After contemplating a Madison, which I was talked out of (for now) and not quite having the coin to get the tattoo I have in the works yet, I didn't quite know what to do with myself. I usually take a decent amount of time to think out what I want, do a little research, then find someone (if I don't already know someone) to do whatever work I have in mind. Being in NYC, there are literally tons of places to go now a days for tattooing and piercing, though there are the horror stories to go with the good stories. Such is life it seems.
At A Glance Author Badtz Contact badtz@underwarez.org Artist Mike Studio sacred tattoo Location new york city After having my 8 year old tongue piercing stretched by Mike a few weeks earlier, and a vague idea of a frenum I decided to take a walk (literally across the street from my office) and see what was what. Mike is soft spoken for a person with as much work (both ink and "holes") as he has and he does good work, and that means quite a bit to my neurotic self. After a brief wait, I asked about my main concerns, and was quite relieved when his advice matched what I remembered reading about in terms of after care and healing,and having had lots of other work done previously, I decided why the hell not. Like some people, when the adornment bug bites, I must heed. On the walk over I worked myself over my normal shyness and by the time Mike finished with the person he was working with and I asked my questions, I was ready. If you happen to be in NYC (or nearby) sacred heart is a nifty shop to go into even if only to take a look at the place. Its a well though out studio with lots of space, though being somewhat antisocial, lots of people wonks me out a little. Anyway, into the work room...
prepping, a little banter probably to calm me down, though I didn't need it) a quick run to the bathroom, then to work. The jewelry was a 10 gauge barbell (I'm wondering if bigger may have been better, but lets let it heal first), obviously sterile, and with a little deep breathing I calmed the adrenaline rush I felt coming on, and sat down. Another short wait while Mike prepared his tools.
Time to do measurements (probably for me the most awkward part, I'm somewhat shy as well) then on to the real work. I don't quite know what I expected, having had nipples, tongue, ears pierced before, and quite a bit of ink done, I honesty expected more pain. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, so I wasn't worried about it, but it was more like a really hard pinch, then nothing, as opposed to the pinch, the rush of adrenaline, then that twang of pain for however long. Having watched just about all my other work, and most of the medical work I've had done if I wasn't knocked out at the time, of course I watched. Again, the pain was much less than I expected, with only a little blood. After a few deep breaths, I realized I was both happy and disappointed, as the thought of a ladder hit me.No big thing, it is right across the street. Being a computer nerd most of my waking hours, I'm hoping that minus walking around to clients and what not walking wont be a big deal in the near future, but again, such is life. As I got up, took a quick look at the work, and being pleased (and more pleased by the moment as what little pain there was, was pretty much gone the instant the needle was through) again the thought of a ladder hit me. ALL the work I have done is for me, though I'm guessing any member of the opposite sex who doesn't think I'm insane for doing such a thing wont be disappointed, as I thanked Mike, collected myself and walked out to catch a cab.
After a few ginger steps, I realized there really was like, no pain, and started my usual NY power walk, hopped in a cab, and got my butt home. Mike told me to expect (as I would have) a little bleeding, and I grabbed some qtips and the like for cleaning then thought of BME and doing a little writing. Get home, 5 flights of stairs (narrow steep stairs) the only discomfort thus far. No running up the stairs for a few day I guess! Get into the bathroom to check out the damage, a little blood, but nothing worrisome. The only thing I noticed was the 10 seemed a little small after I was no longer nervous and neurotic about people... (read black male with large hands, no longer looking like he's hung like a mosquito in a cold pool... take that as you wish ^^ ) so maybe I will think about a larger barbell in the future. Then I remembered, I just got me a nifty new digital camera! Decided to wait till the roomies were asleep, and in the meanwhile to hit the web, get some work done and the like. Being a pretty good healer and almost never (knock on wood) getting infections, I figured Id wait a little longer before the first cleaning and then only after a few pics (blood doesn't bother me one bit!) then a few afters.
As I write this I'm checking out the ladder pics/stories and other frenum stories, and hell, if bruising is the only thing to worry about at this point, and if healing goes well, I do believe I will beseeming mike again in the near future to add another barbell or 3, and possibly stretching this one. Still lots less than my ink project (warmer may be better for that anyway, T- shirts are much better than heavy ass leather + winter gear for tat healing in my experience, and I scratch less). after reading a few of the ladder stories, I'm thinking this will be my short term project, then my ink... then? when the bug bites, I must heed. According to my schedule and what not in the near future, perhaps the story shall continue.