National Procrastination Week

The week of March 9 has been designated as National Procrastination Week. I wonder who in the world came up with that one?

OK, let's see. What can this baby boomer diva put off during the week?

1) No laundry

2) No housework

3) No sex

4) Don't do any work on the computer

5) Don't pay bills

6) Don't exercise

7) No cooking

8) Don't take any phone calls

9) Don't do Bible study

10) Stop eating

WHATEVER!

Here's to all of the Fun, Fabulous, Fancy-Free Women Over 40

This is from my In Case You Missed It File:

60 Minutes Correspondent Andy Rooney (CBS) had this to say about my fellow baby boomer divas:


As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!

Andy Rooney is a really smart guy, isn't he?!

Can Baby Boomers Find Their Soul Mate Online?

If you had asked me this question 10 years ago, I would've said "No way!" but less than five years ago, I met the man I eventually married on the internet. Well, actually HE found ME.

I met my first husband in an apartment complex. Funny, how times have changed. With the introduction of this relatively new technology called the “internet,” baby boomers, like myself, are finding another innovative way to hook-up.

These days, the internet offers an interesting way to meet similar-minded people and make a connection. Regardless of a certain stigma attached to meeting people online, there is no denying the fact that there are literally millions of people out there using cyberspace hoping to make a connection.

Looks and physical appearance are more likely to take a back seat as we age and we tend to look at other more important qualities such as personality, spirituality and goal-oriented interests.

There is a disadvantage of internet dating though. You could end up wasting your time connecting with someone who is pretending to be someone else. Just like every other generation, some baby boomers like to play games because they never grew up.

Oh, but you don't need to be online to have that experience, do you?

Be sure to check out my show on BlogTalk Radio on Thursday, January 31 when I discuss "Internet Love for Baby Boomers." BlogtalkRadio/Whateverlive

Boomer Diva Nation: Where Women Rock, Roll and Rule!

Boomer Diva Nation is a new community website for women who are on the move and making a difference. Here’s where you’ll find the latest Hot Flash Breaking News along with stories of interest about fellow boomers.

You can also connect with other women through the Boomer Diva blog roll (yes, there’s a few boomer men on the list) and you can participate in the various teleseminars. Meet the women who make up the Boomer Diva Nation Community. The group consists of authors, work-at-home-moms, business owners, celebrities, magazine editors and others who are all fabulously 40 and beyond.

The BoomerDivaNation.com website belongs to me---Beverly Mahone---I look forward to seeing you!

To all of my Fellow Baby Boomer Divas

It's Beautiful Women Month....And if you are reading this that means YOU are one of them...

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

I praise God for you and your friendship.

Hot Fun in the Winter Time!

Not only is this baby boomer living in a "dry state" (with no signs of water relief in site) but she is also walking around in flip flops and shorts in the middle of what's supposed to be known as Winter.

It was almost 80 degrees here in North Carolina today! It's two weeks before Christmas and no sign of a winter wonderland. What's a poor baby boomer like me to do? Suck it up and enjoy it, I guess.

Baby Boomers aren't supposed to like the cold anyway, right? It's bad for our arthritis. Lord knows, we don't know how to drive in the rain so just imagine what it would be like to have us on the road when there's snow AND ice. Another thing: what could be worse than looking at a baby boomer with dried up, wrinkled and cracked skin?

You know what, I really don't have anything else to say because I feel a hot flash coming on and it's not caused by global warming.

When children lose someone they care about

The day after Thanksgiving the grandmother of my daughter’s best friend passed away. It was expected, but as with any death where illness is involved, family and friends are always hopeful that the end will come later instead of sooner.

I watched in awe as my teenage daughter became a pillar of strength for her friend who was obviously very close to her grandmother. From the moment the decision was made to take her off of the respirator, my daughter stepped up to offer comfort to her friend in the best way she could. She went to the hospital and maintained a vigil with the family. She left---only to return again at midnight---when she learned of her passing.

Just last month I found myself in the same situation when I lost a dear friend. It was if my daughter had watched my every move because she was doing what I had done.

It is expected that baby boomers, like me, will lose older family members and friends as time goes by but when children lose people they care about, it can be a hard concept to truly understand. Hopefully, parents are teaching their children to love, appreciate and respect their aging family members while they’re alive so that when they’re gone, they will have cherished memories to hold on to.

Sesame Street For Adults Only?

Movies like Debbie Does Dallas have a warning label because they're x-rated but a warning label on a Sesame Street DVD? Are you kidding?

According to an article written by Virginia Heffernan in the NY Times magazine, there is a warning on Volumes 1 and 2, “Sesame Street: Old School” indicating the videos are for adults-only: “These early ‘Sesame Street’ episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child.”

Sesame Street wasn't around for my baby boomer generation but my daughter grew up watching it. Sesame Street taught her about respect, the importance of learning and what it meant to be a good neighbor and better friend. It was OK to ask for an adult stranger's help and not worry about being abducted or abused. Who cared if Oscar the Grouch was always grumpy or if Cookie Monster ate too much junk food?

How sad to think the old Sesame Street neighborhood has become a victim of urban renewal.


"Come and play! Everything's A-OK.
Friendly neighbors there, that's where we meet.
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?"

Who Stole My Body?

That’s the question I’ve been asking myself for a few years now. Everyday I look in the mirror and wonder what happened to that drop dead, gorgeous size 3 figure that used to turn heads and stop men dead in their tracks. I’m turning heads these days but not in quite the same way.

Middle-age spread is one issue I never thought I’d have to deal with, but honey, let me tell you, it’s no joke! My middle-aged, baby boomer years have resulted in some spreading, sagging and cellulite---while my breasts, belly and lap are getting better acquainted. My gynecologist says the weight gain is a result of my metabolism slowing down and MENOPAUSE.

I am convinced there is a thief on the loose who is running around attacked middle-aged women. I would have felt much better about the burglary had he taken my Hot Flashes too!

See what I mean by checking out my You Tube video: http://www.youtube.com/babyboomerbev

Baby Boomers on the Move in Maryland

In addition to being the state where African-American baby boomers make the most money, Maryland now holds the distinguished honor of being the state where the first baby boomer has applied for social security.

61-year-old Kathleen Casey-Kirschling applied for the benefits on Monday. She will be eligible to receive her monthly checks in January 2008 after she turns 62. Casey-Kirschling is one of about 80 million baby boomers who will qualify for social security in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue says an estimated 10,000 baby boomers a day will become eligible for Social Security benefits over the next two decades, and the Social Security Trust Fund is projected to go broke in 2041.

So whose fault is this? Are politicians to blame for using social security money to fund unnecessary pork barrel funding projects? What about Corporate America Executives who mismanaged retirement funds? Or what about the wealthiest among us who have failed to pay their fair portion in taxes? My mother calls it “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Whatever you want to call it, the social security tidal wave is going to hit and it’s going to hit HARD.

We baby boomers put the MOST into the system, so we should get the MOST out of it.

When asked about social security, the nation’s first recognized baby boomer said, “I think I’m just lucky to be at the top of the boom. I am blessed to have been in this generation and really blessed to take my Social Security now.” Casey-Kirschling encourages people to collect retirement benefits whenever they are eligible to take them.

I’ll only be 84 by the time the social security trust fund goes belly up so I think I’ll be in Maryland where the wealthiest among us live.

Can Ann Taylor Save the Day?

In a recent article by the New York Times, it was announced that Ann Taylor is going to take a stab at designing a clothing line specifically for baby boomer women. That would be for women like ME.

Forth & Towne (a division of Gap, Inc.) tried it a couple of years ago but failed miserably. It was hard for me to associate the Gap with anything but jeans that I could NEVER fit.

I don't understand what's so hard about coming up with a clothing line for boomer women. No, we're not trying to let it all hang out anymore but we're also not ready to be sent into the convent. We have come into our own and the clothes we wear should reflect that. We're classy, some of us are a little sassy and we're sophisticated. If we're in the boardroom, there's a certain type of look we should have with clothing material that won't have us sweating like pigs during a hot flash.

We are not a "one-size/one-style fits all" generation; therefore the clothes should reflect that fact. What may be appealing to a 60-year-old boomer may be way off the mark when it comes to trying to dress a 45-year-old. Keep that in mind, Ms. Taylor.

The New York Times also indicated Boomers spend $43 billion a year on apparel. So it would stand to reason that if Ann Taylor gets it right, she will be handsomely rewarded by the millions of baby boomer women who are eager to look good from head to toe....especially those of us who are Divas.

Menopause Can Make You Fat...Duh!

Just yesterday I read an article indicating women were having less sex due to menopause. It’s a theory I dispute based on my own personal experience but, nonetheless, it was an interesting article. Today, another article has come out indicating that menopause can make you FAT. “The declining estrogen levels associated with the change can interfere with metabolic processes leading to weight gain,” US researchers said on Monday, confirming what many women already knew.

Yes, I am in the category of women who already knew this information. My wonderful gynecologist gave me the 4-1-1 on perimenopause and menopause a few years back just as I was beginning to experience some of the symptoms. She is one of the main reasons I have become knowledgeable on the subject. She is also one of the inspirations behind my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age, in which I discuss my whole menopause experience and non-medical ways to deal with those annoying symptoms.

What the article doesn’t address are factors like stress and eating habits that also play a significant role in weight gain and menopause. The article also doesn’t talk about what needs to be done to give your metabolism a much needed jump start. We, as women, are led to believe that a 30-minute walk three times a week will help us maintain our weight but what needs to be done to DROP the fat? That’s what I talk about in my book. Are there really that many uninformed menopausal women out here who don’t have a clue about what’s going on with their bodies? Or is it possible there are too many doctors failing to provide the necessary treatment and information to their patients?

Next question, how much did these researchers get paid to supply this information? Could it be I’m in the wrong business?

Here’s the link to read the entire article:http://www.ebiologynews.com/2696.html

Hot Flashes in this Heat!

Is it just me or is anyone else trying to figure out if they’re having hot flashes while exercising or is it just this unbearable, intense heat wave we’re experiencing?

I woke up this morning at 7:15 am---I was going to head out to the Duke Trail to get my morning walk/run in. I turned on the TV. It was already 77 degrees and the humidity was over 80! OK…I had to ask myself, “Am I going to go out there and perspire like a pig like I did yesterday?”

Yesterday’s temperature was 75 degrees when I woke up but the humidity was in the lower 70s. I figured I could handle that so I took my bottled water and off I went. I hadn’t even walked a quarter of a mile when I began sweating profusely! I thought I was having a hot flash! I took a swig of water. It was hot enough to make tea. People were passing me left and right. One woman passed me wearing makeup! And to top it all off, she didn’t have a drop of sweat on her face. I figured she must be testing a new product because it made absolutely no sense to be wearing makeup in that heat. Or maybe she was hoping to catch the eye of one of those sweaty baby boomer men who came running by.

Well, I decided not to go to the trail today. Besides, I have a gym membership so this would be a good day to use it---even if I have to drive 15 miles to get there. Another thing…I’d much rather have a hot flash in the gym because of a thing called air conditioning.

Baby Boomer Love on the Internet

Can you find love on the internet---especially if you’re over 40? I did it and I even introduced some friends of mine to it and they, too, made a successful connection. I didn’t initially go online because I was looking for a husband. I was just looking for some companionship. My experience was good in the end but I had to weed through some garbage to get there. For every decent individual out there in cyberspace, there are at least a dozen weirdoes, freaks, and others who give the concept a black eye. But nonetheless, based on the research I did I found that according to recent statistics, on-line dating services now help over 7 million registered users a year. 48 percent of men and 52 percent of women have had some experience with on line dating.

According to a recent article in Newsweek magazine, more and more baby boomers are quote unquote “hooking up” on line. And according to the publisher of Online dating magazine, “As people get older, they start dropping a lot of the “you gotta be attractive” requirements and concentrate more on personality, spirituality and specific interests.

Check out my latest podcast: Finding Love on the Internet Part I (on the right lower side of this page)

How to Keep your Sex Life Sizzlin' after 50!

I'm not ashamed to tell you that my husband makes me hotter than a hot flash! We share a healthy sex life because we share INTIMACY. That intimacy takes us beyond the bedroom and into each other's hearts and minds.

If you're trying to enhance or re-create the sexual magic in your relationship, here are a few tips:

Manage Your Menopause
Symptoms may begin up to 10 years before you reach the menopause at 50. As your body stops producing estrogen, your interest in sex naturally diminishes. Althought I'm NOT AN ADVOCATE of hormone replacement therapy, some doctors say hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be incredibly effective, helping to give your sex drive a boost as well as reducing symptoms such as hot flashes. There are lots of treatments, including sprays, creams and patches, so consult your doctor. Natural alternatives include the red clover and agnus castus supplements.

Banish Guilt
Just because you're 50 (or older) doesn't mean that you shouldn't want sex. Sex is a natural part of life. It connects the passion between a couple and there's no reason for you not to enhance and appreciate your sexuality.

Check Your Medication
Certain drugs are known to lower your libido, so it's worth checking out side effects. Culprits include medicines for heart disease, blood pressure, arthritis and high cholesterol, among others. Ask your doctor if there's an alternative you could try.

Test Your Hormones
Testosterone is important for sex drive in women and men, and a deficiency can lead to a dwindling interest.
Other symptoms include depression, fatigue, memory and concentration problems. See your doctor for blood tests.

There's no reason you shouldn't turn up the heat of passion in your relationship—even after 50.

Baby Boomer Ignites Fireworks Early in the Nation's Capital

With a declaration of “I’m still Hot…it just comes in Flashes now!” Baby Boomer Author Beverly Mahone tells women in the Washington, DC area to enjoy their menopause.

In a guest appearance on the Fox 5 Morning News Show today, the 50-year-old self-proclaimed baby boomer diva said women have nothing to be ashamed of when going through the change of life. “It’s all a part of the aging process and it should be embraced with dignity, grace and style,” she asserts. In addition, she believes it is important to encourage women to take hot flashes in stride and to work hard to improve their physical and mental health. “Complaining about what ails you isn’t going to accomplish anything but frustration,” says Ms. Mahone. “Instead, we must focus on the transition as another phase of our journey in life and celebrate the fact that we’ve come this far.”

Ms. Mahone’s visit to the Nation’s Capital is a part of a summer tour for her book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age. In addition to Washington, DC, she has also made stops in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and PA. She plans to visit several more states in the near future, including Atlanta and New York City.

Ms. Mahone says she is inspired by the attitudes of the women she’s met so far. “We’re finally starting to take menopause out of the closet. Back in the ‘60s James Brown had a song called “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud. Well, in 2007 I’m saying “Say it Loud, I’m Menopausal and Proud,” laughs Ms. Mahone.