Marvelous Mason

 Ok, I know I said that there probably wouldn’t be a posting today, but this I just had to share…….

I have been perusing the portfolios of local artists, and I came across this guy, Mason Williams.

This dude’s work is legit.  Black and gray, color, portraits…. Anything...... he is fucking nailing it.

**wipes drool from chin**

Check out his website:  http://www.mason-tattoo.com/  prepare your mind to be blown.  He also has a blog http://www.masontattoo.blogspot.com/

You can find his contact information at either site…..

Unhappy Humping

Nothing ruins a Friday like realizing it’s only Wednesday!!

Today is not looking good for a super sick and interesting blog posting….. stupid work.

Anyway, I notice that I’m getting a good number of views, and I’d like to talk to you guys for a minute.

If any of you have tattoos that you’d like to share with me and the rest of my readership, I’d love that!!!

Drop me an email trippybeth@gmail.com

Or are you a tattoo Collector? Artist? Admirer? Anti-tattoo?  And you’d like to write a guest piece……. Well you know the drill…… drop me an email trippybeth@gmail.com

Know a kick ass artist who should have his portfolio featured?? Send me a link…. Yea I’m gonna say it again….. to trippybeth@gmail.com

If I get caught up today, I will try to post….

Hump Day Away my friends!! 

(I will be humping away for the man.... and not in a good way)

Ink and the fuzz....

I try very hard not to judge someone based on their appearance.  When I catch myself doing it, I very firmly scold myself, and will sometimes rap myself across the knuckles with a ruler.

As much as I hate it, I know that, at times, I judge.  We all do.  I suppose that it is human nature.

But as we become a more culturally diverse society, our exposure to people that don’t look like us should make us more accepting.

From the time that we are young children, we are taught to not judge books by their covers. 

It is not acceptable to judge people by the color of their skin. 

Unless their skin is colored with ink.  Then it is perfectly acceptable to discriminate.

I can’t say that I’ve experienced any true discrimination, but people have perceptions about me that aren’t accurate.  The predominate perception is that women with tattoos are promiscuous.  I am not sure if that is a true belief, or just wishful thinking.  I am sure that there are promiscuous tattooed women out there…. I’d venture to guess that statistically, there are more promiscuous NON-tattooed women. There are good and bad people in every color, whether natural or inked.

Most every single asshole I’ve ever met, wasn’t tattooed.  All of my tattooed friends are super cool and laid back.  So what does that say about tattooed people? Nothing really, just that I am pretty good at choosing my friends.  But, that, could, in fact, say that tattooed people are good at choosing friends!!

But we can’t judge an entire population of people’s ability to choose friends based on my superior friend choosing skills, can we??

So all this thinking has led me to look into policies regarding tattoos, mainly  police policies.

 It seems that most of these agencies have rules and regulations regarding ink.  And as tattoos seem to become more popular, the ones without rules regarding ink, are drafting some.

There are numerous threads out there on the issue of police with tattoos.  I’ve seen many thoughtful responses.  Yet, many more ignorant closed minded ones.

Like this:

“Professional standards are slowly becoming a thing of the past. There was a time in this country when people employed in certain professions, didn’t have to be told to dress a certain way (they had class and common sense) and the people who looked like trash usually were. I don’t respect anyone who looks like a street thug. Sorry… and I know I’m not alone in that thought process.  I work in upper level management and I will not hire anyone who sports visible tattoos. They are a symbol of the lower class and vulgar.  Period.”

I feel sorry for this person's employees..... I'm sure they are prejudice against more than tattooed people, with that attitude.

Since it is no longer acceptable to openly discriminate based on a person’s race, I believe that there are people out there that aren’t happy unless they can find someone to hate.  So guess what?? People that are tattooed or modified are the perfect target!

But back to police officers with tattoos…..

Many agencies are requiring that officers with tattoos that are visible in their uniforms, must cover them by wearing long sleeves or special arm socks to cover their tattoos.  And it doesn’t matter what their tattoos are.  They could be service related and it doesn’t matter.

While officers often wear long sleeved uniforms, this is not so good for an officer in Arizona in the middle of summer.  Seems like it would create a hostile working environment (for me, I hate to sweat) and throw on some body armor.... HOLY HELL.  It seems especially unfair for the officers who have been working, unsleeved prior to the new regulations.

I can see where this is a difficult topic for those in charge.  Some agencies only ban “offensive” tattoos or those with gang or hate affiliations.  Who is the ultimate judge in these matters?  Doesn’t that set them up for some liability?  No one wants that.  Take responsibility?? Fuck that!

I can totally understand not wanting an officer with a swastika on his neck, or gang symbols…. That would be counterproductive to keeping the peace. 

Even one like this

Are a majority of people really intimidated by a police officer with a beautiful sleeve?  I mean, let’s face it, there are still people that are intimidated by an afro-American officer, and we don’t let their archaic way of thinking dictate police policy.  Why let them influence policy on tattooed police officers??

How do you feel about tattooed police officers?

The Ohtucky Weekend...

Well Monday has rolled around once again, but what a weekend in Cincinnati!!

It was the weekend of the inaugural Bunbury Festival (http://www.bunburyfestival.com/)!!

The festival took place at Sawyer Point/Yeatman’s Cove Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I was a Worker Bee on Saturday and Sunday.  I declare the festival a SUCCESS!! 

The line-up was great, the crowd was super cool and laid back, weather was a little iffy, with some rain and a storm.  But everyone survived and made the best of it.

Neon Trees killed….. I definitely have to see them the next time that they are in town, or nearby even.

Also going on in Ohtucky over the weekend were: The World Choir Games, the Reds/Cardinals series (the Reds SWEPT!), The Sausage Festival (interestingly, not a bunch of dudes standing awkwardly around a room), Panties Across The Bridge (it’s exactly what it sounds like) and Drowning Pool was at the Thompson House (formerly Southgate House). I would loved to have seen Drowning Pool!  My friend, Gene, that attended, said that the show was good; however, he didn’t think that the new lead singer, Jason Moreno, was as good as Ryan McCombs.  Of course, that’s only a matter of opinion.  I still get fired up every time I hear Bodies….

Panties Across the Bridge, for cervical cancer awareness.

I was a worker bee at Bunbury on Saturday and Sunday, as I said before.  I worked the gate and the information booth (thankfully I didn’t have to offer too much info).

I was really more about the people watching, it’s totally my thing.

The Lawn at Bunbury.

Summertime music festivals are, hands down, the best places to see some cool ink (well I guess second to a tattoo convention).  I would venture to guess that about 90% of the crowd was tattooed, some extensively, some with only a tiny tattoo here or there.  The festival goers wore their ink just as casually as a favorite t-shirt.  I, however, had most of mine covered by a suffocatingly hot worker bee t-shirt.  If I were crafty I would have modified my t-shirt like some of the other worker bees did.  But I am not crafty, and my t-shirt would have looked like a brain injured orangutan had escaped the zoo with scissors and a DIY obsession.

I saw some beautiful skin art and, of course, some poorly done, unidentifiable ones.  That goes with the territory though.  I would have loved to set up a little booth, let people stop and tell me what their favorite tattoo is and their story……. Someday maybe…..

Since I was working, I didn’t feel like I should harass folks about their tattoos, after all they were there to have fun, chill out and enjoy the groove.

Aside from the drunk dude that persistently bedeviled me (thank you Super Thesaurus) at the Information Booth, I enjoyed the volunteering and would definitely do it again!

I also hit up the Sausage Festival, briefly, on Friday night.  Guess who won some sausage?  THIS GIRL!  I never win anything, when I finally do, it's sausage........ sometimes I think that the universe hates me.

Today I’d like to present tattoos that belong to my friend Greg.

Greg is extensively tattooed, and has some pretty great work on his skin.  Just yesterday he had some corrective work done to an existing tattoo on his left arm.

                                                        before                              after

He is psyched about the work, done by Stone Cold at Ink Starz, on

Warsaw Ave

in Cincinnati. (sadly I can’t find a website, I’d love to check out their artists’ portfolios. I did shoot them an email to an address that I found via a Craigslist ad, suggesting that they create one).

Greg is an electrician that began getting tattooed in 1989.  He has a great collection of black and gray art.

When I asked him what his favorite tattoo was, he didn’t hesitate when he told me that it was the portrait tattoos of his parents.

Greg also has a sick sleeve on his right arm.

It's hard to see the detail in this photo, but it's a really nice piece.

I really love black and gray ink on a man. I've seen some really feminine looking black and gray work on girls too, it can be very versatile.

This is beautiful.

Well folks, I hope that you've recovered  from the debauchery of the weekend!! Go forth and enjoy the last half of your Monday!! I'll enjoy mine in approximately 3 hours......

Tattooed Dating

I have been back out in the dating world for about 3 years now.  When I began this dating journey, I had 2 small tattoos.

Now I am up to 12 tattoos.  Tattoos on my wrists that are visible all of the time, tattoos on my foot, arms, shoulders and back that are visible depending on how I dress.

I am still the same girl I was, for the most part, when I only had 2 tattoos.  But in the online dating world, my tattoos give some men ideas about me that may not be accurate.

I can’t tell you how many emails start out like this “I love your tats!” I try not to read over those messages too quickly, or I could mistake “tats” for something else.  But sadly, I have gotten many emails that were more blatantly suggestive than complementing a body part.

One gentleman (I use this term in jest) sent me an email saying this “I want to fuck you”.  Usually when I get this sort of email, I delete it and move on with my life.  But before I hit the delete button, I decided to write back.  Usually, writing back to guys like this is a bad idea.  It makes them think that you are interested, but just acting coy.  But I had a question for this fellow that I just had to ask.

“Does this ever work?”

He promptly wrote back “Sometimes it does.”

I ended the correspondence at the point.  But I had to think that this guy was using the shot gun method for hooking up.  I wondered how many girls he had emailed with the “I want to fuck you” line?? All it would take is for one to say “Ok” and all of the “Nos” and deleted messages would be worth it.

I no longer felt special.

In my online profile, I have several photos that my tattoos are prominent in.  They are a big part of who I am.  If you want me, you must accept my tattoos.

I received an email from a man saying that he thought I was cute, that he thought we’d be a good match, but would I consider having my tattoos removed?

WTF????  I found that as offensive as him asking me if I’d have a nose job.  I wrote him back this line “I am not your girl.”

I get other messages like this “I love your tattoos; you look like a wild child.”  Of course this idea harkens to the stereotypes that still exist about people with tattoos.  All you have to do is Google “tattoos and risky behavior” and one would believe that people with tattoos are out there boozing, druggin and screwin everything in sight.

Some people with tattoos do participate in extreme behaviors, but so do non-tattooed people.  Most of the people I’ve known in my life that had problems with drugs or alcohol weren’t tattooed.

While I love my tattoos, I haven’t really dated many men that were tattooed.  It’s not a prerequisite for my men at all.  I am tattooed, but I don’t care if you are or not.  It’s a personal choice, which I would never try to influence.  Now, if you’ve decided that you want a tattoo, I will definitely help you find a good artist.

I get a lot of emails from guys, basically apologizing for not having any tattoos.  Which seems too needy for me, I just say that tattoos are not for everyone, I don’t judge based on your lack of ink, just as you shouldn’t judge me for the ink I possess.

I had one guy, which I formerly dated; say after reading my blog “I don’t see anything wrong with a man with no tattoos.”

I replied that I don’t see anything wrong with a man who has no tattoos either, ink or lack of ink doesn’t define a person.

I am much more than my tattoos.  This blog only represents a portion of who I am.

Well….. I must be off! I have mail!!!

Friday the 13th, Tribal Style..

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13^th My friends!! 

And Happy 66^th birthday to Jason Voorhees!!

2012 is a little unusual as there have now been 3 Friday the 13ths!

We won’t have another one until September 2013, that is, of course, if the world doesn’t end in December.

I’m sure that all those who suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13^th) are thrilled that they will be able turn the pages of their calendar 14 times before they have to face that dreaded date again!

I can’t say that I am particularly superstitious, although I do like to look for signs.  I could possibly interpret things as signs, which clearly (to others) aren’t signs.  I, probably, am just subconsciously looking for something to justify something that I want.  The brain works in mysterious ways…..

As a society, I think that we are migrating away from the superstitions of our past.  I remember that, as a kid, when Friday the 13^th would roll around, it was a big deal!  I’ve barely heard mention today that it’s the 13^th.  

But it happens, hell, people used to be afraid to have their photographs taken, for fear that their souls would be stolen.  One only has to look at facebook to see that superstition is long gone….. Although I kinda wish the duck face, too tan girls would contract a mild case of photophobia…… there I go being snarky again.  Sheesh, I’m a camera whore, but only if I have control over the photos and the editing.

I’ve seen several tattoo shops that hold specials on Friday the 13^th.  They usually have a page of flash to choose from, with special pricing.  It’s a neat idea, I can’t say that I’d get a Friday the 13^th tattoo, but I think that they are pretty cool on others.

The tattoo that I want to present today belongs to Jon.



I actually caught sight of Jon’s tattoo from his profile on a dating site, so I had to shoot him and email and get more information about it.

The tattoo is a native hawk, from the Northwest River Tribes.  Jon’s heritage is Cherokee, but he’s adopted Sioux.  He tells me that the tattoo is his given name.  He hopes to have his daughters’ names added to the tattoo and eventually complete half sleeves.  Since he works in the corporate world that doesn’t accept visible tattoos, he has to keep his sleeves short.

Jon was tattooed at SkinCraft http://www.skincraftbodymod.com/ Cincinnati, OH.  He does not, however, recall the artist’s name.  I suspect that it was Dara, but I can’t confirm.

I am infatuated with tribal tattoos, when they are on folks that actually belong to a tribe! People are tribal tattoo crazy!  I really admire the really clean, bold ones.

Tribal tattoos are favorites of the frat boy population; you can hardly go out in the warm weather without seeing tribal ink everywhere!

If you’re gonna get a tribal tattoo, it should look like this:

But I’ve seen a lot of poorly done tribal tattoos on the bare arms of dudes, who have no idea that they have a bad tattoo.  I suppose ignorance is bliss, I would be devastated if I had a bad tattoo covering an entire arm.  It seems to me that the people with the bad tattoos are more inclined to show them off than those with good tattoos.  But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Obviously, their work looks good to them.  And in the end, that’s really all that matters.

Thanks Jon, for sharing your ink with us.  I hope that when you have more work done you’ll let us admire it!!

Here’s hoping everyone survives their Friday the 13^th!!!

Organs and Ink

On this fine Wednesday I am presenting Jeremy’s tattoos.

Jeremy is a 19yo suffering from Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronchiolitis_obliterans_organizing_pneumonia

Jeremy is in need of a double lung transplant.

So let me take a minute to go a little off-topic……

Folks, PLEASE BECOME AN ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR!!

It doesn’t cost the donor or the donor’s family a cent, and one donor could potentially save 8 lives and vastly improve many others.

There are so many arguments against donation, that I hate to even give them any power by mentioning them, but I have to.

“I might need them in the afterlife” (yes I’ve heard this)  what kind of idiot uses this argument? A pussy. 

We’ve all seen remains.  All the organs are still there, only rotted, turned to dust, mummified, etc.  So, guess what?? That argument is invalid. Shut your word hole.

“My God doesn’t approve”  uuummmm, dude……. YOUR God is an asshole.  YOUR God is against saving lives? WTF?  I surely wouldn’t follow a God that is such a jerk, if I were you I’d rethink my religious affiliations.

“They might not try hard enough to save me if they know I’m a donor”  this is so ridiculous that I hate that I even have to address it.  As a medical professional, I know that every possible treatment would be exhausted before one’s family is asked about organ donation.  There aren’t docs out there saying “I really don’t wanna deal with this patient anymore, let’s just harvest his organs.” Doesn’t happen.  If you believe this, you’ve watched too much television. So stop it.

I dig China’s method of dealing with the lack of organ donations in their country.  They harvest organs of prisoners slated to be executed.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_harvesting_in_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China

They say that the prisoners must give informed consent.  I am a little skeptical about that particular aspect of the whole process, China isn’t exactly above board on things like this, but…….. I think that if you are scheduled to be executed, your rights are revoked.  I believe in a humane execution, but beyond that, the convict belongs to the state.  They’ve already been a burden to society, from legal costs, any medical care, to actual room and board.  They OWE their fellow man, this is the best way that they can repay their debt.

For accurate information on organ donation, please visit this website:

http://organdonor.gov/index.html

Now, back to Jeremy’s ink.

The first tattoo I’m showing you is a symbol for the marine corps that he got in homage of his grandfather, who is a 15 year stomach cancer survivor.  To Jeremy his grandfather is a symbol of encouragement as he does battle with his lung disease.

 A classic armed forces tattoo, I love these types of tattoos

Jeremy’s other two tattoos are of birds to honor his parents.  An owl for his mama and an eagle for his father, their favorite fowl.

Jeremy had his work done at One Shot Tattoo in Cincinnati http://www.oneshottattoo.net/  by Oliver, his portfolio can be found here http://www.oneshottattoo.net/portfolio.html.

Nice tattoos Jeremy, here’s hoping that you receive a set of lungs really soon!

I’m sending good vibes your way. 

Hopefully someone will read this and decide to become an organ and tissue donor!

TrippyBeth is one!!!!