At A Glance
Author	rwethereyet
Contact	rwethereyet@bme.anon
IAM	rwethereyet
When	N/A
Artist	Christine Stead
Studio	NeoPrimitive
Location	Hanover, Ontario

All my life the only piercing I ever wanted was my septum. That was due to my exposure to National Geographic at a young age at my grandmas house.
As a teen, it was becoming more and more popular for guys to have their ear pierced. My mom even offered to pay for me to get it done on more than one occasion.

One problem though...only freaks get their ears pierced.

For me it was never a matter of sexual orientation. I don't know what side means what, not that it even matters anymore now anyway.
I just did not see ear piercing as being something for me.
So I used that line for a great number of years.

My septum did eventually get done, my first hole, I was like 21.
Next came my nipples, retired.
Then my PA.
Then a 9x10ga scrotal ladder.

But my ears, they nagged at me. Always nagging at me, gnawing on my mind. And bringing to mind so many questions as well. Sure I will admit that I did intend on getting my ears done eventually, but when, well, that was not a big deal, I was not in any sort of rush with the matter.

This feeling in my mind culminated one week when in passing I mentioned it at the shop, NeoPrimitive.
Really good people and really good tattoo and piercing shop, as well as my branding shop too.
Doug, the husband and in my opinion the best shop wench there ever was sort of nodded his head and that was that when I brought up the idea of me doing my ears. He had recently begun to gauge his right ear to catch up to his left ear. So in a way, I guess I could partially, or should give him credit for my pain.

Pain, yeah, that was my number one reason to give to people when they asked why my ears were not pierced. I flat out told them that getting my ears pierced would hurt. So to the people that knew of my other holes it was a big joke. While in my mind it was actual fact of the matter truth.

The idea had built and built for too long, far too long. So on a Wednesday morning in November I left an IM for Doug telling him to get some 6ga stuff ready for that night and that I would be getting my ears done. I had also emailed him at home and the shop. I was going to get my ears done. From work at lunch I called to confirm a spot for me. It was then that I faced a few laughing moments and reassurances that yes I wanted it done, and that yes it was me.

Christine and Doug had heard my opinion on getting my ears pierced time and time again. Even when I showed up after work to get it done Christine could still not believe that I was getting my ears done.

The jewellry was ready, claved up for me that day, 6ga x 3/4" CBR's, big and beautiful.
I guess there are a few reasons for 6ga to start with. Like the fact I intend on stretching anyway so why mess around with a bunch of other sizes seemed to be the main reason that was also the easiest to explain to others as well.

When it came time for me to get done, as usual I took off my shoes to relax a wee bit more. Christine, even though she has done a few procedures on me already went through everything all over again. Telling me about the fresh needle that would be used for each ear. Telling me about the juice she was cleaning my ear with. Telling me how there will be a slight pressure as the needle goes through my lobe.

Yeah...slight my ass!

Anyway, once my ears were cleaned up we discussed placement of the new holes in my head. I wanted them high on my lobe so that in theory I would have lots of tissue then to stretch with. Even though I am taking my time and plan to continue to take my time to stretch.

Marks in place and okay by me with a look in the mirror it is time to begin.

I remember her asking me if I was ready.
As always I tell her no...then I slow my breathing down...getting into my happy place.
She then tells me on three...I continue my breathing as she counts down...1 - 2 - and she shoves the needle in my ear - 3.
The needle through my ear, Doug takes a couple shots with the camera as blood begins to flow.
Was that ever RUDE I tell them.
And really it was, I honestly felt that it hurt more than most of my scrotals. Christine then runs the ring through chasing out that crazy 6ga needle.
Now for the left ear.
Same preparation as the right ear, and the same countdown too.
It works for me and I have asked her to pierce me that way. She lets me get into my happy place and then counts down for me as she runs me through.
The left ear however proved to be stiffer. My lobe actually grabbed onto the bevel of the needle.
Now that was IGNORANT I tell them.
More pics, but no blood this time.
The rings being installed were fine by comparison to the feeling of the needle running through my lobe.

My right ear decided to be rather rude for quite a while and bled quite freely for some time. Even with pressure it continued to bleed, then the application of some stop bleed only stopped it momentarily.
Even after it had stopped and I was just chatting with them preparing to leave the shop some 30 minutes later it decided to start bleeding again. So back into the piercing room I go with blood running down my neck.

The blood was really my fault, I tend to have quite thin blood so when I intend on getting some work done I will drink apple juice for a few days prior to the appointment. For me it seems to have a coagulant effect of some sort. Not entirely sure why, but it works.

The bleeding stops again and I am off to go home...along with a handful of tissue in case it starts up again. Which it did. So I drove home with the wad of tissue held to my neck, not touching my ear at all. Just let the blood try and cauterize itself as I drove home. Which it did in the 25 minute drive home. The tissues, when I got home were sopping wet to the point that they were saturated so much that they themselves dripped blood. Needless to say they were thrown out after I squeezed them to watch how much blood I had lost. I guess I am strange that way.

I never really said much when I got home. Just went to the bathroom, took off my clothes to get a shower. The blood on my shirt though, there was a lot of it. So I did up my laundry right then.

My beard/side burns, I could feel all the blood dried into it. I usually do not take long showers, let alone hot ones, but found myself using one tonight in an attempt to clean myself up. I did not even actually touch my ears during the shower. Just allowed the water to flow over my ear. The stream not even hitting my ear directly either. Hopefully this would keep the blood plug in place, and it did. Although my side burns were still napped with blood I had managed to get the majority of it out.

I pretty much took a leave it alone approach to caring for my ears. It wasn't until the next night in the shower that the blood plugs were removed from my ears and I began my helichrysm water treatment. That was all I used, 3 times a day, a cotton pad with some helichrysm water held to my ear. Within a week the crystals had begun and by the end of 2 weeks in my mind they were completely healed.

I do not know what more to say for healing practices. I showered twice a day, used the helichrysm water and took my vitamins, E, C and Zinc.

It will be 8 weeks since they were done on January 1, 2004 and I have still to begin my stretching process. Although the jewellery is on order. I am not sure how big I will go. The only thing I know for sure is that I am not in any great rush to get there. I will take my time.

So now...I am a real freak after all...at least in my mind.