This month is going to be a little different.

Women continue to email and post about how Boomer Women Speak has helped them in some way.

I feel a little funny asking you to do this, but it will help me define the future of this site.

What started as a site to spread the word about my anthology has become a site for women to connect, encourage, and support one another at midlife. Funny how it's evolved.

See, I had no idea what the Lord had in mind. All I knew was that I wanted to write a book to give our generation of women a voice. I trusted He would give me all I needed and last month this site had over a half million hits. Scary, huh? I've also received almost 400 stories to date. It's GOT to be a series!

I would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to write a little something about how this site has helped you. Don't go crazy editing. I know a lot of you are writers. I'm not looking for perfection, just sentiment and honesty.

Thanks so much. I plan to choose three entries at the end of the month. I'll be sure to share them with you.

Great idea, Dotsie! Count me in! Let me count the ways I've been helped here. You're right. The Lord does have that special touch.

I'll get to writing!

Dotsie should we post it here or send it to you in an email?

Dotsie, here's my entry. I've always been overweight. But in the last few years, the weight crept up higher and higher, with nothing stopping it. I tried shakes, powders, power bars and more, but nothing seems to break the barrier. Then, along came BWS and a little forum for dieters. Little did I know I'd just found the secret to my weightloss. Accountability. We wrote every day what our food intake was, careful to watch what we ate as we knew we'd be reporting it soon to the others on the forum. Little by little, my intake decreased and my feeling about my body increased.
Month after month went by, I noted little changes here and there. Losing a pound here, a few pounds there, the weight came off almost consistently.
Three months turned into six months and six months turned into eight then nine. Before I knew it I had lost 50 pounds. My success was a success for Dotsie and her BWS forum. Without the support of the other women on the diet forum, I wouldn't have had the courage to stick it out. Thank you BWS, thank you Dotsie. For giving me a life back that I thought I'd lost forever.

Ladies, it's best to send it to me via email, but if you want to post here that's cool too. It might be fun to see what everyone has to say. Whatever you feel comfortable doing works for me.

Vicki, you deserve the credit because of your commitment! I still want you to update your picture on your site.

Dotsie, I've got a new book coming out for August, I'll probably get new pictures done for it. I'll make sure to update yours as well.

Wow, Vicki: Yours is such a success story! I'm so glad for you. Well done, Vicki.

Hmmm.... Hey, who knows? Maybe there is some hope for me too. I'm gonna have to stick to the diet forum too!!

[ February 06, 2005, 12:23 AM: Message edited by: Songbird ]

Ladies, thanks for the emails. They're rolling in. I appreciate your time and sentiments.

Brenda, thanks. For reminding me. For reminding me that no matter how old our children are, some *truths* don't change.

Please let me know if you have learned of writing opportunities through this site. Maybe you've had your work accepted by a site you learned about at BWS. This would be helpful. Thanks.

Dotsie, I had 3 children's poems accepted from a site I found on this site, that will be in a poetry anthology. The editor is very sweet!
From Canada, I know a lot of you know her, thanks!
www.allbookreviews.com

Penwomanship...Need I say more.

Great. I understand a couple women found a publisher through this site.

Through this site, I have come into contact with E. Dian Moore and through her have several articles published on-line and will have print article come on in Penwomanship in May. Thanks for allowing us to make contacts through this wonderful sight.

Hi Dotsie, how has this site helped me? Let me count the ways. I appreciate that women on this forum have allowed other women a peek into their lives. What we learn from each other is that we have more in common than not. When we share with each other, we help each other, and like a spiral, the help reaches out to others, even on invisible loops. We may have laughed a little, and carried that joy into the world for others to get an uplifting smile. We may have cried a little, and carried that sadness into the world for others to learn they are not alone. So the many ways that this site helps is infinit, because healing through sharing has infinite possibilities. I had no idea there were so many like-minded women in the world! My only regret is that I didn't come upon boomer chicks sooner! Love and Light, Lynn

Oh Vicki, I'm so glad you have your life back. Congratulations. And Brenda, your site is so clean and to the point. Here we have Caged Birds and Song Birds! Great screen names, Lynn

Don't forget all of us who are being published in Cosmic Brownies! Thanks again, Pam!

I'm not entering a contest, but thought this morning that this is a great place to just openly say "Thank you" to Dotsie.

This message board has introduced me to so many truly lovely women. The kind of women that email you ever so often and ask how you are. The kind of women that seem to intuitively know you need a pick me up and email to tell you they enjoy your work.

Dotsie, you have no idea how often I receive an email from someone that has read somthing I've written after seeing my sig line here. They send kind words, just when I need to hear them.

What you've created here is a safe, happy place that fosters friendships among women from very diverse backgrounds. That's not an easy thing to do. I've never seen it done before and done well.

So, thank you. Thank you for this place. Even though I am very busy now and don't have the time to visit as often as I'd like, I actually miss it when I'm away.

You're the best, Dotsie.

What the Boomer site means to me is LOVE. I am not a person to make friends easily, good true friends. I have many acquaintces but they are merely small parts of my life. I have met and formed lasting true friendships on this site with women I have never laid eyes on, except for a picture in the album. When I awaken each day, I rise, shower feed my animals and eat a sensible breakfast, thanks to the BWS diet group. I turn on my computer and check email then go directly to this site and my friends. Of late my computer was acting up and wouldn't allow me access and I thought I would die. I wondered around this house aimlessly, feeling so alone. I guess what I want to convey to you Dotsie is that without this site and the wonderful women I have come to know and to love, yes love! I think I would dry up and blow away. The Boomer site to me means LIFE, LOVE, FRIENDSHIP and BELONGING....Thank you all.

Oh my. I toldyou this stupid machine was acting up. Either won't post or posts and posts. The reason I haven't been posting much lately. SORRY! Dotsie maybe you can remove all but one of these.....

Awww, gee, Chatty. I just thought it meant that you really, REALLY, loved us!!

Chatty, I deleted 3-4 of the same posts, but I didn't mind. Just wondering how your computer's doing?

Hi Ladies, good to be back online at least for the moment. Went to Hollywood last Monday to see THE VIEW. Left my house at 2:00 a.m., arrived at 4:00 a.m. and stood in line in the cold until 7:00 a.m. but it was definitely worth it. Wish all of you could have joined us in California for the show.
BWS is like having lots and lots of sisters to share life's joys, sorrows, accomplishments, good news as well as heartaches. Thank you Dotsie for caring enough to start BWS.

Whats the View???

The BWS site means one word to me -

encouragement.

I think The View is a television show.

This site is a place to share joy and tears with women as close as the screen and as far away as the other side of the world. It's a place to come for laughter, sympathy, and most of all encouragement.
Thank you Dotsie for recognizing a need and filling it.
smile

Oh Chatty...I want to come visit you. Take you out to lunch or a dinner show. You are so adorable to me. I would love to meet you and you know what??? I 'm gonna meet you! I go to Vegas aften and I'm gonna buy you drinks, dinner and take you to a big old show. You're my kind of girl!

WOW, this post nearly knocked my socks off. Dianne, thank you so very much for those wonderful words. It isn't necessary to take me anywhere or buy me anything BUT I would really like to meet you as well. I feel here on Dotsies site we've gotten to know one another and then even more on your site. I respect you so for the work you do and the selfless person you are and it would be my pleasure to meet you even if it means going to the strip which I never do. I may take a road trip this summer if finances allow and drive down to Nashville after seeing Mom in Indiana...Thanks again my friend...

Silly girls, THE VIEW is a day time show started by Barbara Walters. The premise of the show is that 4 diverse women discuss what's up: Meredith was a journalist who now hosts Who Wants to be A Millionaire too, Joy is/was a comedienne, Star Jones was a lawyer who wants to be and is a celebrity, and I forget her name...but she's the young one. Then there is Barbara. Sometimes they all talk at once and I have to shut them up, othertimes they are entertaining. Can you tell I have the TV on all day long? Love and Light, Lynn

Ladies, I need a breather. I'll announce this on Friday.

I have chosen one winner thus far, but am having a hard time picking the other two. Your entries were heartwarming. I am seeking the adivce of thers before I pick the other two winners. I will post all winners tomorrow. This time I promise!

I am feeling way too generous. Plus, I'm not having a March contest so there are seven winners instead of three. Egads.

This was hard to judge because everyone had different reasons that touched my heart. Remember, I'm sentimental.

The winners are:

unique
Pam Kimmell
TVC150
Chatty
Lynn329
Vicki
Dianne

When I have time I am going to edit the entries and put them on the site for everyone to read. Don't worry. I'll get your approval before posting.

Ladies, please send me your real names and addresses. Also, tell me the size t-shirt. I have a new batch and they are more like a man's cut than the ladies fitted tee. I have s,m,l, and xl. Please email this info. to dots@boomerwomenspeak.com

Thanks to all who entered.

Sunshine how awesome for you I love looking in on the view. Its a cool show and the stories are intersting to say the least.

As for BWS site and all of you have given me tons of feed back and support when I brought up my idea about the disability magazine , although i am still looking for the right place to contact, your support means alot to me, you have no idea. I am looking to print out some ideas and look at them in front of me, now to find the perfect way to write a proposal.

I dont remember who i needed to contact department of congress ? on naming my mag and getting the business started ,,, so now a silly question can i write the magazine can i take it to the local printer and have it bound and distribute it that way , cutting out a middle man , (person)
Deb

YIPPEEEEEE!!!!! I'm one of the winners!!!!! Congratulations to all my fellow Boomer Sisters who won as well. Thanks Dotsie...you certainly have made my day..........


[ March 10, 2005, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: Pam Kimmell ]

Thank You Dotsie! I can't wait to wear my BoomerWomen T shirt all around town!
Congrats to everyone else that won also!
Boomer Women Rock!!!!!!

congrats Ladies! I can't wait to read your entries...

JJ

How cool! Yippee!

Congratulations!

Cheers and Blessings,
Cathi

Ladies, please send me your addresses and sizes.

Speaker, the update is that my agent sent my proposal to eight publishing houses. I got six rejections and two interested with a little work. This ratio is apparently awesome. From what I understand the rejection rate is often 100% the first time around.

The general concensus is TMI (too much information). Why does that surprise me? That's the story of my life. Anyway, both editors asked me to cut back on topics and narrow the focus. I'm working on it. Thanks for asking.

I'm living and learning every day about this book business. When the first book is behind me I'm going to write lots of articles to help other writers on their journeys, but I've got to get there first.

What? I won something? My gosh, how lucky! I never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever EVER win anything ever never ever! And I want a tee shirt! Yeah hooray! Yippee Skippee! Can you imagine all of us wearing our Boomer tee shirts when we go on Oprah as a group? Dotsie, the publishing business is so much a part of being an author, isn't it? Two publishers are interested? Anything WE can do to help? I'm glad you said "when the first book is behind me" because that means there will be another book! Love and Light, Lynn

Thanks to Dotsie for the wonderful prize. Can you just see me now wearing my T and carrying my Boomer tote? It doesn't get much better than that? Speakermom, your mom and I had a great conversation onthe phone and I have returned the super pictures she sent me of the dolls she makes. In the meantime my sister found some beautiful glass figurines of clowns and they had 2 left so we each bought one for her. I kept all your mom's info so I can order one later for no special reason, just for fun....My mom will love that....

chatty, you spoke with speaker's mom? How sweet is that?

Winners, please send me your addresses and shirt sizes. I want to mail this stuff tomorrow.

Hurray, I'm a winner! Thank you, Dotsie. Congratulations to all the other winners too! I can't wait to start proudly wearing my t-shirt.

Thank You Dotsie,
I got my beautiful T-shirt!!!!!!!
Can't wait to wear it.
Did your son take the photo of the flowers? That card is gorgeous!
Thank you again!
Robin

Ditto here Dotsie.....LOVE the tee and the gorgeous card too.....TWO treats when I only expected one! Thanks again...HUGS

When and where are you posting the winning blurbs? I want to make sure I don't miss seeing them....Waiting for my T-shirt....so exciting.

T-shirt arrived and "WOW" what a bright and cheerful shirt, just like the BWS site....

Received mine too. So cute. Thanks so very much. I'm wearing it today!

Glad you all love the t-shirts. Yes, my son took the photo on the cards. He was the photographer at the wedding this weekend. I can't wait to see his pictures. He's the one who got the internship for his senior year of high school. He'll go to school for three classes each morning and then go do photo and film making as a litle job.

Good for him Dotsie, I love to see young people that know what they want out of life and persue it!

Hey Dotsie, I got my t-shirt in the mail. Thanks so much. I'll wear it proudly!