Women Over 40 Rock!

A few months ago I was honored by being named a Baby Boomer Diva by the Boomer Diva Nation. I am so proud to be a Boomer Diva and feel extremely privileged to be a part of the Boomer Diva Nation . Beverly Mahone is the Founder and Director of The Boomer Diva Nation and  is an inspiration to us all and at the forefront of  bringing powerful boomer women together across the world.  She never lets us forget that we are a significant and positive force in the world and within each other’s lives.  The Baby Boomer Girlfriend’s Spring Break Getaway, April 18-20th 2008 / Daytona Beach Florida, is just the beginning of an historical movement.  I know it will be a resounding success. I want to let everyone know about this wonderful event so check out The Baby Boomer Girlfriends Spring Break Getaway to find out more about the retreat. Here is my interview with Beverly Mahone, a kindred spirit of mine and In the Trenches Productions:
•    WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR BABY BOOMER GIRLFRIENDS’ SPRING BREAK WEEKEND GETAWAY?  The inspiration behind hosting the Baby Boomer Girlfriends Spring Break came to me because I wanted a way to connect a diverse group of women around the country for a weekend of fellowship, networking and just plain FUN.  Initially, it was only going to be a one night pajama party somewhere in Georgia but then a friend of mine who is the General Manager of a TV station in Daytona Beach, FL offered me the opportunity to tape a Baby Boomer Town Hall Meeting and I just couldn’t pass up that deal so, with the help of my wonderful event planner Carol King, we started working on an entire weekend of activities.  I’ve been blessed to have members of my boomer diva nation group step up and volunteer their time and talents to help make this event a success.  To be perfectly honest, this weekend has taken on a life all its own but I believe that’s the way God intended for it to be.
•    WHAT IS YOUR MAIN GOAL FOR THE EVENT?  I don’t have just one main goal.  I want this event to inspire women in many different ways.  In addition to being a fun weekend, it is also designed to educate and empower us as women.  There will be seminars to address our concerns and needs as we grow older.  This is also the opportunity to network and fellowship with women you probably wouldn’t, otherwise,  meet.  There are women coming from Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico and even as far away as California.  For me, personally, I’m excited because this is the first time I will get to meet fellow members of the Boomer Diva Nation Group.  I met one woman (Linda Alexander) last year but I’ve only associated with the others through online networking so this will be an absolute thrill for me!  When it’s all over, I want women to walk away with renewed strength and to be encouraged. Our group’s motto is:  Women on the Move and Making a Difference.  I hope they will take that statement to heart and go back to their home communities and be the change they want to see in their worlds.
•    WHAT IS NEXT FOR BOOMER DIVA NATION IN 2008?  First of all, I’m already planning for the next Spring Break! :)  As far as Boomer Diva Nation goes, we are continuing to grow.  We’re actually global with Diva sisters in Australia.  There is so much talent in this group and I want to make sure the whole world knows about the wonderful resources these women have to offer.    One of our missions is to offer an annual scholarship of some kind.  We’re still working out the details for that.
•    WHAT HAS THIS GROUP DONE FOR YOU?  This group has been a totally blessing!  The beautiful thing about this group is we’re all working together to make each other better.  I really do believe the sky’s the limit for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you.  Plans to prosper you and not harm you.”  We’re on a mission with God leading the way!

So pack your pajamas and head to Florida.
Debbie Zipp, In the Trenches Productions
The First Entertainment Network Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Women over 40.

What on earth is SWAN day you might ask? Is it the day we pay tribute to really long necks or is it the day we pay homage to our beautiful feathered bird friends? Nope that is not it, even though long necks and swans definitely deserve our respect and praise.

No SWAN day is SUPPORT WOMEN ARTISTS NOW day! And this coming Saturday March 29th is the first Annual International SWAN Day!

We all need to support this new international holiday that celebrates women artists. As a symbol of international solidarity, over 100 SWAN Day events have been scheduled around the world. Even Sandra Oh is getting into the act with her inspiring SWAN Day Story

By focusing attention on the work of women artists, SWAN Day will help people imagine what the world might be like if women’s art and perspectives were fully integrated into all of our lives. The public is invited to attend SWAN Day events and to make donations to their favorite women artists. The long term goal of SWAN Day is to inspire communities around the world to find new ways to recognize and support women artists as a basic element of civic planning.

SWAN Day is a grassroots effort that is being coordinated by The Fund for Women Artists . Hats off to this wonderful organization and it’s founder Martha Richards. Everyone on the planet is invited to help create this new holiday!

And guess what! You don’t have to travel outside your city or even leave the comfort of your home to support SWAN Day. Just open up your laptop or start your computer and go to IN THE TRENCHES PRODUCTIONS (how’s that for good directions) and you will see the first entertainment website for women over 40. Check out films written, created, developed, produced, co-directed and edited by the 4 (over 40) women of In the Trenches Productions. They use their talent and creativity as filmmakers to create high quality short films that will resonate with women over 40 as well as entertain and inspire. They also use their acting artistry and sometimes star in the films. So support them and all the artists involved with their films and visit The In the Trenches Productions Entertainment Web Site to watch such fims as “Believe It Baby”, “The Forgotten Grave”, “Transitions”, A Host of Trouble”, and “Living Large with Less” as just one of your Swan Day Events.

For more information on Supporting Women Artists Now check out THE FUND FOR WOMEN ARTISTS and SWAN Day.

Lets make Saturday March 29th 2008 a turning point for Women Artists!

Debbie Zipp, blogger and shameless promoter for In the Trenches Productions
The First Entertainment Site for Women Over 40

When it comes to clothing and make-up, we tend to fall into particular patterns by our mid-twenties. We’ve decided which clothes look best on us and we’ve perfected our hair and make-up. We know what works and we stick to it. And that is precisely the problem. We go through our thirties and well into our forties, failing to notice that our appearance has changed in subtle — and not so subtle ways. What once worked simply doesn’t anymore. Fear not, for help is on the way!

Having consulted with the likes of Lauren Holly, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Robert Wagner, and Stephanie Powers, among others, Christopher Hopkins now brings his dramatic makeover techniques to you in his new book, “Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45,” now available on Amazon.com.

Christopher, known to millions of his fans as, “The Makeover Guy®,” works his magic, from hair and make-up to a customized wardrobe, helping you to find your own unique style… without spending thousands of dollars. You’ll learn the mistakes common to women over 45 and how to avoid them.

Excerpt:
“We have been programmed to believe that something outside our control is responsible for how we look: genetics, aging, time. But now more than ever, we have the power to change and improve what Mother Nature handed us and continues to hand us. Anyone can look, feel, and live better than ever before. Opportunities for a new love, a new career, and a new life are literally at our fingertips. Who would have imagined that Raquel Welch would become the face of MAC cosmetics at age sixty-six, or that a first-time mother would birth twins at age sixty-seven? What was once unheard of is now common, and what was once accepted now seems archaic. For women today, anything is possible. By preparing yourself for the part, you can create the scene, however you want it played. You’re the star in your own show. It’s your turn.”

For a chance to enter Christopher’s drawing for FORTY BOOKS IN FORTY DAYS, register for the mailing list here.

In The Trenches Productions is proud to recommend “Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45,” by Christopher Hopkins.

Posted by Mandy Crest, Blogger for In The Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Website for Women over 40!

Here’s a nifty way to plan a fun get together with your women friends and re-live the pajama parties from your youth. I heard about this kind of party from a young woman I recently met. Every other month, she and her friends gather for an all day /overnight event. They cook up scrumptious dishes, drink great wine, gossip and watch films. A spin on this is to create your own DVD women’s film festival. The film line-up could be Best Actress Oscar winning performances, or an all female comedy night or a collection of films either written or directed by women. Plan the meals around the films. So, while serving up fantastic Italian dishes you could check out the wonderful divas of Italian cinema. I am planning my first PJ party/DVD women’s festival around my favorite Indian women film makers. For food, I’ll be whipping up a curried chicken salad. Ina Garten has a tasty recipe: Google - Ina Garten’s curried chicken salad. The films on my menu are: Mira Nair’s MONSOON WEDDING; Gurinder Chadha’s BRIDE AND PREJUDICE; and, Deepa Mehta’s WATER. These films will not disappoint and even a second viewing is a treat. I tell you a little about them since you may want to check them out.

MONSOON WEDDING is exquisitely shot and tells the story of an arranged marriage taking place in a well to do Delhi family. On the Mira Nair’s website, Mira Bai Films , the film is described as “….a love song to both old and new Delhi. It is also an exploration and celebration of Punjabi culture. Five interweaving stories are told in the four days and nights leading up to an elaborate upper-class wedding. Each story navigates different aspects of love, crossing boundaries of class, continent and morality.”

BRIDE AND PREJUDICE is a Bollywood take on the Jane Austin classic. There is much singing and dancing and the spirit of the film is positively exuberant. The color palate of the film is dazzling. Fans of the TV show “Lost” may be surprised to see Naveen Andrews cast as Mr. Darcy’s good friend, Mr. Bingley. In an interview in About.com, Naveen said he had to train 9 hours a day for about 40 weeks (surely an exaggeration) to learn the dance numbers which he described as, “…traditional Indian dance coupled with M.C. Hammer from the early ‘90s.” The singer Ashanti makes a cameo appearance and sings a song that has no connection to the plot. According to Gurinder Chadha, it is a traditional in Bollywood films for a celebrity to make such a cameo appearance and sing a song unrelated to the storyline.

WATER takes place in 1938 and it tells the story of 2 women who are living in a widows’ house. At that time, if a woman’s husband died she had 3 choices: to marry her husband’s younger brother, if his family permits; to kill herself on his funeral pyre; or, to live a life of celibacy, discipline, and solitude in a house with other widows. The movie follows the lives of two women. Chuyia, had been married to a much older man. When he dies, her family places her in a widows’ house where, despite being a pre-teen, she is expected to live out her days. As the film progresses, it is heartbreaking to watch Chuyia slowly realize that her mother is not coming to take her home. Kalyani, another widow, meets a handsome young man, who is a progressive thinker. He believes in a new law which, while unpopular, does allow widows to re-marry. But crossing the river to meet his family, Kalyani realizes that events in her past, tying her to her beloved’s father, may prevent her from marrying. This film, like the other two, is beautifully shot and the performances are outstanding.

By the way, here are some additional films directed by these very talented women. Other notable films by Mira Nair: VANITY FAIR, THE NAMESAKE, and SALAAM BOMBAY. Other notable films by Deepa Mehta: FIRE and 1947: EARTH – the other 2 films that make up a trilogy. Another notable film by Gurinder Chadha: BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM.

So, those are my party plans. I’ll happily take suggestions for future women’s DVD film festivals.

Jan Bina, blogger for In the Trenches Productions
First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40

Something very strange happened the other night on The Charlie Rose Show. It was a small moment but a very telling one. The show aired on 3/14/08. Charlie’s guest was Floyd Norris, the chief financial correspondent of The New York Times. Mr. Norris was discussing the Bear Stearns meltdown. Part of what he was saying, a very small but significant part, was seemingly censored. I repeat, seemingly. The sound drop-out was very clean and it didn’t sound like a technical snafu. So, my husband and I were very curious. What could a financial writer have said that would need to be bleeped? We had TIVOed the show, enabling us to play it back (many times) to try to figure out what was bleeped. We finally were able to read his lips and were stunned to learn what two words had been censored:
“Bank Run.”
He was talking about the fact that a rumor had started about the imminent collapse of Bear Stearns and how sometimes a rumor spreads like wildfire among panicky investors. This is a direct quote from what Mr. Norris said. “If you believed Bear Stearns financial statements, they’re worth a lot of money. The trouble is right now they can’t monetize that. They’ve got a real liquidity crisis. What they confronted this week was an old fashioned —- —.” And those two scary words, ‘bank run’, had been bleeped. BANK RUN. So, has it come to this? Is our media censoring financial writers when they tell it like it is? I suppose the reality of what is happening in our financial markets is terrifying enough without tossing out incendiary words like ‘bank run’. Mr. Norris went on to say that what had happened in this case was that the rumor of Bear Stearns imminent collapse hastened its downfall. Prophesy became reality almost overnight. Perhaps Mr. Norris had asked for those two offending words to be bleeped, not wanting to throw another log on the bonfire raging throughout Wall Street and the rapidly plunging economic outlook.
It does makes you wonder. Was the bleep accidental, pure coincidence or are we being protected from even worse financial news? The government is bailing out Bear Stearns. And Lehman Brothers seems poised for the next bailout. In truth, all of us are bailing out Bear Stearns. Is it possible this is happening without our being fully informed of how bleak the financial picture is for all of us middle class taxpayers? Once again we’re being asked to pick up the tab for the risky, reckless maneuvers of financial experts who just didn’t ‘see’ this collapse coming. Amazing.
Realizing that those two words were probably censored felt like a strange dream. I wonder if anyone else picked up on that.

Jan Bina, Blogger for In the Trenches Productions

“By choosing a woman to run for our nation’s second highest office, you sent a powerful signal to all Americans. There are no doors we cannot unlock. We will place no limits on achievement.” — Geraldine Ferraro (1984)

Ferraro? “A four-million dollar…… I can’t say it, but it rhymes with ‘rich.’” — Barbara Bush

Twenty-Four Years. That’s how long it’s been since a woman (almost) made it to the top of America’s political ladder. Despite great strides by other women… some becoming members of Congress, Senators, even Governors, Nancy Pelosi’s 2002 election by her colleagues to lead Congress as Speaker of the House was the next major breakthrough into politics topmost ranks. Just two heartbeats from the presidency.

‘America. Love Her or Leave Her.’ That’s a catch-all phrase used by hard-liners to defend America against criticism. Right now… today… a political twist on that phrase might very well be ‘Hillary Clinton. Love Her or Hate Her.’ Has there ever been a single woman whose very name elicits both elation and revulsion within the ranks of everyday America? You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who rides the middle rail on the topic of Hillary Clinton. Polarization is an apt description of her effect on American politics.

‘Hillary Cries!’ the headlines shout when during a particularly emotional moment her voice faltered, cracked, and her eyes glistened. ‘Hillary Attacks!’ scream the pundits when she dares to disagree with a political rival. She’s cold… calculating. She’s a Bitch!

We live in a country consumed with propping up the idea of family. A country where songs that proclaim, ‘Stand By Your Man,’ reach the top of the charts. But Hillary Clinton, after standing by HER man following a series of, shall we say, indiscretions, has been called an enabler… a lesbian… a dealmaker who, if she had a scrap of pride, would have left him flat. I guess we listen more to the music than the words.

“I’ve been called some names I’d be embarrassed to repeat in public. I’ve learned that my hairstyles and fashion choices provide endless fodder for public discussion and dissection. You know sometimes I’ll walk by and see somebody on TV talking about what I’m wearing and they will have imbued it with great meaning, ‘She chose that color to send a certain message.’ I did? I’ve been told to smile more, I’ve been told to smile less. I’ve been told to speak more loudly, I’ve been told to speak more softly. I’ve been told to not speak very much at all.” — Senator Hillary Clinton

We can do better than this, can’t we? In subtle and not-so-subtle ways, the political process is rife with sexism. But say what you will about Hillary, this country… our daughters… owe this woman an incredible debt of gratitude. Regardless of whether she wins or loses the presidency, she has blown the top right off whatever glass ceiling remained in American politics. Watching her one-on-one debate with Senator Obama not long ago brought tears to my eyes. That this event could happen in my lifetime was not something I would have thought possible.

Give pause before unleashing the ‘B’ word or, worse, the ‘C’ word. Think about today’s young women, many intelligent, hopeful, and ambitious. They’re watching Hillary… and wondering if ambition and success are worth the price she’s paying. If not Hillary, then perhaps one of those young women WILL be a future president. Perhaps one will reach even higher.

Republicans, Democrats, and Independents – whether or not in agreement with her politics – must acknowledge the accomplishments and sacrifice that Hillary Clinton has made for America… and for our daughters.

As for me, I can only hope that someone gives her a copy of this post. If so, I’d like to say, from the heart, ‘Thank you, Hillary.’

Posted by Mandy Crest, Blogger for In The Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Website for Women over 40!

Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court, graduated in 1952 near the top of her Yale Law School class. Yet, the only job she was offered after graduation was that of legal secretary. What a contrast with today, when voters in this country seem totally comfortable with the notion of electing a woman to the most to powerful job in the world. It seems there are no more barriers for women to shatter. So, I was somewhat surprised to hear about a ‘first woman’ milestone that was recently achieved.
On September 27, 2007, the Baltimore Symphony made history when Marin Alsop became the first woman to head a major symphony orchestra. Reading about her made me realize why we need more women in leadership positions in classical music. Critics have written glowingly about her musicianship. Her credits and awards are impressive; in fact, she has just won the 2008 Theodore Thomas Award from the Conductors Guild. But what struck me was her approach to music as a way to create a relationship between orchestra and audience. In The Christian Science Monitor from September 26, 2007, Marin Alsop said, “Everything in life is about personal relationships – including the way one feels about music. I want to create as many opportunities for people to have that ‘aha’ moment – give people the chance to really connect with the composers.”
Marin Alsop’s style is to break the invisible wall between orchestra and audience. As noted in The Christian Science Monitor, “She talks to her audience, swiveling around on the podium and leaning over the rail to explain the composition about to be played.” Her goal is to make classical music accessible to everyone, to take it out of the realm of fusty elitism. Many people undoubtedly view classical music like taking medicine or doing a daily workout – something that’s a chore but will somehow make them a better person. Frankly, some days I’d rather listen to Huey’s “Pop, Lock & Drop It” than to some soporific string quartet. But Marin Alsop wants to make classical music a choice we joyfully embrace. I must admit I’d gladly spend my shrinking entertainment dollars on one of the inventive programs that she has created.
She is designing concerts that combine a traditional piece, Beethoven or Mozart, for example, with a selection by a contemporary composer. The January 7, 2008 issue of The New Yorker called her inaugural season “Startlingly ambitious…Eleven living composers make appearances.” She is building an audience for new music by inviting these prominent composers to discuss their works in public conversations. The “Composers in Conversation” series seems totally fascinating. How often do you have a chance to ask the next Stravinsky about their creative process, how a piece evolves from head to sheet music to concert hall?
Sounds great, you say, but you don’t live anywhere near Baltimore. Marin Alsop is bringing the Baltimore Symphony to you. She has brought technology to the symphony; live concerts and new recordings are now readily available. Concerts are broadcast live on XM satellite radio. At the Marin Alsop website, you can download tracks from the Baltimore Symphony to your iPod. Downloads are also available at iTunes. You can buy a Baltimore Symphony CD. After not recording in decades, the Baltimore Symphony is back in the studio. The musicians, by the way, are elated.
Like Leonard Bernstein, her beloved mentor, she is a conductor for the people. As noted in The Christian Science Monitor, “The people of Baltimore embraced Alsop without hesitation. They were charmed by her down-to-earth manner. The morning the box office opened for this season, hundreds of people lined up to buy tickets. Alsop joined them on line, serving doughnuts to sweeten the wait.” Talk about making a connection with your audience! In the early `70’s, I met the conductor Carlo Giulini backstage at the Chicago Symphony. Somehow the vision of this austere figure passing out doughnuts just doesn’t compute.
But it’s a new day and Marin Alsop is bringing much needed fresh air into the staid world of classical music. Orchestras in major cities are having trouble with funding. In fact, the Baltimore Symphony spent years in debt playing to small houses. Now, thanks to her dynamic personality and fresh approach, attendance is up. TV shows, like HBO’s current series “The Wire”, and before that, “Homicide: Life on the Streets”, paint a grim picture of Baltimore, but the actual city has much to celebrate with a new maestra in town!

Jan Bina, blogger for In The Trenches Productions
The First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40!