The last time I talked about my nose piercing and nostril screw, I said I wasn't going to take it out for the animals anymore. I was just going to take my chances and hope for the best.

Well, that was until I heard that Simon the monkey likes to pull earrings out if he gets his hands on them. Luckily, the woman he did that to was wearing the kind with the flat backing, so it came out easily and the only injury was to the earring that Simon gnawed on before tiring of it. My nostril screw, however, is curved and would not come out so easily if Simon suddenly decided he wanted it. Needless to say, that story freaked me out a little! I do not need monkeys saying, "Ooh shiny!" and trying to take it out of my nose for me.

Since I didn't know what animals we'd be handling at the fair on Saturday, I decided to just take out my nostril screw in the morning and put it back in in the evening, just like last time. I thought it best not to take the risk, and when I told Mallory I'd taken it out for the day, she said she thought it was a good idea too.

When we hung out with crazy-mood Simon at the end of the day, he did grab my nose. I think he may have scratched me a tiny bit, but it also might have just been the dirt on his hands. Whatever the reason, by the time I got home, my nose was just slightly red and swollen, just enough so that the nostril screw was not going in.

The next day I told myself maybe it was time to part with it, even though I missed it.

Then yesterday, when I told the story to Jen, she said, "You could get it back in there!" Apparently her nose piercing site stays open for long periods of time, just like her ears. I shook my head and said my nose closes up super fast.

Still, she'd sparked just a bit of hope in me. When I got home, I grabbed my nostril screw and attempted to put it in. No luck. It is completely closed.

So that ends that, I guess. I had my nostril screw for almost exactly two and a half years and loved it (I got pierced September 13, 2002, and took it out March 12, 2005). It was one of two pieces of jewelry I ever wear (the other being my wedding ring). But realistically, piercings (much as I love them) are a bad idea for animal work, anyway. So now I'm feeling a bit naked - no piercings at all. I don't have any tattoos either. That shouldn't feel strange, but it does! I'm sure I'll get used to it after a while. I keep telling myself that now I really do look the part of an animal care worker - no piercings, minimal jewelry, no makeup, only lightly or unscented lotions, wearing jeans and tee shirts. Yep, that's me!

Good-bye, nostril screw! It's been fun. I'll miss you!

< / end dorking out >