Author Archives: yeagerturner

Ex-Bling

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Ex-Bling

June-10-3Our birthdays were 10 days apart so we celebrated together.  We exchanged presents.  I received a pink diamond necklace.  He said he bought it several years ago while in Australia and saved it for the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with – me!

That was June 2009.  We broke up just as 2010 started.  We stayed cordial with each other.  I waited to see if he would ask for the necklace back.  He never did.   Our birthdays come around again this year.  He sends me a “Happy BDay” text on mine.  Although I missed his actual day, I went on Facebook to post a “Happy Belated Bday” message on his wall. But my access was blocked.  I was listed as a friend, I just couldn’t post on his page like his other friends could.

So, I sent a FB email – “Just wanted to wish you a happy 40th birthday.  I was going to post it on your FB page but you’ve blocked me.”  His response – “Thanks.”  I wasn’t sure why he’d block me, especially since I left the relationship, but just felt that it would be best to just ‘unfriend’ him since for some reason he felt some conflict.  I didn’t send him an email or anything, just unchecked a button.

Next day I receive the following message – “Can you send me my chain back?  Especially since we know you are not “the one” and that is the circumstance which I gave it to under. Thanks for the de-friend as well.”

I found the message very interesting.  It’s been over six months and not once had he even thought once about the necklace.  Now this message comes out of nowhere.  So here’s my question to you – how would you respond?
1. Ignore his message and keep the necklace
2. Reply back, “I see turning 40 didn’t make you more mature”
3.  Just send it back
4. Tell him I gave it to my boyfriend’s mother
5. Pawn it and spend the money on a shopping spree
6. Tell him if he wants it, he’ll need to fly to Louisville and get it
7. Ask why all of sudden he wants it back
8. Other

Tell me both what you WOULD do and what you SHOULD do (not necessarily always the same answer).  Should you return all gifts after a breakup or is jewelry a special exception? Like with a previous scenario, I’ve already acted on the situation but am very curious how others would have handled it.

M.Y.  June 2010

Bull’s Eye

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Bull’s Eye

June10-2I have a bull’s eye on me.  It’s right smack in the middle of my forehead.  I didn’t realize it was there at first.

When I first started competing, I researched competitors to see the skills that I’d be up against.  I remember being intimidated by certain people, like Allison Ethier.  I just wanted to represent myself well.

Last year when I went to my first national fitness competition (in Charleston, SC) nobody could have cared who I was.  I was a skinny, black girl that stayed to herself backstage.  I didn’t work with one of the powerhouse trainers.  I was just Michelle Yeager from Kentucky.  Out of six women in my class, I finished third.  I was pleased, determined to come back stronger for the next one.

Then September came, and my next competition was in NY, NY. I had a better routine and worked on my physique.  This time when I showed up, I was a familiar face.  I was a friendly face.  People remembered me from the last show, but still didn’t think too much about me being there.  Out of 10 competitors in my class, I finished third.  The top two turned professional.  Just one spot away.  I received compliments on my routine and was told that my glutes were holding me back.  (I’m a black woman – what do you expect?!)

Then came the Arnold this past March.  Instant international exposure.  While I was waiting backstage to compete, a competitor said,” I Googled your routine, it was awesome.”  Various people were interviewing me.  And, I won my class!  Great, great feeling.  I was on a high for several weeks.  Then I realized – I’M NOW THE PERSON TO BEAT!

I’m at the top with the expectation of turning pro this year. And as exciting as that is, the stress is just as tremendous.  I’m expected to bring a powerful routine, one that will have folks talking.  The judges are looking for my glutes to be smaller than before.  It’s go big or go home!

So, I have two chances – June 18/19 in Chicago (where I have to win my class) and then July 9/10 in New Jersey (where the top 2 go pro).  I want to go pro.  However, I know all things happen for a reason and that when it’s my time to shine – it will. The smell of success is at arms length away ….. and it smells just like pizza!

M.Y. June 2010

Happy? Birthday

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Happy? Birthday

June10-1Last week, on May 26, I celebrated another birthday.  I turned 34.  Now usually a new birthday doesn’t affect me too much.  But for some reason, this year was different. I woke up with back pains and I was more tired than usual.  I quickly made an appointment with my chiropractor, but felt if this was the way 34 would be, then  I needed to roll back over and just stay 33.  I then realized that I would be 35 next year which is just one more stepping stone closer to 40.  I’M GETTING OLD.  I’M FEELING OLD.  Ahhhhh!

From there my mind came to the realization that my plan to be married with kids by 30 didn’t come true.  Although there is great potential that those things are in the works, the reality is that they don’t currently exist.  So, while last Wednesday should have been a Happy day, it started in a funk.

As I started thinking about it, though, I realized that everything I saw as a negative, really was a positive.  I woke up sore, because for the past couple of weeks I’ve been practicing my next fitness routine.  I do back tucks and one-arm pushups.  I should be grateful that God has blessed me with those skills and still provides me the strength to do them!

There’s a reason I’m not currently married.  My mother had cancer for five years.  During that time, she became the most important person in my life.  I was in a relationship – with her. God needed me to be there as her support system and I cherish those times we spent together.   She taught me a lot of life lessons that I now can manifest into a marriage.

Kids – I love kids.  I taught 24 every year.  And then, I was able to send them home on the school bus.  God gave me the time and freedom to travel whenever and wherever my heart desired.  Last year I took 15 trips – fifteen!  I have been able to follow my passions , create my dreams and just be me.

I realized that all of our paths are different.  And while mine might not have been the one I planned or “thought” I wanted, it was the one specially designed for me.  I’ve accomplished some amazing things, met some tremendous people and been given some splendid opportunities.   I’m proud of who I am at 34 and can’t wait to see where God will lead me into 35!

M.Y. June 2010

My First Graduates

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My First Graduates

May10-4August 1998 was an important month for me.  This was when I took my first steps into a first grade classroom for my first day of teaching.  When I was a child, all I wanted to be was a teacher.  And now the moment was here.  Twenty-four eager first graders sat wide eyed and looked at me, wondering what type of great things we would learn.

A seasoned teacher advised me “not to smile until Christmas”.  She must not have known me very well, because I always smile.  And, within 30 seconds on that first day of school, I flashed my smile, welcomed everyone to my classroom and said I was going to take them on amazing journey!  I’ll never forget the moment where I looked up and everyone was quietly working.  My room was quiet.  24 six-year-olds were silent.  Then I realized, I hate complete silence.  So, I turned on some music with the volume very low.

My first year of teaching was fantastic.  My students were brilliant both academically and with their extra activities.  They made me laugh.  They cared about each other.  We were a community.  I missed them over Christmas break.  At the end of the year, I was so proud of their success that I moved up with them and taught them again for second grade.
This was 12 years ago. Now, my first group of first graders is graduating from high school.  My babies are grown!  I searched for some of them on Facebook to see what their future holds.  Many of them still looked similar (with the exception of body parts and facial hairs not normally found of six-year-old kids).   The interesting thing was the path of many of them, were characteristics I noticed back then.   Juanita Araque was an amazing dancer.  We even watched her as Clara in the Nutcracker.  She is now working with a professional ballet company and following her passion.  Braea Tilford was a social butterfly.  She’s graduating from Central High and was a cheerleader and Homecoming Queen.  Joey Coombs was very smart at solving problems.  He’ll be attending UK to major in business marketing.  Bethany Welch was one of the smartest students I had ever met.  She had just moved with her family from South Africa and I was just proud to be her teacher.  She’ll be attending UL and studying cultural anthropology.

And the list goes on and on.   I am just as proud of them now and I was twelve years ago.  Back then, boys and girls didn’t like each other more than just friends.  Now, they all have their prom pictures with “the love of their life”.  (If only they knew it’ll be more like “love of the next couple of weeks”!)  Although I’m still the only person that looks the same as in 1998, I feel as if they have the same spirit, love and drive that helped us all survive those two years together.  I’m excited to follow them over the next decade and although it was a long time ago, I hope I made some type of difference in their lives.

M.Y.  May 2010

Just One of Them Days

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Just One of Them Days

May10-3I had only been back in town for a couple of hours.  I learned my fitness routine and was sore all over, but I wanted to get in a workout.  The plan: get gas, go to the gym, go home, rest.  I just gotten Lexie (my car) back from the shop the week before.  (who would have known a Lexus bumper would cost $4000!)  I started the engine and was ready to go – until I noticed a headlight warning light on.  I’d never seen it before so I opened the manual to read what it signified.  It was the light that controlled the automatic headlights.  I called the repair guys and they said to bring it in and it should only take 10 minutes to fix.

So, on my way I went to the Kroger gas station.  Every pump was full.  I pulled up behind a car to wait.  As I sat there a couple of minutes, I noticed the car was stalled.  The guy wasn’t pumping gas, he was trying to get his car to start.  Crap!  So, I pulled away and found another spot where a lady was finishing pumping her gas.  As she pulled off, another customer went up to her and told her she thought gas was leaking from her gas.  The lady paid her no mind and drove off.  Finally my turn.  Or so I thought.  As I pulled up to the spot, the gas attendant came up to my passenger window.  I tried to roll it down but it wouldn’t budge (this is the same side that Lexie was hit).  He walked around to my side and said I’d have to wait while he cleaned up the gas leak.

So, my headlight warning light is on, my window doesn’t roll down and now you want me to wait five more minutes to pump my gas?!  By now I’m getting a little bit frustrated. All the other pumps are full so there’s no use in trying to pull up to another one.  So I just wait.  As soon as he’s done, I pull up, scan my Kroger card, swipe my credit card and pump gas.  After I finish, I open my car door to head to the gym.  I realize I don’t have my credit card.  I had on biker shorts and a t-shirt so I had no pockets.  I was able to pump gas so I had to have used it.  I walked around my car several times. I squatted and looked under my car a few more times.  I checked my wallet.  I looked high.  I looked low.  My credit card was nowhere to be found.

At this point I’m pissed and baffled and I realized the only place I needed to be was in my bed.  So I drove home.  I called and reported my credit card as lost (but didn’t know if it had been stolen).  I did not leave my house for the rest of the night.  It was just one of those days.

The storm before the rainbow:  I went back to the repair shop and they just needed to reset some things to fix both the warning light and the window.  It took all of 15 minutes. I was at the same Kroger a couple of days later and checked to see if my credit card had been turned in. Underneath t-shirts, umbrellas and a watch, was my credit in the lost-and-found.  The moral of the story – when everything seems to be going wrong in your life, just be patient and realize that it will get better!

M.Y. May 2010

Un Be-weave-able

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Un Be-weave-able

May10-2Naturally my hair is somewhat long – about 4-5 inches past my shoulders. But every once in awhile, on special occasions my hair calls for special attention and additional features.  Over time this has come in the form of wigs (those are fun but don’t usually look natural), half wigs (which generally blend in well with my hair) and weaves.

I know the new thing is the lace front wig, but that’s not something I would ever be able to wear.  My skin is very sensitive to any and everything.  I am allergic to latex and even the some bandages will leave marks on my skin.  So, the glue people use on the lace front wigs would leave a permanent scar across my forehead (and you may say it won’t but I’m definitely not trying to find out).

For my competition in March I decided to increase my stage presence and add some length to my hair. Since I would be tumbling, I went with a weave (I’m not trying to have a wig fly into the crowd as I tumble!)   My wonderful stylist Chenica Racine, sewed three tracks in to my hair.  I had long(er) flowing locks in no time at all. And, at first I really enjoy the tracks.  I could do a lot with my hair and it had the body and flow that I usually don’t have.

And then it started to annoy me.  See, I’m used to placing a brush on my head and being able to move straight from the top of my head down to the bottom.  With the tracks, my brush only got half way down and then I felt a bump, bump, bump.  I didn’t want my boyfriend to touch my hair because I knew he’d think I had a deformed head.

The second bothersome thing was perspiration.  I had a great workout on the gym and produced a nice sweat.  Unfortunately my head sweat as well.  And in those creases where the braids were, the sweat just ran inside those plaits and was holding on for dear life.  As much as I wanted to shove a comb up in that area and scratch, I couldn’t.

After about three weeks of the tracks, I was ready for them to be taken out.  I liked the look, but missed the natural feel of my own fingers running all the way through my own hair.  Will I do it again?  Yes (actually in four weeks for my next competition) But will I have the same issue – most likely so.

M.Y. May 2010