The Saga Continues...

December 2, 1998

Today I had a tattoo consultation for my next project of expanding my original design. I want to have the knot supported by ivy vines with small leaves. Right now I feel that the design is okay, but boring. I want to make it more interesting and add more color. I picked a new artist this time, for several reasons. First, I'm not entirely pleased with Kerry's work. My main complaint is that she put the stencil on while I was leaning over, so the knot is a bit squished when I stand. Second, Kerry now works at Tribal Rites, which is the studio that I vowed to never return to after I had a bad pierce. Third, Lance, my new artist, does really amazing color work and I like his style. I want the vines to be a beautiful green and I know that he won't disapoint me.

All things considered, the appointment went well. I had gone to the bookstore to try to find ivy I liked bit I didn't care for anything so I went to the studio emtpy handed. Lance expressed concerns that if I'm not thinking of how this will work in a backpiece, I'll have trouble if I ever want one. Well, I'm pretty sure that this is it for my back, so we continued following my original idea. After figuring out what I don't want (animals, sky, water, flowers, gargoyles, light sources) I think we narrowed it down a bit. Ivy. Lance will draw up a sketch and we set my appointment for January 15, 1999.

January 21, 1999

My appointment was rescheduled for January 20 because my artist discovered that he had a prior commitment on the 15th. I showed up to my appointment on time and ate my piece of pizza while I waited for my Lance to finish up. When he was ready, we looked at the stencil and I decided that I did need a center piece above the knot for symmetry. So, Lance drew in a cluster of 3 forget-me-knots. I approved the design and we got started.

The tattoo started off more painfully than I remember my first one, and five minutes into it I asked for a break because I was feeling light-headed. But the pain never got better. By 15 minutes in, I was crying and having trouble breathing. I can't remember having pain this strong before in my life. During some of it, it felt like Lance was tattooing my kidneys. My friend tried to distract me, but I couldn't get into it at all. My fiancee finally showed up and held my hand, which helped a bit. But by this point my artist was completely frustrated, so he just did the outline and we scheduled the coloring for February.

I don't know why I reacted the way I did. I do feel a little off, like I might be getting sick, but this seemed very out of character for me. My artist strongly recommended that I get some Valium for my next appointment, and I think I will look into it. I do really want it colored, but I don't know if I could sit through that again.

February 15, 1999

This session went much smoother than the last. I took a Percocet about a half hour before my appointment, which didn't stop the pain but it did take the edge off. Finishing the coloring took about 2 1/2 hours and we didn't take any breaks. The lower leaves nearest my butt were the most painful since they vibrated on my pelvic bone, and sent shots of pain down my leg. I am very pleased with the with the final tattoo. The colors (green vines, purple flowers) complement each other and the blue knot perfectly.

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