Ginger, if you have an ear syringe, you can gently flush the ear with a solution of peroxide in warm water, or dilute warm salt water. The warmth will feel good, the flush will rinse out any solid particles that might further irritate or itch, and the salt or peroxide will help disinfect. Follow with a dab of cortisone or bacitracin, or neosporin if you tolerate neosporin.

And I've done similar, embarrassingly frequently, but with no puncture. I do have a disposition to ear infections, though, and I gently pack an injured ear canal with cotton, in case of swelling. Had one swell shut once--never again. Packing was my doc-at-the-time's advice, and it's always helped. Funny hearing for the day or two it takes for the infection to clear, but worth it.

What's the most desirous way to respond to a Kindly Brontosaurus?

Dinosaur Comics must hold the answer to that somewhere.

Maddeningly Indifferent Apatasaurus.

What's the most desirous way to respond to a Kindly Brontosaurus? Blithe and Clueless Ankylosaurus?

I've been KB'd, and it makes me want to punch the offender in the face. Instead, I make eye contact back, smile, and walk away.

Oooh! Punch to the face was what I was going to say. IRL probably eyerolling and spiteful out-passive-aggressing.

Hey shrift I just realized that Ecuador will be playing France while we're in Quito.

Uh oh. That's going to be an interesting time.

Just Trying To Do Her Job Mammal is my normal mode. And if my job includes trying to keep customers happy (as it often has), I'm going to be trying to do that whether said customer is hovering nearby smiling benevolently or not (it occurs to me that benevolence implies power, no?)

Aren't brontosauri sort of mythical at this point?

Hey shrift I just realized that Ecuador will be playing France while we're in Quito.

That is awesome! Um, hopefully. :)

Instead, I make eye contact back, smile, and walk away.

I had a boss/director/costume designer who did that whenever people asked her questions that she did not want to answer. Including somewhat important ones. I remember she did that to a male friend of mine who is over 6' small women's tights to wear, and he was telling her that he could not get them on his body. She just looked at him, said "Hmmm" and walked away leaving him puzzled. I think he finally ripped out the crotch and fashioned some sort of garter belt.

Also, while I have occasionally done the "I'm going to stand here so you don't forget about me even though I know you've got other things to do" bit, the Kindly Brontosaurus as she describes it is just obnoxious. I mean, seriously--why do you deserve to get past the 1000 people in line for a book signing? (If she means she wanted in to the place to buy some other book and not wait in line because she wasn't there for the signing, that's a different issue). And I feel like there's a difference between like "Hey, I want to get into the bookstore to buy a cookbook, not get Clinton's signature--would I be able to do that, or should I go?" and the guard says "yeah, but let me deal with these people in line first"...then yes, stand there and wait so he doesn't forget. But that's when basically you got TOLD to wait--not "No, you can't, but if you stand here acting all special for long enough near me I'll give in"!!