decisions, decisions

I've decided where it will go. But, I'm torn between the two depictions. And i dont have the money. Yet. And I havent chosen the studio. Yet. But I have an itch. And it musts needs to be scratched.

I adore the ribbon structure, but I think it might be a bit too complicated for a small tattoo. Plus, it might cost me a bajillion dollars to get something so intricate. Sigh.

I better decide soon though. I finished my masters in May and this was supposed to be my congrats present
to myself.























*In case you are a non-science type, these are molecular representations of Immunoglobulin M, IgM, a pentamer antibody.

touch me up

Stop it right now and get that dirty thought out of your mind!

I'm talking about my tattoo here.

So, what have I been doing besides writing med school application essays? And secret knitting? Why, I went and got my tribal moth tattoo touched up.
This time it went much better than the original fill in. Andrew was excited to see me; apparently I looked so bad after the fill in he was afraid I'd never come back for the touch up. I felt like having an Alicia Silverstone moment: As If! He also asked around to see how he could make it easier on me (isnt that sweet?) and said that this time he'd have me laying down instead of sitting up. I have selective memory (otherwise I would never go back and get more pain) and so I couldn't say right away whether it was easier but he could tell it was better for me. And in the end I could tell too. He decided to do a complete second coat rather than spot touch-ups since then it would look more even (like I said - perfectionist) and I was fine with that since I'd already paid for the tattoo, all the touch-ups are free (bonus of going to an awesome studio is that the artists guarantee their work - it may cost more up front, but in the end you save). When we were done he took some pictures - I'm going to be semi-famous! Well, ok, I'll be in his book. And maybe if I'm lucky on the studio's website.

So here I am laying down and looking not so bad.

Then he made me sit up to do the finishing touches on my shoulders. And all sorts of funny faces came out.


Both Andreas and Andrew had a good laugh at my faces.

















I'm glad its over, but of course I'm already planning my next one! Too bad I'm super poor from application fees..... Ah well. It can wait. I have this one to tide me over for a while (:{

Tattoo Odyssey

So to start out this post I thought I'd give you a little list so you could better understand my journey to this point of ginourmous tattoo on my back. Then its time for the good stuff: the pictures!

Stages of getting a tattoo:
I really really want this............................... 1 year
Do I really want this?.................................. 1 month
Hey I got a tax bonus! I want a tattoo!
Now! ............................................................. 1 week
Yay I have an appointment!
In 1 month ):{ ......................................... 1 month
Outline:
Ow this kinda hurts! .................................. 1.5 hours
Hey this kinda itches! ................................ 2 days
and its peeling! black bits! ........................ 2 days
Oh look, all better
Fill in:
Ow this kinda hurts! ................................. 30 mins
No, this Really HURTS! ........................... 2 hours
Yuck this feels like a bad sunburn .......... 5 days
Hey this itches! Itches like hell! ............. 2 days
(overlaps with the pain -- how is that possible??)
OK, enough of this, it still itches ............. 2 days
and its peeling! lots of black bits! ........... 4 days
(overlaps with itching)
Finally, I think its healed ........................ 8 days post fill in session

And for those who think that the fill in is less pain than the outline, I can assure you its not true. 2.5 hours of pure pain cannot even compare to the the outline. I'm now convinced that I could probably handle getting shot (note: I do NOT want to though) and childbirth. At least then they could give you pain meds. There were no pain meds involved in this b/c most of them thin your blood. Which makes you Bleed. Bleeding is not good b/c then your skin wont absorb the ink and you'll have to go back for more touch-ups. As it is having an all black tattoo requires a minimum of 1 touch-up session. Joy. BUT it was all def worth it. I think it looks amazing and I love it.
And now, for the fun stuff. Pictures.

First, the Outline.
Here is the "Before" shot with my crappy little blobby dolphin tattoo. (Yes, the picture is in focus, the tattoo is not though)



Cool mirror shot
Making the "ouch" face
Looking oddly serene
Halfway through the outline


Close-up of the outline in progress



Outline is done. All bandaged up and ready to go. (Yes that is blood).

Here is the finished outline before the peeling began. The ointment makes it shiny.

And now the Fill In



Close up of red swollen -ness

At this point, I made him take a break b/c I was feeling woozy and needed a snack. So Ariel snapped a picture.
Here I am thinking its all done (b/c he cleaned it) but not wanting to get up b/c of the pain.
There are no pictures of him touching up spots while I was standing. Trust me that is was intense and horrible.


And here is the final picture after all the itching and peeling.
Taa-daaa!



Its beautiful. Well, I think so anyway and that's what matters since its my back. (:{
I have to say throughout it all my artist, Andrew, was a class act. A perfectionist through and through. Everyone that I dealt with at Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo over in Jamaica Plain was great and I would definitely recommend that studio, and of course my artist, Andrew, to anyone. If you are like me and dont want to wait a year to get in to see the famous owner, Ram himself, then go see Andrew. His custom work is great as well. He also didn't freak out when I decided after the outline that I wanted to tweak parts of the design. Its going to be on my back for the rest of my life so of course he wants me to be happy with it.
Well now this has become a super long post, so I think its time to end it. There may be more about this in a couple months after the required touch-up. And I can assure you I am not looking forward to that. But, it must be done.
Edit: in case anyone is wondering, its a tribal design based off of the luna moth

the IRS is.... honest?

Remember back when I first started blogging and I complained about writing the govt a check for the $2.09 I owed them on taxes?
Well, today I received a letter. From the IRS. Saying I did my taxes incorrectly. Cue FREAK OUT. (I have always done my own taxes). Then I turned the letter over. It says my refund is $495.
Refund?? As in, I made a mistake and they owe me $495? Holy sh*t the govt actually corrects mistakes in my favour??

Then I went to Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo in Jamaica Plain with Ariel and looked at artist portfolios and talked to some of the artists (including the man himself who sadly is booked for the next year and isn't even making any new appts for 2 mos). I booked a consult with an artist he recommended. For tomorrow! So now I have the money I need to get the tattoo ive wanted. And its happening soon! (Hopefully)