When I left Raleigh on Wednesday afternoon after having my brain picked apart for 6 hours on how to make the blog a better experience for you and me. I was in a fog.

I’m stumbling around with my shoes, laptop, fishing through my pockets, you all know the drill, and managed to get through our normal security detector only to find I had one the prize and was being awarded the opportunity to try out the new RDU full-body scan. I felt so lucky to be randomly picked. Not really. I was out of my element. This is different, but just comply. These guys and gals have a tough job. Do what your told, dummy.

Now all my stuff is still on the conveyor belt which I really don’t care for. That little Acer laptop could disappear any second, but I am going to have a full body scan.

I’m asked to completely empty my pockets. Heck, I did that for the normal screening but yes indeed, paper and more paper, boarding passes, hotel receipts, phone numbers and notes, my earbuds, wallet. It all fills the bowl.

I walk into this round glass chamber with openings in front and rear and I’m told I’ll be okay, it won’t hurt, I won’t get radiation burns and to stand on the yellow footprints on the floor facing the adjacent security belt. The TSA guys leans over into his clip on microphone and announces “first image coming through” So with my hands in the air, standing as instructed on the yellow footprints the doors of the chamber swing around and somebody in an adjoining room is looking at a picture of me in my boxers, not briefs.

The officer then has me face forward on the green footprints and the procedure is repeated again, this time providing a second naked full body image of the Frugal Travel Guy to somebody in that still undisclosed location. I wonder if we’ll ever get to meet and have coffee or something? He or she has seen it all now. I at least want to meet them.

After the second go around I’m asked to step out of the Star Wars gadget and wait while the officer uses his little microphone to call up to my mystery admirer and explain in detail that my pants have zip off legs and the belt is non removable. After about 15 seconds of giggling in the hidden viewing room and a vigorous pat down of my lower extremities, I am free to go.

There is no sensation or sound to the experience, only complete and total surrender to the system and the thought of what the world has come to, to make us all safe.

In a humorous vain, it reminded me of the old slogan on T-shirts “Get Naked” I can now respond “I have, and I feel so dirty”

Jon Donates $67 of Southwest Funds

UPDATE We have identified two readers for the funds already. Thanks again Jon

The generosity of readers continues to amaze me. Jon has $67 of Southwest Airlines funds he can’t use by expiration day of February 10th.

Email me if you can use it personally, will not trade it, and can maybe do something nice for a soldier in the airport next time you see one.

First to email agreeing to those conditions I put in touch with Jon, our Frugal Travel Guy of the Day. Remember they expire February 10th so if you can’t use them on this short notice, please don’t write me.

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