thanks to all that read it. Here are some pictures of the whole thing. Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

This is sort of a microcosm of life for all couples, tattooed or not. There are couples who are on the same page about things and they have a great relationship, while there are others who seem to never be on the same page, and you wonder how they survive together, yet they do. And others who seem to be on the same page, but their relationship still falls apart. And everything in between. I guess relationships are complicated - with or without tattoos. I just feel good knowing that we are "a tattooed couple." It is a bond, something special, out-of-the-ordinary, that we share. We are different together.

CJ Fishburn. Knee ditch

Knee zapper from Chad Koeplinger the other day in Denver

The Army uses what are called "fixed call signs" for radio communication. Each unit had a designator - many times most units of a larger unit will have designators that start with the same letter. For example, the fixed call sign for 1st Infantry Division is Danger. I commanded a battalion within that Division, the 101st Military Intelligence Battalion and our fixed call sign was Devious. They then use numerical designators to identify specific individuals within each unit - the commander of a unit is identified by the number 6. So, when I made a radio call, I identified myself as Devious 6. Simple, right? :cool:

I got these two recently as gap fillers. Both pretty spur of the moment. Paul was guesting with us, I really wanted to be tattooed because I liked his work and I buzzed off him as a person, but didn't want to be tattooed just for the sake of it. Was flirting with loads of designs but then I saw the design (dagger and rose) and thought it fitted perfectly in an awkward spot on my leg. Fits like a glove, I was buzzing so hard off getting this one done, I was on a high all night! The kittycus is just a cute idea I came up with after seeing similar things and I knew Sam would nail it. The pic is fresh but I can assure you it looks exactly the same healed. Solid. This is by far and away the cutest tattoo I have. It makes me smile everytime I see it!

Not a tattoo but we just agreed to terms. I'm buying a painting from Freddy Corbin. Once this buy goes through, I plan on inquiring on an appointment and going to Oakland. it's like I never learn my lesson, I need my priorities in order. lol

I've been lazy as all hell and haven't posted any new bangers in a while....... Right BUTT cheek - Alex Boyko - December MOM Cover up on the wrist AND LEMMY tribute- Jon Larson - January ©Ankle - Jon Larson - February Wrist banger - Jon Larson - March Left SWELLbow - Chad Koeplinger - March

I like the wingbone, but personally - not a big fan of wordy text. Pick an image that reminds you of him, or the event, or whatever.

@exume I've had a nurse like that before . . . - - - Updated - - - @exume I've had a nurse like that before . . .

My wife and I started crewing for a Hot Air Balloon company about a year and a half ago. Great exercise - set up and inflate the balloon, chase it, pack it back up and then have champagne and crackers - and, best of all, sometimes we get to fly. You can see the shadow of the balloon to my right in this picture.

I finally have an appointment to get tattooed by Freddy Corbin. This is the third time I've tried in a bunch of years. I'm already so stoked :)

I retired from the Army after 26 years of active duty - thank you and your husband for your service! I am on the distant end of the age timeline here I think. My wife and I have been married for over 41 years - and I just got my first tattoo 10 days ago. Although I'd thought about it for years, I didn't for many reasons. Several weeks ago, after watching the rash of deaths in musicians in my generation, I decided I wanted to make it happen. My wife and I were talking one day and she mentioned what she wanted for her birthday (coming up in a few days). As I always have done, I agreed and she asked me what I wanted. Her initial reaction was shock...but within seconds she said OK. She asked me if I had any idea what I wanted and, since I'd already researched it, I showed her. She said to go for it. Today, when I got home from work she mentioned she'd been talking with a group of people from our church, and the topic of my tattoo came up. No one was upset and when they asked Lynn why she said yes, she told them that for our entire marriage every time she wanted to change her hair style or do something different I always told her to do it - that what was important was what made her happy. Married life isn't always fun and games - when people ask us how long we've been married I will normally respond with "24 happy years.....out of 41 total. That's a pretty good batting average." We were married at age 19 and oyr son was born 2 weeks after my wife turned 20 and 1 day after I did. The odds of making it were not in our favor. Supporting each other, letting each other have their own personality and interests isn't always easy but I think it is what helped keep us together and in love. So, I now have one tattoo...will be getting more. My wife has talked about it sometimes, but I don't think she will ever do it. But, that's OK - it's her decision and it's about her body and I am OK with that.

I got mine from a line in the song "Haunted" by Type O Negative. Peter says "Nocturnal Mistress, spirit lover - her mouth of wine and woodsmoke taste." And I like the name Nocturnal Mistre

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh. https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Just got this San Jose tribute, from my buddy Matt Wes.

I met with Chad last night and got tattooed. What a cool experience! It was his last tattoo for the day and Jeff Zuck pulled up a chair and bull shit with us for a while. Both of those guys are so humble and down to Earth. Had a great time and I am thrilled with the tattoo Chad gave me.

Gotten a few fun ones over the last six months or so: Steve Byrne at Temple before the Bay Area Convention of the Arts: Healed Robert Ryan at the Convention: Crappy healed photo: - - - Updated - - - Got a couple from Miguel Montgomery aka Uzi to start the year Healed - - - Updated - - - And most recent is a little one shot by Alex Petty based off of some old Milton Zeis flash Flash Piece (still healing)