SeeSea

How old are the tattoos? I have a blue problem with one particular tint, and I recall at least someone else here having a blue issue, but after tattooing. I've not heard it mentioned specifically after the sun. Ask your tattooer about the extra sun. Others have mentioned parts of a tattoo get raised or irritated after sweating, humidity, hot weather, so maybe that's involved. Let us know if you learn anything.

Hey - I wanna be one of those "old broads in the canasta salon ... sporting radical ink." :D It just cracks me up because this guy is so full of himself. I think he enjoys mucking around with words and language (which is awesome) more than he researches actual content. He tailors himself as, "Simon Doonan is an author, fashion commentator, and creative ambassador for Barneys New York." He's also the one who also brings us such gems as "Confessions of a Selfie Addict: Stop sneering, the selfie is a glorious art form" "Why are Guys Afraid to Wear Speedos?" and "Don't Ever Die, Joan Rivers, We Need You!" I'm not including links. You already get the idea. It was an amusing breakfast surf.

Every now and then I come across an inane article with new and amusing statements about the same old stereotypes; an article that could be worthy of a chuckle or an eye-roll, but certainly not its own thread. Why do we really get tattoos? A theory. [subtitled] How common are tattoos? Too common. Then after trashing tattoos for various inane and unsupported reasons, he attempts to cool-ify himself by sporting an Ed Hardy T-shirt and then bitching that he's being dissed by fashion insiders for wearing it. Accordion? O_o?

@peaceridge - that's 38 years old? That looks great!

@TrixieFaux - not yet - I have a call in, but Molly and Taki have been traveling, so I hope to get a call back early this week. I am planning a trip out to see family in CA in November and HOPE to make a side trip to San Jose! ::fingers crossed:: The Hotel de Anza is actually cheaper than that in November, so that would be good. @Fala - thanks for the lodging references - it's so hard looking at stuff online. St Claire looks very reasonable, and only a short distance from SOG. Thanks! @cvportagee - thanks for the references. It sounds like we won't have to go far for anything good! I'll most likely be traveling with mom - taking a puddle jump from Burbank for a couple nights.

Giving this one a bump to get some more input. Also looking for lodging in the area.

@beez - so amazing! You have got some really great work, and wow, three days of sitting? Pretty impressive. How many hours did you sleep after all that?!? LOL. And nice butt hearts :-) I think I'm gonna steal that idea when the time comes.

Amazing @Eillin! I love how the anchor frames your back on the bottom - it flows so nicely! What an amazing design. I don't think you'll have to blow over this with a bad-assed panther.

Some relevant information: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-designs-books-flash/1456-cross-hatching-tatttoos-page2.html#post94768

Get consults from other artists.

Love the parrot and how it wraps around your shoulder. Nice.

@Mick Weder pretty much summed it up!

With the ratio of the size of the root ball to the size/height of the tree required, the tree will go most, if not all the way to your knee. Otherwise it will look like a squat ugly bush.

It allllmost doesn't seem as bad when you realize it was meant to look like that.

I took the plunge - I called SOG. Molly and Taki are out of the office, but they are passing along my info for a consultation. ::happy dance:: @cvportagee, @Lance, @TrixieFaux - thank you for the replies and the info. You've all convinced me that this is possible and doable flying in and out for a quick trip. I had planned to fly out to CA in the fall - I'd love to make it a combined trip! So excited!!! ^^^Word. Yes, I would regret it tremendously. And that pretty much makes the decision for me - Monmon cat and tebori if he wants!

So for all of you who have Monmon cats, did anyone get tebori? I'm having that internal debate that if I have the opportunity with a master, I should take it. But I would have to fly to SOG and wonder if I chose tebori, would I have to do more than one session because of the speed. I read somewhere that Horitomo is pretty fast with tebori. And there is the pain thing, although I read different things about which is worse.

Anything else you had to learn? Pick the cat hair off the needle. Well, okay there.

One masseuse gasped in surprise when she pulled down the sheet and saw my back and didn't mention it until the session was over. Then we had a nice conversation because she had some interesting indian-looking symbols. Another younger kid saw it right away and then went on and on about his ambigram tattoo after asking all the standard questions. Couldn't take the nice hint to shut up and get to work. Told me about his idea for a big quote across his back. After the session I had a chat with him about quotes and prime real estate, and told him about LST. I even suggested a bad ass panther instead :-) Maybe he's checked this place out. Heck, maybe I've welcomed him and not known it!

...and there you go. It had better be a very nice blue bird, and you're golden.

Welcome!

Welcome - did you intend to attach a picture of your current work?

Oh, you guys are making me so jealous at the idea of getting tattooed during the day and being awake and having a well-deserved enjoyable post-ritual to look forward to! My pre-ritual involves a nearly full day of work, food that won't upset my stomach, and baking a fresh batch of brownies for me and my tattooer. He only works after hours, so we end up starting within a couple hours of my normal bedtime. My post-ritual involves heavy caffeine or energy drink and careful driving to get me safely home in the wee morning hours, driving through vacation areas near the Jersey shore where cops hide out to snag drunken drivers after weekend parties and when the bars close. I always wonder what would happen if I get pulled over. NJ has a drowsy driving law even if you're not substance impaired. I guess it would depend on the officer, his attitude towards tattoos, and my cheery personality. But I think the leaking wrap and paper towels taped to my back would give credence to my statement that I haven't been drinking! And I also play the Count-the-Number-of-Fucked-up-People-on-the Road game. Some day I hope to get tattooed during the day and then aim for a bowl of ice cream and a steak. In that order :D

I imagine after 26 years an infant stored in a box would smell pretty ripe. So how 'bout the egg?

I'm not trying to be a dick. I just did a lot of research and shared it here, and wanted to caution that microfiber doesn't equal rash guard qualities for UV protection. There are several companies that claim their shirts have an SPF rating, which is false. SPF is for skin care products. There are actually standards for clothing that claim UV / UPF protection. That's not to say a particular shirt won't provide some protection, but it will give confidence that the shirt will provide what is claimed. Some of the UV stuff is incredibly soft (although some scratches like sand paper!). No fibers at all, and it feels great on raw and healing skin, which is a bonus. I got a great shirt from Columbia on sale for $35 that I've been wearing all weekend. But as always, YMMV.

Why risk blowing away a very expensive investment by using a shirt that wasn't designed to provide skin protection? Microfiber does not make it a rash guard.