Don't take "the change" too seriously

You sell your home heating system at a yard sale. (Hot flashes)

* The person you sleep with complains about snow piling up on the bed. (Nightsweats)

* Your husband jokes that instead of buying a wood stove, he is using you to heat the family room this winter. Rather than just saying you are not amused, you shoot him. (Mood swings)

* You write post-it notes with your kid's names on them. (Memory loss)

Your husband comes home from work ready for a little whoopee and your response is, "If you value your life you won't touch me!" (Irritability)

* The phenobarbital dose that wiped out the Heaven's Gate Cult gives you four hours of decent rest. (Sleeplessness)

* You find Guacamole in your hair after a Mexican dinner. (Fatigue)

* You change your underwear after every sneeze. (Mild incontinence)

* You need Jaws Of Life to help you out of your car after returning home from an Italian restaurant. (Sudden weight gain)

* You ask Jiffy Lube to give you a vaginal lube job. (Dryness)

* You take a sudden interest in "Wrestlemania". (Female hormone deficiency)

* You're on so much estrogen that you take your Brownie troop on a field trip to Chippendales. (Hormone therapy)

Enjoy the journey 'cause there's no turning back.

Beverly Mahone
Author
Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age
www.thebabyboomerdiva.com

This Baby Boomer Diva is Getting Sick of Oprah!

When Oprah first came onto the national talk show circuit, I was one of her biggest fans. I accepted her weight, bad hairdos and all. I supported her when she went through her yo-yo dieting phase. I continued to support her even as she began to receive criticism from some of my friends and others who felt she had "crossed over" and forgotten her roots. They accused her of catering to an upper middle class society of white women. I called it an excellent marketing strategy. After all, those of us who had worked in the media industry know how difficult it can be to receive mass appeal because no matter how good you are, race always seems to come into play.

When the so-called non-fiction author James Frey duped the Talk Show Queen last October with his "fiction" book called "A Million Little Pieces" I was as angry as she was. How dare Frey set a bad example for the rest of us non-fiction writers in the world! And then Fifty Cent had the nerve to criticize her because she wouldn't invite him on her show. I could understand that so why didn't he?

But what I don't understand is why Oprah is continuing to ignore ME. I've sent her several copies of my book, "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age" and I've been waiting for word as to when I'm going to be on her show. Unlike most books she picks, my book is geared specifically for her target market. It's the kind of book a woman needs as she prepares to enter a new phase of life called menopause. It's not filled with psycho-babble and words you have to look up in the dictionary in order to understand it. But what does she go and do? She chooses a book called "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. Apparently this author is somewhat of a recluse. A published report I read said he's only given two interviews in 40 years. Whatever!

OK Oprah, honey, this baby boomer diva has had enough of your snobbiness but I guess in all fairness to you "It ain't personal...it's menopause!"

Visit me at www.thebabyboomerdiva.com and purchase a copy of my book so you will know firsthand what Oprah is missing.

The Vagina Monologues

"Have you ever seen your vagina?" What a question to ask! Personally, I don't think it's anybody's business where this Baby Boomer Diva sticks her nose but apparently some women didn't mind answering the question. That question helped created Eve Ensler's book, "The Vagina Monologues."

This past Saturday night, my girlfriend and I went to see The Vagina Monologues performed onstage at North Carolina Central University. There were these young college girls portraying women who boldly expressed the memories and experiences with sexuality as it was related to Ms. Ensler. I had to blush a little when I heard these young girls, who could've been my daughters, refer to vaginas as "cunts" and "coochie snorchers." How could a vagina be compared to a village? And as someone who is in perimenopause, I am no longer interested in hearing about the flooding of the red sea.

But I sat and listened intently to the messages being delivered and I understood that this was more than just a play about women talking about vaginas. It was more about raising awareness of the sexual violence against women---not just here in the US---but all over the world. It was also a celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery.

As a result of watching the play, this baby boomer diva will never look at her vagina the same way again.

The Baby Boomer Diva Store is Officially Open

The Baby Boomer Diva store is officially open and ready for business. If you know someone who needs to learn how to love a Baby Boomer Diva, why not purchase this great new ebook? Or if you want to know more about the Baby Boomer Women who have made an impact on history (in honor of Women's History Month), there's a beautifully created ebook which would make a perfect gift! This is the same book that has ALL of the CORRECT ANSWERS in my Women's History Month Contest, where one lucky winner will win $75 cash!

If you need some relief from your "private summer" there's a fun-filled Hot Flash Survival Kit (complete with a designer hot flash fan)

There's more and with every purchase you will receive a FREE GIFT. So stop by and browse and pick out something for your or a friend.

Go to: http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com Click on Diva Store on the top left side.

Thank You!

Baby Boomer Divas who made History

One of the beautiful things about growing older is we suddenly mature into women who seek to make a difference in the world. We no longer exhibit reckless behavior--especially when it comes to men. We put "image" on the shelf and dig deep down into our souls to dot our "I's" and cross our "T's".

This month I'm sponsoring a Baby Boomer Women on the Move & Making History Contest. There are just two weeks left to enter.

You know, it's interesting. One of the things I discovered in putting together this contest is the fact that nearly all of the women who made a significant contribution to history did so in their late 30s and early 40s. Some were even older than that. I guess the point is, as we age when we come into our own as mature thinking, highly motivated women who aren't willing to settle for "business as usual." Our new found wisdom beckons us to do what we can to make a difference for our sisters. We're not afraid to take on the "big dogs" by challenging the status quo and we make a conscious effort to always start what we finish.

Isn't it FANTABULOUS to be a part of such a wonderful group of ladies? Just think, one day the history books may be writing about us.

Go to: http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com and click on $$$ contest to enter. The two winners will be announced on March 31.

Baby Boomer Divas Know How to "Work it Out!"

OK...I'm on a mission...I just came from my aerobics class at the gym and by the end of the class I was definitely sweatin' like a pig to the oldies.

I had a great exercise week. I only missed one day. You see in order to maintain "Diva Status" you have to work it out. You have to challenge your body and break a sweat. A leisurely walk in your neighborhood is fine if all you're seeking is nature but if you really want to burn some calories, you've got to step up the pace and work that body.

At least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three or more times a week is what I recommend. Even if you can't afford a gym membership, you can pump up that heart rate by doing a combination walk/run in your neighborhood or a designated location where runners go. If you think it's too cold outside, put on your favorite dance CD and work out a routine. If you were a cheerleader like me, you're sure to have a few kick routines you can throw in. Jump roping is also a great exercise and it gets your heart rate up in a relatively short period of time. This is where you can test yourself to see how many times you can jump without stopping. Set a goal. Start out with 20 jumps and add five each time until you're doing 100 comfortably. If you have stairs in your home, develop a routine where you climb up and down so many times a day and increase the number by two each day.

Oh, and don't forget the strength training. You can't look like a Diva if you're just skinny. You need to have some toning on your body. Divas can't have flabby arms or stomachs that make them look pregnant. Now, I'll admit that's an area I'm still working on. But the key here is I'm still WORKING on it. And whatever you do, don't give up. It really does get frustrating when you work hard and you don't see any visible results right away. But look at it this way, it took 10 or more years to gain the weight so don't expect it to fall off overnight.

OK...well, that's my baby boomer diva tip for today. Next time, I'll talk about diet.

Baby Boomer Divas Understand Priorities

I had an interesting conversation yesterday with a man who, although I didn’t know his age, was a baby boomer. He started the conversation by asking me how old my son was. Of course, I laughed and corrected him on the fact that the infant I was with was my grandson. You know what came next, don’t you? He told me I looked way too young to be a grandmother so he just assumed the baby was mine. I thought to myself, “You’re right Mister, Baby Boomer Divas know how to keep it together so for all you know I could be a great-grandmother!”

Anyway, we got to talking about the older women he knew who had babies by men who were 15 to 20 years younger than them and he thought that was a shame. Personally, I think DISGRACE is a much stronger word and a total misuse of sperm. As we continued to talk, he expressed his frustration over not being able to find a woman in his own age group and he also wanted to let me know that he had tried dating younger women in the past but it never worked out because they had nothing in common. He also said he didn’t want to be considered a “Sugar Daddy” so he felt it was in his best interest to end the relationships. Then he said something that stuck with me: “Love is something you TRY---not something you BUY.”

It got me to thinking about my own “younger” days and the priorities I had for choosing the right companion. It’s funny how my priorities were so screwed up back them. Thank God I’ve grown up into the Baby Boomer Diva I am today and my status has attracted just the right Baby Boomer man.


Beverly Mahone, Author of Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com