Catalina’s blog

More "Fish Feet" Stories

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:34:00 -0700

Fish pedicures: Carp rid human feet of scaly skin

By MATTHEW BARAKAT,

Ready for the latest in spa pampering? Prepare to dunk your tootsies in a tank of water and let tiny carp nibble away.

Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far.

"This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet," Ho said.

He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary.

Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.

But Ho doubted they would thrive in the warm water needed for a comfortable footbath. And he didn't know if customers would like the idea.

"I know people were a little intimidated at first," Ho said. "But I just said, 'Let's give it a shot.' "

Customers were quickly hooked.

Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md., heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was "the best pedicure I ever had" and has spread the word to friends and co-workers.

"I'd been an athlete all my life, so I've always had calluses on my feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely," she said.

First time customer KaNin Reese, 32, of Washington, described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish: "It kind of feels like your foot's asleep," she said.

The fish don't do the job alone. After 15 to 30 minutes in the tank, customers get a standard pedicure, made easier by the soft skin the doctor fish leave behind.

Ho believes his is the only salon in the country to offer the treatment, which costs $35 for 15 minutes and $50 for 30 minutes. The spa has more than 1,000 fish, with about 100 in each individual pedicure tank at any given time.

Dennis Arnold, a podiatrist who four years ago established the International Pedicure Association, said he had never heard of the treatment and doubts it will become widespread.

"I think most people would be afraid of it," he said.

Customer Patsy Fisher, 42, of Crofton, Md., admitted she was nervous as she prepared for her first fish pedicure. But her apprehension dissolved into laughter after she put her feet in the tank and the fish swarmed to her toes.

"It's a little ticklish, actually," she said.

Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available — including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off.

In addition to offering pedicures, Ho hopes to establish a network of Doctor Fish Massage franchises and is evaluating a full-body fish treatment that, among other things, could treat psoriasis and other skin ailments.

Ho spent a year and about $40,000 getting the pedicures up and running, with a few hiccups along the way.

State regulations make no provision for regulating fish pedicures. But the county health department — which does regulate pools — required the salon to switch from a shallow, tiled communal pool that served as many as eight people to individual tanks in which the water is changed for each customer.

The communal pool also presented its own problem: At times the fish would flock to the feet of an individual with a surplus of dead skin, leaving others with a dearth of fish.

"It would sometimes be embarrassing for them but it was also really hilarious," Ho said.

___

Salon's website

___

Can't tell if these are the same fishies......

Fish Therapy

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Gold Medal Winner

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:11:11 -0700

In honor of the upcoming Olympics, what could you win a gold medal in?
Submitted by TheFiercestCalm.

2008 Olympic Medals

I am not good at any sport let alone a sport included in the Olympics, but........... I am sure I could take a GOLD MEDAL in a SLEEPING Event! I LOVE to sleep!

Mary Magdalene in the Cave

Well...... I would most likely have PJs on! Something that went well with GOLD.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Michelle, Michelle....Good Grief

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:20:44 -0700

Tiffany & Co Earrings

“You’re getting $600. What can you do with that? Not to be ungrateful or anything. But maybe it pays down a bill, but it doesn’t pay down every bill every month.

“Barack’s approach is that the short-term quick fix kinda stuff sounds good. And it may even feel good that first month when you get that check. And then you go out and you buy a pair of earrings.”

(quote from Michelle Obama, but off Makin's website - also heard on KFI's morning show)

~ Sorry Michelle Obama, not all of us would go out and spend $600.00 on one pair of earrings.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Vox Hunt: Bird Watching

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:14:39 -0700

Show us a bird native to your habitat.

Stellar Jay

Ok....so the mountains are actually a 20 minute drive from my house, but I didn't want to post a "House Sparrow".

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Knife = ? ......... Sylvia Plath?

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:48:31 -0700

Cuts like a knife

Bitter Strawberries

All morning in the strawberry field
They talked about the Russians.
Squatted down between the rows
We listened.
We heard the head woman say,
'Bomb them off the map.'

Horseflies buzzed, paused and stung.
And the taste of strawberries
Turned thick and sour.

Mary said slowly, 'I've got a fella
Old enough to go.
If anything should happen...'

The sky was high and blue.
Two children laughed at tag
In the tall grass,
Leaping awkward and long-legged
Across the rutted road.
The fields were full of bronzed young men
Hoeing lettuce, weeding celery.

'The draft is passed,' the woman said.
'We ought to have bombed them long ago.'
'Don't,' pleaded the little girl
With blond braids.

Her blue eyes swam with vague terror.
She added petishly, 'I can't see why
You're always talking this way...'
'Oh, stop worrying, Nelda,'
Snapped the woman sharply.
She stood up, a thin commanding figure
In faded dungarees.
Businesslike she asked us, 'How many quarts?'
She recorded the total in her notebook,
And we all turned back to picking.

Kneeling over the rows,
We reached among the leaves
With quick practiced hands,
Cupping the berry protectively before
Snapping off the stem
Between thumb and forefinger.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Vox Hunt: Vive la France!

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:23:17 -0700

In honor of Bastille Day, show us something French.......

Isabelle Severino

Isabelle Severino 2006 Worlds AA FX

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

SCARY! Even if it is only a tiny bit true....

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:48:12 -0700

The latest chain email:

You can verify this here:
http://money.CNN.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.HTML

Proposed changes in taxes after 2008 General election:

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

MCCAIN
0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.

OBAMA
28% on profit from ALL home sales

How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.

DIVIDEND TAX
MCCAIN 15% (no change)

OBAMA 39.6%

How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.'

INCOME TAX
MCCAIN (no changes)

Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)

Single making 30K - tax $8,400
Single making 50K - tax $14,000
Single making 75K - tax $23,250
Married making 60K - tax $16,800
Married making 75K - tax $21,000
Married making 125K - tax $38,750

Under Obama, your taxes will more than double!

How does this affect you? No explanation needed. This is pretty straight
forward.

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax

How does this affect you? Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.

NEW TAXES BEING PROPOSED BY OBAMA

New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet.

New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already)

New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity)

New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....

New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

A day for Morrissey

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:06:30 -0700

Morrissey - All You Need Is Me

Morrissey - All You Need Is Me

You hiss and groan and you constantly moan
But you don’t ever go away
That’s because
All you need is me

You roll your eyes up to the skies
Mock horrified
But you’re still here
All you need is me

There’s so much destruction
All over the world
And all you can do is
Complain about me

You bang your head against the wall
And say you’re sick of it all
Yet you remain
‘Cause all you need is me

And then you offer your one and only joke
And you ask me what will I be
When I grow up to be a man
Uhm, nothing!

There’s a soft voice singing in your head
Who could this be?
I do believe it’s me

There’s a naked man standing, laughing in your dreams
You know who it is
But you don’t like what it means

There’s so much destruction
All over the world
And all you can do is
Complain about me

I was a small, fat child in a council house
There was only one thing I ever dreamed about
And Fate has just
Handed it to me - whoopee

You don’t like me, but you love me
Either way you’re wrong
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Karma at its finest

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:32:15 -0700

Missing boy found safe, fugitive dad killed by bus

Little-school-bus

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer

A desperate five-day search for a 9-year-old boy abducted by his father in Southern California ended in Mexico, where the man died after being hit by a bus and the boy was found safe across town, authorities said Monday.

Ryan Ramos was found alone Sunday in a Mormon church building in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and arrived in Orange County early Monday, where he was reunited with his family, sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.

He had been missing since Wednesday, when his father, Lonnie Ramos, 46, allegedly shot his estranged wife during a custody exchange and took off with their child.

Gynnae Ramos, the boy's mother, was in good condition Monday at Mission Hospital, where she was recovering from gunshot wounds to the chest, stomach and right eye, Amormino said. Her son was taken to her bedside, he said.

Lonnie Ramos called his father in Washington, D.C., around 11 a.m. Sunday to say that he had left the boy at the church building and that he, too, was in Ciudad Juarez. Lonnie Ramos converted to Mormonism about eight months ago, Amormino said.

The grandfather notified Orange County detectives. Several hours later, Mexican state police contacted U.S. officials with word that an American tourist who strongly resembled Lonnie Ramos had been in critically injured in a traffic accident, Amormino said.

Marisela Ramirez, a spokeswoman for Ciudad Juarez's transit department, said Lonnie Ramos was hit by a bus at 2:35 p.m. Sunday while crossing one of the city's busiest streets and died on the way to the hospital. The bus driver fled but was arrested several blocks away, Ramirez said.

Amormino said suicide had not been ruled out, but Ramirez and local prosecutors in Mexico said Monday the death appeared to be accidental.

Amormino said when Ryan Ramos was found, he wasn't aware that his mother had been shot or that his father was dead.

"He believed he was on an outing with his father," Amormino said.

Amormino said that detectives now believe Lonnie Ramos planned the shooting.

The break in the case came over the holiday weekend when a tipster reported seeing the father and son crossing the Mexican border by foot near Andrade, about 160 miles east of San Diego.

Gynnae Ramos filed for divorce in 2003, and the two had been locked in a bitter divorce and custody battle, court records show.

Gynnae Ramos brought a friend to the meeting Wednesday to act as a witness because she felt there might be trouble, and instead of pulling into the driveway, she passed the house once, made a U-turn and was shot as she approached from the other side, he said.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Nice Photo

nobody@vox.com(Catalina) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:17:40 -0700

McCain and Guadalupe

Republican presidential candidate John McCain (2nd R) listens to priest Diego Monrroy (R) inside the Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City July 3, 2008. An image of the Virgin of Guadalupe can be seen in the background.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend