Tattoo pics:

The koi named 'Roger'.

Front of the arm showcasing Roger's face:


Side of the arm:


Half Sleeve:

The new tattoo came out great. It is a koi on my left arm. Lots of red and orange with black spots. Very cool, well-done and dare I say 'cute.' Kim took one look at him and named him 'Roger.' He's on the lower part of my bicep heading around to my inner arm stops at the crease of my inner arm (where the upper arm meats the forearm). I can move my arm to make it look like he's swimming or talking. Fun with tattoos. Here's an explanation of the symbolism associated with Koi tattoos:

"According to Japanese legend if a koi succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River it would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement.

More generally, the Japanese associate koi (also known as carp) with perserverance in adversity and strength of purpose. Because of its strength and determination to overcome obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals.

Others say it means good fortune or luck.

More input:
The Koi Fish is symbolic in the Buddhist Religion, representing courage. Humans 'swim' through the 'ocean of suffering' without fear, just like a fish swims through water. " via FAQ Farm

No pics yet. I am bruised up pretty bad on my inner arm, next to the koi's head -so it looks ugly. I will post pics after I am healed up.

Tattoo plans for this weekend have changed. After much thought and discussion I have decided that the Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart that I mentioned previously will break up the cohession of the arm. I have contacted Josh at Absolute Art and asked him to draw up a Koi instead. This will finish off my upper left arm and make a half sleeve. The Koi will look better with the Asian-inspired theme of the arm. Here's a picture of a Koi that Josh did on someone else.

My chest has healed up nicely, but the hair growing back in is itching up a storm.

I'm approaching the 200 review mark over at ADD Reviews.

Hope all is well.