Devious6

Welcome to the forum! Are you using any lotion on the tattoo? I've found that if I put it on too thickly my skin will react by swelling a bit so the tattoo will feel raised. As was already said, we all heal differently and our skin reacts differently to ink, temperature, humidity, etc. Give it some time, talk to your artist and relax.

Congratulations!!! Having worked in higher education for 12 years now and as a college president for 5 I can tell you, you are not alone. We get many students who come to us after spending time working, raising a family or who just decide to make a life change. I have found that those people, with few exceptions, fare much better than students who enter right after high school. They are more focused, more mature and more willing to expend the effort to understand the material - in short, the do better despite having misgivings and concerns. You'll do great!!

I don't have a clue to the questions you've asked - I'm a newcomer to the tattoo world. But, welcome to the forum, I hope no one did in fact "mark" you, and I hope you find the answers to your questions.

Wow - this really highlights what happens when we assume something about others as well as the need to communicate. It would be easy to blame her for the lack of communications, but it's clear that her parents were also not communicating on a close level, too.

Not sure what's up with the pictures not posting, but welcome to the forum!!!

@jnin Love it! Can't wait to see the pics of the next one!

You must be stoked!!!! You'll be heading back through my neck of the woods!! Just in time for the snow.

@Hands On What an awesome photo history of the convention!! So much amazing work going on there. @Dan You're famous, my friend!!

@Boiled Dove Awesome!!! Congratulations!!!! When do you start the move? And, @Dan - I am so happy to read this!! Can't wait for your official post!!!

Welcome to the forum!! Nice work!!

Welcome to the forum!

Hello, Kitty. Hhhmmmm, why does that sound familiar? Welcome!!!

Hi and welcome to the forum!!!

What tremendous panthers - every one seems a winner!! For me, I love @guitguy's piece...but any could claim the trophy. Thanks to all for sharing!!

@Gingerninja Yes, it does suck! I am sorry that you're going through it, too. I can't imagine having to deal with two at the same time. My sister lives in Michigan so I am in the daily mix of making the health-care decisions, managing finances, etc for my mom. I know it's part of the life and death process - and I can and do make the very best decisions I can as dispassionately as possible....but some days it all just crashes in and....it totally sucks. Thanks for the understanding. Feel free to reach out to me, as well, if you need a shoulder.

This week marked one of the most shitty experiences of my life - placing my Mom in hospice care. Without going into detail, her medical condition is at the stage where she now needs the medication and focused attention that hospice provides. At this point, we're not sure how long she'll be with us, not imminent at this point, but talking her through the beginning of this level of care was something I never imagined doing. At this point, everything is focused on keeping her happy and pain-free.

Nice work and welcome to the forum!

More of a question than a comment - could that be blow out where the artist packed so much ink in a part of the body where there isn't a lot of skin depth?

I had a similar sensation with my last tattoo, also. Portions of it were more sensitive than others and did feel like a mild sunburn, especially when touched by my shirt or hand - and I never had that with my first tattoo. Not sure if it was related to the colored inks and might have been a mild reaction or just related to the process or......? It did settle down over time and now feels totally normal. I'm just at 8 weeks now so mine did settle out more quickly - but I've learned here from the experts that each person heals differently, and each tattoo can be a new experience in healing, too.

And, welcome!!

Pictures would help - but have you gone back to talk with your artist about it? That's always the best way to go when you have an issue - it will be much easier for him/her to make a recommendation than us.

Nice work and welcome!!!

Welcome....and ask away.

Only in chess, not in life. And that, my friend, is the difference.

Looking forward to seeing lots of entries!!! Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to participate with an entry....yet.