Confused Woman!

Did any of you watch the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night?  That’s all everyone has talked about on social media.  Miley and her homeless fugitive friend, Nicki Minaj’s “wardrobe malfunction”, and Beyoncé’s amazing performance.

I watched the show and was shocked and disgusted to see Beyoncé’s toddler-aged daughter in the audience while she performed.  If you missed her segment, let me summarize:  Beyoncé’s amazing voice, coupled with dancers wearing dental floss to “cover” their va jay jay’s and rear, humping the stage like Ryan Gosling was underneath them.

It was disturbing.  My 6 year-old daughter is not allowed to watch the show after last year’s Miley Cyrus “twerking, gyrating,  and foam fingering” performance.  However, here in the audience is her small child, watching all of this going on.

I tweeted about it, but it appeared no one in Twitterville agreed with me.  Everyone under the moon and stars tweeted about how amazing her performance was (vocally, agreed) and how sweet it was to have Jay Z and Blue Ivy on stage to present her award (also agree).

Am I the only parent who is concerned about a small child being exposed to this sexually provocative performance, or am I old and overreacting?  It just seems to me kids see a lot more sexual images compared to when I was a kid.  There’s just no innocence anymore.  I wish it would come back.

What are your thoughts?  Do you agree with me or think it’s not a big deal?

Yes, the time has arrived.  At 6am tomorrow, the gates will open to the Minnesota State Fair.  Every year, I’m beyond excited for the fair to start.  It’s an annual tradition, which I’ve only missed a handful of times over my time on this planet.

My parents, bless their crazy souls, would take us to the fair and pull us around in a little red wagon.  They would travel the grounds for hours, with two little girls in tow, probably whining for food and toys the entire time.

One year, my Dad had a brilliant idea to try the ring toss when we first arrived on the fairgrounds. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue because honestly, who ever wins these stupid games?  However, this particular morning, he was blessed by the carnival game gods and won.

It was so exciting!  Dad won a prize!  Even better, Dad won the largest teddy bear in the history of the state fair (or so it appeared to us little tykes).  This thing was larger than my sister and I combined.  The bear became the fifth member of the family and joined us for a day at the fair.  That was the last time he played games before mini donuts and coffee were consumed.

I also recall a time when Dad and I attempted to go down the giant slide together.  Trying to overlap burlap bags, and coordinate a child and adult on a slippery downhill trajectory, wasn’t the greatest idea.  I still have a scar on my elbow from dragging it across the slide on the way down.

The best part of the fair?  For me, it’s the food and the people watching.  There’s nothing better. Sitting in the beer garden, watching the world go by as I have a beer and cheese curds (or fried pickles or french fries, etc., etc.).

I’m excited to try some of the new foods for 2014:  Deep-Fried Lobster On-a-Stick, Prime Rib Taco, and Walleye Mac and Cheese.  I’ll be in a sea of gluttony for a few hours, then spend the next 24 hours regretting my amount of consumption, but who cares.  It’s once a year, live it up, I know I will!

I am having a very difficult time mustering up the motivation to start training for a 10 mile race in October.  A couple of years ago, I was totally in the zone, ready for all the races I participated in. This year, my motivation is as non-existent as Santa Claus.

I signed up for the race, hoping it would force me to get my rear in gear, but it hasn’t.  It doesn’t help I’ve had a major personal setback, which has pretty much destroyed my self-esteem and energy to brush my teeth, let alone train for a race.

My friend, who’s running the race with me, is also in the same boat.  Part of me is glad, but part of me wishes she was ahead in training so I’d feel the pressure to keep up.  Now my thought is, “Well, at least we can walk the course together.”

This thinking is so wrong and negative, but it’s hard to get up to speed when all I want to do is pull the covers over my head and wish the last month away.  There is still time to train, but the days are slipping away.  Will I be ready in time?  Who knows.  If I am, fantastic.  If not, at least I get a free t-shirt.

In the past, I thought if I signed up for races, it would force me to step up and get my crap in gear. I’ve spent the money, now I have to train and get ready to run the race.  A couple of years ago, it worked amazingly well.

I signed up for a women’s running class and then promptly signed up for the following:  two 5k’s, two half-marathons, a 1 mile and 10 mile race.  All of these races were within a six-month time span.

The training was tough, but I was committed and did well.  I didn’t win, but I was never last…not even close.  This year, however, is different.

My friend and I decided to throw our names into a lottery for a 10 mile race, which will take place in October.  I’ve done the race before, and it’s a really great course and a fun event.  However, I’m having a hard time getting my “ish” in order and starting a training plan.

Times are different (as well as finances) than a couple of years ago.  Things in general are more challenging than they were back then.  You would think it would motivate me to get out and exercise to relieve in stress, but it hasn’t.

I’m wondering what it’s going to take to kick myself in the ass and get started.  I thought the pressure of a looming deadline and spending money on a race fee would be enough, but this time it’s not.  Help!