Colored Guy

Great topic! I'm heavily inked. I had 4 large pieces on me when I met my wife back in 1981... she had no prior ink experience, her family was a tad freaked though. They still are to an extent, some real stick-up-the-ass people there. I got back into it in 2005 and she's had no problem with it until recently. Probably more of a $$ thing than anything else. I had some old work done over, covered up and new work too. I put away a few bucks here and there and take nothing out of the household, so I wait if I have to for my next ink fix. She knows its more than just the ink.. a lifestyle for sure. I'm after her to get something, but she's resisting. One of these days she's gonna crack. CG

I sort of swore off the whiskeys and bourbons a long time ago... got tired of them knocking my dick into my watch pocket time after time. The same proof gin seems to agree with me a lot more. I can tolerate 6-8 gin & tonics and resemble a human being.. best I can. CG

I had a lot of older work freshened up and expanded on.. looks mint now. I had 2 real old tats covered up too with new ink, again they look great. I figure I may need a touch up by the time I hit 70. If you use a sunblock, they should last a lot longer. My old work was totally sun-blasted. CG

One day I'd like to go, looks like it could be a great experience. I've been to races at bigger NASCAR tracks like Daytona and Pocono and a rash of smaller tracks all over the US. CG

That's it... "Generation E", the E is for entitlement, they gotta have it NOW. Hence all the shit-ass kitchen table based scratchers that get their quick $50 for a way sub-standard piece that looks like the scribblings of a 3 year old. The last thing you want to do is piss off your artist. Someone serious about tattoos wouldn't pull that crap. CG

Welcome and you sound like you're doing it right. Art is so key to the whole tattooing trade, the artists that have the designs come straight out of their head are the best. I had a short fling tattooing years ago, I liked it but the shop I was with closed up and I went out and got a day job. My art skills aren't good enough to fathom doing it again full time. I was good with doing stencil work off the wall, I know my limitations. I'm now 57, got back into being inked in 2005 after a 22 year break. Between 2008 and now, I've spent 27 or so hours in the chair. CG

Sheeeiittttttt... 2-3 beers is just priming the pump... cutting the dust. Good thing you got rid of her before it was too late! CG

I'm giving it serious thought, just not sure what day. The shop I use is going to have a booth there so I promised to stop in. I'll post something by tomorrow. CG

I think everyone is missing the real point... now that person can use either the MENS or LADIES room, no more waiting on line to break one off or tap a kidney. CG

I was at the shop when my son was having his tattoo finished up last week. His artist advised him to take a multi-vitamin for at least a week to ward off colds and I guess promote his healing. Which makes sense, surprised I never heard of it before. When you think of it, a tattoo is basically an open wound, much like road rash from a motorcycle mishap without the dirt and gravel. I did get sick after a tattoo once, the artist was sniffling and I didn't notice it until the tattoo was well underway. As far as colds and such, the more contact with people opens you up to it. My sister was always sick, she worked in retail and EVERYBODY comes in sick or near dead for Xmas shopping. CG

Why do tattoos have to have a meaning... too much Miami Ink watchin'. I tell them I like the artwork and let it go at that. I do have one tatoo of everyone in my family's zodiac sign in it, that means something. CG

I'm going to the NYC one either on 5/19 or 5/20. My artist is sharing a booth, so I'll get to hang with her and some other artists I know. Bringing my wife and my one inked up son so it should be fun for a few hours. I have no expectations, my 1st convention. I had the opportunity to have my last tat (done on 5/2) done at the show, but figured I'd get it ahead of time. CG

El Pico and Cafe Bustelo are strong blends, great taste and can get it anywhere in the NYC area. CG

I've even become a lazier fuck than anyone here.... got a Keurig for my birthday. Plenty of good reloads to choose from, been binging on their Kona blend mostly. Easy, fast and tastes pretty good, although a bit pricy. I still keep my Farberware electric pots around for when I have people over. Prefer spanish style coffees for those. CG

Absolutely, these aren't even in the top 5% of the worst I've personally seen.. on other people, really... CG

At least... gotta be desperate if that's how you choose to get your ink fix. My shop has an apprentice... no way he's coming near me for at least 2 years. CG

Finally had some work done a few days ago, nothing huge and all black, I'll get some pix up one of these days. But has anyone had things happen on tattoo day that could derail the appointment? I had an egg sandwich off the coffee truck about 9AM... come 10 AM and my gut is rumbling, could have been food poisoning but turned out to be nothin'. Then almost had to go somewhere for work that would have made making my appointment tough... but it got resolved early. All in all, I made the appointment on time by about 8 seconds. Sort of like all the waiting drags.. and tat day goes into overdrive for some reason. CG

Gotta be like the one i just had on my spine... no padding at all, like driving over a steel-deck bridge on bias ply tires. 15 or 20 minutes and I was not comfortable with it. Can't imagine having my skull worked on. CG

They don't look terrible by any means and a picture is just a picture, would have to see it in person to really have final say on them. CG

I prefer the leg press with my back issues, you can put a fuck load of weight on them. The test: are your legs growing, if so you're doing it right. Weight is weight, plain and simple. CG

Ooooooofffff... I said I was going out for 1 on Wednesday night and came back with 2.... she's still not talkin' to me. I should do it more often. CG

I just had one done on my upper back.. dead center on my spine, felt like it was going right through me, totally resonated, more of a weird feeling than anything else. CG

Anyone hitting the convention from 5/18 to 5/20? I'm probably going Saturday afternoon for a couple of hours, will be driving in. Be a hoot to meet s few people from here. CG

Lotta love a good steak. Peter Lugers is a good place. Look for Argentinian steak places too. There is a good one in Jackson Heights (Queens) that I've been to a few times. CG

This guy's life was a mess... big time booze habit, doing the hate thing 24-7 and hanging with even bigger assholes. Good to see him get straight.. had kids too. CG