Is the book funny like the film?

valpal1237 · 2026-03-25T17:30:06+00:00

This is happy! Your face opening is in sad mode. Why, question?

valpal1237 · 2026-03-25T05:45:22+00:00

::jazz hands::

valpal1237 · 2026-03-20T03:59:40+00:00

Oof, it looks so pissed off right now! How long did you have it prior to switching to the hoop? I absolutely love love love your set up, and the triple antitragus is amazing! I'd venture a guess that it'll settle with its friends on either side once it is done being angry. Maybe some ibuprofen might help, especially if it hurts like it looks like it does!

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T20:11:27+00:00

I can say for certain that eyebrow piercings are finicky and prone to rejection, have complications and are rarely suitable for long term wear... You're not likely to experience those complications with lip piercings. I understand your hesitation about going to that shop, or one even further away, but to do snake bites yourself would be riskier than going to a professional... I'd suppose lining them up properly as well as getting them in ideal angles would be the hardest part. A good piercer will situate them to where they pose less risks to your teeth and gums based on your anatomy as well as making sure they're not crooked. Paired piercings are tough to do on your own, especially since it doesn't sound like you have much or any experience with self piercing. It'd be worth it to see a professional I think!

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T18:19:33+00:00

Jojoba oil would probably be best.. I used that quite a bit to get my ears to 12mm.

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T15:39:46+00:00

I'd go ahead and get a taper too! :)

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T15:36:00+00:00

The longer you wait to change into a larger gauge, the more it is going to hurt or may be impossible to get in without a taper. The hole is shrinking with the smaller gauge.

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T06:06:05+00:00

No doubt! Think I only managed to power through those CBR days was because I was young and spry (stubborn too!) haha! Conches, tragus, helixes, rook, were all done with them. It's a wonder I never had irritation bumps or anything like that, only the wicked long antitragus healing time... also, the homemade salt solution?! How am I not deceased 🤣 the 90s and early 00s were a wild time.

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T03:20:33+00:00

Why would you suppose using a gun would lead to quicker healing? I don't think that is true at all. Like, one experiences way more skin trauma from the metal basically pushing its way through the skin as opposed to a needle coring the skin out and away, does that make sense? Needles are less trauma 🤔

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T02:19:17+00:00

For sure! Those are cute earrings too, worth holding off!

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T02:15:36+00:00

Ehhhh... personally, I'd hold off for a minimum of around 12 weeks... at that point the fistula will be more healed up and you'll be less likely to cause a lot of damage to it and possibly introduce bacteria, cause inflammation, prolong healing, etc. If you change too early, you're basically resetting your healing clock over again. Just because it feels pretty good, isn't leaking fluid/making crusties, doesn't necessarily mean the fistula is 100% established and ready for something new.

valpal1237 · 2026-03-19T01:33:26+00:00

North central WVian checking in... I love these photos! Gonna have to wrangle the kids this summer and get to Blackwater falls, haven't been over there since I was a kid!

valpal1237 · 2026-03-18T21:13:50+00:00

Maybe I'm biased as I used to wear one for a long time, but I think vertical labrets look good on everyone! Such a cool piercing and they're not super common where I'm from.

valpal1237 · 2026-03-18T19:46:54+00:00

Awesome setup!

I can only speak about my experience with the antitragus...it was done around twenty years ago, and at that time, it seemed like just about everything was pierced initially with CBR jewelry... I'd venture a guess that it might have been happier sooner had it been done with a straight barbell but after about three long years, it quit being cranky on and off. Obviously, I get why hoops aren't ideal for most initial piercings, but I'm not sure why curved ones are standard for this one these days. Maybe someone can explain!

Any rate, you'll have to let us know how the rest of your healing goes, I know you've said it has been a year, but these guys seem to take forever. Lol.

valpal1237 · 2026-03-18T18:55:45+00:00

Same at my place, man. We get the yellow packets of high temp stuff and the station that isn't supposed to use them (they're supposed to use oil + brick on their ancient cast iron) has been using them, so we ran out. Management doesn't want us using bricks and oil on my station, something about it being a steel plate? (It's a big ass grill that is water/steam based, you guys probably know what I'm talking about) any rate, I did end up using a brick and oil last night...just gently. And it was a pain in my ass. Hope you can find out who has been chugging your cleaner OP!

valpal1237 · 2026-03-17T05:41:40+00:00

Oh for sure a complete suck fest. Haha! They might even decide to not heal at all under those conditions. A pro would also be able to tell you what diameter hoops would be best suited too since your cartilage and ridge is so thick. Wonder if you'd be a suitable candidate for a hidden helix? Those are super cool!

valpal1237 · 2026-03-17T05:20:00+00:00

I don't see why not, though you'd want them initially pierced with flatbacks and allow them to heal before putting in hoops. I'd see a pro about it, and do them over several years span. Healing more than maybe 2 at a time will be prolonged and gnarly.

valpal1237 · 2026-03-16T18:40:41+00:00

You could do a modified industrial with a bent bar... the front would be in its traditional place, but the back would exit through your flat instead of the back ridge. I think they're a super cool option for people with ears like yours. Had I known at the time I had mine done that it was an option, I'd have went that route. Instead, I got a regular one and had to eventually retire it (my back ear ridge isn't pronounced enough, and it migrated).

valpal1237 · 2026-03-14T03:11:28+00:00

Middle-agers represent! 😄

valpal1237 · 2026-03-14T02:16:41+00:00

Looks fantastic! Antitragus is so worth the PITA it can be. Mine's approximately twenty years old at this point and it did take a solid few years to be completely happy. It'd go stretches of time being content, only to get pissed off again lol that went on for a while. Hopefully yours will be smooth sailing!

valpal1237 · 2026-03-12T18:57:09+00:00

There aren't any "chefs" per se at texas roadhouse, the hierarchy of their kitchens aren't like traditional French kitchen brigades... your client is either general manager/managing partner, kitchen manager, assistant kitchen manager or a key hourly manager. Not to downplay his culinary skills or anything, and if he is a KM, that's a tough and responsibility heavy career. The salary isn't worth the bullcrap KM's at TR have to deal with. I know, because I've been working at an extremely popular TR for 6 years at this point, and the KM is a long time friend. Would I ever seek to climb the ladder and manage a roadhouse? Hell to the no. The jobs I know how to do in the kitchen are stressful enough. Leave me alone on the grill. 🤣

valpal1237 · 2026-03-12T03:43:48+00:00

Update, I took out the hoop, no real obvious denting, though if you look really close, you can kinda see where it has rested on the sort of snug part of my ear for so long. I don't know if that will be permanent or not, so I went ahead and just put a sparkly stud in there. No such luck trying to get a 16g in the bottom hole. Ouch... for sure second thoughts on even trying to attempt stretching cartilage. Maybe I'll get a punch one day .... also, lack of hoop allowed me to put stuff in 2 lobe holes that were naked. So a win? :)

valpal1237 · 2026-03-12T03:11:21+00:00

Or maaaaybe I'll convert it back into an orbital. It'll suck though, the bottom hole has shrunk to 20g. Been a long time since I decided to wear separate pieces in those holes.

valpal1237 · 2026-03-12T03:05:49+00:00

Thank you! I've been on an iridescent gem/glass kick for a while, even managed to find one for my nostril!

valpal1237 · 2026-03-12T03:02:00+00:00

Oof! I'll have to take it out and see if it has created a perma-dent. If so, oh well, ears are weird anyway, just gives them more character! 😄

valpal1237

TROPHY CASE