Stab Me in the Ear!

While my sister, Melanie, was visiting, we decided to take a girl trip into San Francisco with my BFF, Shelbi, and sister-in-law, Jennifer. We are all Disney freaks and wanted to see the Disney Family Museum. When we arrived, the weather was perfect, and we had an absolutely amazing time at the museum. I would highly recommend it if you are in the area and love Disney.

We talked about getting new piercings while Mel was here too. We thought it might be fun to have it done while we were in the city. Shelbi found a safe place to get our piercings done, so we headed over there after the museum. However, typical San Francisco, there was no parking for miles around the place. It was getting late, so we decided to just drive back home and get our piercings done at a tattoo place I knew in Lodi.

I used to go to a guy in Stockton for all of my piercings. He is amazing. I call him "Scary piercer guy" because he looks like he's been shot in the face with buck shot. He has metal everywhere. I don't even want to know what else he has pierced. The place he worked at closed recently, and I didn't know where he went; so I figured we could try this new place in Lodi. How bad could it be?

We got there about 45 minutes before closing, but Lodi piercing guy was more than happy to help us out. We all wanted hoops instead of straight bars. He warned us that it can be hard to put a curved hoop through a straight piercing. He said that it was more difficult, but he would be happy to do it if we wanted. Scary piercer guy could do it. Couldn't be that hard.

Jen went first while Mel and I watched. She was getting a single rim (helix) piercing.

The guy put the needle through. No problem. Then he had some trouble getting the hoop in as he had warned. He kept pushing and grinding it until Mel and I both looked nauseous. Jen was a trooper though. She didn't say a word. Then it really started to bleed, so he opted to pierce it again. The second time he got the hoop in, but his hands started shaking. Mel turned to me and whispered "I don't think I want to do this anymore." I was starting to have some doubts myself.

Jen made it through and seemed happy and still alive, so Mel decided to go for it. She opted for the double rim. 

I thought that was a bit ambitious considering what we had just seen. He was able to get both of Mel's piercings done and the hoops in without much fuss. We cheered her on. Then he got the pliers to pinch the hoops closed. He started fumbling and took a long time to close them. At one point, he actually pinched her ear with the pliers instead of the hoop. Now I was really getting nervous because I had one of the most challenging piercings - a rook; and I didn't trust this guy after he botched both Mel and Jen's.

I know what you're thinking, "Michelle, why didn't you run screaming when you had the chance?" You're right. I should have, but Mel and Jen were done, and I knew Shelbi was going to do it no matter what. If I didn't, that day would have forever been known as "The day Michelle pussed out on the piercings." I figured temporary physical pain was better than a lifetime of emotional beat downs from them.

I did make one smart move and refused the hoop. I wanted a cute hoop because I didn't want to have to change it later. Rook piercings are incredibly painful since it is pure cartilage. I didn't want him trying to power a hoop through it. Told him I was okay with a bar even though I wasn't. As expected, the piercing was painful, and it seemed to take him forever to push the needle through. At one point I considered offering to finish it if he couldn't just get it done. The bar went in quickly. Then the little ball that goes on the end started rolling around the tray. As he chased it around, he leaned over while still holding on to the bar in my new piercing. I literally had to turn my head to keep him from ripping it. It started to bleed. What a surprise. He apologized for "jerking" my ear. All I could say was "Dude." I didn't want to say what I was really thinking while he was still trying to get the ball on which he continued to fumble with until I wanted to bite him!

Then it was Shelbi's turn. She was getting a double forward helix which was next after mine in difficulty and pain.

She also opted for studs instead of hoops thinking it would save her. He got the first one through quickly. Then followed it with the stud. When he tried to put the front on it, he realized he had put the back in the wrong way. Yep, he had to take it out and pierce the same spot again to put it in the right way. At least he got the second one in the first time. All of the pics were taken from the internet as ours were too scary to post.

We all left there holding our ears and saying bad words. Later on, we couldn't stop laughing about it because we're sick like that (and we drank alcohol to ease the pain). We did make up a few names for Lodi piercer guy, but I can't repeat them here...lol ;P And yes, I was motivated enough to find Scary piercer guy. Thankfully, he is still in town. If we get past the trauma, we're all set for next year!

Moral of the story: Do your research before letting some guy who claims to be a piercer stab you with a big needle.