Yeah, if I were paying, I would expect to be paying for alcohol, too. Although with my religious company, it tends to be the awkward little dance while we figure out which brand of religious everyone is, and if they expect to drink or not.

I'd forgotten that Dana & I are non-pierced-ear-twins. I never did get them pierced and at this point have no interest in it. It's not like I wear any other jewelry, either, so it would be unlikely that I would wear earrings.

How long do tattoos take to heal? Does it depend on how big they are?

If you are buying someone dinner than you are buying whatever accompanies it. You're stuck with what they drink, be it beer or sodas. Now, you would expect "buyee" to follow your lead or say "do you mind if I have a beer?", but sometimes they won't. If you don't like it, don't offer to pay for dinner.

How long do tattoos take to heal? Does it depend on how big they are?

From what I remember, all of my tattoos healed up in about the same amount of time, no matter how big they were. The GCS bats on my forearm took about three weeks, which is how long I vaguely remember the giant wings on my upper back taking, too.

I really really want the next set of GCS bats on my other forearm. But I must first save up the money for that AND pester Pete into finishing the designs.

Is it itchy that whole time? I'm really bad about scratching itchy things. I might not make it three weeks.

Is it itchy that whole time? I'm really bad about scratching itchy things. I might not make it three weeks.

Not so much. When it gets too bad, I put a non-alcohol-containing lotion on it (like Burt's Bees Milk & Honey), which helps.

It's itchy for about the first week, IIRC. And my healing time was about 2 weeks, total - maybe closer to 3, like Jilli's (it's been well over a decade since my last, so my recollection is imprecise).

And the itch isn't OVERWHELMING. The answer is to lightly SLAP the tat, just don't SCRATCH.

Is it itchy that whole time?

Nope. I was only itchy for about a week and a half. The best way to combat the itching is to take a washcloth, run it under VERY VERY HOT water, wring it out thoroughly, and then press it against the tattoo. The ZOMG HOT! sensation cancels out the itching.

My tats probably had healed faster than three weeks, but that's how long I was told I had to wait before I could submerge them when taking a bath.

Nope. I was only itchy for about a week and a half. The best way to combat the itching is to take a washcloth, run it under VERY VERY HOT water, wring it out thoroughly, and then press it against the tattoo.

Blow dryer. Works wonders.

Blow dryer. Works wonders.

Oooh, good suggestion.

Joining the "suck it up and pay" crowd. It's a nice gesture on the treatee's part to check if drinks are okay, but not required. Unfortunately, sounds like you have to either stop treating or work on your polite gee-no-not-really-bothered-at-all face.

ION, dang. A drug rep's casual question about my plans for the weekend just turned into a 20-minute crash course in Miyazaki, complete with quick tours of Wikipedia, IMDB and Google Images. I think the rep is going to go hunt down Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle this weekend. Hee! (I tried to steer him away from Howl, because the end is a little abrupt and weird and possibly not the greatest choice for My First Anime Ever, but he seemed really excited at the thought of Christian Bale doing a cartoon).