At A Glance
Author	deathXninja
Contact	deathXninja@bme.anon
When	A year ago
Artist	Mike
Studio	Rites Of Passage II
Location	Davenport IA

Everyone can tell you about the feeling of the worst paper cut they have ever gotten. Thats my story, my wonderful paper cut ears.

I had been stretching my ears slowly over the years, but always needed more. I had 00 for about a year and then went to half an inch. I had my half inch gauges in my ear for about another year or so when I decided that they too were a little too small. I then went on to stretch to three-fours. I was somewhat happy with this size because everyone around me was smaller and the people who were larger, I did not regularly see. Well the day came that I was sick of my little three-fourths of an inch gauges and I really wanted to go bigger. Unfortunately, I had run out of ear to stretch. I wanted to go bigger than one inch, but I have really small lobes and that is about as big as I can get it, unless anyone would like to tell me how I could get them bigger.

So my journey began..... I am new to the Iowa/Illinois area. I was visiting here at the time I wanted to get scalpelled. I went to about three different shops and I got laughed at for even asking if they could scalpel my ears. I was told by three different piercers that I could not get them scalpelled unless I wanted to drive to Chicago. I knew someone around here could do it, so I keep looking.

While I was running out of places to look, I just happen to see this little building on the side of Brady St. after leaving another shot, so I said, what the hell, lets check this out before giving up. So I walk in and talk to the guy at the desk, his name is Mike. I ask, can you scalpel my ears to an inch? He kindly replies, "of course". Sweet, I was set. I brought in my jewelry to get autoclaved and had to wait until sat when I had time to get it done.

Well know I am nervous as all hell, being cut didn't bother me as much as not knowing about the guy who was doing it. I came in on Saturday, pumped to go but still weary of the situation ahead. Then I see Mike set everything up and get everything ready. I watch him, and start thinking, this guy is a pro, no problems. He set everything up and got me ready to do the first ear. The whole time he was setting up, I was surprised to see how many times he changed his gloves. I have never seen someone at a tattoo shop be so clean before.

I am sitting in the chair, just waiting for the pain. He asks me if I am OK, and throughout the process keeps making sure I am doing alright. He made me feel like a completely pussy the way he was talking. The pain was no where near as bad as I thought. It was like a very warm sensation and the feeling of a paper cut, more annoying than painful.

So when the cutting first began, I felt a tad bit of a sharp pain. Then he pulled my ear tight and continued to cut. I could feel the scalpel moving back in forth in my ear. I knew exactly where he was in my ear and where the blade was. Then the blood came, and I am glad I did not wear a shirt I loved. There was so much blood. It was just pouring down my shirt. I felt like I was in Friday the 13th and Jason Voorhies just stabbed me in the side of the head. The amount of blood made me realize there should have been more pain than there was.

The first ear was done, and I needed a smoke break. I was outside jumping around trying to use off some of the adrenaline pumping through me. I had so much energy, and I knew sitting in a chair would not be easy. I talked to Shoey, my new tattoo artist, outside and realized I had found the coolest bunch of guys and they are great piercers and artists.

Onto ear two, the easier of the ears. I am sitting down pumped to begin, and still thinking about how clean this guy is. Here he comes to cut the ear. I was ready for it and knew what would happen. It went by fast and I don't really recall much about the second ear. I just remember him being done so quick I was amazed.

So I am ready to leave, and I am told about how to take care of it and what to do, even though I already knew. Then I know I have to tip him, out of respect for being so clean, doing a great job, and just for me feeling comfortable being there. So he receives a nice tip.

Throughout the whole process, my biggest memory is the cleanliness of the shop. I used to live in Arizona, and had seen few shops this clean. And I have seen few shops in which I am comfortable around the people enough to enjoy being there. I also remember listening to Scissor Fight- Blizzards, Buzzards, Bastards and a few other song, which no one else I know had heard, so that was a bonus.

All in all, I would say my experience was exciting, and I was lucky to find a piercer that has a good understanding of what he is doing and is very clean. If anyone reads this, I hope they were not too bored. I tried to recall the event as well as I could. It was low in real pain, but had a nice burning feeling. Not a bad experience. Well worth it.

Thank you Mike. You own.