This session was the first time I had the inside of an arm tattooed. I've known for a long time from talking to other people with tattoos that this is one of the more sensitive areas on the body to have tattooed. A very easy way to confirm this is to just pinch the inside of your arm moderately hard and compare that to pinching the skin over your bicep muscles. There's a difference, right?

I got through the session just fine but I admit that it was twice as painful as the previous eight sessions. After about the first hour and a half my endorphins kicked in and it actually started feeling good. Too bad Joe's arm was tired and he had another appointment, otherwise I could have let him drill on me for a few more hours!

After three or four days of healing it became apparent that some if this line work wasn't deep enough and thus it began to fade as the top layers of skin scabbed and fell off. (Honestly, that "scabbing and falling off" part is not as nasty as it sounds.) I'm sure that it'll take no time at all to re-do and to make sure the needles are nice and deep.

A special treat on this page is actual captions for the photos. I didn't have my friend Cheryl take any shots showing my body so I felt the need to provide extra information. Believe me, folks, you don't want to see the rest of me with my shirt off (shudder.)

I can just hear you wondering. "But what is it?" Well, it's a Live Oak tree planted beside a stream or a river. I didn't know what was going to be on the inside of my arm when I began this process but eventually inspiration struck when I read Psalm 1:4.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
-Psalm 1:4 NIV