So, This Happened. Again.

The Drawing: "Epic Battle To The Death - With Titties"

Stage 1: Outline.

Stage 2: Shading.

So. The Soctopus *might* have a few tattoos. Or a few more tattoos. Remember all those years the Soctopus said she wanted a full back piece? Yeah, well...it's happening. Stage 1, aka 6 hours of nothing but a liner and some whiskey, was earlier this year. Let me tell you, 6 hours of just a liner needle is not fun. At all. Stage 2, aka "I can so do this, shading is easy!", happened two weeks ago. Next is color, and then the last session: background (water and tiny sharks). So I've said for years that when my back is done, I'm done with tattoos. Yeah...Not so much now. Next up is a coverup of terrible swallow that is terrible, which will become giant octopus that is giant and awesome. That'll be R hip, R butt cheek, R leg. Go big or leave the tentacles to someone else. After the octopod, half sleeves are next. One sea creature half sleeve, one candy/cake/ice cream half sleeve. Help. I've fallen into tattoo needles and I can't get up.

Oh yeah, and these little guys - a heart on the back of each arm. Whoops.

Who's Your Daddy?

Who loves her parents? The Soctopus!

Oh, hey Dad, I did a thing!

So. This happened. Again.

*Aaaaand I'm an idiot who forgot to mention that my work is done by Khalil Linane at Fist Full of Metal. Go see him, because he's awesome.*

Your Momma...

New tattoo, and the start of the full back piece! Oh, hey, I'mma have a back piece by the end of next year. This one is for my mother, who has been very ill lately. Next up is the other anchor for my father, then the pin-ups, and the fill-in for the rest. All traditional, all the back. I am excite!

An Interesting Question

So. The Soctopus had an interesting conversation today with a gentleman who had some things to say about tattoos in general, and women with tattoos in particular. Very interesting. The conversation raised a question I will put to you, internets, and I want your opinions and answers. Comments welcome, y'all.

What the conversation boiled down to was this gentleman's opinion that women with tattoos, particularly "sleeves" or heavy, serious ink, are somehow differentiating themselves as less educated, less attractive, and "loose." His opinion was that women with tattoos show poor judgement and a lack of self-respect. I countered his argument, using myself as an example: educated, graduated with honors, hold a management position in my chosen profession, and -ahem- attractive. He agreed that there are exceptions to his rules, but stood by his statements. The discussion was civil, but raised a lot of questions, first and foremost: is it discrimination to judge someone by their body art?

The obvious answer (and my gut-reaction) is "HELL YES!" If you judge me based on my tattoos, you are judging me based on my appearance, and making decisions about my character. This is, as we all can agree, inherently wrong-headed. However, the quandary is this: I am being judged based on a facet of my appearance that I chose to modify, which sets tattoo-based discrimination into a strange and unique category. The question I have is this: can it be considered discrimination when the judgement is made on an optional modification in appearance? In other words, I *chose* to be tattooed, and had complete control over it. I opted to modify my body in a permanent and visible way. Does that render me open to outside opinions and judgement, again, based solely on a facet of my appearance?

It's an interesting question, and one I've been thinking about. I welcome any and all comments and opinions, and am curious to see what you, faceless internet, think. My personal opinion is that most negative opinions around tattooed people have their roots in ignorance and bias, as well as long-held cultural stereotypes about people with tattoos. I believe it's time to judge someone based on their character more than their skin color (or colors, for those with body art). But then, I am someone with tattoos. So come on, internet! Let's have a discussion!

Yeeeeouch!

I did a thing! With needles!

(Spoiler alert: it fucking hurt.)

Why horseshoes? I've been feeling lucky lately, so why not make that luck permanent? But the big news is that these are the first tattoos I really have to hide at work, meaning long sleeves at work all year round. The flip side of that coin is that if I have to cover my arms for work now anyways, then sleeves aren't out of the question anymore. As a matter of fact, sleeves are now planned, with the artist thinking of designs. So that's coming, and I am excite.

(Spoiler alert #2: 3.5 hours is a looong time to sit still for needles. Maybe a bit too long.)

(Spoiler alert #3: yes, Dad said he was very disappointed in me. Again. Or still. I can't keep up.)