MANicure: Redux

ARGH! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post a follow-up! A. I've been kind of busy. B. I've been kind of lazy, and C. I've had a DEVIL of a time getting my videos to upload properly. And trust me, it's not HALF as fun w/out the videos.

So without further ado...here is a video/pictoral account of all my dealings w/ the fishies. (And click here, here and here if you want to watch them again on YouTube. We're famous!)

Jenn was up first, so I had the chance to get some shots of her reactions. Heh, heh. Priceless.




Becca and I were up next. After washing your feet for you, they put you in some cheapo sandals and walk you over to the fish foot tanks and help you step in backwards.

Here is a picture of our first reactions. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, no? How about a video?



In my research on this pedicure experience, I heard it described as the pins and needles one might feel if one's foot fell asleep. I disagree. It was mostly just unbearably ticklish - well, nearly unbearable. And then after about a minute or so, it becomes rather pleasant. Ya get used to it, ya know? But if you want a real experience, try spreading your toes for the little guys. Oooo! They loved that! Yipes!

Here is a close-up of the lucky feet.
Christina
Jenn & Becca
After our fifteen minutes w/ the fishies, we went over to the regular pedicure stations (complete w/ massage chairs...mmm) and had our feet/toes buffed, clipped, filed and painted. They even included a bit of a foot/calf massage. That was very nice.

Overall, it was a rather silly, but pleasant experience. Would I do it again? Mmm, probably not. Why? Because while my feet were quite smooth and the pedicurists did not have to use any razors to shave the dead skin off of my feet, I didn't notice any great benefit other than giving the fish a meal. So for the sake of the innovative technique, I'm glad I did it. I even recommend it to those who like to add things to their lists of slightly to definitely odd novelty experiences. And I most heartily recommend a regular pedicure to anyone - male or female.

Side note: I asked about the fish and whether this is detrimental to them at all, ya know over-feeding and whatnot? I was informed that they can eat and eat and eat and eat...and apparently poop and poop...so there's something else to consider when planning for your fish-icure. As an unrelated aside, I did have one floater in my tank, but I SWEAR that it wasn't my fault! I'd say it's more likely that he just gave up the ghost because he couldn't stand swimming in his own filth anymore. And in my last aside, they do change the water between pedicures.

I'll finish off with one more video.


Oh, and in case you didn't get it from the video, Diane Sawyer described the experience as having fish "kiss your feet". Uh...I don't know if I'm on board w/ that one entirely, but whatever floats your boat...or bites your feet, as it were.

What kind of things have you done just for the "novelty" of it?

MANicure

So you know the trend where everything has to be EXTREME? Well, I've just fallen victim to the latest trend of "extreme pedicures". Check it out. That's right...tiny little carp will nibble at the dead skin on your feet to make them all smooth and luxurious. And on this coming Saturday, my friend Becca and I will be offering our tootsies up as a morning snack to a school of hungry garra rufa. You may be asking yourself, "What in the sam hill?!" I ask you, "Why the sam hill not?!" I mean it's not like these little guys have teeth, so it won't hurt... I hope. I just hope my feet are at their most calloused, so I can provide them with a really good meal. Admittedly, when I first heard about this, my "wig-out" factor was at a level 8.9, but I was also secretly attracted by the idea. I mean...what a novelty, right? And who knows? I might actually like it!

And this leads me to the heart of my post. Thanks to gmail, the announcement of my upcoming ichthyotherapy caused a male friend to remark "As a self-respecting heterosexual male, I don't do pedicures in general, but the idea of fish chewing my feet does seem intriguing." So I wondered...do the majority of heterosexual men feel this way? Would the only way to get them in a pedicurist's chair be to tempt them w/ the promise of having fish gnaw the dead skin off their feet? Or is that just a ploy? Do they secretly want to indulge in something like a pedicure, but can't feasibly do so without the guise of "scientific experiment" or the excuse "my sister (wife, etc.) made me do it"?

Thinking that I'd prove my friend wrong about his gender, I began to poll all of my other available male friends on pedicures. My question of "Have you ever had a pedicure?" produced a wealth of responses:

• No way!
• That's a rather personal question...but no. I haven't.
• No, I'm a man.
• I have feet?
• No. Wait. I mean hell no.

So out of the eight men that I polled, only two of them had previously had pedicures and both were in favor of doing it again. Okay, I get it, guys. You don't want to be thought of as a nancy-boy, a metrosexual, a whoppsy. Fine. But does the occasional act of someone scraping the dead crap off of your feet really make you into a girly man? Would it really bring your manhood into question? Speaking as a woman, I see nothing wrong with a man who enjoys a pedicure from time to time. I mean, he doesn't need to get his nails painted - that would be going too far in my estimation. But, to me, a pedicure would in no way injure his manliness. But guys, are you more afraid of what other guys will think or of what women will think of you?

I'm not really trying to define a gender line here, I'm just wondering if maybe we're more similar than we are different. I know that often for women, our insecurities deal more with how we imagine we might be perceived by our sister peers, rather than by the male population. Are we really more fascinated by things deemed "feminine" or "masculine" than we let on, because we are afraid of how it might look if we show too much interest?

I didn't exactly expect my musings on foot-nibbling fish to end up where it did, but I'm curious to know your thoughts.

Memory Game

Okay, so I do have lots more to blog about and I promise to update you soon...ish. (Sometimes I wonder if anyone believes the words "I promise" from me anymore. Sigh.) But first, I'm fulfilling my half of a blogligation. Uh....I don't know if that worked. I just tried combining the words blog and obligation. Whatever. Here it is:

My sister-in-law sent this to me and I thought it was kind of a fun idea. I enjoy remembering good times and I love to be reminded of why I dig you people. :)

Here are the directions:
1. As a comment on my blog (or e-mail if you don't leave comments) leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew/know me a little or a lot - just anything you remember.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. Judging from my sis-in-law's blog, it's kinda cool and sometimes pretty funny! If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

As a folklorist, I find the collection of memories fascinating and endless fun! As a bit of an egotist, I find it kind of gratifying. Hey, just being honest here. Come on! You know you like it too. :) (That may have hindered any possibility of a happy memory from you, but I couldn't help from pointing it out.)