Saturday, October 21, 2006

Hurts so good...

This...... became this...

... became this...

... finally became this;

and I couldn't be happier with it!

Yes, that's right- I have a new tattoo. My fourth actually and I love it!

The artwork is courtesy of my fellow coworker, Dave Law.

Dave is one of our inside sales guys and is also a very talented young artist. He is doing some of the graphic artwork for the Haro BMX bikes and really is a great kid. He's got talent... a lot of it too. The tattoo artists were very impressed with his design.

Speaking of the tattoo artist; meet Soda Pop (I doubt it is his birth name, but when you can sling ink as well as he does, you're allowed a cool pseudonym)-

(Soda Pop is the guy in the background...)

Soda Pop is one of the several really cool tattoo artists at Above All Tattoo (3825 5th Avenue, San Diego CA 92103, (619) 299-8282) in my neighborhood in San Diego. They are just a few blocks away from where I live and have been in business just one week at this location (they have one more in San Diego, in the Pacific Beach area). If you are in the area and thinking of a tattoo, please put these guys on your list.

The shop is located in what used to be an old movie house that is now converted to retail space.

All of the staff there is awesome! Seriously, I was floored by how nice the whole crew there is. They have a pool table in the back of the building and I think I might just have to go hang out there and have a few beers and shoot pool with them some time. They are in my neighborhood after all. I talked to all of them and all of them were cool and nice and really care about what they are doing and the people they are working on/ with. During my tattoo (2.5 - 3 hours), each of the different artists came in to check on things and to see if I was ok or needed anything. They were kick ass! Seriously... go check them out if you are in San Diego. I love my new tattoo!

Now for the mushy part, where I explain the symbology in the tattoo;

My wife and I are both Pisces. The zodiac sign for Pisces is two fish- sometimes displayed in a Yin-Yang sort of arrangement. My wife is my very bestest friend (Squirrel is #2), as I've mentioned before. She and I are way more similar than dissimilar. Like a true Yin-Yang, we do a pretty good job of "completing" each other (not in that really horrible, cheesy Jerry Maguire way). I gave Dave the concept and he came up with the drawing. The red/ orange Koi fish is me and the sleek, slim green Koi is my wife. Both of us love the water, so the water bubbles in the middle are our connection to the water.

The tattoo represents the two of us, as Pisces, making up a single Yin-Yang together. We do balance each other really well in real life and now we do the same in the tattoo. She is my partner, in so many more ways than I can possibly express (though I do keep trying). This tattoo is a simple reminder (not that I need one) that we are together, swimming through life together, for always.

Ok, enough mush... now for more pictures!

Soda Pop preparing his sterile equipment.

The sterile equipment. Everything nice and clean. I watched Soda Pop pull fresh needles out of sealed packages, so I know they were clean and sanitary.

My "pain face" (just for you Gilby)... anybody tells you "tattoos don't hurt", punch'em in the nuts/ ovaries for me! After 4 of these things now, I can tell you.. it hurts. I'm sure Sascha would agree...

Before anyone comments... yes, I know I have a large ass. I'm a track sprinter for crying outloud... we're supposed to have big asses.

How many of you got to have your calves wrapped in celophane this evening? That's what I thought...
My reward for sitting through 2+ hours of tattoo and walking home with my leg wrapped in celophane? Newcastle Brown Ale...

... and a beautiful new tattoo!

Again, many thanks to Dave Law for bringing my idea to life and to Soda Pop and Above All Tattoo for bringing Dave's artwork to true life. I'm extremely happy...

Tim

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think some of us can say that getting tats is not really all that painful. On the bone yes, but not bad pain. Keep in mind I have a high threshold for pain (two babies, both with goofy things going on, with zero drugs). Nothing special for women!! hahaha

Donna Tocci said...

Great ink! And wonderful meaning behind it, too. Congrats.
I'm with you...they do hurt, but they are worth it when you get exactly what you want and it looks as cool as this. Enjoy!

Gilby said...

Thanks for the pain face photo!!!!

Pretty dang cool! I love the personal symbolism. Is Masiwife going to get the tattoo, too?!

The Donut Guy said...

That's a spiffy tattoo.

Thanks for sharing the whole process, even the "pain" face.

I'd have to agree with what Reva said, my wife has had 2 babies and gone through chemo and radiation for breast cancer....I'd like to see her get a tattoo....


I don't think it would phase her :-)

Anonymous said...

George, if your wife has been through all of that, a tat would definitely not phase her! What a strong woman you have!

Anonymous said...

off course this means that you HAVE to get get one on your right calf now, for symmetry.

And maybe one day those wee lil calves will grow into calves.

Anonymous said...

I'm that guy that keeps saying I'm gonna get a tattoo but I never get around to it. Plus the only thing I can come up with is the chainring on the calf...

Anonymous said...

I'm less concerned with the depiction of mutual ass-kissing as I am with the symbolic swimming in circles - oops, did I write that out loud? Eh, I'm not known for my subtlety. No, I am not getting a matching tattoo because it would detract from my freckle collection.

Sascha said...

Very nice. Mine hurt, but obviously not enough, because I have been contemplating calling my artist to ask her to do a matching theme on my abdomen.

Anonymous said...

You finally got it! Congrats!

How did I know it would be a Pisces-thingy? Cool...and congrats, you big mush!!

Queen of Couth said...

Sweet tattoo. I have four myself. I got my last one on my 4th wedding anniversary when I was in Little Rock, Arkansas. My husband and I got the same thing - a heart with fire around it - his has a j and mine has a b. It represents the hunka hunka burning love we have for each other. The coolest part is that I got to actually give the tattoo to my husband. Now THAT is trust and devotion. MasiWife - no pressure to get a matching one .. . just revel in the fact that he did it for you.
Peace Out
bk

Anonymous said...

Is it purposely Piscean? Only the most intuitive/sensitive and, I argue, most brilliant sign.

Congrats on the tat.