I'm getting me a shiny new tattoo tomorrow. It marks two weeks sober. Two weeks may not seem like much, but I'm pretty darn proud of myself. I'm also going to schedule time to get my foot text covered up. I also had to reschedule with Danielle for my dove, so that's now going to be done the evening of May 27. I'm so excited. I haven't been this excited for a tattoo in so long. *squee!*
Keep your eyes peeled for pictures tomorrow night/Saturday morning!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
PSA: Bandaging Your Tattoos
As I think I've mentioned, I've been on Yahoo answers a ton trying to spread the gospel of tattoo goodness. What I've noticed more than anything is how many people suggest keeping a tattoo bandaged for more than a few hours and, what's worse, with Saran wrap. In short, DON'T DO IT.
A tattoo is an open wound (duh) and wounds need to breathe. The only reason they're even bandaged in the first place is because of the bleeding. I even use the term "bandaged" loosely because I don't think Saran wrap counts. It certainly doesn't stop the bleeding and it creates a bacteria playground. That aside, once you've had it on for a few hours, let that puppy breathe.
I would only advocate bandaging with actual guaze and then Saran wrap if you know you're going to be getting into something that might cause infection. Yard work comes to mind. Once you're done, take it off immediately. Keeping it bandaged will just slow the whole process down because it isn't getting the chance to heal properly. Ever kept a bandaid on a cut constantly and it took forever to heal? There's a reason for that.
I hope that all my readers (har har) have the good sense to not do that, but I just had to get it out there. Say no to bandaging!
A tattoo is an open wound (duh) and wounds need to breathe. The only reason they're even bandaged in the first place is because of the bleeding. I even use the term "bandaged" loosely because I don't think Saran wrap counts. It certainly doesn't stop the bleeding and it creates a bacteria playground. That aside, once you've had it on for a few hours, let that puppy breathe.
I would only advocate bandaging with actual guaze and then Saran wrap if you know you're going to be getting into something that might cause infection. Yard work comes to mind. Once you're done, take it off immediately. Keeping it bandaged will just slow the whole process down because it isn't getting the chance to heal properly. Ever kept a bandaid on a cut constantly and it took forever to heal? There's a reason for that.
I hope that all my readers (har har) have the good sense to not do that, but I just had to get it out there. Say no to bandaging!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Number 18 &19
Through some weird hiccup of the universe, I'll be getting paid $130 more than I anticipated next week. So what do I do with the extra windfall? Nothing practical like paying off credit cards. Not for this addict. I'm getting me some pretty new ink. One is already set up and one isn't.
Mark's friend Kevin will be in town next week. I checked out his MySpace and really liked his portfolio. So Mark and I bantered back and forth and he's gonna call me when he gets in town and we'll see where things go from there. I've been batting around the idea of getting an old school lock tattoo. This was the closest I found to what I wanted:
I don't want the banner or the dagger. I want the heart shaped lock with a key and a rose behind it. The rose would be coming out of the right side as the viewer sees it. And all of that has to fit on the inside of my left ankle.
The one that is set in stone is another one by Danielle. I'm getting one of Picasso's doves of peace on my right foot with "Believe" underneath in the Picasso font.
That's set for May 8 at 8pm. Her availability on weekends is filling up fast, which is good news. I wish I had better availability at night, but it just doesn't happen. It's just as well because if this thing with Kevin pans out, then I'll probably have that done next Saturday. So it would probably be for the best to give myself a week off.
And for those keeping score at home, one week sober. Only 176 more days to go until I earn my diamond.
Mark's friend Kevin will be in town next week. I checked out his MySpace and really liked his portfolio. So Mark and I bantered back and forth and he's gonna call me when he gets in town and we'll see where things go from there. I've been batting around the idea of getting an old school lock tattoo. This was the closest I found to what I wanted:
I don't want the banner or the dagger. I want the heart shaped lock with a key and a rose behind it. The rose would be coming out of the right side as the viewer sees it. And all of that has to fit on the inside of my left ankle.
The one that is set in stone is another one by Danielle. I'm getting one of Picasso's doves of peace on my right foot with "Believe" underneath in the Picasso font.
That's set for May 8 at 8pm. Her availability on weekends is filling up fast, which is good news. I wish I had better availability at night, but it just doesn't happen. It's just as well because if this thing with Kevin pans out, then I'll probably have that done next Saturday. So it would probably be for the best to give myself a week off.
And for those keeping score at home, one week sober. Only 176 more days to go until I earn my diamond.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Stars, Diamonds, and Years Passing
This isn't going to start out sounding like a mod blog appropriate post, but it'll get there. Just hang on.
As some of you undoubtedly know or have heard in the past few days, I've been battling alcohol addiction and binge drinking for a while. I've received an amazing amount of support from all sides. Even people I barely know have stepped up to support me on what is going to be a long, hard road. I'm 4 days sober currently and feeling on a roll. I think you may know what comes next.
When I reach 6 months sober (falling off the wagon restarts the clock), I'm getting a diamond tattooed on my left hand between my thumb and index finger. I've wanted a hand tattoo for a while, but couldn't justify something that ballsy. I think marking 6 months sober is ballsy enough. In an absolutely flawless world, that would mean on October 18. Then at one year I'm getting a star on my right hand in roughly the same place. After that, every year will earn another star. Ideally, they'll go down toward the bottom of my thumb and start to wrap around my wrist and arm. It'll be quite the project after 20 years and an ongoing one. I can only imagine the looks I'll be getting when I'm 80 and asking for another star up my right arm. I know stars are cliche, but it seems like the right thing to mark each year. Only 361 more days to go!
As some of you undoubtedly know or have heard in the past few days, I've been battling alcohol addiction and binge drinking for a while. I've received an amazing amount of support from all sides. Even people I barely know have stepped up to support me on what is going to be a long, hard road. I'm 4 days sober currently and feeling on a roll. I think you may know what comes next.
When I reach 6 months sober (falling off the wagon restarts the clock), I'm getting a diamond tattooed on my left hand between my thumb and index finger. I've wanted a hand tattoo for a while, but couldn't justify something that ballsy. I think marking 6 months sober is ballsy enough. In an absolutely flawless world, that would mean on October 18. Then at one year I'm getting a star on my right hand in roughly the same place. After that, every year will earn another star. Ideally, they'll go down toward the bottom of my thumb and start to wrap around my wrist and arm. It'll be quite the project after 20 years and an ongoing one. I can only imagine the looks I'll be getting when I'm 80 and asking for another star up my right arm. I know stars are cliche, but it seems like the right thing to mark each year. Only 361 more days to go!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Various Incendiary Things
I'm so ready for this damn scabbing to fall off of my spade. Srsly. I never thought I'd say this, but I want to wear a real bra again! *grumble* I'm gonna take a bubble bath in a bit and maybe that'll steam the rest of it off. At the risk of sounding like Mark...fucking bastard.
Got my ID back from Ink & Dagger. Chatted with Russ, Russ' client, and Kurt for a bit. Russ was making fun of my Yelp habit. You just watch it, Mister, I can bust balls too, ya know. It's one of my specialties. There's a new member coming to Ink & Dagger, but it's all a big secret. It should be announced in about two weeks who the new artiste will be. I wait with bated breath.
Forcing creativity kind of sucks. I know I want to expand both my chest piece and Lucius. Ideally I'd like to turn Lucius into a half sleeve, but I'm not sure what else to put with him. I've been assured it'll come to me. I'm just not that patient. The same is true for my chest. I started with Britney & Christina so I would have space to expand. Of course, I'd also probably have to have my dermal removed since I've heard tattooing near one can actually force it out. Might need to do a bit more research on that, though. I'm batting around a few ideas for that area. I know I want a lot of color and I guess I'd need to figure out how to work red and black into something other than...well...red and black. I'm debating if I want to do a traditional banner that's flanked with flowers or if I just want to do flowers. There are blue accents behind the girls, so that could be a jumping off point.
Still haven't called Alex's to cancel my convention appointment. Urg. I hate making those kinds of phone calls. It's gotta be done, though. Blech.
Got my ID back from Ink & Dagger. Chatted with Russ, Russ' client, and Kurt for a bit. Russ was making fun of my Yelp habit. You just watch it, Mister, I can bust balls too, ya know. It's one of my specialties. There's a new member coming to Ink & Dagger, but it's all a big secret. It should be announced in about two weeks who the new artiste will be. I wait with bated breath.
Forcing creativity kind of sucks. I know I want to expand both my chest piece and Lucius. Ideally I'd like to turn Lucius into a half sleeve, but I'm not sure what else to put with him. I've been assured it'll come to me. I'm just not that patient. The same is true for my chest. I started with Britney & Christina so I would have space to expand. Of course, I'd also probably have to have my dermal removed since I've heard tattooing near one can actually force it out. Might need to do a bit more research on that, though. I'm batting around a few ideas for that area. I know I want a lot of color and I guess I'd need to figure out how to work red and black into something other than...well...red and black. I'm debating if I want to do a traditional banner that's flanked with flowers or if I just want to do flowers. There are blue accents behind the girls, so that could be a jumping off point.
Still haven't called Alex's to cancel my convention appointment. Urg. I hate making those kinds of phone calls. It's gotta be done, though. Blech.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Lucius Part 2
My lovely Lucius is finished. He looks fantastic. Kurt spent a lot of time working on details and making him the best he could look. I'm so thrilled. No pictures yet as I forgot my camera (again) and Kurt didn't want to take any until he's healed. I'll try to get something in the next few days, though.
The experience itself was fine. I hadn't eaten in almost 7 hours by the time he tattooed me, which is a huge no-no. I never felt dizzy or nauseous, but I'm an old pro. I wouldn't recommend it as a good idea at all. I didn't actually end up getting food until almost 11 because I got pulled over, but that's another story for another time. Fact was, I didn't pass out or even so much as feel unsteady. I kept having to change positions because my butt kept falling asleep. That was probably the only irritating part of it. That and he stuck to the inside of my cardigan so now I'm going to have to wash it. Fortunately, he didn't stick to my friend's sheets or futon last night.
No more plans in the pipeline until May 16. Then I think I'll go to Mark and we'll get serious about covering up my foot. The warmer the weather gets, the better it is to get a foot piece. I'm also considering taking a few days off anyway as a mini vacation, so perhaps I'll work that into my time off. That's assuming I don't get a new job that doesn't give a happy rat's ass if I have tattoos or not.
The experience itself was fine. I hadn't eaten in almost 7 hours by the time he tattooed me, which is a huge no-no. I never felt dizzy or nauseous, but I'm an old pro. I wouldn't recommend it as a good idea at all. I didn't actually end up getting food until almost 11 because I got pulled over, but that's another story for another time. Fact was, I didn't pass out or even so much as feel unsteady. I kept having to change positions because my butt kept falling asleep. That was probably the only irritating part of it. That and he stuck to the inside of my cardigan so now I'm going to have to wash it. Fortunately, he didn't stick to my friend's sheets or futon last night.
No more plans in the pipeline until May 16. Then I think I'll go to Mark and we'll get serious about covering up my foot. The warmer the weather gets, the better it is to get a foot piece. I'm also considering taking a few days off anyway as a mini vacation, so perhaps I'll work that into my time off. That's assuming I don't get a new job that doesn't give a happy rat's ass if I have tattoos or not.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Say What You Need to Say
I haven't forgotten about you, dear readers. I just *gasp* haven't had anything to say!
The spade is healing okay. It got nice and crusty, so I'm doing my best to keep the scabs soft. I like to lay on my stomach when I'm on my laptop, so it's annoying to have them crack every time I move. I suppose I shouldn't be expecting miracles when it's only 5 days old.
Lucius will be finished on Friday night. Kurt said between an hour and two of work left. I figure I'll assume two and prepare myself for such. I'm sure he'll be even better than I imagined. I'll also try to remember my camera so he can be documented when he's still fresh. :)
Still haven't heard from anyone at Memorial in spite of sending an email and leaving a message. I guess I'll just show up on May 16 and see what happens. I'm probably just being overly paranoid again. I'm sure there's no ulterior motives or hard feelings about me changing my appointment. I want the tattoo and he wants the income. It's in my best interest to go through with it, otherwise I'm out $100. That's not good, now is it? I'm sure I'm just imagining things and it'll be a great experience.
Somewhat related to that Jason is moving from Ink & Dagger to Memorial this summer. This would be the third tattooist who's moved from I & D to Memorial. Maybe Russ smells funny? Who knows? I'd be interested to hear more about why that is. Of course, I'm nosy like that.
In other news, I've been spreading the gospel of tattooing on Yahoo Answers. There's a ridiculous amount of bad information on there. I'm just doing my part to correct some of that. I also really like the opinion questions because then I can bash tribals and Chinese characters guilt free.
The spade is healing okay. It got nice and crusty, so I'm doing my best to keep the scabs soft. I like to lay on my stomach when I'm on my laptop, so it's annoying to have them crack every time I move. I suppose I shouldn't be expecting miracles when it's only 5 days old.
Lucius will be finished on Friday night. Kurt said between an hour and two of work left. I figure I'll assume two and prepare myself for such. I'm sure he'll be even better than I imagined. I'll also try to remember my camera so he can be documented when he's still fresh. :)
Still haven't heard from anyone at Memorial in spite of sending an email and leaving a message. I guess I'll just show up on May 16 and see what happens. I'm probably just being overly paranoid again. I'm sure there's no ulterior motives or hard feelings about me changing my appointment. I want the tattoo and he wants the income. It's in my best interest to go through with it, otherwise I'm out $100. That's not good, now is it? I'm sure I'm just imagining things and it'll be a great experience.
Somewhat related to that Jason is moving from Ink & Dagger to Memorial this summer. This would be the third tattooist who's moved from I & D to Memorial. Maybe Russ smells funny? Who knows? I'd be interested to hear more about why that is. Of course, I'm nosy like that.
In other news, I've been spreading the gospel of tattooing on Yahoo Answers. There's a ridiculous amount of bad information on there. I'm just doing my part to correct some of that. I also really like the opinion questions because then I can bash tribals and Chinese characters guilt free.
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