So in May,for my 31st....I mean 29th birthday,I'm getting a tattoo. It's commemorating my life-long obsession with UM.
What I'm having trouble deciding,is which UM symbol to go with.

Being a traditionalist,I most certainly want the pre-2000 moniker.

So which of these 3,would be best? Even more strangely, I'm contemplating getting the 800-number as well (which now belongs to a law office,I know because I have tried to buy it in the past). 800-number? Or no?
Keep in mind UM is a part of my everyday life,and everyone knows it's my biggest obsession in life,and I really don't care what other people think of me. That being said,I'm still a lady,so I intend upon getting it on my upper back,near the nape of my neck,and I have very long hair that will cover it if need be. It's basically there for me,knowing it's there....and so they can identify my body in case I'm found decomposing in a gutter,which if I have to go,it would be the best way to go out,for me anyway.

I trust you people to guide me to the right choice. :crazy:

You probably won't like my opinion. You're only 31, and you may regret the tattoo later in life. It's just my personal opinion that tattoos are nasty. In all honesty, I think all three tattoo choices are icky. JMHO.

I'd go with the first one, but without the smoke-black background, just the bars and words. It'd look a lot more interesting if it looked more natural for your skin instead of like a posted picture. ;)

I already have 2 tattoos. Both on my back. One of them,the one I got when I was 17,is just plain ugly. But because it's on my back,I never see it,so it doesn't bother me in the least. The other one is a small musical bars and staff with the musical notes for Mozart's 7th symphony. That's on the back of my right shoulder. Again,I never see it.

So,even if if I ever regretted a UM tattoo,it wouldn't bother me because I'd never see it. And I'm one of those people that wouldn't care if other people think they were ugly. But,no one can see any of them,because my clothing covers them.
That being said,believe it or not,I agree with you that tattoos look trashy. I really do. I'd never want one that was on a spot on my body that could be seen with clothes on,like my arms,legs,neck,chest,face (oh those face tattoo people are weird).

Though I can also say about this particular one,having been so obsessed with UM from 8 years old (I was the ONLY 8 year old who dreamed of Robert Stack as my future husband). It's not one that I'd regret. But again,I'm also the type of person who doesn't care much about whats going on in the places I can't see. Which is why my hideous tramp stamp doesn't bother me in the least. Hell,I can't see it unless I contort myself,so it's ok staying there.

But,I've thinking about this tattoo for many,many years now.
And as far as the background smoke and such,that's where I'm stuck. I agree with you and know what you mean about it looking more natural on the skin,as opposed to a picture plastered on someones skin. However,I'm not 100% if I'm going for a tattoo that looks really great,or one that is basically a stamp on my upper back that may look stupid to all others,but really mean something to me. I'm stuck with choosing which look I'm going for. Does that make any sense?

Thanks for the input from you both!!!!

Honestly, you really should just get the phone number. That will have a lot more intrigue than the logo.

If you can get a good tattoo artist that is good with 3D tattoos, the last one would be best.