JoeJoesDojo

Butterfly and rose tattoo: This was for Chrysalis’s dad who gave them their name. Chrysalis wanted to remember him with a tattoo.

Medical Symbol tattoo: This tattoo is when Chrysalis went into medical school for nursing. Nursing is Chrysalis’s life, this is their calling & who they will be for life. This is not something Chrysalis chose. It was what Chrysalis was forced into. Chrysalis feels so blessed and happy that this is what they do for a living. Chrysalis was forced into nursing because their aunt and grandmother became extremely ill. Chrysalis had to take care of of both of them. These people ended up dying. Both of them made Chrysalis promise Chrysalis would go into nursing. Chrysalis did and is now in pre-nursing school. Once Chrysalis has completed pre-nursing school, they will push as hard as they can and go into nursing school. Chrysalis will then become the best nurse ever.

Rose with butterfly coming out of it tattoo: This is one of Chrysalis’s favorite tattoos. Chrysalis’s butterfly obsession began at 9 years old. Chrysalis’s father died. Chrysalis was told butterflies were reincarnated souls. Chrysalis’s teenage years were a really hard time in their life. Chrysalis’s mom used to tell Chrysalis they were just in their cocoon stage, developing into a beautiful butterfly. After huge struggles Chrysalis got this tattoo to represent their butterfly coming out of its cocoon to represent a whole new Chrysalis.

Hurting butterfly tattoo: This is butterfly is to represent all of the hurt and pain Chrysalis has gone through in their life. No matter how successful Chrysalis gets, they have to remember all the pain and suffering they went through to get there.

Traveling butterfly tattoo: This is Chrysalis’s traveling butterfly tattoo. It is to remind Chrysalis that they always need to be traveling and going somewhere.

Girl Scouts butterfly tattoo: The G and S stand for Girl Scouts. Chrysalis is forever a member of the Girl Scouts. It’s to remind Chrysalis of where they came from. Chrysalis was at Girl Scout camp when their father died.

Butterfly fleur de lis tattoo: Chrysalis got this shortly this tattoo shortly after Hurricane Katrina. It is to remind Chrysalis they can rebuild anything. Chrysalis got this one after their body had to be rebuilt. Chrysalis is most likely going to keep this tattoo. Chrysalis had thought about having this tattoo covered up or removed. With everything that happened with Katrina and everything their body went through having to be reformed, Chrysalis has decided to keep it as a reminder of being reformed.

Watercolor Butterfly tattoo: Chrysalis wanted to remind themselves of the watercolors and the art of Monet.

Butterfly tattoo: This was an easy show off to be skinny tattoo. Chrysalis used to be 300 lbs and showing off their stomach was not something they could do. Chrysalis can now easily show off their stomach without any reservation.

Butterfly next to ear tattoo: This tattoo has a lot of meaning for Chrysalis. This is Chrysalis’s dad whispering into their ear. The tattoo is him is giving Chrysalis all of the great advice that he would have if he had been alive throughout the years.

Hope butterfly tattoo:  This is Chrysalis’s hope tattoo. It’s their tattoo to remind themselves to always have hope no matter what goes on in life. To be there in the present moment. To have hope things will get better.

Heart tattoo: This is Chrysalis drunk tattoo. Chrysalis got really drunk one night. A guy said he would give Chrysalis a tattoo for their number. Chrysalis gave him a fake number, he game Chrysalis a real tattoo.

Friendship butterfly tattoo: This tattoo is about Chrysalis’s friends. It represents that they are always changing. The 3 hearts represents the past the present and the future. It is also a reminder that friendships should sometimes be let go and there is nothing wrong with that, but then also that friendship needs to be looked at, admired, and kept safe.

Snail tattoo: A band called Fun, formerly known as The Format, had a song, “Snails.” One line reads, “Snails see the benefits, the beauty in every inch.” Blackout got this tattoo because Snails is one of their favorite songs.

Cover up tattoo: Blackout had an argument with the tattoo artist that did many of their earlier tattoos. It was a snooty tattoo studio. Blackout is having all of the tattoos from that studio covered up. That’s why there’s so much black on their arm.

J.D.P. tattoo: This was JDP’s first tattoo. JDP’s mom bought them this tattoo. The letters are their initials. Most of the rest of this tattoo was done in prison.

Iron Cross tattoo: This was an Aryan brotherhood affiliation tattoo. JDP had to earn this tattoo by drawing blood from an uncommoner.

4-13-09 DOA Skull tattoo: The 4 13 and 9 is mind body and spirit. The DOA is Dead Man Incorporated from a Baltimore prison gang.

PAIN tattoo: The pain on the knuckles tattoo is because JDP has seen a lot of pain, and brought a lot of pain. PAIN also fits four letters, four knuckles.

777 tattoo: This tattoo is for JDP’s birth date. There also needs to be an 11 in there. JDP was born 7/11/77.

Baltimore tattoo: JDP grew up in Baltimore.

Skull tattoo: JDP tattooed their whole left arm with a pencil and staple during administrative segregation in prison.

Tribal tattoo: The arm bands were done in the late 90s. JDP wanted one, JDP made a lot of young dumb decisions.

RIP Laura tattoo: Laura was an ex of JDP’s. JDP added RIP because they were no longer together. Laura is not dead. Laura is still alive and doing really well. The RIP keeps people from asking questions. JDP said, “It’s stupid to get a woman’s name tattooed on your arm.”

Hard Knock Life tattoo: JDP has done a lot of prison time. Prison is the university of hard knocks. On the bottom is a tribal skull. JDP was being a guinea pig for a guy.

Red Eye Skull tattoo: This is one of JDP’s tattoos that came from a studio.

Goodfella tattoo: This tattoo also came from a studio. This is for their other two brothers. All three of them have the same exact tattoo. They were called the Goodfellas.

V1W tattoo: This is from another Baltimore street gang.

No More Drama tattoo: This is for two people: JDP’s brother, and JPD’s and best friend. Both of them were lost from an Opioid addiction.

Kanji Tattoo: This means, “live for today.” Because of the life JDP was living they might not be here tomorrow. JDP said, “So live every day like it might be your last.”

America tattoo: This was just for America, and Southern Pride. The eagle with the American and confederate flags.

Brave Heart tattoo: Joejoe did not get this or the dragon tattoo story.

Phoenix tattoo: This will be the rare tattoo without a story. The owner of the tattoo allowed me to take the picture. They did not speak enough English for me to get the story of the tattoo. I did not speak enough Mandarin to ask for the story. They did keep stating, “from dust to bird.” Deep, in a poetic way.

Gemini tattoo: they knew their first tattoo would be the Gemini symbol. They feel like their body embraces that personality. They wanted their first tattoo to represent a thing that represents who they are.

Kanji star tattoo: The kanji is one their best and oldest friend’s names. Their friend has their name tattooed in kanji. Their friend wanted to get a best friend tattoo. They decided to get this tattoo just in case they someday weren’t be friends anymore. It’s been 23 years, and they are still friends.

Precious Moments tattoo: It’s an angel and a devil. They knew for the longest time they wanted a Precious Moments Angle tattoo. This was to mirror the Gemini idea of two sides in balance.

Calvin and Hobbes tattoo: They love the books, for both the humor and the more adult tones. They knew they wanted Calvin and Hobbes adventure scene tattoo. They love the adventures they go on and the fun they have as friends.

Rocket Raccoon tattoo: It’s from the Marvel character. Rocket is their favorite comic book character. Rocket  is small and vulnerable, but also immensely skilled. Rocket doesn’t let anything slow him down. This is their connection to the tattoo.