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The original picture looks like a bruise, but not the 2nd. The 2nd doesn't look like any blow-out I've ever seen, but I can't imagine bruising lasting 5-6 months. On the other hand, I am neither a tattooist nor in the medical profession . . .

@Boiled Dove I'm not a counselor...but I have slept in a Holiday Inn Express. Seems that you have two stressors in your life, at least. The job and the marriage. I wonder if one or might be causing the issue with the other. I guess I'd just suggest taking the time to assess that and determine what is at the root of the unhappiness. As @Gingerninja said, are they a means to an end or the end to the means. As one of the relative old guys and one who has been in leadership positions since my early 20s I've seen many people go through the ups and downs of positions, jobs, relationships, locations, etc. There are cycles to it and many things can cause/impact those cycles. As an Army officer there is a pattern that sees officers hit low points at relatively predictable times in their careers. Many opt to get out at those points. Most did it for the right reason and are happy with their decisions...but not all. Make sure the emotion of the moment isn't driving your decision. I offer what I call "The Volk Principle." Feel free to attach your own name to it if you like it. It goes like this: It doesn't matter who you are, who your parents are/were, where you went to school, what degree(s) you have, who you know, what type of car you drive or how much money you have....sometimes it just sucks to be you. At some point - tomorrow, next week, next month - it will be someone else's turn and life will come back to center. If you can approach times of trouble and misfortunes from that perspective, it helps to see your way out of the hole. I know it's trite and it is not meant to downplay your situation. I offer it only to encourage you to really think about what it is that makes you happy and what is truly causing you to feel as you do. Sometimes we rush to a decision only to find that it was something else that was really the problem.

Hey @Boiled Dove...sorry that you're not in a good place. Sounds like change is in your future! What do you hate about your job? At some level, you have to decide whether your job is a means to an end or an end to the means. Is there something else that you'd rather be doing? If so, figure out how to do it, right? I'm always in a sea of MEN in khaki pants and button downs. It doesn't bother me anymore because I know a bunch of them are misfits and freaks like me. LOL.

Happy birthday Kinzo.

Hello! I'm a newbie in this forum. Seems like there are a lot going on here :) My name is Kisyuu (姫洲), I'm a Japanese Calligrapher in Vancouver, Canada. You might not see the direct connection between Japanese calligraphy and tattoo, but many kanji (Japanese/Chinese characters) tattoos are actually written in calligraphy! I feel sad when I see people having wrong kanji or not good looking fake-calligraphy letters which were probably copied and pasted from somewhere on the internet on their skin. :( Why not learning more about Japanese calligraphy and explore with the brush and ink before you getting kanji tattoo?? This may interest some of you: I am hosting my first collaborative workshop with a tattoo artist, Billy Decola, who is an owner of Kiku Tattoo Parlour in Burnaby, Canada. Either you are the one who are interested in getting tattoos or you are a tattoo artist who want to learn more about brush strokes & kanji shape, please join us and experience the possibility of sumi ink & calligraphy brush! Japanese Calligraphy Workshop at Kiku Tattoo Parlour WHEN: Saturday, May 20th, 2017 TIME: 6:00pm - 8:00pm WHERE: Kiku Tattoo Parlour (3299 Smith Ave B, Burnaby, BC V5G 1G5) FEE: $65.00 CAN During this 2-hour beginner workshop, we will go over the basics of Japanese calligraphy, including: How to hold and control the brush The structure and meaning of Japanese characters Basic brush techniques The possibilities of sumi ink Express yourself with the brush and ink Design your own tattoo Everybody is welcome – no calligraphy experience or Japanese language skills are necessary. All supplies are included as rental, so no need to bring anything. Just bring yourself and curiosity! Please register from here: http://www.kisyuu-calligraphy.com/new-products/workshop-may20

picking this guy up on Sunday! He's a Havanese. Their litter was all named after volcanos, so he got the name Beerenberg. My wife didn't really dig it, so we're going with Milo He'll be our second dog, but our first puppy, so we got some learnin' to do!

Shading bothered me more than outlining. Kinda felt like sandpaper rubbing over and over sensitive skin.

Achilles-Spider, El Monga, 2014. Photo taken (awkwardly) today.

Done by Bob Roberts at Spotlight Tattoo...

Yeah... went through something similar. I was embarrassing myself all the time. Had to give it up- 10 years sober last July...