dysmas:

I think tattoos are a good way to express one's self, of course some people go overboard, (or some say they do but who are we do judge)

I think they are, too . . . and my dad and I were talking recently about folks who cover themselves with tattoos . . . I don't think it's bad or anything, but the more "clutter" there is, the more it seems to detract from the art of the individual tats they have.

My tattoos consist of my family crest, a symbol of paradox. a sword and shield tribute to my first son. My nest will be a tribute to both Operation Iraqi Freedom and my youngest son, ( whom I left when he was only three months old) It will have Operation Iraqi Freedom in a curve. Under it it will say 2003-2004. Under that it will have my son's name (Patrick) a small symbol of Greek Tradegy faces, ( both happy and sad) Happy to serve and sad to leave. The whole thing will be engulfed in flames to symbolize the pain of seperation and war.

That is awesome, dysmas. I really like that. I am considering getting one with something for my boys . . . I had thought about getting a tat with two little monkeys and the boys' names (ha ha ha). Yours sound really interesting and meaningful, and having experienced deployment from the spouse's end your description of it and the reasons behind it nearly moved me to tears. Beautiful. I'd love to see some pics.

Of course we have another baby on the way but since I dont know the gender yet I have no Idea. But we are really praying for a girl. But the "three muskateers" would be cool though.

Congrats on the baby on the way. I had hoped to have another baby with my husband (and we really wanted a little girl) but now that he's divorcing me I am just the momma to two mischevious little boys . . . I think if we'd had another it probably would have been another little boy, and that idea's pretty appealing, too. Best wishes for your family . . . I hope you get your girl, but three little boys could be pretty fun.

I had thought about getting a tat with two little monkeys and the boys'

, now THAT would be interesting!
Err...

and having experienced deployment from the spouse's end

nope I was the one who was deployed, my awsome wife was stuck home with the boys. I can not imagine it, she is truely a woman (being that she is of the ripe old age of 23 )

I've said before, some people like to call me "hero" and agian how I detest hering that. I would argue that if there was ANY hero in my family, it would have to be my wife. I simply had to do my job, she, on the other hand, was stuck paying the bills, taking care of our quarters, having to deal with a newborn AND a toddler!, and our seperation.

dysmas:

now THAT would be interesting!

he he he . . . I'm really nuts.

nope I was the one who was deployed

I'm sorry . . . I wasn't clear with my reply . . . I know you're a soldier.

I think it's awesome the way you support your wife and recognize her hardships and accomplishments. That's beautiful.

"""""You are a brilliant girl, but damn if you don't have a problem with tact . . . that will come back to bite you in the ass later in life."""""

Thanks, not for the brilliant comment so much, but for the tact comment.  It made me smile.  You see, I have friend I met on this site that gets that same comment....a little too often.  He's admired by me more than anyone else I've ever known. 

I'm sure it will come back to "bite me in the ass", but you know, keeping your mouth shut does do, and sometime that bite's a little worse.

Trinitie;)

Those are beautiful tats gals.  I am not a body art person but would be bored out of my mind if everyone were like me   I like earrings so it would be hypocritical to judge piercings of other kinds.  I'm happy if it makes you feel good about yourself.  Thanks for sharing.

Trinitie:

Thanks, not for the brilliant comment so much, but for the tact comment. It made me smile. You see, I have friend I met on this site that gets that same comment....a little too often. He's admired by me more than anyone else I've ever known.

*sigh*

Jill:

Those are beautiful tats gals.

Thanks.

Thanks for sharing.

It was my pleasure.

Thanks Texas Wahine, no problem.
Yeah my wife absolutly does deserve credit. Sometimes I feel that the role a spouse has in a deployment is overshadowed by the one who was actually deployed. Both parties suffer. There are different opinions as to who suffers more but there is no problem with that. I think that, basicly, whoever the deployment is harder on, for whatever reason, is the one who suffers the most. And, perhaps, the children.

This is my lower back ink:

D and I both have 5 tatts each...and I'm not done yet.  The ones I want to get next are katana or hebrew characters for 'courage' and 'wisdom' on the tops of my feet....than I think I'll be done.  I don't want to, as Dysmas said, get so many that they get lost and you can't see the awesome work that Matt put into them.

 

dysmas:

And, perhaps, the children

I think that's the thing that most people miss . . . the children handle a lot of stress and difficulty . . . they are little heroes.

dharma:

This is my lower back ink:

That's very interesting. I like it.

D and I both have 5 tatts each...and I'm not done yet. The ones I want to get next are katana or hebrew characters for 'courage' and 'wisdom' on the tops of my feet....than I think I'll be done.

That's really cool. When Adrian comes home he plans to get some work done, and I'm interested to see what he thinks about the whole "getting a tattoo" process. He has several he wants to get. I like the characters idea a lot . . . I like things that have personal meaning, and the characters make it not so obvious. I like it a lot.

I don't want to, as Dysmas said, get so many that they get lost and you can't see the awesome work that Matt put into them.

Right.

I'm amazed at the photographic talent of so many on JU.