Monthly Archives: December 2010

A Nasty Tone/ A New Year

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A Nasty Tone/A New Year

Dec 10-4My Zumba group and I were working out at an upstairs location.  We were grooving to the beats, enjoying ourselves.  I noticed a woman watching us from the back door.  I assumed she was interested in maybe doing a class.   We carried on.  I then noticed her standing at the front door watching us.  Once again, we kept doing our thing.  She finally said “Excuse me”.  I stopped the music to see how we could help her.  With an attitude she said that she had to lock up upstairs.  I told her that was fine and that we would lockup once we finished.  I asked if she minded telling the owner downstairs what she had told us.  With even more of an attitude she said, “Yes, I would mind!”  I was taken aback.   It took me a couple of beats of the songs to get back on track.  We were all surprised with her demeanor but just brushed it off.

Well, I guess this lady was going through something because the next day she came to the facility to give me a card.  She apologized for the way that she spoke to us and stated that that was not the way she really is.  I shared her card with the group.  We realized that everyone has their good and bad days and that her attitude was probably much larger than her interaction with us.

I could have put her on my enemy list, but I did something different.  I realized the value I could give to the business where she works.  I reached out to the manager (and didn’t mentioned the incident) and am forming a partnership with them.  As we enter a new year, think about some of the things or people that have affected you either positively or negatively.  Think about how (or if) you want them to be a part of 2011.  Just remember, though, you can’t control another person’s actions.  If you want someone to continue with you into 2011, remember you are accepting them just the way they are.  It’s not about spending next year trying to change them.  Not everyone should make it into next year.  That man that always hurts you – leave him alone!  If he wanted to be with you he would.  The friend that always lies about you behind your back – leave her alone!  That’s not a true friend.  That person that serves as a source of inspiration for you (even if you don’t know him/her personally) – keep him/her close!  Surround yourself with positive people doing positive things.  Think about all that you want to accomplish, write it down, tell the world and make it happen!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

M.Y. December 2010

Best Gift Ever

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The Best Gifts Ever

Dec 10-3If you’ve read my columns the past couple of years, you will know how much I anticipated one day being able to start my own new holiday traditions similar to what I was able to do with my parents before they passed away.  While I greatly appreciated being able to eat at my friends houses, I longed for something to call my own.

And so this year some traditions began.  Three weeks ago Milton and I decided to decorate our own Christmas tree.  Gone were my monkey decorations (which I now refer to as the bachelorette tree).  We found ourselves walking up and down the aisles of Target to find ornaments and tinsel that matched our style.  We found a red “2010 Christmas” ornament and bought two stockings – each with the letter M on them.

It was great how we organized our little system of hanging up the ornaments.  While it was too cold to hang decorations outside on the bushes, we instead put electric candles in the windows.  I was amused when Milton came back downstairs with one candle.  He said, “I didn’t put this candle up because it’s in the same room as your wedding dress.  I know that room is off limits!”

All of the decorations were up and we were proud of ‘our first Christmas tree’.  We (well at least I) had worked up an appetite and were headed out the door.  Before I could put on my shoes, Milton says “Hold on, there’s one thing missing. “  He walks out to his car and I’m standing there clueless and to what he’s talking about.  He walks inside carrying a big red box and two smaller gray boxes.  I realize that they are my Christmas presents!  They have now been sitting under the tree for three weeks.  Although I have no clue what is in them, they are the best gifst ever!

DUI and I

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Dec 10-2My fiancé and I had just returned from an amazing trip to North Carolina.  He lives in Indianapolis about 45 minutes from the airport.  It had been snowing so it took us a little bit longer to get home.  We were only about a block from his house and were sitting at a stop light.  All of a sudden – BAM!!  A car ran into the back of us.  Before Milton could explode, I suggested he calm down, stop the car, get out, check everything and get the driver’s information.

Luckily there was no damage to Milton’s or the other driver’s car.  Milton suggested I get back in the car to stay warm.  He stayed outside to continue talking with the lady and get her license plate # and all other info.  When he got back into the car, he was on his cell phone and LIVID!  This lady was drunk!!  Milton immediately called 911 to report the incident.  He noticed the lady had a ½ empty bottle of brandy on her passenger seat.

Once the police came, we were told we could leave since there were no injuries and no car damage.  We went on our way to the grocery store and left 30 minutes later.  We drove back to the scene and saw the lady’s car sitting on the side of the road, the police car had its lights on and the lady was sitting in the back of the police car.

Turns out, homegirl had a blood alcohol level of .24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Not good.  So not good.  None of this made for a happy fiancé.  BUT HERE’S THE THING – Milton and I stopped a drunk driver.  Yeah, she hit us.  But, there was no damage to our car.  My back started hurting a couple of hours later and I’ve been seeing my chiropractor and am feeling better. Think about if she would have kept driving.  She could have serious injured or killed someone.  She could have killed us! As much as we were inconvenienced for that hour on Sunday, the experience ended up being a blessing in disguise.  The lady was arrested for public intoxication, driving under the influence and reckless driving.  The only Christmas she ruined was her own.  And, although I had some back pains, it was the perfect reason to get some good massages once we arrived home!!!

M.Y. December 2010

I Can’t Stand the Rain

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I Can’t Stand the Rain

Dec10-1If I had to think of a theme song to describe part of my life, The Rain (Super Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliott would be it.  Well, let me change that!  I just googled the lyrics to that song and it in no way describe me.  She must have been smokin’ some good stuff when she wrote those verses.

Anyway, my name is Michelle Yeager and I hate the rain. Not only do I hate the rain, but I am scared of the rain.  Nothing ever traumatic happened in my life.  I wasn’t left out in the rain as a child and forced to walk home.  I was never so poor that all I had to drink was rain water.  Plain and simple – rain and I just aren’t friends.

You know when it’s raining outside and you see someone driving 45 mph on the expressway?  That’s me.  I drive with pride in the slow lane.   I have both hands on the steering wheel, my seat pulled up close and I have no problem with all of the cars that pass me.  I will take my merry little time to get to my destination and my simple excuse was “it was raining”.

The other tiff I have with rain is just being outside in the rain in general.   I don’t know of any healthy minerals that rain provides for your hair.  No, in all actuality, it does just the opposite.   The humidity of the rain can make a fly new hair style disappear.   Those two raindrops on your hair can make that one section look completely different than the rest of your ‘do.   It’s just not right!

Now, I did have to temporarily make amends with rain this summer.  As a homeowner, I saw how thirsty my grass became.  As it slowly turned from green to olive brown, I knew the only solution was a good rain.  I had to do a temporary rain dance for drops to fall from the sky.  I prayed to the rain gods for rain (but only once I was safe in my house).    I can’t say those rain prayers were answered, but I did give it a try.

Some people dislike clowns, others dislike snake.  Me – I dislike rain.  I don’t know if I’ll ever get over my fear of rain or if I have just internalized it as a part of my life.  Regardless, I know that it is something that will always be a part of my life.  Love it or hate it, rain is here to stay.  This can apply to many things in our lives.  There are some things you can’t control and you have to learn to best deal with it.   Whether it’s buying an umbrella or just staying home, there are ways to cope.  If you’re in a situation now that you have no control over, what adjustments are you making to continue on with your life?

M.Y. December 2010