What do you give a Baby Boomer for Christmas?

Baby Boomers have acquired quite a few Christmas gifts...just by the mere fact that we've lived more than 40 (plus) years already. Some of those gifts have been duplicated. Some we didn't like and just passed on to some other poor unsuspecting soul.

Every year thousands of Christmas gifts are “re-gifted.” The truth of the matter is our friends and loved ones don't always buy gifts we like but we just smile and say "thank you" because we know it came from their heart. Many people get gifts they don't want, don't need or don't like. Those people sometimes pass those gifts on to someone else.

In a survey conducted last year, nearly 40 percent of the respondants said they re-gifted a present they didn't particularly care for. Why?

1) It wasn't the right size size.
2) They didn't like the color.
3) It looked "cheesy"
4) They already had one.
5) It was a fruitcake!

If you want to make sure your present will be appreciated and used this year by the baby boomer in your life, purchase a copy of “Hope for the Holidays.”

This CD Project is a combination of Spoken Word & Music and is also “personalized” to the recipient with a special poem. It's a project I personally created.

Instead of re-wrapping it and giving it away to some unsuspecting soul, your loved ones will “Thank You” and play it for their friends while complimenting you for giving them such an inspiring and unique gift.

Order your copy now by going to: http://www.talk2bev.com/holiday.htm

And the best part of it all is the price is UNDER $10!!!!

A Baby Boomer Dieter's Prayer

When all else fails in your diet, there's always PRAYER:


Lord, grant me the strength that I may not fall
into the clutches of cholesterol.

At polyunsaturates I'll never mutter,
for the road to hell is paved with butter.

Cake is cursed and cream is awful
Satan is hiding in every waffle.

Satan's army is full of chocolate drops
and Lucifer, himself, is a lollipop.

Teach me the evils of hollandaise,
of pasta and gobs of mayonnaise,

and crispy fried chicken from the South
Lord, if you love me, please, zip my mouth!


Lord, Your Word says "ask and it shall be given unto you" so I'm asking you to melt away about 20 pounds. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Beverly Mahone is an author and motivational speaker. Her book, "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age"is available on amazon.com

"Oh, my aching skin!"

I cringe every winter because I know that's the time of year when I tend to show the "true signs" of aging. My dry and cracked skin is an eye sore. But then, I find myself looking liked a "greased pig" because of the heavy ointment I feel I have to put on.

Aging brings about so many changes to our bodies. Not only do we have to deal with tucking in because we're filling out, we also have to take extra precautions when it comes to skin care. Winter can make dry skin especially irritating. The December issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips to relieve winter itch.


Here are some tips to keep you from "drying out":

Soak in the tub: Keep the water lukewarm. The temperature shouldn’t be above 90 F. Adding bath oil to the water may help retain and replenish the oil in your skin.

Use soap sparingly: If possible, limit soap use to your face, armpits, genitals, hands and feet. Avoid antibacterial and deodorant soaps. Mild cleaners such as Cetaphil, Dove or Vanicream are less drying. Avoid products with fragrances and lauryl sulfates, which can be irritating.

Pat skin dry: Avoid rubbing or wiping your skin. Instead, leave it moist by gently patting or blotting with your towel.

Moisturize: Immediately after drying off, apply a thick moisturizing cream or ointment. Avoid creams or lotions that contain alcohol.

Use a humidifier: Keep indoor air moisture levels at 40 to 50 percent. Keep your house on the cool side; between 68 F and 75 F is reasonable.

I'm still trying to grow old gracefully but every time something just keeps getting in my way.


Beverly Mahone is an author and motivational speaker. Her book, "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age" is available on Amazon.com

A Baby Boomer's Perspective on College Basketball

As long as I can remember I've always been a basketball fan. When I was little, my dad would take me to Cleveland, OH to see the Indians play (if you have to ask what sport, this blog posting isn’t for you). My mom went to high school with one of the “original” Cleveland browns—and he would often stop by our home to chat and eat. As I recall, he LOVED to eat!

As a cheerleader in elementary and high school, I took even more of a liking to sports and developed a sincere interest in learning what I was actually cheering about. I’ll never forget the time one of my fellow cheerleaders started yelling:

FIRST AND TEN, DO IT AGAIN, GO MCKINELY BULLDOGS!”

It was actually a THIRD DOWN play. Or the time someone struck up a “Defense” cheer when we actually had the ball. I’ve often thought of teaching a Sports 101 course just for women but that’s another story…

Being from the Midwest, I’ve always been partial to the Big Ten. Besides, a good friend and high school classmate of mine (Phil Hubbard) went on to play for Michigan. He even played for the 1976 Olympics Team. Even though I graduated from a MAC school, my loyalties were still with the Big Ten. And although I lived in New England for several years and saw some of the most exciting basketball ever, my heart was still with the Big Ten.

And then I moved to North Carolina---where the skies are always blue. That's where Duke and Carolina reign and they dare anyone to come into their territory and dethrone them. I immediately developed a disliking for both teams because of what I saw as arrogance and racism. My ex husband used to tell me stories about how Blacks were never permitted to watch Carolina games when he was a little boy. I really don’t know if that’s true because his track record with the “truth” proved not to be too good. But I will say this: I have seen first-hand the special treatment the black athletes receive while the black students on campus are constantly discriminated against. I have also witnessed the special treatment Duke & Carolina seem to get from the referees when they're playing on their respective home courts. And let’s not even talk about the commentators. They are so biased in their analysis, many times I have to turn down the sound just to appreciate the game.

I witnessed such actions last night as my #1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes took on #6 ranked Carolina in the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. I wanted to believe the game would be played fairly---that OSU would be given the respect of a #1 ranked team. But that was not to be the case. As the game clock ticked away, questionable calls got in the way and NO CALLS became evident. Carolina, as expected, got the win but I tell you, had the game been played in Ohio the outcome would've probably been different. And even if Carolina did win on OSU's home court, I would've felt OK about it because at least I would believe the referees were calling the game fairly.

OK...so here we go...another season of college basketball where I am, once again, the odd woman out in Duke & Carolina’s back yard. But of course, I could always root for NC State or Maryland since their school colors have red in them just like OSU.

And if it’s any consolation, my Ohio State Buckeyes are #1 in Football. Did Duke win a game this year??? And Carolina was also scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Oh well, I’m just a southern fried baby boomer yankee.

"Don't Let it go to your Thighs!"

All week long, I’ve listened to my girlfriends talk about their Thanksgiving spreads. I wanted to talk about another kind of spread—the one that clings to your stomach, hips and thighs—known as middle age spread.

One by one, each friend mapped out her menu, while I was trying to map out a nice way to issue her a warning: “Don’t let it go to your thighs!”

Their lists were incredible. Along with the traditional “stuffed” turkey, there were plenty of loaded fixins.’ Now, for those of you who aren’t quite sure what a “fixin” is…it’s a southern term used to describe the “rest of the menu.” (That’s one of the benefits of moving to the south. I get to learn a whole new language).
Their fixins include: green beans, collard greens seasoned with ham hocks, cabbage, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, candied yams, cranberries, cornbread, garlic cheddar biscuits, pumpkin bread and corn. And on top of that, some of my diva sisters have also included additional items like Prime Rib, steak, shrimp, salmon, BBQ Ribs and crab legs to give a variety, they say, to those who are sick and tired of eating turkey EVERY Thanksgiving.

For dessert, their menus consist of pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie with homemade whipped cream (yum, yum!) apple pie a la mode, banana pudding and berry cobbler. As I licked my lips over what I was going to be missing out on, I shook my head in disgust and thought, “Don’t let it go to your thighs!” How many times have I tried to tell them we’re at the age where our metabolism is slowing down and calories don’t burn as quickly as they used to? How often have I stressed the importance of eating and drinking in moderation? How many occasions did I listen to them groan and moan over not being able to lose any weight?

I listened intently as each one of my wonderful friends joked about how they knew this was the time of year they would be going off of their diets and packing on a few extra pounds. I kept thinking to myself this could all be avoided. All they had to do was re-do their menu. How about a nice Tofurkey? It’s a wonderful vegetarian dish made up of tofu and it’s also a super calorie-counting alternative. How do I know? Well, I don’t actually know first-hand but I’ve read some articles about it. There are even recipes available to spice it up to a taste suitable to your liking. And if that doesn’t work, why not try some soy burgers or soy chicken and when you combine that with a non-seasoned vegetable dish, you’ve got a meal fit for a diva queen!

OK, but who am I kidding? Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the traditional holiday feast—complete with all the fixins’ and then some. It’s the one day out of the year when it’s alright to forget about the treadmill and calorie counting. It’s a day when we can stuff ourselves without guilt and then sit back and enjoy the company of loved ones.

So who cares if we let it go to our thighs? There’s always tomorrow to work it off.


Beverly Mahone is the author of "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age. To learn more about Ms. Mahone, got to: http://www.talk2bev.com

Thank you America for coming to your senses--Now BUY MY BOOK!!!

Some of you may recall last Thursday, November 16, I was vying to become a best Selling Author on Amazon.com As I watched my book begin to move, I also noticed that OJ Simpson was ALREADY on the Top Sellers List with his "IF I DID IT" book. The book wasn't even PUBLISHED yet. Amazon was busy racking up on the pre-sale orders and they must've made quite a bit of money that day because OJ's book went all the way to the #20 spot at one point. Now unfortunately, they will have to refund alot of money because the Publisher has pulled OJ's book off the market. (What do you want to bet it will show up somewhere else--like a foreign country?)

I kept thinking to myself, "What in the world is wrong with the American public in wanting to purchase the book written by a man they were so convinced committed those two murders? Why would they want to help him gain financially? He reportedly go paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for this "theory." That just didn't make any sense to me.

But then I came to this realization:

1) American book buyers love a good murder mystery so the next time I'm having a hot flash, I'll go ballistic on the person nearest to me and blame it on the rage of a "heated moment" and then I'll write all bout it!

2) There are 38 million women going thru some form of menopause so how hard could it be to get a million---or even 5,000 of those women to go to their computers and purchase a copy of MY book? Or maybe they were all experiencing one of the symptomsAT THE SAME TIME---it's called FORGETFULNESS.

3) I was targeting the WRONG GROUP. I should've been going after baby boomer men. After all, they're the ones who have to put up with all of the crap those menopausal women dish out!

I guess I'll know better next time................................

Remember, my book is still out there: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Baby Boomer Women Rock the Casbah!

The Amazon Best Selling Author day Promotion has come and gone. No, I don't get to run around bragging about being a "best selling author." I didn't crack the Top 100.

My book went from 1,622,326 to #498. Not a bad showing.

But what IS impressive is the help I got from Baby Boomer women all across the country. And get this, most of them I don't even know! That's right. These are women I've met on line. We chat daily about all kinds of stuff. We've talked about how we came up with names for our kids. We admired the gorgeous new look of a fellow member--complete with "these boots were made for walking" attire. We share heartaches and prayers for sick loved ones and celebrate the births of our grandchildren. I even had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing a woman who spent a couple of years living amongst two packs of wolves in the wilderness.

It's called Internet Marketing and if you do it right, you not only cash in on sales but you gain some "fabulous" friends in the process. I went on line shortly after I lost my job at the television station--looking for women to connect to. The intention was NOT to sell my book but to be someone they could laugh with and exchange ideas. We've done more than our share of that I'm happy to say!

So when it was time for my BIG BEST SELLING AUTHOR DAY, I went to the group I knew would be my biggest cheerleaders and they were!!!

Now to read their comments, you'll have to click on to my Boomer World Blog.

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.talk2bev.com

"I'm not a writer because I wrote a book. I wrote a book because I was inspired by God to write."

A Review from a Fellow Author

Thank you Bev, for the delicious candid account of words so many of us women have been accused of thinking. I just couldn't put the book down; it was completed in one day, wow! This book is awesome you must read it! Your story brings out your compassion, and wittiness, and serious side as you glide us through the expectation of entering the baby boom era, thank you.

Bev expresses her dilemmas with younger co-workers that we all can relate too, the pretty faces with little to no substance for most of them. As a pre-menopausal boomer myself, I was in awe, but now I understand my mood swings, and crazy fire department heat flames is only a beginning of possible other symptoms to come, and am elated, I no longer need to visit a shrink, I am sane. I am in the beginning phase of menopause, and “yes I am still sexy but it comes in flashes now,” as Bev has expressed. They (symptoms) do not divert me, but I welcome them, because now I have an understanding of them…whatever, and as the youth would say, “bring it on” and I concurred.

I recommend this book to all that wanted to know, the men that need to know, and the cute faces that will need to know…”whatever” because they too must pass this phase. Bev, I can’t wait for the sequel, continue to keep it real, and know no matter what people say about the baby boomers, we are real women with real issues, with real symptoms, and still SEXY! “Your book hits home, and there is a time and season for everything, and WHATEVER IS RIGHT ON TIME”


Much blessings always,

Loretta Scott (author of “YES I CAN”)

www.gulfnurse.com

Augusta, Ga

Whatever! A baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age is availabe on Amazon.com

Lordy, Lordy, are there any good men still left over 40?

It’s safe to say that if I knew then what I know now, I would’ve definitely taken a different approach in my pursuit of finding Mr. Right. What about you? How much have your thoughts and feelings changed over the years about love and marriage? I made a checklist of things I was on the lookout for prior to hitting the middle-age dating scene again, so I could resolve any issues that could have an impact on my happily-ever-after the second time around.


Compare my list to yours.

Has he ever been married or divorced?

That’s important to know—especially if you’ve been divorced like me. It’s been my experience that older people, who’ve been single for a while, tend to develop a mindset and get used to doing things their own way because they don’t have to answer to anyone. The dating part of the relationship can be a lot of fun, but when you decide to make that trip down the aisle and move into each other’s space, your living together could end up being cramped and uncomfortable. Some people should be prepared to face the hard-core reality that they may be better off alone.

What kind of baggage is coming into the relationship?

Dating during middle age can be challenging because all of us bring some baggage into each other’s lives. Some of us have packed so much stuff over the years from bad relationships that we could take a trip around the world twice.

They say time heals all wounds. That may be true, but you need to find out how old and deep those wounds are. In my case, I tried dating about six months after my divorce. It was someone I had known years ago, and I had always wanted a second chance. But the wounds from my tumultuous marriage and divorce were still fresh. No matter how much I wanted the relationship to work, I couldn’t get past the anger and resentment. It caused me to slip into a deep depression and made being around me an unpleasant experience. That was my baggage. But, thank God, I unpacked my suitcase and threw that “junk” away.

On the other hand, if your middle-aged prospective mate has some very old, deep wounds and can’t seem to get over the past, it might be wise for you to get over him. I once dated a man who actually caught his wife in the physical act of cheating and, although they had been divorced for ten years, he couldn’t get over it. He even admitted he could never trust another woman again because of it. That was a major red flag.

Character matters!

Years ago when I was actively pursuing a husband, I had one very important criteria. He had to come from good stock. By that I meant he had to have a gene pool that generated good looks and intelligence. Of course, I’ve since learned that he can be as fine as Denzel Washington or Brad Pitt with an IQ that would put Einstein to shame, but if he doesn’t have character, he’s missing a key ingredient.

If, in your search, you’re willing to accept someone who is known for being a ladies’ man, breaks dates without explanation, forgets birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions, doesn’t show much respect for his mother or, worse yet, can’t keep his hands to himself when he’s mad at you, then all I have to say is you’re getting what you deserve.

You can read more about finding Mr. Right in my book, "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age. Available on Amazon.com

Review: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Please Help me become the First, Unknown, African-American, Female, Pushing 50 to hit #1 on the Amazon Best Selling Author's List on November 16 WITHOUT OPRAH'S HELP!

Here's another review:

"Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age is a delightful and witty portrait of a woman’s journey through middle age. Filled with plenty of laughs, heartfelt advice and spiritual insights to help us cope with the new challenges that await us during the middle age and years…and beyond.

Beverly Mahone is gifted at making you chuckle at yourself while at the same time reminding you to reflect on your own uniqueness and beauty as you move forward towards your God-given destiny. No matter what age your age, Mahone reminds us in WHATEVER! that with faith, laughter and hope, we’ll make it through and have the best second act imaginable."

J. Woods

www.GoodGirlBookClubOnline.com


Thanks for your support!
Peace & Blessings
babyboomerbev

Review: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Please Help me become the First, Unknown, African-American, Female, Pushing 50 to hit #1 on the Amazon Best Selling Author's List on November 16 WITHOUT OPRAH'S HELP!


Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age is a delightful and witty portrait of a woman’s journey through middle age. Filled with plenty of laughs, heartfelt advice and spiritual insights to help us cope with the new challenges that await us during the middle age and years…and beyond.

Beverly Mahone is gifted at making you chuckle at yourself while at the same time reminding you to reflect on your own uniqueness and beauty as you move forward towards your God-given destiny. No matter what age your age, Mahone reminds us in WHATEVER! that with faith, laughter and hope, we’ll make it through and have the best second act imaginable.

J. Woods

www.GoodGirlBookClubOnline.com

Who needs Oprah...When I can have 50 Cent!

Every author in the world dreams of the chance to have Oprah declare on national television that their book is a “must read” because we all know that after she says those two little words, we will gain instant fame and financial prosperity. Oprah has that kind of power. Unfortunately though, for the vast majority of us unknown wannabes, we will remain just that---unknown---and then spend a lot of time, energy and sometimes a lot of money trying to get our little book noticed out of the thousands that get published each year.

But wait a minute---I really don’t feel so bad about Oprah not paying attention to my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey into Middle Age. After all, she’s also ignoring the great talent of the rapper 50 Cent. (great and talent are debatable depending on who you ask). I guess you’re wondering what one has to do with the other. Well, let me explain.

Last month, “50” got all hot and bothered over the fact that Oprah has yet to invite him on her show. In an interview on BET’s 106 & Park, he was quoted as saying, “Oprah will have a rapist on her show and have a discussion about why they do it, but won’t have a rags to riches story on her show.” He was referring to himself. Now, my question is, why does Mr. Cent feel the need to be on Oprah? He’s already achieved mind-boggling success. He even made a movie about his life: Get Rich or Die Tryin.’ Does he think an appearance on Oprah will give him cross over appeal to the baby boomer babes of America?

Well, Mr. 50, if you really want become a guest on Oprah and reach us baby boomer babes, I have a suggestion. Why don’t you, personally, purchase 50,000 copies of my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey into Middle Age, and give them out as Christmas presents to every woman you know who’s 40 and older. Now my guess is, you don’t know many in that age group so here’s another idea. Why not give them away at your concerts to the teenagers who pay the high ticket prices to see you perform? They can take the books home to their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and yes, even dads, as a “thank you” gift for letting their precious children come see you perform. Or you could purchase the 50,000 copies and donate them to women’s groups around the country.

Now Mr. 50 Cent, if you were to do something like that, you’d be helping both of us make guest appearances on Oprah!

Who needs Oprah when I have YOU to help make my book become the #1 best Seller on November 16!!!

WHATEVER! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age (review)

Oh ladies!!!

I just last night finished Beverly's book, *Whatever!* and I've got to tell you....WHAT A REFRESHING treat!!! It was like sitting with Beverly herself and just chatting with her! I devoured the book in two sittings. Initially, I was going to take the book with me on my girlfriend weekend that I go on every year (it's this weekend!!!!) But the book just sat on my desk, calling out to be read!!! So...I indulged myself and I am so glad that I did!

I especially loved the way the book unfolded...as you read through it...your mind thinks of questions that you would like to ask Bev as she shares and to my delight....I found myself reading the answers in very short order!!

She is candid, and MOST honest about her own journey through menopause and the aging process......if you already love this woman....you will love her even more when you are finished with her book...

Thank you Beverly, for daring to address and share your experiences with this trying time in a woman life....

I love you dearly....and thrilled that you call me a friend!

Big Ol' Hugs from Oregon!!!!
Deb

Women can rule on election day!

I ran across a very interesting article from Reuter's News Service that talks about the impact women can have on today's election. Here's a portion of it:


Women on their own" -- single, divorced and widowed – are urged to go to the polls on November 7.

"They are the fastest growing demographic group in this country," said Page Gardner, president of Women's Voices Women Vote, the group that produced the ad.

"In 2004 they were 22 percent of the electorate yet there were still 20 million unmarried women who did not vote," she said. "If they voted in higher numbers ... they could literally help determine the agenda in this country." Unmarried women tend to lean Democratic, political experts said.

Gardner said her group was nonpartisan and its goal was just to convince unmarried women -- who pollsters describe as a group that often feels "left behind" and uninformed -- that they have the power to make an impact in the vote.
Political scientists and pollsters said the unmarried bloc of women voters represents one of the key unknowns in the election. Women represent 52 percent of all U.S. voters.


What the article didn't address is how the statistics break down even further.

Do more White women fall into this category vs. African-American women? And what is the age bracket?

And why is it that these women aren't voting? Are we talking about seniors who may not be able to get to the polls? Or are we talking about women who are so stressed out from their jobs that all they want to do after they leave the workplace is go straight home? Or what about the women who have no transportation?

OK...so we have the opportunity to really make a difference in this country today. Are you doing your part? Or do you fall into the "other" statistics?


Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.talk2bev.com
10 DAYS UNTIL BEST SELLING AUTHOR DAY

Who needs Oprah? I do! I do!

On November 16, I will attempt to make history by becoming the first UNKNOWN, African-American female, over 40, to hit #1 on the Amazon Best Selling Author's list.

I thought I could do it an easier way by calling on Oprah to help me. You know, sister- to-sister; baby boomer-to-baby boomer, journalist-to-journalist, the Maya Angelou connection....but I guess when you get thousands of books each week, mine would be easy to overlook. I do know one thing: Once she actually READS the book, she will ENJOY it! She will be no different than the others who have already purchased a copy.

So since I can't get Oprah (at least not yet anyway), I'm looking to YOU for support. Let's show the book industry that if you write a good book, no matter who you are, you can take it to the top. I'm so confident in my book's appeal that I am willing to refund anyone's money who will honestly and truthfully say there was absolutely NOTHING they enjoyed about the book.

OK...so here's another reason why you should purchase a copy of Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age from Amazon on November 16

OH....did I mention...I'm also giving away over $1500 in bonus gifts with your purchase?


Another excerpt from Chapter One

"The one mistake I believe many dieters make is they change what and how much they eat to lose the weight. Then when the weight loss goal is achieved, they resort back to their same old eating and drinking habits and wind up gaining back all they worked so hard to lose.

In your journal, you should also write down all of the activities you do that require movement for at least thirty minutes. Did you know house and yard work can be considered exercise? The more space you have to clean burns more calories and if you have to climb up and down stairs, that’s an extra bonus. Mowing the lawn in the spring and summer and raking leaves in the fall are sure fire ways to get your heart rate up."

A review of: WHATEVER! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

"Although this book was written primarily for women and deals with the physical, emotional and social challenges of a middle age single mother, it also qualifies as recommended reading for men as well. It can provide men an open window into the mind, heart and sould of their own spouse or companion who may also be experiencing the same life changing challenges. The man's understanding of what the woman is going through allows for better communication and support.

Also, whether you are a man or woman, if you can relate to the life experiences shared by the author, this should cause yu to re-evaluate your priorities and reflect on some of your choices made in life.

Horace L. Bridges, Jr., Deacon
Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church
Durham, NC

#1 Best Seller: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

On November 16, I will be launching a campaign to take my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age to the#1 spot on Amazon.com

Of course in order to do this, I'm going to need your help. Why YOUR help, you ask? Well, for one reason....The book is GOOD! Reason # 2: The book is FUNNY! Reason #3: The book is INFORMATIVE Reason #5: LET'S PROVE TO THE LITERARY WORLD THAT UNKNOWN, SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

My book talks about the "journey" and the "celebration" into another phase of a woman's life. It comes complete with hot flashes, weight gain, middle age dating, sex over 40 and so on and so forth.

So over the next 16 days, I will provide snippets from the book and answer ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS you may have about menopause, middle age dating, sex over 40, how to handle PMS in the house when you're having a hot flash and I promise I will keep it real :)

OK...Here's reason #1 why you should purchase a copy of Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age on November 16:

Excerpt from Chapter One

Have the seven dwarfs of menopause come knocking at your door yet? If you're not sure, please allow me to make the introductions. There's Sweaty, Bloated, Forgetful, Bitchy, Itchy, Sleepy and All Dried Up. They don't all show up at once, but you can rest assured they will come in, unannounced, and definitely uninvited, and yes, they will wear out their welcome!

These little menaces to society bring night sweats, headaches, fatigue, forgetfulness, muscle and joint pain, urinary incontinence, heart palpitations, anxiety, depression, yeast infections and vaginal dryness into our lives.

According to my gynecologist, over time we may even start to lose our desire for sex. I don't know how you feel about that, but I surely hope it doesn't happen to me because I'd hate to think I wasted the BEST years of my sex life on my ex!!!

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev

A Conversation with Nikki Giovanni

I invite you to tune into my program, Whatever! to listen to a phenomenal interview with a phenomenal woman---renowned poet and author, Ms. Nikki Giovanni.

She talks her bout with cancer and her long journey back to recovery. She also brings us up to date on what she's doing these days.

I also have a special Whatever! Contest running. The first two correct entries will win a very special (and valuable) gift.

One more thing...Ms. Giovanni is offering a special once-in-a-lifetime gift during my November 16 book promotion! This is a gift that no one else will ever receive. And it really is from her---as good as gold as far as I'm concerned.

You can listen to the program by going to: http://www.successtalk.com/whatever

Great things are happening so c’mon and celebrate this Whatever! journey with me!!!!!


Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.talk2bev.com

Now, it's Oprah's turn to call

OK...if some of the things that are happening weren't happening to ME---I would probably find them hard to believe. Case in point: Yesterday morning after dropping my daughter off at the bus stop for school, I returned home and attempted to go back to sleep. Now, of course it was difficult because once your body becomes fully awake, it just wants to stay that way.

So here I am lying in bed trying to think of things that would help me go back to sleep. I don't know who said counting sheep backwards was a good method but I'm here to tell you, it doesn't work. It's STUPID!

OK...so then I started daydreaming about my husband---those are always good thoughts and I started to doze off. I was comfortable---ready to drift into la la land. But then---the phone rings. I decided to just let it ring--but something in my spirit said, "Answer it."

Now you know I'm mad at this point because that meant I had to roll completely over to the other side of the bed where the phone is and pick it up. But I did and guess who it was?

NIKKI GIOVANNI!

She called and said, "Hi Beverly. It's Nikki Giovanni. I didn't wake you did I?" Now had it been someone else I probably would've said, "You know you did! It's 9am and since I'm unemployed where else would I be???" But it was Nikki Giovanni. I wouldn't dare say that to her. I woke right up as if I had been awake for hours. She wanted to discuss my Amazon Best Selling Author's Day and to make sure I had her bonus gifts. OK...I could do that.

This is actually the second time Ms. Giovanni has called me out of the blue. The first time was the day after I was forced out of my job. She called to let me know she would honor my request and review my manuscript of Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age.

After we hung up the phone, my girlfriend and fellow author Trevy---who's staying with me until she gets settled---said"You've got Nikki Giovanni calling YOUR house! That means you're definitely in alignment with the universe!"

Yes, it means God is lining up everything according to His purpose for me life! Now, I guess I'll just stay awake and wait for Oprah's call.

I got REVIVED last night!

For the past three nights, my church has been holding a revival. Before I go any further, I wonder why it's called a "revival?" Does that mean it's a time to have our souls renewed and revitalized? And why do we need someone other than our OWN PASTOR to "revive" us? Well, after last night I think I know the answer.

For this year's revival, the guest speaker was Dr. Claude Alexander from the University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. I had never heard of him but my girlfriend Tasha said she watches him on the Word Channel and sang his praises and since I respect her opinion I decided to go check him out. If I didn't do it on Wednesday night, I wouldn't get another opportunity because that was the LAST night of the revival.

Well, let me tell you, I got revived, rejuvenated, renewed and I rejoiced the entire time! Dr. Alexander had a message just for ME. The title of his sermon was, "You're NOT Dreaming!" He told me I wasn't dreaming. He tied my story into the story of Peter (Acts 12). This is where Peter was in prison, handcuffed to the guards, who were handcuffed to the prison wall. One night while Peter was asleep, an angel of the Lord came in and released his shackles (but left the guards in handcuffs to the prison wall) and led him out of the prison. Dr. Alexander said Peter thought he was dreaming---thought it was a "vision" but it was REALITY. The Lord had moved Peter, from what seemed like the END, to a brand new BEGINNING (read the rest of Acts for the rest of the story).

Anyway, Dr. Alexander told me all that I had been through this past year was God's doing. He said the chains from my dead end job had been released and He was moving me on because His purpose for me was still very much alive and more important than ever. Dr. Alexander also told me my shackles were removed because of the prayers of the saints---my friends---who have lifted me up time and time again because they knew my struggles and anxieties. Even when I couldn't pray for myself, the saints---my friends--were lifting me higher and higher unto the Lord.

Dr. Alexander told me God was getting ready to do something so spectacular it was going to blow my mind---that He's going to trump even MY expectations. He told me I'm not dreaming. And you know what, I'm really glad I went to revival last night because I needed to be reminded that God is true to His Word---that He keeps His promises and that DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE when you have the VISION!

That means "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age WILL become an Amazon Best Seller in November!!!

Oh...and I think I know why our own pastor doesn't do our revivals...because sometimes, just like you and me, he needs some REVIVING too!

Free Medications Available

Not only am I am author, but as a veteran journalist I also help people get media exposure for their products or services.

Here is a press release I wrote on behalf of a woman who says she can show you how to get free medications:


Why Pay for your medication when you can get them for FREE? That’s right! Find out how you can get all of your medications for free in a new workbook, written exclusively to assist patients in need.

The workbook is the brainchild of patient advocate Rebecca Templet. She says, “Most people, who are on a limited income and don’t have prescription coverage, don’t know where to get assistance. My workbook shows them the process of getting their medications free from the drug manufacturers.”

Ms. Templet’s efforts have assisted several hundred people over the past three years, as well as helping to save them thousands of dollars in prescription bills. “I believe in the concept of paying it forward,” says Ms. Templet, who adds, “if I’m able to get the information,then I believe it’s my obligation to share it.”

For more information on how you can receive the book, How to get your Medication Free, contact Ms. Templet at 931-721-3683 or go to her website: www.getmedsfree.com
Ms. Templet is also available for interviews.

Love, Sex and Mature Adults

Take the Love Quiz and see how much you know about love, sex and mature adults. It’s nothing raunchy. More educational. (the quiz is from the American Association of Retired Persons--AARP). The first person to get all 10 answers CORRECT will receive special recognition. I will tell which ones you missed so you can play as many times as you like until you get them all RIGHT!

Go to: http://www.talk2bev.com click on quiz---put your name & email address in the boxes, answer the questions, then click SUBMIT. It’s that simple.

Can’t wait to hear from you!

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.talk2bev.com

I got an email from Bart Simpson!

I opened up my email today (Sunday) and much to my surprise, there was an email from a former Ohio University classmate---Nancy Cartwright. Nancy, as you may or may not know, is the awesome voice behind the cartoon character Bart Simpson. Now if I have to tell you who Bart Simpson is, don't bother to read any further.

I had lost touch with Nancy over the years and decided to look her up. Well, I went through her "fan mail" website and was actually surprised that she responded because you know how a lot of celebrities are...they either send you an automated generic "Thank you for your letter..." or they don't even bother to respond at all. But not Nancy. She sent a personal response. She's still the same sweet, adorable person I remembered back then and more importantly, she hasn't let success go to her head.

She brought me up to date on her life (a member of the divorcee club, like me, and the mother of two teenaged children---I have one). She also reminded me of some of our wild and crazy college days! (The stuff books are written about!).

Now we're re-connected again. I guess I should ask her for a review of my book since we're both baby boomers, right? Wow! We're now baby boomers...hard to believe.

I guess here is where I should do some shameless promotion and ask you to buy a copy of my book on amazon.com

Seriously, I thank God for the friendships I've made over the years.

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.talk2bev.com

Dancing With The Stars--Baby Boomers "Represent!"

OK...I just finished watching Dancing with the Stars. Under normal circumstances, this would NOT---and I repeat---NOT be a program I would be interested in, but this season I'm particularly interested in the Baby Boomer celebrities who are representing the rest of us.

Vivica A. Fox, Harry Hamlin, Emmitt Smith and Jerry Springer are showing those young whippersnappers that they've still got a lotta pep in their step(s)! Who would've ever thought the all-time great Dallas Cowboys running back Smith was as graceful on a dance floor as he was on the football field? And then there's Harry Hamlin, who's still as sexy at 54 years old as he was when he was on L.A. Law several years earlier. Now all of America knows there's more to Jerry Springer than just being a raunchy talk show host whose guests come straight out of Trailer Parksville. The man had to have something going for himself to be elected the Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. No, he's not the greatest dancer but he's entertaining and sometimes it's better to distract us that way than to try to COMPETE with the Mario's and Joey's of the world.

Oh...and then there's Ms. Vivica A. Fox who is a show stopper! Sistah girl knows she's got it going on and has no problem letting you know she knows how good she is! Her facial expressions tell it all. Vivica makes me honored to be a part of the "Over 40 Fabulous and Bodacious Club." You go girl!

Although I was disappointed that one of my fellow boomers (Hamlin) was cut from the competition, I am overjoyed that we are still very well represented. We are still a force to be reckoned with.

I'm going to end this here and go put on my dancing shoes because as Leo Sayer so eloquently sang it 20 years ago, "You make me feel like dancing...I wanna dance the night away."

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.talk2bev.com

You know what? Today is my husband's birthday! I'm so excited!! I'm so in love with this man. He brings joy to my life and loves me like no other man ever has!!!

We met on-line nearly five years ago and I thank God EVERYDAY for the "hook-up" We got married in June of this year and I can honestly say I love him more and more each day. He is the sunshine of my life even on dark, gloomy days. Through this relationship, I've learned that love is BETTER the second time around.

I have to admit, he wouldn’t have been someone I would’ve been attracted to 10 or 20 years ago, but that shows the growth in ME. I thank God for opening my eyes to see what is REAL vs. the imitation.

I dedicate this poem to my wonderful, sexy, handsome, God-fearing husband. You don’t mind if I share, do you?

"Thank you, honey, for your tender touch....for promises you keep...for being there day in and day out with love so smooth and deep. For following the inner light that's guided us this far---Thank you for becoming the AMAZING MAN you are!

If you're blessed and have a wonderful man in your life, do me a favor and let him know today---even if it ISN'T his birthday.

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev

I talk about finding love for the second time in my book, "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age." available at http://www.talk2bev.com or amazon.com

Mid-life Crisis...Whatever!!

Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down, which gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired mustache and chest hair. In mid-life, we no longer have upper arms, we have wing spans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in drag.

Mid-life is when you can stand in front of a mirror and see your rear end without turning around. Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to go topless. Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely in a tube top and scream, "Listen honey, even the Roman empire fell and those will too!"

Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves and we're sitting on our biggest ones. Mid-life is when you look at your-know-it-all, beeper-wearing teenager and think: "For this I have stretch marks?" And to make matters worse, your memory starts to go. As a matter of fact, the only thing we do retain is WATER.

Mid-life means that you become more reflective...You start pondering the "big" questions. What is life? Why am I here? How much Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice?

But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what is important.
We realize that breasts sag, hips expand and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you have now, for the body you had way back when? (I don't know about you but on a day like today, I SAY YES!!!)

Maybe our bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and love we've acquired. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it!

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev

You can read more of my middle age journey in "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Success Begins in the Mind

Your mind always sets your limits.

If you believe that you can do something, you can do it. You must believe in it one hundred percent. What you believe yourself to be, you are. Your self image prescribes the limits for the accomplishment of your goals. It prescribes the "area of the possible" for you. Self-esteem is the strongest single factor in prosperity consciousness: believing you can do it, believing you deserve it, believing you will get it. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success. The feelings must come first from within you.

If you actually feel rich, if you have a deep inner conviction that you will always have all that you need, it will be so. It's all in your mind. What you see is what you get.

I know it's hard sometimes to stay focused. It's so much easier to give up than to persevere because of the pain and struggles that may come along with it but if you just remember there is a great power within you---I call it the Holy Spirit. That Great Power is your reassurance that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Allow your "mind" to bring you abundant blessings today!

Who says you have to be a Size 6 to be considered fabulous? WHATEVER!

I’d like all of the Fabulous and Bodacious women of the world to stand up and be counted! I’m talking about baby boomer babes who are 40 years old (plus) and are sassy, classy and spiritually motivated. I’m talking about the women who aren’t afraid to step out on faith and pursue their God-given creativity. I’m talking about the women who can “give you a piece of their mind” in the nicest way and who can make a size 12 (and up) look stylish and sexy. I’m talking about all of the sophisticated ladies!

If you are someone you know falls into that category, why not nominate them for the F.A.B. Woman of the Month---FABULOUS & BODACIOUS. This is NOT a physical beauty contest. It’s about what you exuberate on the inside.

Just send in a picture (full body preferred), along with the nominee’s name, city/state, age and brief description as to why are nominating her. Be sure to also include your contact information.

Each monthly winner (and the nominee) will receive a special gift and next year, a grand prize winner will be selected and a SPECIAL GRAND PRIZE. (how does a trip to the Bahamas sound?). Men are also eligible to nominate their favorite baby boomer babe.

Please go my website to submit your nomination information. http://www.talk2bev.com/

You know, I just love it when the creative juices are flowing. But I guess that’s what being a writer and a baby boomer babe is all about!!!

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly

I've Turned Into A.....

Oh, my God! I never thought such a thing could happen to me!

I’ve turned into a computer geek! Lord knows, I don’t know how it happened because it wasn’t that long ago that I didn’t even want to turn the thing on. I only bought one because I figured my teenage daughter would have to use it for research, essay papers or Whatever!

I’m a member of the baby boomer generation. We didn’t grow up with computers. Besides, what would be exciting about sitting at a computer all day? That, to me, would be the equivalent of a “time-out” or punishment. As children, my friends and I entertained ourselves outdoors with fun “interactive” games like Hide and Seek, Tag, You’re It!, Kick the Can, Double Dutch jump rope, Red Light, Green Light and so on and so forth.

Homework was done using brain power. And if you didn’t have it, you worked and worked until you got it. I’m not ashamed to say I used my fingers to do math problems sometimes. That may be because we didn’t have calculators, but we did have the Abacus. Remember that, baby boomer buddies? Reading was fundamental back then but we did it by reading the ENTIRE book---not using cliff notes. I’ll never forget the time my 9th grade English teacher made us read “Moby Dick” as an assignment. I thought she must have been insane! But, in hindsight, I can now say I’m proud to have read one of the classics from cover to cover.

But now here I am, thirty-five years later, doing the unthinkable. I wake up and---even before I’ve brushed my teeth or had breakfast---I get on the computer and start checking emails and responding to messages and browsing for News I Can Use for my website. But it doesn’t stop there. I’m BLOGGING….(a word that wasn’t even in my third edition of the American Heritage Dictionary)… and I’m also networking with other folks who, for Whatever! reasons, are glued to their computers just like me. We exchange thoughts and ideas and sometimes even prayers. I do take periodic breaks to do less important things like exercise, cook meals and clean the house. But after that, it’s me and my computer until bedtime.

I’m also learning there’s lots of money to be made through this machine! I haven’t quite figured out how that all works yet, but you can best believe when I do, you won’t be hearing from me as much anymore. I’ll be off somewhere enjoying the fruits of my labor and giving my fingers a much needed rest!

Selling at the Salon

What do you do on a day when it’s raining cats and dogs? I decided I wasn’t going to let tropical Storm Ernesto rain on my parade today so I decided to go selling at the beauty salon.

Well, actually that’s not totally true. I went to the salon to get myself all “dolled up” for my husband (who came home early today), but since I’m one to always look for an opportunity to sell my book (Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age), I figured I could kill two birds with one stone. Get gorgeous and get paid! Mind you, both can be challenging!

I walked into the salon and saw women everywhere. I thought to myself, “Oh, this is great!” So, I didn’t waste any time. I had two books in my purse and walked over to the dryer area. I randomly selected two women.

“Hi! My name is Beverly Mahone and I wrote this book. While you’re under the dryer, why don’t you take a look at it and if you like it, get back to me.”

My stylist then called me back to the shampoo area. While getting my hair washed, I heard lots and lots of laughter! They were really laughing very loudly. When I returned to my hairdresser’s chair, I discovered the laughter was coming from the two women who were reading my book. Before I got under my own dryer, three other women asked me if I had more copies so they could also read it.

“Of course, I do!” I learned that as an author you take books with you EVERYWHERE you go so I went out to my car and brought in seven books. I figured with 12 women in the salon, I could sell them all just on the reaction of the women who were already reading them.

And you know what, I did sell them all! Two women just picked up the books and purchased them, without even browsing through any of the pages, saying they couldn’t wait to get home to read it. I thought to myself, “I can’t wait to get home either but I won’t be doing any reading because my husband is home!”

One woman said she was going to pitch my book to her reunion group this weekend and wanted to see if I would be available to come and speak to them about the book. “Of course, I will!” I also learned that as an author you never miss out on an opportunity to talk about your book.

Well, I got my two for one today. I left as a satisfied "babyboomerdiva" and I introduced seven more women to, what is soon to become, a best-selling book!

I left the salon thanking God for the blessings and was reminded of the scripture: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Peace & Blessings,
Babyboomerbev

Pray the Fat Away???

OK…this is Day #4 of my mind, body and spirit makeover journey…

I was watching television the other day and saw a woman being interviewed about a book she wrote telling readers to use prayer to get rid of fat. I couldn’t believe my ears! Here was this woman actually saying you can pray away fat. Now don’t get me wrong. I know, firsthand, the power of prayer but I never put it in that particular context. But then I thought, “Oh, what the heck! I’ve tried everything else. Let me give this a shot.”

So before I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I prayed to the Lord:

"Dear God, You know I’m overweight. You also know I’m unemployed and can’t afford a new wardrobe. So Lord, would you do me a favor and melt the pounds away during the night. Twenty pounds will do. This I pray in Jesus name, Amen.”

Well, when I woke up yesterday morning, it actually looked as if I had GAINED a few more pounds. My stomach was bloated and my behind had spread even more.

OK…I do believe God heard my prayer but then it hit me. According to scripture, (James 2:26) “faith without works is dead”. So if I put work more work into my exercise routine, then God will bless my effort. I hit the cross country trail at Duke University for a third day. As I said before, I love and hate that course! It's an absolutely fantastic workout, complete with nearly three miles of tough terrain and hills. But, on the other hand, it is a very strenuous workout, and when you combine it with the heat, humidity and "heartbreak hill" you leave the trail thinking it might be OK to let your middle-aged body hang on to a few extra pounds!

But I’m still determined so after going to noon Bible study I got a little rest and then went to the gym for my very first kick-boxing class. All I have to say is I used muscles I didn’t even know I had! I guess that’s a good thing though.

Before I went to bed last night, I prayed again to the Lord.

“Dear God, Thank you for giving me the energy and strength to keep pressing toward my weight loss goals. I do ask that you continue to deliver me from the evils of too much food and sugar and, Lord, please help me to stay motivated so You will bless my efforts. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

This morning I woke up with new hope!

Where are they now???

Where are all of those now “famous” baby boomers I went to school with?

I went to Ohio University. I graduated in 1979 with a degree in Journalism. Little did I know at the time that I would be connected to some of the most successful people in their craft today just by being a member of the Ohio University Forensics Team. That’s right!

I crossed paths with students like Nancy Cartwright. For those of you who don’t recognize the name, she is the “voice” of Bart Simpson. Nancy was from a town outside of Dayton, OH---Kettering, I believe. She competed on the team for two years in the categories of Humorous Interpretation and Humorous Duo. She was funny back then and always had that sweet, baby voice. She left OU early to pursue her dreams of making it in Hollywood and, by my standard, she did just that!

Then there’s Dave Burgert. I’m not exactly sure where Dave was from. I just remember him as a very quiety, easy going young man who was a member of the debate team and the Republican party. I actually heard from him recently and “googled” him. He was selected as a “Texas Super Lawyer” at the law firm where he is a Partner. That doesn’t surprise me one bit. I always knew he’d be a lawyer. I’m surprised he’s not sitting on the bench yet.

Jack Thomas was also a member of the debate team and I believe he competed in some other categories as well. Jack and I were from the same general area. I always thought of him as a preppy white boy who had a difficult time relating to people that were “different.” We had major conflicts from time to time but we managed to get past them and work together for the good of the team. Jack went to law school and was a practicing attorney before he decided to give it all up to pursue his passion of comedy. I heard he spent some time with Second City in Chicago and is now writing for one of the Nickelodeon shows.

Deb Geisler was an extemporaneous speaker. She was always very supportive of her teammates. I always thought she had a crush on a guy named Jeff Green but I never got it confirmed. Deb is now teaching at Suffolk University in Boston.

Speaking of Jeff, he was my dramatic duo partner. I absolutely loved working with him! He took his work very seriously and was good at it. We were pretty good together and, yes, I had a crush on him too! It’s no surprise to me that Jeff is a tenured Associate Professor of dramatic Arts and Director of the Dramatic Arts program at Georgia Southwestern University. He also serves as the faculty advisor and producer for Hurricane Watch, GSW-TV16 student television productions.

Dave Radanovich was the “coolest of the cool.” He was an extemporaneous speaker. I always loved hanging out at his house with his roommate J.B. (deceased). Dave is a big shot PR guy somewhere in the Northeast---like maybe Pennsylvania.

(Arsenio Hall was also a member of the team but he transferred to Kent State. The rumor was he was ostracized by a racist coach who left the year after I arrived).

Then there’s ME. I was the team member who liked to raise everyone’s level of consciousness. I gave them hell when I felt they deserved it because of their lack of sensitivity to certain issues but I partied with them on Court Street, celebrated our winning victories (and we had many) and cried with them when they were hurting.

I’ll never forget the time they all rallied around me to perform a “Talk-A-Thon” in my efforts to raise money to become Miss Black Homecoming Queen. You can imagine the looks on people’s faces when they saw all of my white colleagues and me standing in front of Baker Center talking non-stop for the fundraiser. It was a defining moment in my relationship with all of them.

What would they have to say about me after all of these years? Trust me, they’d have some stories to tell about this best-selling author!

These are the baby boomers I went to school with. Who was in your class?

Hurricane Katrina: From One Journalist's Perspective

I was working in the newsroom when the Katrina disaster happened. It was hard not to be effected by what I saw and heard. I kept a journal of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on me professionally and personally. Parts of what is written here is from my journal.....

"Oh my God!" "Unbelievable!" "This can't be happening!" were some of the reactions from my colleagues in our television newsroom as we watched, in horror, the events unfolding in New Orleans and Mississippi a year ago. Our eyes were glued to CNN and MSNBC. Some of us shed tears, while others said silent prayers for the victims.

Although we were hundreds of miles away from the disaster, it was still considered BREAKING NEWS for us and we scrambled to find any kind of tie-in to bring the story home to our viewers in the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, NC area. We didn't have to look very far. Three of our colleagues had family members who were impacted by the devastation. They were busy trying to make contact---trying to make sure their loved ones were safe and out of harm's way. But soon the conditions worsened and then it became impossible to establish contact because phone lines were down. Although the majority of us didn't know anyone there, we wanted to help, but felt helpless.

As an Assignment Editor, it was my role to find story ideas and people to bring those stories to life. I knew people in New Orleans. I had telephone numbers that could reach them when others couldn't but on this occasion, I couldn't reach them either. I remember being totally glued to the TV to get information, see the pictures, hear the commentaries and share in the sorrows. I was saddened by the fact that many of the folks who lost everything they owned in life were black and poor. I can't even begin to imagine losing EVERYTHING. Some kids were separated from their parents---modern day slavery.

I had several discussions with my colleagues about the race factor being one of the reasons the government took so long to respond. Some of them countered saying it was more about "class status". So be it, I thought, but the bottom line is black and poor go hand in hand. We also had intense discussions as to why we were calling the residents "refugees." My news director said we were following the national media but I argued we shouldn't be calling them that because they aren't from third world countries. Eventually, I won that argument.

North Carolina received around 400 residents from New Orleans (what we were told initially). I remember the urgent need to help so I went to volunteer at the Evacuee Shelter in Raleigh. The drive was about 30 minutes from my home. I didn't care that gas was running around $3.00/gallon. That was a small price to pay in my opinion. I really felt compelled in my spirit to help out. Journalists weren't permitted past a certain point so I had to pretend to be a volunteer from a charitable agency. No one checked my credentials, which I thought was interesting, so I was free to walk in a find a place to assist.

I walked in and acted like I belonged there. A woman took me to an area where they were sorting used clothing. I separated the children’s clothes. I met a survivor named Rene Gibson---and his wife who was in a wheelchair. He told me he had been in the water for seven days. I can't even imagine being in that nasty, filthy, feces ridden, dead bodies floating water! I shared a bit of God's Word with him. I told him God never said we wouldn't go through trials and tribulations but He tells us He will be with us and protect us when we're going through. I also wandered into a children’s area where I gave them hugs and listened to them tell me Whatever! they wanted say. One little girl told me she just wanted to go home so she could go back to school and be with her friends.

When I walked away, I found a little corner where I broke down and cried. It was such a humbling experience. I spent the rest of the day thanking and praising God to put it in my heart to serve---not as a journalist trying to get a story--but as a member of the human race who feels and cares about his fellow man.

I need a makeover of mind, body and spirit

I had a restless night. I kept waking up every couple of hours, looking at the clock, trying to prepare myself mentally for the day ahead. I decided over the weekend that I was going to re-commit myself to exercising and eating healthy. I also decided I needed to replenish my mind and spirit by getting deeper into God's Word.

After sending out an email, announcing my new and improved website, I hit the cross country trail at Duke University. I love and hate that course! It's an absolutely fantastic workout, complete with nearly three miles of tough terrain and hills. But, on the other hand, it is a very strenuous workout, and when you combine it with the heat, humidity and "heartbreak hill" you leave the trail thinking it might be OK to let your middle-aged body hang on to a few extra pounds!

I've actually been walking on that particular cross country trail on and off for several years. I used to take my daughter when we were BOTH younger and we would have mini-sprint races along the way. Since she stopped going, I stopped doing the mini-sprints because it's just no fun to run alone. Besides, this baby boomer babe is trying to look halfway cute when she's out there and it's kind of hard to look your best when you're sweating like a pig and constantly gasping for air!

I really don't know how some of those women do it. I mean, I see them jogging along with their ponytails swinging from side to side and they don't even break a sweat and they actually look cute doing it!

WHATEVER!

No, I don't have the ponytail bounce (my hair isn't long enough) but I do have a little jiggle going on. My belly and behind can shake pretty good! On a day like today, I just want to call up Ty Pennington and ask him if he and his crew could come to my home and give ME a makeover.

Anyway, on this particular day, I decided to do a two-for-one. Get a good workout in and have some good gospel music minister to my spirit. These days I'm listening to Jennifer Evans' CD, "Delayed but not Denied." She has a song called "First Aid Building" which says:

"I'm going to the first aid building where God can see you through
I'm going to the the first aid building where you can be made brand new."

I needed to be in the first aid building getting my spirit rejuevenated this morning. I needed to be reminded of God's promise that He will never leave nor forsake me---even when I screw up. I needed to cling on to His promise that He will deliver me from evil, because honey let me tell you, evil is on a rampage and I don't want to be in the way. I also needed to learn how to just STAND STILL sometimes and allow God to handle my situations.

This morning's workout gave me just what I needed!

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
"babyboomerbev"
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Marriage: The second time around

Is marriage really better the second time around? As one who falls into that category, I say absolutely! I'm very excited and feel blessed to have been given another opportunity to love again.

But in hindsight, my first marriage wasn't built on a foundation of love. It was "lust" right from the start. Unfortunately, when the passion started fading away, we realized there was nothing else we had in common. Many young people tend to confuse lust for love and fall into the trap of letting their emotions take control of their logical, rational thinking mind.

In my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age, I talk about the differences in the way we think when we're young as opposed to when we grow older and wiser. When I look back over my younger days, I realize I spent way too much time craving the WRONG man for all of the RIGHT reasons. I wanted to feel love, to be loved, and to give love in return but the sex clouded my judgement in making sure I was choosing the right mate. Can you relate? How many times did you ignore someone's red flag warnings because you were head over heels in love with the "idea" of being in love? How often did you justify or simply overlook his or her faults and irresponsible behavior because you were so sure they would change?

Then what happens to your happily ever after? Mine ended abruptly in divorce court and I spent many days and nights trying to understand why I let myself get into such a mess. But thank God for maturity and wisdom! Once I wiped the tears away for good and took off the blinders, I began to see what it really meant to be involved in a meaningful relationship.

One of the beautiful things about growing older is it gives us the benefit of wisdom. That, in turn, allows us to make smarter choices. As for me, I'm smart enough not to believe in love at first sight anymore. One reason being, I don't see quite as well as I used to. I'm also smart enough to be more discriminating in my taste. I've learned how to weed out the imitation from the real thing.

So now I'm happy to say God has blessed me with a new love. He's a man who's strong enough to deal with my strengths, yet gentle enough to understand and cope with my emotional stress and strife. I'm totally enjoying my second marriage and yes, it makes lusting after him even better!

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev