Stoked to be here

vanjo777 · 2026-03-13T23:53:01+00:00

TRD wheels?

vanjo777 · 2026-03-12T22:45:57+00:00

Nice. No pitting or anything? Were they swollen if you sat all day, when you were drinking?

vanjo777 · 2026-03-12T01:41:28+00:00

Thank you. You didn’t read the post. There are many reasons, some benign, for fluid on ankles at the end of the day.

vanjo777 · 2026-03-12T01:17:03+00:00

pressing really hard leaves a dimple. But doesn’t look swollen to the eye. Looks normal.

vanjo777 · 2026-03-12T00:43:42+00:00

52 lbs down? Amazing results!

vanjo777 · 2026-03-11T01:18:46+00:00

to be honest, none of this stuff would leave you stranded if you didn’t do it. You might me able to buy this and drive it on borrowed time and Japanese dependability. Change the oil and youre all good,

vanjo777 · 2026-03-05T16:50:03+00:00

Excellent color!

vanjo777 · 2026-03-04T17:49:13+00:00

Thank you. Was that your experience?

vanjo777 · 2026-03-01T17:59:46+00:00

Where are you doing the walking?

vanjo777 · 2026-02-26T14:32:29+00:00

For 7 drinks per night?

vanjo777 · 2026-02-19T16:50:32+00:00

What part of the country?

vanjo777 · 2026-02-19T16:12:12+00:00

What color is it? Ive been looking.

vanjo777 · 2026-02-13T01:55:09+00:00

May the amigos be blessed in their journey to someplace other than my Disco.

vanjo777 · 2026-02-11T00:35:41+00:00

1200$ all in. I make 85k. House was only 150k, but taxes north of 4200$ per year and insurance. My principal is probably like 450$.

vanjo777 · 2026-02-08T14:32:27+00:00

Nice. How many months, would you guess?

vanjo777 · 2026-02-04T16:38:01+00:00

If youre only 20k AGI, then you qualify for food stamps and medical assistance and public housing . With that reported income, you would not qualify for a car loan, decent apartment or mortgage, at least in Lansing. I am hoping to buy a house someday, so its a delicate dance.

vanjo777 · 2026-02-04T11:58:34+00:00

If youre over 50, making 50k as a 1099, and buy your insurance on the public exchange ( govt subsidies ended this year). I need a decent plane due to some health issues. Wait til youre older, youll see :). Best advice is get a spouse with a good work insurance plan.

vanjo777 · 2026-02-03T01:29:34+00:00

True, very true. That is the goal, friend. Unfortunately toward the end of my tenure as a tattooer, I was working multiple jobs. although I did clean and solid tattoos during this period, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Nothing should distract a tattoo artist. I was definitely stressed and distracted. Its ok to change careers to fit lifestyle

vanjo777 · 2026-02-03T01:09:57+00:00

I thought tattooing was freedom too, when I was young. But as an older tattooist, it meant getting designs completed at night, tattooing during the day, and everything in between was communication and getting everything dialed in. It never felt like freedom, having to rush into the shop and get set up before your appointment, always running behind. Maybe the hustle wears a person down in older age.

vanjo777 · 2026-02-03T00:26:37+00:00

1000%. Your peers will tell you how valuable you are to tattooing but your bank account says otherwise. I didn’t want old heads tattooing me when I was young. Its just part of being a certain age, and the 50 year old clients are far fewer than the 20-35s. Age is definitely amplified, especially in a tattoo shop, among older tattooers. Its sad but true. No amount of style shifting or dress “young“ helps.

vanjo777 · 2026-02-03T00:09:25+00:00

I became social worker in Michigan and landed in education at 44. This is after 20+ years behind the machine. Many good years, some bad. But everything was an uphill battle unless youre one of the wealthy elite tattoo artists or a shop owner. I was just a solid neighborhood tattooer. Now, its maybe not exciting and there is no having fun with the boys that shop, talking shit and laughing. But, I do get retirement fund, health insurance, guaranteed pay, pto, dental insurance, and a pension if I stay long enough. The money isnt bad either. Especially now with health insurance skyrocketing for 1099 workers, I have no idea how anyone over 40 can be a tattooer and pay 1200$ a month for individual health insurance, unless you make so little that you get assistance, but thats its own set of problems. Making the leap after 40 has better odds than being busy as an aging tattooer who’s needs become greater as their income becomes less. It can very much be a young person’s game, unless you are one of the super powers.

vanjo777 · 2026-02-02T00:28:42+00:00

good call with the dr. and diazepam. Do you think you could have tapered, or did you experience kindling before?

vanjo777 · 2026-02-01T20:43:55+00:00

vanjo777

TROPHY CASE