Archive for January, 2009

New Levitra

I’m furious!! I’m outraged and I can’t control my fury!  What the hell are you thinking Governor Schwarzenegger?! Yes California is in trouble. New levitra: big big big trouble.Yes we need to tighten our belts.  But why oh why must it always be the middle class and the poor AND OUR KIDS that make the sacrifice, when their belts are already tightened so far they can barely breathe??

Yeah, yeah, yeah furloughs for state employees are better than layoffs.But why do either? Why, why, why is California still acting like the Bush administration?  Why must we solve all the financial problems on the backs of the regular working force, our kids in public schools, the elderly, and the programs for those less fortunate or the sick? And NOW PET OWNERS????? Taxes on medical care for animals now?  Hold your horses Governor!  All of this is WRONG WRONG WRONG!

I was a PTA President twice.  I was recently the PTA President and served on the leadership council of a public high school from the fall of 2006 to June of 2008 – new levitra. New levitra: let me say this loud and clear.“ New levitra: there is nothing left to take from our schools! ”Your depletion of our public schools resources is a disgrace to this state. New levitra: do you know what just ONE ream of white paper means to a public high school teacher?  It is Gold! A ream of colored paper causes a riot.THAT IS PITIFUL! But those are the hard cold facts of what we have come to because of the constant cuts to the public schools – new levitra.This is insane!!!!! These kids are our future – new levitra. New levitra: where will our scientists, doctors and educators come from? Education is the key to everything. New levitra: education gives a child the opportunity to rise above a very humble background to become, GUESS WHAT? President of the United States!!

For years it has been said that if you just raise the taxes of the wealthiest citizens by a mere 1% a year we could solve all our problems.  OR HERE’S A UNIQUE CONCEPT!  What if you just get rid of all the loopholes and make sure our wealthiest citizens pay their fair share.Make them pay the same percentage the rest of us pay.  Hold them to the same standard.  Why new levitra, why, why shouldn’t the wealthy be expected to make sacrifices and tighten their belts as well?? Why must the politicians always break the back of our middle class, our sick, our elderly, our kids and our poor?  Do you understand the consequences of some of your actions?  Education is a major key to lowering crime.

Our animal pounds are already filled to the brim with animals people can’t afford to keep because of the economic crisis.What do you think will happen when you make it even harder to afford pet care? YOU THINK THEY’RE OVERWHELMED NOW new levitra, JUST WAIT! Having state employees who work 2 fewer days will not only hurt their families, it will cause a huge back up on an already over-stressed system.A quick fix is not always the answer.

All I have to say is if you, Governor Schwarzenegger, continue this pattern of cuts it is the same as spitting in our faces and the faces of our children and telling us we don’t matter one iota.“Governor Schwarzenegger please don’t be pennywise and pound foolish!” You will save money now but the long-term costs and consequences will be devastating.

Debbie Zipp new levitra, blogger for In the Trenches Productions.Com, The First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40

Published in: Life, Opinion | on January 30th, 2009 | No Comments »

What Is Levitra

I just finished reading about the recipients of the 2009 AARP Inspire Awards in the current edition of the AARP magazine.This award celebrates people who “put their passion into action to make the world a better place”! And boy what is levitra, could this old world use more of them right now, eh?

One of the female ‘Inspirees’ this year is Glenn Close, 61. What is levitra: she has been helping Fountain House, a non-profit group in NYC, and the model for 325 other facilities around the world, that offers help to people dealing with mental illness.They offer assistance with jobs, education, housing, and a supportive community; what is levitra.Ms – what is levitra.Close not only made donations, but did volunteer work at The House, and this year will lead a national advertising campaign for them.

Others honored were 71 year old Alma Powell, chair of America’s Promise Alliance, a children’s-aid organization she and her husband, Gen – what is levitra.Collin Powell what is levitra, founded in 1997; Katherine Freund, 58, who, after her three year old son was run over by an octogenarian driver, created the Independent Transportation Network that offered more than 30,000 rides to seniors in eight states last year; Rose Nakamura, 80, who, in 1989, founded Project Dana to help older members of the community who are on their own with errands and companionship; and Susan Love, M.D., 60, who in ’08 co-founded the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the Dr. What is levitra: susan Love Research Foundation, which she hopes will accelerate the push to eradicate this disease that strikes one in 8 women.

These women are indeed inspiring, and they made me think of all the friends I have, just ordinary folk, who, like these wonderful women, have also chosen to give of themselves to help others in small and not so small ways, as well as donating money when they can.Like Hilda, in her 60s, who volunteers at the zoo and a local museum, and who gives rides to people who can no longer drive themselves; what is levitra.And Jane, also in her 60s, who delivers meals on wheels weekly in OK – what is levitra. What is levitra: gloria, who just turned 78, helps an animal rescue group.Diana, 67, collects recycles, keeps them in her car and when she comes across someone in obvious need, at a recycle place or pushing a cart on the street, offers her bags to them.

And I, also in my 60s, whenever I see someone needy standing outside a grocery store, or someone collecting for a charity, bring them a coffee and donut on the way out as well as depositing my change, and there is one grocery store I shop at that offers food donation cards at the checkout…I always partake; what is levitra.I figure if I can spend $4.50 for a java at Starbucks I can give a buck or two to help someone else eat.

So here’s to you, Inspiring Women, may your inspiration spread!

Who did you help today?

Judith Good-Deeds-Inspire-Me Drake, for In The Trenches Productions, the first entertainment website for women over 40 – what is levitra

Published in: Life | on January 28th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Us Levitra

Well, today was one of those days – us levitra.One of those days when you brain, your heart and your body is not responding or cooperating with all that you need to do.  Your heart isn’t in to anything, your mind is a menopausal fuzzy blur and your body feels like cement blocks are tied to it that you must drag around in the drizzling gray rain – us levitra.A day when nothing is working or going your way.I’m sure you have had one of those days.

However I have an appointment to get my hair colored and that always boosts my spirits.  Nothing like that whiff of peroxide and hands massaging my scalp to give me a new outlook.  As I dragged myself into the hair salon ready for a revival I was asked: “Where have you been? Your appointment was at noon.”  I replied “But…but…uuuuhhh…I had 1pm written down? Are you sure????” Of course it was my fault – us levitra.In my brain fog I knew I had written down the wrong time in my trusty calendar that always guides me through each day.  I was mortified and begged for forgiveness.  Clearly this mistake on my part meant more to me than the hair salon.  They were very gracious but I was a mess close to tears.

I was ready to get on my cell phone and call my internist to have him set me up for an MRI of my brain.  I just don’t make mistakes like that.  I was mad at myself, scared that my brain is disintegrating and so disappointed I wasn’t getting that uplift that only freshly colored hair roots can give.

Instead, I stopped at Trader Joes to pick up a few groceries.  Might as well be productive.  I got myself a bunch of Verbena daisies to brighten the house.  At the check out stand something magical happened.  Maybe the checker saw something in my face or my body language or maybe there was no reason for what he did but when there was no price on the garlic asiago cheese loaf of bread he gave it to me for free!  I was surprised and a little stunned by that, not sure what to say; us levitra. Us levitra: i didn’t have to stand in that line waiting for a price check while all the customers in line impatiently stare at the grievous unmarked bread and me.Nobody does that.  But he did indeed give me the bread for free! Wow!

But it was the next thing that “Mr – us levitra.Trader Joe man” did that really stunned me.  One of the daisies in the bouquet I bought had snapped in half.  I said as I usually do “That’s okay”.  But he said, “No, I’ll get you another daisy”.  I watched him jaunt over to the flower stand with a gleeful bounce in his step and instead of grabbing one daisy he grabbed another bouquet and with a twinkle in his eye he gave me the new bouquet and let me keep the other one as well.

I’m afraid I was quite speechless at the moment of receiving this kind gesture.I was baffled but was able to utter a weak “Thank You” – us levitra.As I’m walking to my car my heart swelled with appreciation.  “Mr.Trader Joe Man” had given me a tremendous gift with his act of kindness.My shoulders felt lighter, my heart felt happier and my brain was a little clearer and it also gave me an idea for a blog.I felt so grateful to “Mr; us levitra.Trader Joe man”.He probably has no idea that this sweet gesture came at perfect moment.  His timing was a miracle.

It is amazing how every little kindness matters so much in the overall scheme of things.  Just touching one person in a special way gets us one step closer to a kinder, gentler and more peaceful world.  I will never forget how that free bunch of daisies and bread brightened a dreary day.   Thank you so much “Mr.Trader Joe Man”.  You made a big difference in someone’s life today.

Debbie Zipp, blogger for In the Trenches Productions.Com, the first entertainment website for women over 40 on the webus levitra

Published in: Life | on January 26th, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Levitra Discount

Yeah, baby, the two-hour bash at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, January 18 was a tonic for the nation – levitra discount.We’ve got cool.  What a celebration!  What a spectacular roster of performers!  Through teary eyes I felt a deep sense of joy and I thought of my acting teacher, the late Michael Shurtleff.  He always said HOPE is what gets actors out of bed in the morning.  Hope gives us a reason to live.  It’s a fragile and beautiful gift.  Thank you, Barack Obama, for giving this powerful gift to our tattered souls.  Yeah, yeah I know he has inherited a mess so deep and so big that 4 years may not be enough time to right all the wrongs.  But for now – for this week – let’s have some guilt-free celebration.  We’ve got our joy back.  And boy-oh-boy do we need it after 8 glum years.

Hope is the opposite of fear; levitra discount.In Bush’s pathetic final speech he trotted out that old workhorse slogan – be afraid – be very afraid.  Of course that was his one success – terrorizing the nation back into cold war thinking.  In one of his exit interviews, he actually said he felt badly that we didn’t have better intelligence about WMDs in Iraq.  “WHAT”, I screamed at the TV.   Cheney only strong-armed and duped everyone from Colin Powell to our legislators into seeing a mirage of WMDs when there were none.  Out went the UN inspectors and in came the fighter jets.  There was NO evidence that Saddam was involved with 9/11 or with Al Qaeda.  Al Qaeda would’ve been a threat to Saddam’s home-grown variety of terrorism.  But our cowboy president was too impatient with diplomacy – shoot first, ask questions later.

Bush is ending his presidency with a 22% approval rating – levitra discount.The 73% of Americans who strongly disapprove of Bush are dancing on his political grave.  The only time we want to see Bush again is in a courtroom on trial for war crimes.  Meanwhile, the spirit of our new President will help us stay calm and keep our cool as we bob along on turbulent economic seas in our government-issued life vests.  Let’s hope these vests will keep us afloat before the sharks re-surface.

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

Published in: Life, Opinion | on January 21st, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Use Levitra

Well use levitra, I just had the privilege of reading what Emma Thompson has to say about her current film, “Last Chance Harvey”, which I blogged about last week, and all I can say is: what more is there to say?? WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD just put it up on their space, and I thought we should pass it around, because it is SO wonderful!

And here it is:

“Dear Fellow Females – I’ve been asked to offer a blog on my new film, ‘Last Chance Harvey’ – which, as a computer illiterate, I get confused with ‘snog’ (British slang for kissing) and ‘shog’ (Shakespearian word used by Pistol in Henry V meaning ‘leave’) neither of which – I realise – is the correct interpretation.

But it is a comment, or view, I think, that you want, and here it is –

I shall turn 50 this year, which is not without its odd emotions and has got me thinking about being, well, old.I don’t mean decrepit, I mean not infantile, no longer so attached to things, no longer so concerned about what others think, no longer so anxious to prove myself – you may know the sort of thing I mean; use levitra.It was rather a treat use levitra, therefore, to play what is – in a way – my first modern romantic lead in a film that is more romantic than comic (although it has very funny moments and is underscored with irony and subtle humour throughout) where I was not required to be stunningly attractive or in despair or in need of rescue, but simply an ordinary woman in her forties living a rather stale-looking life as best she can.

Along comes this rather brash American (Dustin) and he blows a great hole in her defenses (don’t you think we all build them for various stages in life and then FORGET TO DISMANTLE THEM when the danger is past or the trauma has been lived through?). Use levitra: so what you are watching is a sudden flood of real communication (how rare is that?), the sort of communication that shifts the emotional tectonic plates and provokes seismic movement in the soul.

Again, it’s rare to watch this on the screen because you need to be a little thoughtful and not require explosions of the literal kind to keep you interested.I’d guess that’s a fair description of us.

If you see the picture use levitra, and I hope you will because I love it very much and am moved by it every time I see it, you’ll notice I am decidedly unglamorous and at least size 16.I really wanted to look like a “normal” woman use levitra, I mean in terms of body size.

Actresses seem to be getting tinier and tinier and I do wonder how we think we can present really powerful women, matriarchs and the like, when we seem to insist upon having such attenuated physiques.

So Kate is solid – probably worries a bit about her muffin-top (mine is more like a desk-top these days if you must know) but can’t find the energy to worry enough to go to the gym and can’t find the time either.

She’s a real sort of person, someone I could relate to entirely and I hope you enjoy her.If you do, tell your friends because the more we can get films like this well distributed the more films we can make about (for want of a better epithet) real women as opposed to (let’s face it) pretend ones.

Warmest wishes to you all for 2009 from Emma Thompson, a first time blogger at fifty”

Is that great, or what? So get up and go to the movie! Now!

Judith proud-to-be-in-the-same-biz-as-her Drake for In The Trenches Productions, the First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40!

Published in: Bravo, Life | on January 19th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Vardenafil Effectiveness

Joan Rivers, plastic surgery maven, is sharing her experience in her new book:  Men are Stupid….And They Like Big Boobs: A Woman’s Guide to Beauty Through Plastic Surgery.  Apparently this is a very well researched and useful book; between quips Joan offers sound advice on finding a good plastic surgeon and what to expect in terms of the entire experience.  But in writing this book I suppose we’re meant to see Joan as an aspirational figure.  The message is that with thousands of dollars you too can beat back age and turn your face into a frozen death mask.  Sounds inviting – just my idea of beauty and glamour.

I’ve heard that it’s not the first face lift that turns you into a freak – vardenafil effectiveness.It’s the subsequent procedures vardenafil effectiveness, the second or third lift that delivers that embalmed look, which far from resembling youth, only serves to remind the world that you’re OLD.  You’re on the slippery slope to freak-dom.  Because once you get started, it’s hard to resist maintenance procedures – little touch ups.  Soon the face gets that weird sheen and color that resembles a tanning bed accident.  After too many cosmetic peels your skin becomes parchment thin.  Too many lifts and eyes tilt heavenward, the brow is pulled tight as a drum, and you are left with one expression – perpetual surprise.  This look doesn’t convey dewy-eyed youth, but rather the look of a delusional plastic surgery victim.   And you aren’t fooling anyone.   Hands still look gnarled with popup veins, bones become brittle and joints stiff.  I’ve seen many elderly women at the mall, dressed in cute little tops stretched over dowager’s humps, wearing tight pants over scrawny bird-legs, shuffling along in shoes guaranteed to give them a broken hip, peering into store windows with frozen wide-eyed expressions.   What happened to growing old gracefully?

I have to wonder why Joan Rivers, a 75 year old woman, would want bee stung lips.Does she feel she isn’t kissable, loveable without them?  In an interview in the January 4 New York Times, Joan Rivers was asked whether most of us want to be loved for who we are not some artificially enhanced version of ourselves.  Her answer: “That will never happen.  Are you out of your mind?”  The follow-up question was – don’t you think you’re loveable?  Her answer: “Let’s see how loveable I’d be if I wasn’t sitting in this penthouse.”  Does she feel the public wouldn’t find her loveable if she looked her age?  She’s in the comedy business so perhaps she’s afraid a woman who looks 75 wouldn’t be considered funny but pitiful.  As it stands now, even though she looks freakish, that’s a funny diversion – especially since she has no problem making jokes about her many procedures.  But still, I find it sad that Joan Rivers, along with many others, feel that to keep their careers alive, they must endure the pain, cost and risk of surgery.  Is looking at lines and wrinkles so repugnant that a plastic mask is preferable?

So, is it possible to keep working and still look your age? Maybe not in this country.But in England there are many examples of working older actors who haven’t succumbed to the temptation to turn themselves into one expression actors.  Here is a partial list:  Judi Dench, 74; Maggie Smith, 74; Julie Christie, 68; Helen Mirren, 63; and Charlotte Rampling, 62.   In this country Susan Sarandon, 62, and Meryl Streep, 59, are aging gracefully.  In fact, this year Meryl has also become a box office star.  So, maybe there is hope that more American actors can love their old faces and we, the public, will applaud them for staying truly beautiful.

Jan Bina, for In The Trenches Productions, the First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40!; vardenafil effectiveness

Published in: Life | on January 14th, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Price Of Levitra

After being used to seeing so many known movie/TV stars all over TV no longer looking like the person we loved and made famous, imagine my surprise the other night when I was watching the Golden Globes and actually saw some REAL faces!!

There were so many who looked like actual people, not posters of 22 year olds pasted on faces, that I didn’t have time to write them all down.But here are a few that I would like to offer my bravos to price of levitra, who, while they may have had minor work done, still looked like the expressive, grown-up actresses they are.Like they might actually have lived a little and learned a lot.Like the women whose early young faces we first fell in love with.; price of levitra..not like totally immovable, uninteresting, expressionless, boring, everyone-looks-alike blobs.

Price of levitra: and I say THANK YOU:

Kristin Scott Thomas, Debra Messing, America Ferrera, Susan Sarandon, Eileen Atkins, Sally Field, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Glenn Close, Catherine Keener, Judi Dench, Laura Linney, Amy Adams, and all the ones I didn’t catch.

THANK YOU to all women who realize that faces that show that life has crossed their paths, that they have gone through joy and grief, that they have worried and laughed, that they have been furious and sometimes foolish, are women who have a face to be proud of and one that is worth going to the movies to see.

Judith lovin’-my-wrinkles Drake, for In The Trenches Productions, the First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40!

Published in: Bravo, Life, Opinion | on January 12th, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Levitra Use

Dustin Hoffman (Harvey Shine) and Emma Thompson (Kate) have been lucky enough to get what are levitra use, quite possibly, the best movie roles of their over-40s careers. Levitra use: and they have taken full advantage of it.

Written and directed by Joel Hopkins, this is a charming, funny, touching film that will have everyone (most especially those of us over 40 ourselves) laughing, crying, ooooh-ing, and leaving the theatre smiling, with our hearts filled with hope and appreciation for and of our own relationships.

Harvey Shine is not having a good day.He’s in London for his estranged daughter’s wedding only to find that she wants her step-father to give her away levitra use, and his boss in NY has said get back and sell the commercial jingle his company is pitching or else…it’s his last chance or he’ll be fired.Well guess what? He misses his plane back and is summarily fired via his cell phone – levitra use.This is what takes him to an airport bar to drown his sorrows.

And who does he run into? Kate, of course; levitra use.And so the tale begins.We watch the relationship between this man who has just given up on his life levitra use, career and family-wise, and this over 40 woman, a worker at a blah job at the airport, who has resigned herself to living alone and lonely, (except for the occasional humiliating blind date) develop.Will Harvey accept a changed life and a new relationship with his family? Will Kate drop her fear of what might happen if she opens her heart up to a new life at her age?

Our journey to the conclusion is more than worth the trip, even if you don’t get any popcorn (which I didn’t because I was at a screening).

And two other wonderful over 40 actresses pop up along the road…the always great Eileen Atkins and Kathy Baker.

All in all, this is a chance you shouldn’t miss.

Judith there’s-always-a-chance Drake, for In The Trenches Productions, the First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40!levitra use

Published in: Bravo | on January 7th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Sale Levitra

Okay sale levitra, it’s that time again, isn’t it? Resolutions rule! – So I decided that if I write this years’ list in black and white where everyone can see it, maybe, just maybe, I will be able to gird my loins and actually follow through with them this year.So here goes:

1.I will no longer say “hum” or “oh” or “well” when my husband is engaged in a lengthy attempt to inform me about something or other…I will actually listen.

2.While driving I will no longer allow CA drivers to annoy me when they seem totally ignorant of how to deal with four-way stops signs or when they would rather chat or sight-see than turn left in a timely fashion – sale levitra. Sale levitra: instead I shall merely smile and say under my breath “Stupid ++++s have to get places too, and at least they don’t work or live with you.”

3.When getting ready for my various doctor appointments sale levitra, I will not refuse to eat or drink before, no matter what time of day they are, and I will not go out of my way to wear the lightest clothes in my closet and shoes I can slip out of before I have to step up on the scale for my weigh-in.I will eat whatever I please, wear whatever is comfortable, including clunky tennis shoes, and simply subtract 5 lbs; sale levitra.in my head from whatever the weight is; sale levitra.Noooooooo..; sale levitra..8 lbs.

4; sale levitra.I will not feel OLD and decrepit when conversations turn to ipods and various computer shenanigans.I will, instead, refer to myself as “traditional.” (i.e; sale levitra.the ‘tradition’ of dial-up telephones and the used-to-be-new-and-ground-breaking Word Processor.)

5. Sale levitra: when I go to the movies I will sit in my seat until the very last credit has lit up the screen, no matter how long they are or how badly I need to go to the bathroom.After all sale levitra, we all should know exactly who the caterers are, and how many assistants everyone has.

6.I will no longer be embarrassed when my friends are talking about their lovely new clothing items – bras from the ’80s work just as well as those from 2008 & ’09, and my 1970s foot-strap stretch pants are as comfy as ever.So there.

7. Sale levitra: i will not get angry when I see my competitors in movies, TV shows and commercials that I didn’t get.If the powers-that-be want to go with less amusing, interesting and talented actors, then so be it – sale levitra.(May they rot in hell!….Oooops…my bad.)

8; sale levitra.I will stop making and trying to keep resolutions! – And I will stop right now!!

So there!

So at least we can say that I resolutely kept one resolution!

Happy New Year to All!

Judith may-your-resolutions-be-resolved Drake, for In The Trenches Productions, the First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40!; sale levitra

Published in: Life | on January 2nd, 2009 | No Comments »