True Until Death

Those of you who know me personally know that Sailor Jerry Collins is far more than a passing fad because he's cool at the moment. I have been in love with Collins' work since I was a kid. My Pap had a honest to goodness, for real Sailor Jerry Hula Girl from WWII on his forearm, he used to make her dance for me... gosh she could wiggle her hips. Anyway I loved that tattoo and at the tender age of 8 years old I told my Pap I was gonna be just like Jerry when I grew up. He laughed, he always did at my little girl fantasies that were never the fantasies of normal little girls... astronaut was a passing phase, so was a Carni... well not really, I'd still run away and join a side show if I could.

Yesterday I had some time to myself and I decided to work on another Sailor Jerry design... True Until Death... yes I am...

I really love the look and feel of this one, I was going to do the traditional heart and dagger but I figured i would tweak it and went with the Jerry skull and flowers. Simple design, profound meaning for me. I used to really think that it was a bad thing to be ME. I mean I have dealt with so much shit from people who don't know me, making assumptions, judgements, the usual bull shit. There was awhile in my life when I conformed. I wore the suit, worked the 9-5, played the part. I died a little bit each day. My insides were screaming to be unleashed. Finally one day I quit my day job... walked into work with a chip on my shoulder and a couple shots of rum in me and told my douchebag boss and his filthy whore of a wife to take the job and shove it... it was so liberating. Ever since that day, 10 years ago, I have been doing whatever makes me happy, whenever the mood strikes. And when I get a stare or a glare from someone who doesn't approve of my look... I just smile and say hello... theres not much they can do when the scary tattooed amazon turns out to be a friendly and intelligent girl. I love who I have allowed myself to become. I am me.


Now onto Love Thy Neighbor... this is one I wanted to do for quite sometime. I did it about 3 weeks ago so it's still in that shiny almost healed stage, I call it the cellophane stage, last about another 2 weeks...

This tattoo just has Fuck Off written all over it. I think it takes some balls to sport the Sailor Jerry designs, he was in your face, no holds barred, honest. Bad to the mother fucking bone with out even trying. Ok but those people who wear like the Ed Hardy shirts and crap, you know the ones who don't even have a tattoo, that ain't bad to the bone... that's just sad, I hate posers.

I am such a fan of his work, old school designs in general. I love the honesty in the design. No frills, to the point, just real. I decided to do my right leg as a tribute of sorts to my idol... theres big plans for this leg and it's slowly coming together, at 3 week intervals. Next is the back of my calf "Stewed, Screwed, and Tattooed"... a classic. Then the fills will be mermaids, pin ups, nautical stars, and random things like pistols and brass knuckles... yet another work in progress.... my body is.

***********When I die I'm donating it to science fiction.***********