Mannequins that "See" You?

Kitten snuggle time. :)

Good morning! I can't tell you how happy I am to be writing this early in the morning! I quit my pain meds last night and I was shocked when I heard my fiancé's alarm go off this morning at 5am. I haven't heard it in a month! I got to spend the morning with him while he got ready to go teach. I haven't done that in so long. My kittens and I got to have snuggle time while I watched Good Morning America while it happened (not tevoed!).

The down side of all this "awakeness" is that I'm seeing a lot more. The first thing I said when I sat up in bed this morning was, "Omigosh. Apparently I didn't do laundry last week." Josh laughed and said, "I mentioned that multiple times." Oops. Then, I walked into the kitchen and realized that the floor needs to be washed. And the counters need to be washed. And the sinks. I guess I haven't done anything for the last month!

I'm awake and don't feel groggy, but I still am having vision problems. Also, not surprisingly, the pain has come back with a vengeance. But I am in such a great mood, I don't really care. I am coherent, I got to kiss my fiancé goodbye, and I can remember things! I was definitely right: not having something for a month makes you so much more thankful for it!

So, I guess in line with my "name" being "ChickOpinion" I should have an opinion today about something on the news. Here you go!

There has been a development in technology that is hitting the stores. This BusinessWeek article explains the EyeSee, a mannequin that uses facial recognition technology with a camera through a pupil in the mannequin's eye to collect shopper demographic information so the store better understand its customers. Does this sound creepy to anyone besides me?

While the article claims that the mannequin doesn't store any images or data, I call bulls#!t. I don't believe that at all. If you stop to look at a dress or top on a mannequin it's taking in all of your visual data. The fact that the above-mentioned article mentions this has already changed store displays and layouts means that it obviously stores and assimilates data for a certain amount of time. What's keeping the store from downloading those images and data?

I like the person in the article who says, "If you go on Facebook...you can see exactly what information they're going to collect and what they're going to do with it. If you're walking into a store, where's the choice?" Agreed! I have not given any of the stores I go to permission to take my image. The article also mentions that the company responsible for these EyeSee mannequins is also working on "ears" for the mannequins so they can eavesdrop on what the shoppers looking at the display are saying. Wow. That's not an insane invasion of privacy at all...*sarcasm*

So, I think the moral of this story is, if you see a mannequin with a pupil and you don't want to have your image recorded, cover your face. As for me, I think I'll be utilizing fake mustaches and lots of hats.

Well, maybe it's not really my look...

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

5 Things to Keep Me Going

Today marks the start of a journey for me. I'm going to start titrating down off of my pain meds. That means I'll be in pain, but hopefully I'll have my brain back. I've felt like I've dropped about 30 IQ points in the last month and I've decided that I would rather be in pain and learn how to manage it the best I can. The following things are what I need to remember while I'm starting to feel the pain again.

I have a wonderful fiancé. One of the reasons I want to get off the meds is so I can be back to my old stubborn sparkly self. I want to remember the times I have with him and I want to be cognitively available for him. I am so incredibly lucky to be with him.

I live in a house where we have a room solely dedicated to computers and crafts. My craft room is for stuff. We have a whole room just for things. That's more room than about 5/6 of the world has. It's amazing if you think about it.

I am close to a lot of my family. So many of my friends aren't close to their families. They "hate" their mom or their dad's never been in the picture. I live only an hour and a half away from my parents and my sister and love going back and hanging out with them. The rest of my family is out west and, while I'm not physically close to them, I get to talk with them on the phone and there's no bad blood in my family. I like that and am thankful for it.

Even though I've got fibromyalgia and I'm in pain, it could be so much worse! I could have a disease that could kill me or a degenerative disease or something like that. Yes, I'm in pain, but honestly, I'd rather have this and be able to think and work from home than be in the hospital for the next few years until I die.

I have food that is nutritious and tasty. The fact that I have incredible choice in what I eat is something that, again, 5/6 of the world doesn't have. I am so lucky.

So, the next few weeks are going to be hard. But I have everything that I just mentioned, as well as the site (that I'm really excited to be updating soon!), so I need to remember all of this when I'm hurting. Thank you to all of you for allowing me to have this wonderful job!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

Are You Defined By Your Diagnosis?

Today I was watching "Good Morning America" (people who think I'm one-note, please keep reading; this isn't a political post) and Catherine Zeta-Jones was on the show talking about the movie "Playing for Keeps." After talking about the new film, Elizabeth Vargas asked her about her bipolar disorder. Catherine said something that struck me: "I'm tired of talking about it. I never wanted to be the poster child for this. Everyone has their own thing and we all deal with it the best we can and then keep going."

I feel like even though Catherine Zeta-Jones doesn't want to be a spokesperson for bipolar disorder, just saying what she said will inspire people with bipolar disorder. She has it and is coping quite well. People who have bipolar disorder and are struggling will be able to see her success and be inspired to get their lives back on track.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia almost a year ago and narcolepsy six months ago. While I don't want to come across as a victim or define myself by my medical diagnoses, I feel like it is important to talk about it. I agree with Catherine in that playing a victim is not the way to handle it, and everyone has their own thing going on in their lives. I disagree with her, though, in that I think it's important to talk about it and raise awareness.

I have been on experimental medicine for the last month and am going off it next week. I can't wait! I feel like it's made me lose 20 IQ points, I can't focus on anything, and I've gained six pounds in a month. When I get my brain back, I'm planning on writing an e-book about being a young person with fibromyalgia. So many young women are being diagnosed with it and coping is incredibly difficult. I want to write the book to help people, not to whine.

When I was diagnosed in January and having a breakdown about it, my fiancé told me, "This is something that will make you stronger in the long run. Right now it feels like you're in the furnace, but you will come out a stronger person." It's so true. I feel like I'm on the cusp of getting out of this metaphorical furnace. It hurts every day and it will continue to be hard, but it's going to be okay.

Actually, it will be great. I won't settle for anything less.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

Cultural Interest: Sex or Quality Stories?

I guess I should be happy that I'm getting a spike in traffic right now. The frustrating thing is, though, that yesterday the post I wrote a long time ago about Victoria's Secret models has gotten over nine times the traffic the post I wrote yesterday about family has gotten. For those of you who have forgotten what post I'm talking about, here is the link to the original post.

Now, while I admit that my writing has faltered in quality a bit over the last month due to a medication I'm trying out for my fibromyalgia, overall what I write is pretty good quality. Conversational, yes, and so a little more casual than some people like, but overall, decent quality. I also admit that I like couture fashion and, therefore, support the fashion industry. I am so frustrated, though, with the fact that 90% naked underfed women are getting this much attention for walking in a straight line down a catwalk and back up the catwalk while I work my butt off and go essentially unnoticed unless I have a post in which I am 90% naked (not something I'm really into).

I don't necessarily want to be famous. I don't want "celebrity status." I don't want to have to hide from paparazzi. I just wish that our society cared more about quality work that actually matters instead of 5'11" girls with concave stomachs who wear bedazzled wings and lingerie. I know this sounds like a massive case of envy, but it's not. I've done the super-skinny thing, and I'm fine. I don't need to do that anymore. What this little penned outburst is about is that our society doesn't care about what we need to care about when it comes to thriving and not just surviving (cliche, I know, but it's what I mean).

I think when Hurricane Sandy tore up the Northeast we all saw how people of every tax bracket and political party and race and sexual orientation came together and helped the people who needed help, no matter who they were. Going back even further, I think we all saw the nation come together right after the 9/11 attacks happened. The thing is, though, it shouldn't take a catastrophic event to bring people together for a common cause.

Now I know that fashion isn't something we all need to come together against or anything crazy like that. But I do know that there are better ways than watching unrealistically skinny women walk around in next to nothing to discover your fantasies. That's Victoria's Secret's "thing" whenever anyone says anything about their print ads or their runway shows: "It's about fantasy." Gag me with a spoon. That's absolute bulls#!t, in my opinion. I worked for them for a summer and their schtick to sell overpriced lingerie is by attempting to make you look like the girl in the ad.

By taking a quick look around, it seems to me that I'm on the outside this time. Sex sells and just because I don't like it doesn't mean it's going to change. While I understand it's not going to change, I am disappointed. I don't mean to sound snobbish, but I guess I just expect more from people than I should.

Goodness, I've allowed myself a rather excessive rant. As always, thank you so much for reading and continuing to support my site. I'll see you tomorrow!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

Family Never Goes Out of Style

Part of me feels like I should write about the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show that aired last night, but I didn't watch it. That, and you all already know exactly what I think about that show. I felt that there is something a little bit more important than the fashion show.

I spent 11 years of my childhood in Montana and lived only an hour away from my grandparents. We went to church and had lunch with them every Sunday. Even though we moved away, I've done my best to stay in touch with them. I try to call once a week and I know it really makes them happy. It makes me happy because I get to stay in touch with people who helped shape my childhood.

My grandmother had surgery last week to remove a cancerous tumor from her colon. She's 88 and my grandfather is 86, so of course, we were a little bit concerned. She is fine, thank goodness! It really made me think about my family, though.

My fiancé and I visited them in Montana this last summer and they gave us copies of all their genealogy stuff: letters, family trees, transcripts of tapes, birth records from family Bibles, etc. My grandma was tired of having to spread the family tree out over the whole living room floor to see it, so I said I would work on it to make it so it could fit where she could see it. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

I've been working on this for a few weeks now and I thought getting five or six generations on one piece of paper was going to be the hard part. But then I started trying to find some of my ancestors' birthdays and places they'd lived and actually traced one line back to 1492 in England! So now I have a giant problem, because there is no way to fit that on one page. And I haven't even started my grandfather's side of the genealogy; or my mom's parents' sides!

But it's been absolutely fascinating to see who is in my family, what they've done, what their traditions were, and where they come from. I'm (distantly) related to five U.S. presidents just in my grandmother's line! I'm most closely related to General Grant and the other presidents are FDR (!), Lincoln (!), Pierce, and Taft. One of my ancestors helped found Dorchester, Massachusetts. One of my ancestors was an apprentice to one of the men who came to Plymouth Mass. on the Mayflower. One of my ancestors was the Secretary of State to Queen Mary of England. And one of my ancestors is my grandmother.

She is amazing; an absolute rock. She raised four children as a stay-at-home mom. She hand quilted dozens of quilts. She had a huge garden that she cultivated herself every year. She made doll clothes for my sister and me. She canned fruits and vegetables every year. She cooked amazing meals that I can only dream of recreating. She is a fantastic grandmother. I have been truly blessed to have her and my grandfather in my life, both during my childhood and for many years to come! I told her last week the day before her surgery that in our family, if you don't make it to at least 90 years old you're not really trying! It's true, though; my family lives forever.

I can honestly say that the genealogy work I've been doing is the best gift I could have gotten this holiday season. Living so far away from my family out West, it's easy to take them for granted. This has made me really connect with my family roots, which, in turn, makes me really appreciate my current family! It also makes me incredibly excited to start our new family in a few years. Family is the one thing that never goes out of style, no matter what role you play in it.

2008 Christmas Dinner (L to R) Grandpa, Aunt Kate, Grandma, and Me

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

Clear Out Your Closet this Holiday Season!

Every fall I look forward to unpacking my winter clothes and putting on my favorite soft sweaters. I love the warm feeling I get on those cold, rainy days with my old friendly sweaters.

This year is the first winter I've unpacked my sweaters and gotten an unfriendly surprise: the sweater I still have from high school doesn't fit anymore. It's turned into a bit of a belly shirt; or belly sweater, as the case may be. I love this sweater! It's a warm purple color and it's so soft. I love it because it just fits perfectly with the fall colors.

I decided I wasn't going to give up without a fight. I put a cami on under the sweater. That way, the sweater could ride up and I wouldn't show my stomach. Perfect. And then I looked in the mirror. Not so perfect. And did I just say that it would be perfect to allow my sweater to "ride up"?! My god, that is so disgusting.

This sweater is the one I wore in high school to look cute. Now, I'm engaged and have a college degree. New life, new sweater. What else do I have that I have clung to because it was so perfect?

I started going through my clothes and found all sorts of things that I never wear anymore, but I have great memories about, so I've kept them: my first ballroom Latin competition skirt, a few very sparkly dresses, sky-high heels, some amazing graphic tees, a few suits, and some really short shorts.

Less than half of my closet...so many clothes!

It's amazing how many things I don't wear, but still have. I can always use the But-What-If-I-Need-It-Again argument to talk myself into keeping all my clothes.

But what if someone else can use my clothes right now? I think it's probably more important to share my clothes with other people than keep them in my closet or boxes. So I'll donate some of them. After all, it is the season of giving. :)

Do you have clothes you aren't using this season? Donate them! There are always people who need clothes more than we, who are so lucky to have the luxury of excess. Find your local Goodwill or Salvation Army and drop off your clothes!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

Are Elected Officials Civil Servants?

This weekend I saw the film "Lincoln." What a brilliant movie. When we got home as I built the fire, I got to thinking that the Lincoln that was portrayed in the film was such an incredible "civil servant." This led me to think about the political figures we elect today. Are they the civil servants we elect them to be?

And, even if our elected officials are not voting in their constituents' best interests all the time, do their constituents know and/or care? I am a rather politically-minded person, and to be completely honest, I had to look up the representative I was voting for last month the day before Election Day. I moved here in July and I knew nothing about local politics or who our representative was. But what about the rest of the population who isn't as politically-minded? Do they just vote straight-ticket?

The thing is, back in Lincoln's day, there wasn't all the extra crap we have in our lives now. It used to be that if you lived in town, you would get a weekly paper if you could afford it. If you lived on a farm, you might get the news once a month, if you were lucky, and it was the only news you had for the next month! It really gave you time to understand the news and care about it before you moved on to the next thing.

Now, if we're listening to the news as we're starting our day or reading one of the hundreds of daily newspapers we have access to, we can hear one minute about something our congressman has said in passing, then the next minute hear something terrible about how a building has been blown up halfway across the world, and then hear about how some pop icon has gotten her hair dyed and "Oh my god, what a fashion faux pas." And then we go about our day, getting inundated with more stimuli with everything we do, so that by the end of the day we don't even remember what our congressman said.

Even though it's harder for us to keep up with our congressmen and congresswomen because we have so much going on in our lives, it's important that we do pay attention to what they're doing. We live in a democracy and part of our job is to vote for the people we think will do the best job in our best interests. Our job goes deeper, though, than just voting. We need to be informed voters, and not just informed the day before Election Day!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi