Ok, I figured I'd write this now, while it's still fresh in my mind. I'd been talking to my piercer about this for approximately a month or so...I spend a lot of time contemplating, and meditating to make sure my body gives me the "thumbs up"...(I don't do it just because it looks cool).
At A Glance Author Julie Contact modifiziert@yahoo.com IAM modifiziert When A week ago Artist Joel Studio Duke City Ink Location Albuquerque, NM So, about a week ago, cash in hand, I step through the familiar threshold of my home away from home...Duke City Ink. I've informed Joel, that I was on a mission. I was going to get my conch's pierced. Alas, he gets his area all set up. After getting about halfway set up, he realizes that he had actually sold his last pair of 10 gauge barbells...(we had been discussing 10 gauge eyelets)...ah, what the hell? Let's go for an 8, I say.
I watch intently as he puts on his gloves, sets up his tray, and we talk freely as if I was there on one of my patented "routine visits". I tell him he doesn't need to go through all his procedures and stuff like that, as I've been pierced by him several times before, and have in turn almost memorized his process and procedures.
As he's finishing setting everything up, and marking the teenie spots on my ears, with not a hint of nervousness (I'm completely in a zen-like state when I'm getting pierced), he asks me to lay back. He changes his gloves again, and I turn my head to the left so he can pierce the right side first...Take a deep breath in....and.....AHHHHHH FUCK!!! Ya know, it's kind of painful to start with, because its such a thick piece of the ear (that, and it was an 8 gauge needle), but it only really hurt for the first 30 seconds or so.
I sat up, and he brings me a cup of water, and I think about what happened...I got a good look at the needle that was just in my ear, and DAMN! WOOWEE! Big needle. Joel asks if I want to wait a while to do the left side. Bring it on!
I lay back down, and turn my head to the right so he can pierce the left side. I wait, as he changes his gloves yet again...maybe this is why I love my piercer so much? He's so clean and professional, but really down to earth :)
Take a deep breath in....and......PHEW, that one didn't feel bad at all! And according to Joel, they were barely bleeding! Don't get me wrong, I'll go on about that in a bit ;) I am so proud of my conch's, and so is Joel, obviously. I took a walk around Duke City to show my other "chums", (his co-workers) my conch's. I guess what really got me, is that when Joel went to throw the needles away (you know, they bend them in the middle)...he's all "Since these needles are too big to bend, I want you to watch me put them in the bio hazard needle box"...Did you just hear that? The needles were TOO BIG to bend!! *mwahaha*
Ok, to continue. Arriving home, I had gotten a phone call. As I was on the phone, I booted up the computer and got myself a drink...the only time the conch's hurt was when I actually pictured the needle going through my ear...yeow. *throbbing ears* All of a sudden, I felt something cold on my right ear as I was on the phone. No big deal, I walked to the bathroom to see what was up. Well, my ear had completely filled with blood, and was dripping on my shirt...I am SO glad I didn't wear a good shirt to get pierced in! I wasn't grossed out or anything, it was just something I'd never seen before. So pulling out the Q-Tips, I soak it all up, get all the blood out, and then clean and sterilize my ears with this soap/lotion/antibiotic/sterilizer/shtuff Joel gave me to take care of the conch's with...makes my ears feel all tingly:p
Anyways, I love them so much! I clean them 4-6 times a day...(hubby says I'm freakishly clean about that), but I asked him "Would you rather see my cleaning kit, or 2 nice big huge infections?" He didn't argue.
As of now, my conch's are doing very well, and they have recently (about 4 days ago) stopped bleeding. YAY! So, if you or someone you know wants to get their conch's pierced...or any piercing at all. Think about it. Don't get it only because it'll look cool...help it to help you define who you are as a person. Think long and hard for about a week or two. If you still want it as bad as you did when you first walked into that parlor, go for it.
This is so bad ass. Joel put me on the "hardcore hall of fame". Its a makebelieve group that have done extraordinary things body modification-wise. It doesn't exist, but I got my card punched. 10th one gives me a free trip to Hawaii (lol!) I go back in a week or so to get pictures taken. I will be in Joel's portfolio. Au revoir.