Confused Woman!

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon for Grandma Marge’s Life Celebration.  My family started out with a small gathering in the cemetery to place flowers on her grave and say a few words/prayers.  It was very lovely.

We then went to the hotel for the celebration.  Prior to us arriving, we were told by the hotel there was an anime convention and there would be some people walking around in interesting costumes.  Um….yeah….that was the understatement of the week.

The life celebration was wonderful.  It was awesome to have so many friends and family gather together to talk, laugh, and cry, talking about Grandma Marge’s life.  We had a good time and it was great to reconnect with relatives we hadn’t seen for a very long time.

However…there was also this “little” event going on elsewhere in the hotel.  We looked out the windows and saw an endless stream of people in costumes….some in knee-high white plastic boots with their skirts in line with their butt cheeks.  There were people wielding “weapons” and wearing masks.  I wondered if I was at Grandma’s celebration or the freak show tent at the state fair.  It was entertaining and disturbing at the same time.

I had to laugh and think this was the work of my late “Crazy Uncle Terry”.  He loved to be goofy and have fun and I thought he had to have ordered this from the heavens.  Here’s Grandma Marge, who was very prim and proper that we’re celebrating, next to folks in spandex and body paint.  It was strange, funny, and wonderful.  Rest in peace, Grandma.  🙂

I was sitting in front of my computer at work when I saw the news flash on my cell phone.  A person was found unresponsive at Paisley Park.  Almost immediately, I got a sick feeling in my stomach that something bad had happened.  I kept hoping that it wasn’t true, but unfortunately, it was.  Prince was gone.  He was only 57 years old.

Shock came over me.  I couldn’t believe it.  I grew up listening to his music.  The Purple Rain movie and soundtrack were a huge part of my teenage years.  I loved his songs and what a genius he was with lyrics and instruments.  He was eccentric and it was awesome.

I was a huge fan of his songs going back to Controversy and I Wanna be Your Lover to his most recent music.  His concert I attended many years ago was incredible, even though he didn’t play many of his old tunes.  It didn’t matter, because I was a huge fan, and he was in the house.

We always think iconic people like Prince will live forever.  How quickly we are reminded that they are just like us and can’t escape death and taxes.  Rest in Peace, Prince.  I will watch Purple Rain tonight and have a toast to you and the influence you had on so many musicians and fans around the world, like me.

It seems lately, anywhere you drive, you will encounter the free buffet that is a bad driver bonanza.  I don’t know if it’s something in the water, or the weather, but whatever it is, it sucks.

Today for example, I am driving on a divided highway going 60 mph, in the left lane.  I’m approaching an intersection that has lights and two left-turn lanes.  This brilliant specimen of a driver decided he didn’t want to turn left and all of a sudden pulled into my lane at a snail’s pace.  Not good.

I slam on my brakes, swerve, honk my horn, and somehow manage to miss him.  Good thing I was wide awake and not distracted.  Of course, this person then ends up at the next intersection next to me.  All I can think is, “Great, now this guy is going to shoot me because I honked at him.”

This unfortunately happened to a woman in Minneapolis last week, so the fear is real.  I arrived at the dentist office with my heart beating out of my chest.  Nothing like a near wreck to relax you for a filling replacement!

Talking to friends about what happened today, I heard again and again how bad drivers have become.  They’re getting cut off, swerved at, and barely escape a crash because of distracted driving.

It’s so frustrating after all of the media regarding texting and driving, people are still doing it.  What’s it going to take to get someone to put their damn phone down?  At this rate, eventually it may come to phones being jammed in cars except for emergency calls and if the car is at a complete stop with the engine off.

If people can’t police themselves, then it may be done for them someday.  In the meantime, put the phone down, keep the burger in the bag, take the headphones out of your ears, and pay attention!

I recently joined the YMCA and have really enjoyed it so far.  It’s great to be able to walk across the street and be able to go swimming or play basketball with my daughter.  The Y is so family-friendly and anything but a meat market.

They offered an introductory special for personal training sessions, so I thought I’d give it a try.  I figured it would be a great way to get a routine going so I don’t walk into the cardio/weight area looking like a deer in headlights.

My trainer, Anna, is awesome.  She’s so nice and understands where I’m coming from, even though she’s young enough to be my daughter (almost!).  The first session was great and I wasn’t too sore afterwards.  However, the second session this afternoon was a different story.

Anna kicked it into high gear and kicked my ass.  Granted, I didn’t want a wimpy workout, but wow.  She pushed me and it was good.  I was squatting, planking, and squeezing muscles I never knew existed.

I’m sure I’ll be hobbling around like a 90 year-old tomorrow but that’s okay.  I need a trainer like Anna to get my butt moving and holding me accountable.  It’s too easy to quit when it gets tough or bail on a workout because I’m tired.  Keep it up, Anna!