So, I'm really fascinated by dreams. In high school I started a "dream journal" in my psychology class, and I've always wanted to keep it up. Occasionally, i would write a new dream if it meant something to me. And lately, I've been feeling like I want to keep writing my dreams down. And what better way than to blog about it-- so for anyone interested, my dreams will be posted at http://allyougottadoisdream.blogspot.com/.
WARNING:
This is a serious look into Marie's Unconscious, and I cannot be help responsible for what crazy things I dream up in the middle of the night. Sometimes, it will make sense, but most of the time, it probably won't.
Monday, December 13, 2010
CHRISTmas
I wanted to take some time this happy Christmas season to tell you about why Christmas is so important to me. It's a day set aside to remember the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Now, people can research, argue, squabble, yadayadayada about what day he was really born all they want, but when my family and I celebrate Christmas, our minds are turned to our Father in Heaven in gratitude for His Son. That Christ came to earth to preform the greatest gift man would ever receive-- the Atonement-- which would allow us to return to our Father in Heaven and receive our eternal inheritance.
I love to give and to receive gifts for Christmas. I like to remember that Christmas is about both. Heavenly Father gave us His Son to save us. The wise men brought gifts to the newborn King. Let us open our hearts this Christmas to receive the Atonement, and let us also open our hands to share what we have received. Each present that we give and receive, let us remember that it is a celebration of the gifts exchanged that first Christmas, when Jesus Christ came into the world.
Merry Christmas!
I love to give and to receive gifts for Christmas. I like to remember that Christmas is about both. Heavenly Father gave us His Son to save us. The wise men brought gifts to the newborn King. Let us open our hearts this Christmas to receive the Atonement, and let us also open our hands to share what we have received. Each present that we give and receive, let us remember that it is a celebration of the gifts exchanged that first Christmas, when Jesus Christ came into the world.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Tis the Season to Be ...
... violated?
I'm sure many of you have at least heard about the new full body scanners that are part of airport security. If not, here's the Transportation Security Administration's info page about them: http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/ait/index.shtm.
There's a lot of public outcry about these scanners. Here's a list of complaints and links.
They produce an image of you beneath your clothes; aka in your birthday suit. http://www.mahalo.com/full-body-scanner-images This article shows some of the images captured by the scanners. Images that are supposed to be immediately deleted after you pass through security. Apparently not, since they're on the internet. And here's a list of airports that use the full body scanners.
They emit radiation. But how much? Well, it's enough that they won't put the pilots though it-- granted, they would have to go through multiple times a day and be exposed significantly more than a casual traveler who only flies on holidays or for vacation a few times a year.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290527/Airport-body-scanners-deliver-radiation-dose-20-times-higher-thought.html This article seemed to present a balanced presentation of what the TSA says, and what researchers are currently looking into. What stands out to me is "skin cancer" and "children are more vulnerable" to the radiation. I'm not sure I want my munchkin exposed to that... especially when the professional jury is still out on determining it's safety.
You're allowed to "opt out" of the scanners, but what happens next if you do is humiliating. You become subject to an "enhanced pat-down" procedure. This goes for anyone with a medical concern who must opt out, to conscious objectors to the scanners. The new pat down procedure really makes one feel physically violated. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/tsa-responds-passenger-outrages-underwear-search-happen/story?id=12208932&page=2.
I had to be pat-down once about 3 years ago because I was wearing an underwire bra and apparently my pants had these little, i think they are called eyelets?, metal circle thing on the corners of my pockets... she ran the baton scanner thingy over me, found nothing, but still had to pat me down where the thing dected metal, aka, my butt and below my breasts. It was very embarrassing, awkward, and uncomfortable. And that was before they instituted the new "ENHANCED" pat-down, which you can see in the video that's linked with my article, that's it's more like getting felt up. Ugh!
I don't want me or munchkin to get felt up, but I don't want, at least, munchkin to get exposed to the radiation of the scanners either, at least not with a confirmed-after-much-research that they are safe even for very small children. With my family's history with cancer, I don't want to risk exposing munchkin to more than necessary. Plus there's the possibility that we'd get "selected for a random pat-down." It happens to my uncle ALL the TIME; i guess he fits one of the profiles that doesn't come through often. Is there a list somewhere of the profiles they are required to "randomly search"? Does it include a breastfeeding mother? Will I get pat-down anyway because my nursing bras have metal clips? or because the full body scanners notice my nursing covers beneath my bra? or because i'm carrying babyfood? After seeing what happened to this woman (http://www.mnn.com/family/raising-a-family/blogs/watch-tsa-harasses-mom-over-breast-milk), I'm afraid to pump milk to feed munchkin during the flight.
What I'm trying to say is; I'm really freaking stressing out about flying home for Christmas. Is my stress and anxiety for nothing. The TSA website would have me believe so, but many accounts on the news make me believe otherwise. What do you guys think? Are you traveling this Christmas? What do you think of the new scanners? Are they unconstitutional, like some groups say, or are they appropriate safety measures, like the TSA says? Have any of you traveled with little ones recently and could give me advice?
I'm sure many of you have at least heard about the new full body scanners that are part of airport security. If not, here's the Transportation Security Administration's info page about them: http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/ait/index.shtm.
There's a lot of public outcry about these scanners. Here's a list of complaints and links.
They produce an image of you beneath your clothes; aka in your birthday suit. http://www.mahalo.com/full-body-scanner-images This article shows some of the images captured by the scanners. Images that are supposed to be immediately deleted after you pass through security. Apparently not, since they're on the internet. And here's a list of airports that use the full body scanners.
They emit radiation. But how much? Well, it's enough that they won't put the pilots though it-- granted, they would have to go through multiple times a day and be exposed significantly more than a casual traveler who only flies on holidays or for vacation a few times a year.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290527/Airport-body-scanners-deliver-radiation-dose-20-times-higher-thought.html This article seemed to present a balanced presentation of what the TSA says, and what researchers are currently looking into. What stands out to me is "skin cancer" and "children are more vulnerable" to the radiation. I'm not sure I want my munchkin exposed to that... especially when the professional jury is still out on determining it's safety.
You're allowed to "opt out" of the scanners, but what happens next if you do is humiliating. You become subject to an "enhanced pat-down" procedure. This goes for anyone with a medical concern who must opt out, to conscious objectors to the scanners. The new pat down procedure really makes one feel physically violated. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/tsa-responds-passenger-outrages-underwear-search-happen/story?id=12208932&page=2.
I had to be pat-down once about 3 years ago because I was wearing an underwire bra and apparently my pants had these little, i think they are called eyelets?, metal circle thing on the corners of my pockets... she ran the baton scanner thingy over me, found nothing, but still had to pat me down where the thing dected metal, aka, my butt and below my breasts. It was very embarrassing, awkward, and uncomfortable. And that was before they instituted the new "ENHANCED" pat-down, which you can see in the video that's linked with my article, that's it's more like getting felt up. Ugh!
I don't want me or munchkin to get felt up, but I don't want, at least, munchkin to get exposed to the radiation of the scanners either, at least not with a confirmed-after-much-research that they are safe even for very small children. With my family's history with cancer, I don't want to risk exposing munchkin to more than necessary. Plus there's the possibility that we'd get "selected for a random pat-down." It happens to my uncle ALL the TIME; i guess he fits one of the profiles that doesn't come through often. Is there a list somewhere of the profiles they are required to "randomly search"? Does it include a breastfeeding mother? Will I get pat-down anyway because my nursing bras have metal clips? or because the full body scanners notice my nursing covers beneath my bra? or because i'm carrying babyfood? After seeing what happened to this woman (http://www.mnn.com/family/raising-a-family/blogs/watch-tsa-harasses-mom-over-breast-milk), I'm afraid to pump milk to feed munchkin during the flight.
What I'm trying to say is; I'm really freaking stressing out about flying home for Christmas. Is my stress and anxiety for nothing. The TSA website would have me believe so, but many accounts on the news make me believe otherwise. What do you guys think? Are you traveling this Christmas? What do you think of the new scanners? Are they unconstitutional, like some groups say, or are they appropriate safety measures, like the TSA says? Have any of you traveled with little ones recently and could give me advice?
Getting in the Spirit of Christmas Cards
Ok, so I'd really love to get 50 free christmas cards, to send to our wonderful family. SO I'm going to tell you about the christmas card I want since Shutterfly will give me 50 FREE Christmas cards if I tell you about the one I want.
I designed it on shutterfly.com.
I love that it has family pictures from the past year. Shurtterfly has tons of different layouts for Christmas or holiday cards. This is just the one I chose. I think it's pretty and fits my style, while still looking festive. It was super easy to design, too. I just upload the pictures I thought I wanted to use (which was about a dozen to choose from and test out to get the perfect combination), then dragged them to where I wanted them on the design. You can save projects as you go. This one isn't quite done yet-- notice the "T" in the corner? Yeh, that's supposed to be an "N" for Neeley. But it's super easy to fix. It is a very user-friendly site and program to design adorable photo keepsakes. There was another style I was considering, but I choose the first one because it had the most pictures and I could fit the ones I wanted on it. the family pictures, taken by Lauren, is in the center and largest. Then we have lots of pictures of our munchkin as she's grown up this year. I'm normally not a Christmas card person, but this is cute and I'd love to send out a Christmas card to our family. What do you guys think of the design?
If you're thinking about trying it out for yourself, you can design a personal Christmas, holiday, or greeting card here: http://www.shutterfly.com/
In fact, I'm working on designing a photobook on shutterfly right now too. Try out your own here: http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books. They are adorable, and I'd love to have one. They are very affordable; though as a family still in college, the only "affordable" is practically free. But I can't complain too much. Shutterfly has lots of sales and deals. I get 2-3 emails per month with a promotion that allows me to get a FREE photobook! I just have to pay shipping and handling, which sadly, isn't free. But it's way better than having to pay for the photobook AND shipping.
Another awesome feature of Shutterfly is their calendars. You can make a personal calendar with your own photos! Check it out here: http://www.shutterfly.com/
Those are just my favorites. Shutterfly also does custom mugs, greeting cards, and invitations (bridal shower, wedding, baby shower, graduation, etc). I wish I'd known about this when I made my wedding invites-- it would have cost about the same as making our own, which we did, but taken A LOT less time.
So there's my endorsement! Check out Shutterfly.com and have fun making some of your own designs!
I designed it on shutterfly.com.
I love that it has family pictures from the past year. Shurtterfly has tons of different layouts for Christmas or holiday cards. This is just the one I chose. I think it's pretty and fits my style, while still looking festive. It was super easy to design, too. I just upload the pictures I thought I wanted to use (which was about a dozen to choose from and test out to get the perfect combination), then dragged them to where I wanted them on the design. You can save projects as you go. This one isn't quite done yet-- notice the "T" in the corner? Yeh, that's supposed to be an "N" for Neeley. But it's super easy to fix. It is a very user-friendly site and program to design adorable photo keepsakes. There was another style I was considering, but I choose the first one because it had the most pictures and I could fit the ones I wanted on it. the family pictures, taken by Lauren, is in the center and largest. Then we have lots of pictures of our munchkin as she's grown up this year. I'm normally not a Christmas card person, but this is cute and I'd love to send out a Christmas card to our family. What do you guys think of the design?If you're thinking about trying it out for yourself, you can design a personal Christmas, holiday, or greeting card here: http://www.shutterfly.com/
In fact, I'm working on designing a photobook on shutterfly right now too. Try out your own here: http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books. They are adorable, and I'd love to have one. They are very affordable; though as a family still in college, the only "affordable" is practically free. But I can't complain too much. Shutterfly has lots of sales and deals. I get 2-3 emails per month with a promotion that allows me to get a FREE photobook! I just have to pay shipping and handling, which sadly, isn't free. But it's way better than having to pay for the photobook AND shipping.
Another awesome feature of Shutterfly is their calendars. You can make a personal calendar with your own photos! Check it out here: http://www.shutterfly.com/
Those are just my favorites. Shutterfly also does custom mugs, greeting cards, and invitations (bridal shower, wedding, baby shower, graduation, etc). I wish I'd known about this when I made my wedding invites-- it would have cost about the same as making our own, which we did, but taken A LOT less time.
So there's my endorsement! Check out Shutterfly.com and have fun making some of your own designs!
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