What does independence mean when you have a billion dollars?

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The popular television show Family Feud is about as light a piece of entertainment as you can get. Can come in handy during recuperative times or times of serious overload. Anyway, I just saw something that blew my SWWAN mind.

The show runs a bunch of test groups and asks certain test questions. Then when they invite folks on the show, the guests are supposed to try to guess the most popular answers the test groups gave. Today, contestants were struggling to fill in the answers to this question: What do Oprah’s fans most want to help/urge her to do?

Answers included, keep giving away prizes, keep donating to charity, lose weight, and a few others. But the #1 top answer–by a resoundingly more-than-double any other answer–was “get married.”

I was astonished. Certainly that can’t be because Oprah seems like someone who’s incomplete, right? I’m sure they don’t think she’s miserable or lonely. What could it be? But consider how Oprah is loved much as subjects love their royalty. I just watched a marvelous film (Mrs. Brown) in which Judi Dench played the imperious Queen Victoria in mourning after her beloved Alfred had died. Everyone wanted her to get married again (she never did and ruled another 20 years)). Queen Elizabeth I of England remained unmarried her entire 40-year reign and never ceased to have people actively petitioning and scheming for her marriage.

I imagine the subjects/fans want the queen/Oprah to experience the same joys and pleasures of marriage they themselves enjoy. It seems wrong to assume that people could be uncomfortable with or threatened by the independence of a happy single woman who repeatedly demonstrates her commitment to pursuing good causes around the world, generously sharing her wealth, and providing ongoing value and entertainment for her audiences.

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Barbara Payne, May 26th 2009 | Posted in Family Feud, Oprah get married, recuperative entertainment

Girls and boys competing

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Well, it was an interesting weekend for the rivalry of the sexes. Rachel Alexandra, known as the super filly (young female horse) of thoroughbred racing, stood shoulder to shoulder with the 3-year-old stallions in the Preakness Stakes and swept the field. And interestingly, there was a period when a number of the owners of stallions openly discussed taking advantage of an obscure racing rule to make it impossible for her to compete. However, eventually–and because one owner said he’d withdraw his horse if the filly was barred and thus make it possible for her to run–better sportsmanship prevailed.

And on another television channel, the story of G.I. Jane unfolded to reveal the toughness and determination of a woman who aspired to make it in the military, and who beat all the anger, threats, abuse, and intimidation to succeed.

Loved the quotes from the owners of Rachel Alexandra. The one who didn’t enter her in the Kentucky Derby said he’d never do that because fillies should run with fillies, and stallions should run with stallions. The next owner, who purchased her after the Kentucky Derby, made this profound observation: “Champions should run with champions.”

What else can we say? Except, oh, by the way, if you want to be a champion like Rachel Alexandra–to get yourself as fit and sleek as possible—-I’m going to recommend a health/fitness guru who gives the best advice I’ve ever seen.

Mike Geary openly shares amazing tips on things like healthy snacks, what goods are most nutritious, different types of exercises, and more. I’ve been getting emails from this guy for about a year–I read every one of them religiously because there’s always something valuable in them.

You can get his ebook, The Truth about Abs, and get his unique insider secrets about losing weight, eating healthy, exercising to get the best figure and to be strong like G.I. Jane (have you seen the shots of Demi Moore working out in that movie? Yikes.) click here!

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Barbara Payne, May 17th 2009 | Posted in exercise, healthy eating, Kentucky Derby, lose weight, nutrition, Preakness, Preakness Stakes, Rachel Alexandra

Former single working mom gives free haircuts

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Now we’re talking! This former Iranian-immigrant-former-single-working-mom remembers how tough it was when she first came to this country 25 years ago. Now she’s offering to make a real difference for others in need. This San Francisco Chronicle article recounts how she is now offering free haircuts, color and styling to those in need.

Guess what? She can’t find many people who will take her up on it. Because Americans half the time don’t believe it when you say it’s free. Don’t value it. I don’t know about you, but I’d be happy to accept her offer any time if I lived in San Francisco.

Do you know any single women who are reaching out to help others? Send your stories.

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Barbara Payne, May 12th 2009 | Posted in free haircuts, Iranian immigrant, single working mom