I've been thinking of getting a second tattoo for quite some time. What I've been fixated on for the past year and a half (yes, I put a lot of thought into tattoos, logically enough) is a sequence of alchemy symbols. I like how the symbols look, they're unusual (I can find about 6 alchemy-based tattoos on the internet, and I have to explain what the symbols are to everyone I show them to), and I like the metaphysical meanings that are assigned to the chemical substances.

I recently had someone redraw all the symbols so they were a similar style, and less blocky than the originals I had. Obviously, that's the image on the right. From top to bottom: antimony, silver, sulfur, mercury, projection, quintessence (with an hourglass inside).

Originally, I had intended to get them running down my spine from nape to above my bra strap. Recently, I've been thinking about getting them smaller, on the inside of my forearm, so I could actually see it.

So I'm taking an opinion survey: what do you think of the tattoo? Back or forearm? I'm pretty sure they'd have to be blackwork - someday I'm going to get something in color, though.

ETA: The metaphysical meanings of the symbols would be: wild spirit of nature in man, feminine body, spirit, the intellect & transcendence over struggle, combined, quintessence of Timepiece

So, today I discovered a downside to the tongue pierce. I have lost the ability to whistle. I don't know why this seems like such a big deal, it's not like I do it often, but I'm so disappointed. Wah.

Well, I think I've found the most effective diet ever. I got my tongue pierced.

So now I'm on a total liquid diet. I tried some oatmeal and pudding, but even those got caught around the post and were hard to get off without pulling on it, so I gave up. And the place I went to recommends no dairy (like milkshakes) because it's more bacteria friendly.

And even the stuff I can have, I'm avoiding, because every time I put anything in my mouth besides pure water or ice, I have to rinse with mouthwash. And I'm lazy.

I chose now to do it because my branch has been under renovation, and the staff just went back to get ready to open. So I'll have limited contact with the public for a couple of weeks, while I relearn how to talk. Well, that was the theory - actually you can barely notice a difference in my speech, and once I get the shorter bar (after the swelling goes down), it should be unnoticeable. But, no way of knowing that in advance.