The Decrepitron 5000

I always forget that I'm over 18 and can do stuff without permission, you know?

Back in high school, cartilage piercings were all the rage. My bff Maria was [and remains] so rad and she had a bunch of ear piercings. I didn't even have the lobes pierced anymore so I decided I needed to go out and get something done.

Of course the local Claire's was the only place to go. I mean why would one even consider anywhere else? You mean piercings are done elsewhere without using a gun? People use needles to pierce? Blow my mind!

So I ended up with three cartilage piercings over a couple years. They never healed correctly, probably because they were done with the guns. Studio piercers have known for years that the guns pose risk, including infections and severe tissue damage. Awesome!

I work at a fairly conservative company, whose dress-code mandates something like "only one earring in each earlobe" kinda deal, so I don't have to many options for piercing placement.

That's why the Industrial piercing is awesome. It sits high up at the top of the ear, easily covered for work. And it's got a little toughness to it, but it's not too extreme if my boss or my dad sees it. [Hi dad!]

So upon recommendations from a couple people I know, as well as some favorable net reviews, I went to Laughing Buddha Piercing in Upland, California [formerly Puncture]. The guys there were really knowledgeable, and they even turned down three just-turned-16 year olds while I was there for not being with their parent or having their birth certificate. That's hardcore.

They weren't snooty or rude like some mod studios I've been to before, and also weren't out to make a quick buck [i.e. turning down the teen girls and also telling me they couldn't pierce my left ear because the ridge wasn't prominent enough].

I think it was Airick who pierced me, and I liked him because he reminded me of my friend Dan with his long beard. He stretched like he was running the 300 yard dash and that was awesome.

So this is it after a week. It gets a little angry if I hit it with my glasses or my headset at work. Plus I can't sleep on that ear, which is a major bummer. I'm pleased with it though.

The point I was originally going to make was how I feel old thinking about this stuff. In the sense of "I'm not hip to what the kids are doing." But now the kids are doing what I was doing, and if I try to explain that they're like "Whatever Grandpa Megan, let me go back to buying shirts that look like they were found at a thrift store" and I'm just like shakin' my fist and telling them to stay off my lawn.

People who sing in the shower - I dedicate this post to you.

Music:Beulah - Hey Brother