Baby Boomer Journalist is Dead

Tim Russert, Washington Bureau Chief for NBC News and host of Meet the Press, died today of coronary embolism at the age of 58, NBC has confirmed.

He was apparently at work when it happened. According to Tom Brokow, Russert and his family had just returned from a vacation in Italy where they were celebrating the graduation of their son.

Not to make light of his death, but as a fellow journalist I can tell you the newsroom is a VERY STRESSFUL place. It's a wonder more journalists don't succumb as a result of the daily grind.

Russert's untimely death hits home because he wasn't that old. He was a baby boomer, like me, in the prime of his life. I'll never forget the Meet the Press episode where he pointed out the "lie" Hillary Clinton told about her 1996 trip to Bosnia. Clinton had said, on multiple occasions, that her plane had to make a "corkscrew" landing due to danger and that she had to run off the plane because there could be sniper fire. These statements were false, and Russert produced video of Clinton repeating these statements four different times.

Unlike many journalists who are only out to make a name for themselves, I felt Russert was trying to make a difference and was fair-minded. These days journalists like that are hard to find. He will be missed by those of us who appreciate good, quality journalism.

Barack and Michelle Bumpin' Fists--So What!

Once again, the media is grasping at straws to come up with a story on Barack Obama. Why is the bumping of fists between the democratic presidential nominee and his baby boomer diva wife a BIG DEAL?

It says two things: Some journalists don’t seem to have a clue as to what real news is anymore. It also points out the lack of experience many reporters have when it comes to reporting. Instead of focusing on the admiration Michelle Obama was showing for her husband, they chose to focus on bumpin’ fists between the two as something mysterious and a possible code for something else. WHATEVER! Get a clue---take a racial interpretive language class. And while you’re at it, attend a black church on occasion to get a sense of what really goes on there.

#2: Newsrooms in America lack some serious diversity---especially when it comes to management. I know this from first hand experience because I never worked in a newsroom that had an African-American News Director.

If Michelle clicks her heels three times the next time we see her on stage, will this be interpreted as her desire to go to Kansas or is that a hint that she’d like to be “knockin’ boots” with her husband?

The Legacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton

When the Democratic Presidential Primary campaign began more than a year ago, I was excited over the idea that America had a chance to make history. In spite of the number of candidates in the race, I was certain Hillary Clinton would be in the running. In spite of the rumors that circulated about her as First Lady, I was still rooting for her as a fellow baby boomer woman. I have shown her no ill will.

BUT---

With the help of the media, Senator Clinton has turned into a ruthless, vindictive, politician. Riding on her husband’s coat tails, she attempted to pimp the Black vote. When that didn’t work, she turned her backs on them and went for the whites with no education. (That’s how she referred to the reason why she won in West Virginia and Kentucky)

She has been a chameleon throughout this campaign---changing her campaign strategy to whatever will win her votes. And what is alarming even more so is the way some fellow baby boomer women are behaving about this campaign. I have read nasty posts from women who threaten to vote for the Republican or not vote at all if Hillary doesn’t win the nomination.

Yes, I do believe she has been unfairly depicted on occasion. There have been some awful things said about her by the male press but when she turns around and gives them more ammunition to work with, what is one to think? To bring up the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy as a reason to stay in the race is ludicrous and suspicious.

So what will be the legacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton after this campaign is over. I’m sure her supporters will say she was a fighter right down until the very end. That may be true but that fighting spirit has done more in the past several months to destroy the image of women and the Democratic Party than the Republicans could ever do. I’m sure Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson and the good old boys are thanking her for her tenacity.

But the bigger picture here is: What does this really say about the baby boomer generation? You don’t see young people (under 35) running around acting as hate mongers over a presidential primary. Yes, baby boomers are the generation who took a stand on many causes like civil and women’s rights, and the war in Vietnam----but what are we now?

Take a look in the mirror and you might see YOUR PARENTS.

Sex and the City Review: "Idolizing Four Sluts"

I guess I should say right off the top that I didn't actually see the movie. But even if I wanted to, I couldn't have because all three shows were sold out last night. My husband and I went to see Iron Man with Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges. (If you want to read my review of THAT movie, go to Boomerworld.

I was never a fan of the HBO Series. I may have seen an episode or two but it didn't appeal to me. Maybe it was because I couldn't identify with who the characters were and what they were all about.

Anyway, as my husband and I were leaving our movie, we saw a line out the door for the next showing of Sex and The City. There were young girls standing anxiously to get inside the theater. (Yes, there were actually two young men in the line as well). What was surprising to me was the way they were dressed. Many of them wore sexy and revealing outfits with spiked heels. I thought that was rather odd but then I overheard a woman, about my age, walking in front of us commenting to her husband on the attire. She thought it was crazy that those young girls were so into the characters that they chose to dress like them. She said, "How sad that they would want to idolize four sluts."

I think I have to agree with that.

What's Menopause Got To Do With It?

I'm not 50... .
I'm 18 with 32 years old experience

I don't have hot flashes.....
I have short, private vacations in the tropics

I'm not overweight.....
I'm just big-boned

I may be a Boomer---but I'm certainly not your BABY

If I forgot what you said, could it be possible I wasn't listening?

If Viagra's all you've got---don't bother!


Beverly Mahone

Christian Women and Sex

I’m a Christian, a wife, mother, grandmother, baby boomer---and I enjoy sex! I can just hear someone reading this say “What?! Yes, I’m a baby boomer woman who enjoys intimacy and I’m not embarrassed to say so.

It’s not a topic I openly discuss because, quite frankly, my fellow, married baby boomer girlfriends aren’t interested in sharing details of what goes on in their bedrooms. And my girlfriends, who are single, don’t want me to know if they’re committing a sin. Of course, I would never provide explicit details of my love life but I have no problem letting anyone, who asks, know I love my husband in every possible way.

If you’re a baby boomer, Christian and married, I encourage you to read the Song of Solomon. I think this book of the Bible may have been a revelation by God of the way real love between a man and a woman should be and that sex in a marriage is to be celebrated.

If you’re a baby boomer, I also invite you to tune into my internet radio show on Monday, May 26 when I discuss Christian Women and Sex with other married women who share my sentiments. That’s on BlogTalk Radio at 12pm EST.

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.” Song of Solomon 1:2

Maxine is NOT a Baby Boomer Mom I Identify With

Every Mother’s Day someone is always sending me a card. This year I received several from girlfriends around the country.

One card stuck out. It was one of those “Maxine” cards. They’re a part of the Hallmark Shoebox Greeting Card collection. As I stared at the character on the front of the card I asked myself, “Why would someone think to send this to me?” Maybe she thought I had a “Maxine-like” personality or that I would just get a kick out of what the card had to say.

The Maxine cards were created 1986 by a man named John Wagner. The Hallmark artist said the crabby character was inspired by his mother, his maiden aunts and his grandmother.

Now that may have been OK 20 years ago, but things have changed since then. When a group of bloggers, which included myself, were invited to the Hallmark Headquarters last year to offer input, a few of us tried to tell them that Maxine needed to be updated. Many Baby Boomer women don't see themselves in that image. Don't they know 50 is the new 30? Maxine can still be sassy---but you could add some classy to that as well.

Let this blog serve as notice to my friends: Next Mother’s Day, send money instead and don’t worry about the card.