Tattoooooooo
I forgot my camera (I know, I know…seriously, I’m losing my mind, apparently) when TD and I went to the parlor, so I didn’t get photos of the process. This is my third tattoo, and I have yet to get a photo of anything but the aftermath. Oh, well. There will be others.
If you’ve never had a tattoo, here’s what it feels like: a full-body sunburn coming out of the tip of the needle. There’s this weird pulling sensation (because, well, they’re dragging a needle over your skin), but it mostly just stings and burns a lot in a very small area. The wound itself is like a skinned knee that, for reasons of the nature of how the skin was damaged, doesn’t really heal the way you’re used to wounds healing. There’s scabbing and peeling, yes, but it’s more…um…I don’t know how to explain it. It’s pretty much just like a sunburn, all around. Except that it bleeds whatever color your tattoo is. Hah.
For me, that color happens to be black. For today only, I am Emo.
The artist put this weird plastic bandage on it - the layer of plastic against my skin is porous enough to let the seepage go to the pad inside, but the pad prevents it from going back to the tattoo (i.e. fresh wound) and making it all goopy. Good system, that.
I didn’t wash it immediately upon removal of the bandage, choosing instead to get a nice photo of the goop. Well, the closeup shots are a bust, so I got TD to take a photo of me so you could see the placement in relation to the rest of me:
If I don’t look completely thrilled, it’s because I’ve been battling cramps from hell all day. Apologies.
Here’s what it looks like when cleaned and moisturized:
Overall, I’m happy with it. I keep looking at it and thinking, “My dad’s going to flip when he sees this.” I don’t worry about my mom. She bought my first tattoo.
And it’s still small enough to cover with a band-aid when I need to. Go me.
Hooray for reducing my employability in an Evil Corporation by 25%!
(details: Paul Look at No Regrets Tattoo Emporium, Madison Ave. and Tucker in Memphis. Go there. Do it now.)
March 6th, 2008 at 6:57 am
That is sweet! Looks absolutely terrific.
…and now I want one. Gah!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:03 am
That’s great! I want one too, dammit…….
March 6th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Congrats. That’s, like, totally hardcore, 2A-wise. My skin will remain forever unstained, but if I ever got one, that would be it.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Breda - Thanks!
LP - Thank you!
ibex - Someone on my LJ called it “totally badass”…haha. I’ve already got two tattoos, so I figured my third one would be something I could look at and that was, you know, somewhat functional, if there is such a thing.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Very very cool. Congratulations! Thanks for the pix — I’ve posted them here and you’ve already got a compliment.
http://www.softgreenglow.com/wp/?p=5370
March 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Sweet tattoo! I’ve always wanted at least one tat, but I think it’d have to be really drunk to ever go through with it.
The 1st thing that came to mind when I saw this post and Breda’s comment was the scene from “Dude Where’s My Car” where they’re checking out eachothers tattoo’s…… DUDE!……SWEET!
March 6th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Just remember a woman shouldn’t have Μολὼν λαβέ on the front of a t shirt, however; it gives people the wrong idea…
March 6th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I have a tattoo of my ass on my ass.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
David - I see! Thanks…haha!
Mike - They won’t let you get a tattoo if you’re drunk down here - too many people sue after they realize what’s happened, and think the parlor should have stopped them. So…well…there it is. And your comment about the “Dude!” “Sweet!” tattoos remind me of the ones in Scary Movie 2 - I’ll let you figure out what I’m talking about.
BobG - Haha…indeed. I’ll keep that in mind.
Avitable - If the tattoo of the ass on your ass also has a tattoo of an ass on it, then that could be a time paradox that would cause a wormhole to open up and kill us all. I’d say “pixplskthx”, but I’ve seen your ass, and I don’t think my breakfast would be as good coming back up.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Good on you for putting action to words,
I would suggest that the placement is wrong unless you are left handed - when shooting your rifle it will be hidden!
Since my left outer forearm is still open I may do the same, and position it to be read when in a proper stance!
only have three and they all are probably older than you.
right outer forearm H-D eagle and initials - so the emt’s could id my parts!
left inner forearm “gentleman’s motorcycle club” death’s head
Right shoulder: 70’s underground cartoon character
March 6th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Kickass
March 7th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Suh-WEET!
And, OW!
It’s very beautiful, functional, and makes the perfect statement of who and what you are.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I like it.
One great thing about having a tattoo anywhere between the inside of the wrist up to the armpit is that you may choose to show it, or not. I have one in that region, also, and more than a few people have remarked on just noticing it even though they’ve known me for years.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Nosmo - Is your last name, “King”? I put it on my right arm because that’s my shooting arm, and it’s got some special significance for me.
DrSG - thanks!
Christina - Thanks - it actually didn’t hurt that badly. I’ve got a low pain threshold (but a high tolerance), and I didn’t really have to brace myself at all.
Phlemmy - What’ve you got?
March 8th, 2008 at 6:42 am
It’s inside my left wrist. Something momentous happened on a day I’d picked up a vintage copy of Plutarch’s Lives published by Modern Library. The reminder of the precious and fleeting nature of life, coupled with that book made quite an impression. Finally, after considering it a few years, I had the elegant Modern Library logo tattoed on the inside of my wrist, a stylized leaping figure. The funny thing ended up being I later felt rather chagrined that this was still an actively used logo by the publisher. No matter. It still reminds me of something very good and important to me. When I thought I’d be having an opera career, I considered removal, but didn’t go through with any of it. Incidentally, I had the tat done whilst sober before work one day, and that endorphin thing was incredible. The tattoo itself just felt like a cat scratch to me. It got a little more uncomfortable toward the end, but cumulatively, I have on a fraction of the ink you have. The inky peelings in the following days are fascinating.