While I can easily understand the term as a reference to (sexual) maturity, it's a new one to me, also.

My mom referred to menopause itself as "the change of life."

A non-medical phrase you can use is "she is past childbearing."

English doesn't have a simple word. "Crone" is used sometimes to refer to a postmenopausal woman, but has the connotation of old, or bent and shrunken, or even a witch.

It's anti-atheist hate propaganda. ;)

Circumflex macron?

^¯

Incidentally, I always thought "pease pudding" was thick, cooked-down, mushy bean soup that solidified somewhat when it cooled. The nursery rhyme,

"Pease porridge hot,
Pease porridge cold,
Pease porridge in the pot,
Nine days old"

referred, I understood, to the practice of cooking up a huge quanitiy of the stuff and reheating it as necessary for subsequent meals.

I'll save you! :D

It's the Greek word for "life." You can see it used, for example, in the phrase "skene pas ho bios," or "Life is a stage." The writer of the article was trying to sound over-educated, and succeeding rather markedly.

(Since when did this become "Pain in the Non-English?" Ha, ha.)

Found this mention online:

"Jiggs was a comic strip character and his wife would make him his favourite meal, corned beef and cabbage. (thus Jiggs Dinner)."

It's evidently the same thing I used to make and call "New England Boiled Dinner" when I ate meat. Originally from Ireland, it consists of a piece of corned (partially pickled in salt and herbs) beef, boiled with cabbage and various root vegetables, sliced thinly and served with the vegetables, broth, and a dab of prepared horseradish. In the States, it's the traditional St. Patrick's Day meal, eaten in honor of the Irish saint.

Here is a link to an article about the comic strip that is mentioned above: http://www.northeastjournal.com/LeadingStories/March2003/ComicStripCollectingWorldofJiggsandMaggieMarch2003.htm

Actually, goossun, I do agree. I think he was doing it to dramatically prove a point. I never did get the impression that he had completely lost touch with reality.

It's the breadth of the woman as seen from behind. I'm sure of this one.

The broadest thing about me is my mind. :D

"Fixin' to" is one of my favorite expressions. Billy Bard didn't say, but it means "getting ready to do" or "getting around to doing." For example:

"Honey, it's Saturday afternoon and you're just sitting there watching football. When are you going to change the oil in my car?"
"I'm fixin' to, just as soon as I finish my beer."

"I'm fixin' to go to McDonalds in a minute. Do you gals want a salad or anything?"

"I'm fixin' to take the kitten to the vet. Don't leave the house--your brother said he was fixin' to come over to help us hang the Christmas lights."