tattoos! yay! good luck with yours.

you've probably already considered this, but if you continue to lose weight, be conscious that you don't get a tattoo where your body might significantly change shape. there are certain places that are worse than others for this, i believe (stomach, lower back--neither of which you mentioned--but others too, i'm sure). your tattoo guy, if he's good, should be able to tell you more about this. and there's info on the internet i'm sure.

armpit tattoos sound PAINFUL.
i'll be interested in hearing the developments.

You're right I've thought about that. I talked to him about it too, he said the upper chest is a good place to start because it's not going to change much (it's not like my bone structure will get smaller).

I don't plan on getting my stomach or lower back done, but I'm not gonna start on my upper arm until I see how much more weight comes off. Knees and armpits, I will probably postpone as long as possible once I see how much the other one hurts, I hear those are two of the worst areas haha.

The armpit is gonna hurt. The one I have on the inside of my arm started getting close to the pit and it definitely stung. Not enough to make me want to quit, but it'll give you a run for your money.

Doesn't Quiqgle owe you a design from back in the day? You ought to cash that in and get something rad.

I know a your parents might tell you this, and it seems as if you have given it a lot of thought, but be careful what you get.

First, you have to think about whether your tattoos will effect your job in any way shape or form. The ones I have I can cover up, but since I work in a church, there are those who might look down on me because I have them.

Secondly, make sure whatever you get, you won't mind seeing it old and crinkly about 20-30 years from now.

And if you are curious about what it says in the bible about tattoos, see Levitcus 19:28. Technically we do not follow Levitical law anymore because it was something specific to the Israelites to keep a covenant with God. But just in case, don't get a tattoo for someone who died.

I look forward to reading about your tattoo journey. I have a bit of ink already but I too am in the process of brainstorming my next ones. I have not been happy with any of the shops around here (just checked them out, no ink), but that Richmond one looks like one to check, for sure.

Hmm, I don't remember. DOES Quiggle owe me one? I used to have his number in my cell but I don't now. Haven't talked to him in forever. Oh well.

As far as the job, tattoos are ok. There are two other people in my dept. with tattoos that show.

What tattoo do you have, I don't remember if I've seen it or not. I can picture Scott's but not yours.

Deva, Josh Brown at Absolute Art in Richmond has some quality work online too (and has tattooed a couple people I know).

i love it...but you already knew that.
the tattoo will be amazing because YOU are amazing and never cease to make me smile and be proud to know you.
xoxox.

lemme know if you want me to come and hold your hand!!!

you definitly don't want anything that screams STR8T EDGE 4EVR! becuase it looks really really dumb if you decide you want to have a drink later down the road. (not saying you will, but I have a friend who has 3" high black Xs on his cafe and he is now a bartender.)

My friend Tess has bees on her knees. They're really cute.

That sounds really cool, Amber. I had to be super careful where I got mine because of my uber-conservative profession. Mine ended up being ginormous (a phoenix morphing out of a fire), but is on my lower back and can be covered with a business suit.

I thought about mine for a long time before I got it. I wanted something meaningful that was also a beautiful piece of art. I got both and I can say I'm pleased with it.

However, I am not proud and I won't lie - it hurts like a motherfucker. The outlining wasn't too bad, and the beginning of the coloring wasn't bad, either. But when she had to keep going over and over the same areas to keep cutting in more colors, I literally thought I was going to pass out. Lower back is similar to chest in that the bone is very close to the surface, and that's where it hurts.

Also keep in mind that if you get a lot of color, you will have to wear SPF 800,000 on it for the rest of your life, or else the color will fade and end up looking like a washed-out biker tattoo.

Good luck making your decision, and I can't wait to see what you decide on. I think tattoos are beautiful, especially when they are meaningful.

i too have bees on my knees. haha what a coincidence. anyways i thought that the knees, were not painful at all, until it came down to the next day, they were sore, and everytime i bent my legs, or stood up i was in excrutiating pain.

gabe has his chest tattooed, and when it came to being close to the clavicle, the armpit, and the nipple he said it was horrible.

personally, i dont have much of a problem until i got my calf tattooed, and it went across the achilles heel, and the shin bone...i was crying. oh and when i got my rose on my wrist...talk about painful..it was mkaing my hand open and close and my fingers move involuntarily..

but your a pretty strong girl. im sure you'll be like i dont feel a single thing.
have fun. tattoos are hott.

Amber, I have a old school cross with roses and a banner on my inner right arm, on the outside I have a pheonix with a crucified Jesus in the middle.

I got both done by Mike Higgins. He currently works at CJ's Tattoo, but he can tattoo circles around all the dudes in their. He used to work at Red Dragon in Richmond but it was too much of a haul since he lives in Smithfield. I think he has a myspace page. He might have it listed as Rocksteady.

Mike is the same guy who did Scooter's sacred heart and most of Derek's work.

I couldn't recommend anybody more talented.

I especially like tattoos when they become body art -- good for you in taking this step. We'll be excited to see what the final product ends up like (if you'll show us!!).

Oh, I like this idea very much! Good luck with the tattoo - I'm sure it'll be beautiful, and I can't wait to see pictures.

I'm contemplating one myself.

Don't do it! I have several. I'm 26 and I already regret it. I'm currently getting 2 of them removed and it is expensive, painful, and time consuming.