Ideas for a Tattoo
 

My wife-to-be wants to get a tattoo sometime in the next few months, she knows exactly what she wants. A tattoo is something I think could be cool, so I was thinking I'd get one with her, but I have no idea what to go with. I'm looking for some ideas/advice, general or specific. And I know the obvious... make sure the tattoo shop is clean and reputable before going there.

One idea that I think would be cool but probably not a good idea would be the "Death from Above" tattoo from Starship Troopers... since I'm not exactly part of the Air Force, it doesn't seem fitting. I think a heart that said "mom" would be funnier than hell (my mom disapproves of tattoos), but the humor would wear off before too long, and I'd be left with a lame tattoo.

I know it's a hard question to ask since you don't all know me very well, but any general suggestions are still valuable. I also know that tattoos aren't for everybody, and I know some people will say how foolish it is... I respect that opinion but have no intention or sharing it.

Later,

I would say that if you don't know what you should get, you shouldn't be getting one. But that's just my opinion.

And THAT, my friend, is the point of asking for suggestions. If I haven't found something I really like by the time she gets hers, I'll wait.

Well, in that case, I would recomment a giant bouncing Tigger. You'll definitely want to have that when you're 70.

For once, Dave is using that noodle of his.

I always think about the tattoos that I want, but I'm still not sure...and this has been 5 years now.

Well, it may be 20 years before I get one, I'm just askin what people think. Just making conversation.

Besides the obvious "it looks good now but it will look like shit in 10 years" comment how about one of those around-the-upper-arm "tribal" tatoos?

Those look pretty killer, but I think a guy has to have bulkier upper arms and shoulders for this to look good. My arms have decent tone from using a punching bag frequently, but they aren't really that muscular looking.

One idea I have been considering for years is a logo I designed for my web design business LONG ago... it's a simple blue planet with red rings... there's a small version of it on this photo. I thought it would be cool on the back of the shoulder, minus my name, obviously.

What NOT to do.
 

Not risque, but possibly NSFW.

I wonder why the cops stopped hitting him?

Alan, maybe you should contact Pepsi and see if you can get a long term advertising contract.

Whats your ethnic background? That might give us direction.

Probably when they realized they couldn't beat the ugly off of this dude, it was a futile effort. He is a vile looking character though, ain't he? Damn.

I don't think they could afford it, my hide is valuable real estate. Hmm. Let's just pretend I never said that.

I'm just a boring old caucasian. The link above is an old picture of me, this one is slightly more recent. Neither is very good for our purposes though, sorry. There are few normal photographs of me. And no, I am not angry person. Damnit.

I've always thought that a bar code on the back of the neck, discretely placed where it can be covered by a shirt collar, if desired, would make an excellent personal accessory. I've mentioned this to 99 on several occasions but, inasmuch as her senses of irony and humor are not as highly developed as my own, she continues to express her disapproval.

Bar Code Mill is an excellent site to visit for those who wish to design something special for their own necks.

If you wait until you think of one that will be cool forever, you'll never get one or you'll be wrong. Life is change if nothing else.
Get one that you think is cool now and it will always remind you of where you "were at" when you got it and the circumstances that prompted it. That works, as long as it's not a swastika on your forehead or something stupid like that. Getting something that's in a place that's covered when you're in a suit for job interviews and funerals, can't hurt.
You'll probably discover the difference between people with tattoos and people without tattoos. People with tattoos, don't care that people without tattoos don't have one. ;)

Heh. Bar code, or a serial number on the arm, right?