SeeSea

@CShaw - and what a relief!!! My last one was like that too - hopscotching everywhere. Can't wait to see the pics! "Whoof". Never seen it spelled that way. Very cool. Whoof.

Thanks @graybones - I thought my plan was pretty decent, but I'm glad to hear that this is the way it's gone down with other people too. Whew.

Aww jeez @purplelace - that sucks! Good thing you didn't flinch, but since you laugh through tattoos anyway, I bet the hobbling is a lot worse than the actual tattoo.

What do you think "moderating" means?

It's less about Tapatalk (I think) and more about just basic social graces. (god I sound old). IN FULL DISCLOSURE I had a big vent somewhere on this forum when I first came here about how bad the search engine sucked after *I* was told to search for something. Because I ALREADY HAD searched for it. Since then, the search engine interface has been much improved (hint: use advanced search) - thanks @steve1461686340! Damn near every time you see me put up a reference link for someone, I find the link using Advanced Search and it take me - no kidding - no more than 30 seconds. Maybe a couple minutes, if I want to be thorough and provide multiple references. So as a result of my little search experience vent, now I'm completely won over by stuff like this: "I tried searching but I couldn't find ...." or "Tapatalk search sucks and I couldn't find..." PS @jen7 - I'm not implying anything about you or your posts, k? :)

Ha! Yes, that was a good one. Sometimes the pre-offended newbies are fun conversations. Like the piercer from the place in NJ who admitted her Yelp reviews were fake but was still upset about them. It took quite a while for those bannings to occur. +1 to @AverageJer as well. It gets tiring to have these us-versus-them posts. If anyone has a suggestion, there is a thread about asking questions - go over there and suggest how you think this forum could be improved. <---And THIS is a reason this forum format is cool - how many times has someone asked a question, and someone else comes along with the link to a long thread with tons of good information??? This cannot happen if there is a new thread every other microsecond. But like I'm a masochist or something, I'll still continue to step in and offer the bull-in-the-china-shop analogy until I get just as tired of it as the old timers who are mostly ignoring this thread because they're tired of saying it too. If you don't like the format....there are other forums. This kind of stuff is the reason that many of the tattooers aren't contributing to this forum anymore, and unfortunately, back-and-forths like this are one of the reasons why, and new folks have no idea this is happening. And we are losing valuable resources and informative conversations. Soooo, [bIG SARCASM ALERT BOYS AND GIRLS]I guess makes me a mod-wanna-be. - - - Updated - - - And @polliwog - you've built up street cred with your thoughtfulness and interesting conversation. Start threads when you want. NOT BECAUSE I'M BEING ALL MOD_WANNA_BE :)

Welcome!

Yeah, I wondered about that. After all, tattooers get sick just like us mortals do. Crossing fingers that doesn't happen. But I'll still end up with a great trip with mom (but oooo don't don't like Karma do that good-thing-bad-thing deal!)

...maybe there should be a grapefruit thread ...

You might get some ideas from this thread: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/crazy-tattoo-stories/250-pre-post-tattoo-rituals.html

Well, I disagree that anyone should post anything they want without fear, and this notion of policing. I'm not interested in a forum where there is random spewing of whatever someone wants without some thought about the atmosphere of the forum. Just because it's the internet doesn't make it the wild wild west - that's why so many other forums suck. And just because it's public doesn't mean it's fair game. And just because it's public doesn't mean that this site doesn't cost someone money to run...and they sorta get a say about how things go. If someone isn't interested in lurking and checking the place out, and getting a feel for the atmosphere and expectations, then move along. Think of it like a big gathering, party, club ... there are always some social "rules" you need to be aware of. Standing in the middle of the room and announcing that you don't like the social rules doesn't endear you to anyone, and you will likely be ignored, given the hint, or escorted to the door. If it's topical news, start a thread. Make sure it goes in the right sub-forum. If it's not interesting or the issue is resolved, the thread will naturally die off. If it's clear the poster hasn't wandered around here and gotten a feel (e.g., "what inks should I be using"), then yes, people will get testy, because the poster didn't read the guidelines. If it's genuine, no one is going to get bent. If you cop an attitude or appear to be coming to the party ready to be offended, then prepare to get "policed." $0.02.

All right, you guys are awesome as always, @Graeme, @polliwog, @marley mission, @RoryQ, @AverageJer, @BrianH and @Breakme! Sounds like I won't die ;-) Just keep moving, not too much, dresses or loose pants, don't plan big exciting things for the morning after, and have a great time! My trip started out as, "Fly out for a tattoo, spend a couple days with Mom." Now it's turned into, "Mom and I fly in and have a nice vacation in SF and I happen to be blasting down to SJ to get a tattoo while I am there." ! Yes, planning on getting the tattoo on a Wednesday and flying back on Friday, so we'll probably fly there the Saturday before. This would be a perfect situation to use Saniderm, but since I've never tried it before, I don't want to start with this one.

I know, yet another post about traveling. I'm getting an upper thigh tattoo that I am flying cross country for. Not quite sure how big it will be, but let's say top third of my thigh from front to around the side. I plan to wait a complete day before flying back home to avoid the goop phase on the plane. During the day after the tattoo, how will walking around and doing touristy things feel? I hear much worse about calf tattoos, but I don't want to be stuck in a hotel room. Any advice? Sitting down bus tours? Walking around to keep things moving? I will probably have to book things ahead of time and looking for the best options. I'm planning to home base in San Fran for several days with a day trip to SOG. Thanks folks!

You don't need much soap over and over, just enough to be a little slick. Just gently work away at it with your fingers until it's gone. Can take a little while sometimes but you want it all off.

"You're probably right - it doesn't take much talent to blow away the work of most scratchers."

Ohhhhh, be very careful saying such a thing out loud! TWICE I thought the work was done in some areas, but NOOOO there had to be more detail grinded (ground?) in over previous layers. Just let that little hope of a single pass remain a little secret wish in your heart. - - - Updated - - - @mmikaoj - wow, just wow. It has been amazing to watch your backpiece evolve and when you got the flames around the sides, thinking that you were lying to us that you truly hadn't gone off the black&grey wagon. Surely looked a very nice red/grey that would have looked great with the rest of it! :D I love your piece - it's up on the top 10 of all my favorite backpieces. Just amazing in the precision, and the flow on your body.

Sounds like burnout in any other field. Is there something specific to tattoo burnout that you are interested in?

Yikes. Yeah, agree with @pidjones. It's great she's going to get it upgraded to something awesome.

@Cork - Yup, that was the girl. She took a picture up on stage with her and it had a purplish tint to it but I didn't get a good look at it. I wondered if her tattoo had some UV and she brought up a picture taken under black light. Completely speculation on my part, but I didn't understand why she carried a framed pic with her.

Seriously. It's all about the nudity. It is so ridiculous how some random dude dropping trou on stage steals the show. Even the nearly completely-nude chick standing in line in front of me wearing the black dental floss thong and bra was pissed. I think the judges must have been so distracted by her that they got all the scores screwed up. Caught a lucky break, didn'cha, @Cork? ;) - - - Updated - - - @xcom - good luck! http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/6258-tattoo-convention-contests.html

No, we just look like hunched over little old ladies peering through the top of the steering wheel :D (Except I doubt either of us were going 45 in the right lane.)

Haha @jen7 - a good week. I'd generally try not to lean back until the peel was complete in fear I'd pull off flaking skin, or the one or two little scabs I'd get each session. I was pretty paranoid, especially driving 4 hours in the car twice a week....leaning forward! Ack! :p Hang in there. Your back is gonna be awesome. Well, actually, it already is.

Well, sorta disagree with this. Yes, traditional, Japanese, anything that is bold and will hold seems to be the theme. There are plenty of folks here with other types of tattoos (me too). It's kinda the reverse I think - read the thread @Graeme posted - the folks here generally end up with tattoos that meet the descriptions in the thread ... many of which just happen to be traditional tattoos. There are some watercolor tattoos that I just adore, but I don't see myself getting one unless years from now we all see that they age better than expected. And, Welcome!

@Lance. So you are getting Monmon cats in your armpits. Hunh. Armpits?!? - - - Updated - - - I just saw his corner - getting so excited! It will be awesome to see his work in person. How is he with someone else hanging out for small bits of time? My mom is probably going to fly in (she's not far away) for a couple days and we will sight see before hand. She'd like to meet him and watch a bit, and I'd like her to see some of the tebori. I told her she's dismissed from the boredom to go wander by herself during session. @TrixieFaux - didn't you say the hubs stopped by for a bit and threatened you with tebori?

Some of the 3D tattoos are neat to look at, but the pattern and perfect hexagonal lines in this one are executed so poorly that it's distracting. $0.02.