ah, what a good question, it all started when i was growing up, watching my brother as he spent houres and houres watching tapes of motley crue, quiet riot, twisted sister, guns and roses, kiss, zz top, warrant, iron maiden, well, you get the point, i saw these guys with ink all over their bodies, and i thought it was cool, i would cover myself in those removable tattoos constantly, i loved it, then, it grew into an obsession of mine in gr.10, i swooned over magazines, did my research, and drew and drew and drew, i was obsessed, and as soon as i turned 18 i wanted one, and i got it, my first ink job was a big red and blue pennywise symbol right between my shoulder blades, not a good place for your first piece, but, i love dit, i was so happy with it, still am, i want to add to it, some olde english style writing going from one shoulder blade to the other, but that will be quite pricy, so ill wait. My fetish stayed stagnant for almost a year, i still got all the mags, anbd loved tattoo's. but it wasnt until a friends mom in sioux started tattooing, i was friends with a few of her customrers, and her daughter, so i decided to get one, this time, the operation ivy "ska-man" on my left calf, just the outline, hey, for 20 bucks, i got a big piece of ink, and it was well done, so well done, i went back a few weeks later and wanted another one, i had a design in my head, an idea, ever since i saw that little flower type thing fred durst drew, on the cover of the "three dollar bill ya'll$" cd, i weanted it inked on me, i still want it done really small, between my thumb and index finger, but, back to my tattoo, it is that flower, englarged, with the chinese symbol for suffer hovering above it, it worked out really good, and considering it only cost me 45 dollars, when i had iot priced here for lamost 200, i was impressed, i will take pictures of my tattoo's and post them on here, i would love feedback, and ideas, and i would love to hear about your tattoo experience. to me, tattoing is wonderful, it is a mode of self expression, and yuor body is a canvas, be it for make-up, tattoos or clothes, sure, tattooing is permanent, thast is why i dont rush into my tattoos, i get soemthing i know i will want to have onme in 20 years, and somethign with a stpry to it, i can tell my kids about, cuz i know by the time i have kids, i will be covered hehe. and to answer a question right away, they don't really hurt, except in a few areas of the body, usually where it is more bone and nerves, but mainly it is just an annoying scratching, kind oflike a bug bite, it is not painful at all, of course, when you first get them, they need taking care of, for them to get the full effect, and remember, nothing looks perfect, and after it has healed, you may have to touch it up, and it will enver look exactly the way you wanted it too, but, remeber, always think about your choice, i am very much anti-cutesy tattoos, liek butterflies and whatnot, i dont understand, no offence to you if you do have it, just a plain old butterfly makes no sense to me, i love intricacy and the celtic design, i think tattoos are beautiful and erotic, women with tattoos are a fetish of mine *s* i love em, but, in short, i love tattoos, and love getting tattoos, so come find me in 20 years and see how many i got *s* later all.