Well Past 50: The Weblog of Boomerful.com

Are You Going for Beauty or Beast This Halloween?

Eva or Ann. Which ... or witch ... do you feel like this year? It's the one night of the year when ladies have free reign to slather on the makeup, paste on the beaty mark, glue on the exxxxtra-long eyelashes and be Langoria-Lovely. Or, throw on the blonde wig, grab a microphone and walk up to that shrew at the party that gets on your last nerve EVERY TIME you see her at the gym - and be Coulter-Crass. Let's hear from you and send us your pictures (send them to Mary Kellenberger at [email protected])! And, by the way, if you do choose to be the Ann Coulter look-alike/act-alike.....tell us if you still have friends the next day...  :-)

I’m Soooo Tired!

Our Boomerful.com New Products Editor, Mary Kellenberger, has these thoughts to share about getting a good night's sleep (she must be tired from trying out all those new products!).

by Mary Kellenberger

Yes, I'm tired – and it’s no wonder! I’m in the throes of menopause and my sleep-promoting hormones – estrogen and progesterone – are abandoning me.

I just get into the middle of a nice little dream and along comes a major hot flash, jolting me out of my sweet slumber. I end up in the living rooms of the “Nick at Night” families because I’m now wide awake! If I don’t choose to watch the one-thousandth rerun of The Cosby Show, I end up in the “middle-of-the-late-night-bottomless-bin-of-worries-about-everything-in-my-life-that-could-go-wrong” …but probably won’t. Unfortunately, the “probably won’t” realization never hits until I’m up-and-around the next day.

Is anybody out there? Should we be sharing meaningful conversations at 2:15 a.m. or is there a better solution?

Our friends at RealAge.com have some good tips on overcoming sleep-deprivation without spending money or taking drugs. Some of these simple, common sense suggestions that could make a difference are:

Don’t…

• consume caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol too close to bedtime
• watch television right before going to bed
• eat or drink two to three hours before bedtime
• go to bed before you are sleepy
• exercise too close to bedtime

Do…

• use your bedroom only for sleep
• exercise regularly, preferably in the morning or early afternoon
• keep a regular bedtime and waking time, even on the weekends
• create a relaxing bedtime routine, such as taking a leisurely stroll, soaking in a tub, listening to soothing music, or massaging your legs or feet before bed
• practice relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation therapy, guided imagery, and deep breathing exercises
• create a comfortable environment that is conducive to sleep by eliminating uncomfortable bedding, wearing loose clothing, keeping the bedroom temperature slightly cool, and eliminating any bothersome noise or light

All this advice seems to make sense – except for the part about giving up my cup of chocolate/almond chip ice cream at 10 p.m. I’ll just have to eat it earlier.

8 To Be Great - The 8 Traits That Lead To Great Success

A Boomerful book review to bring out the best in you…

8 To Be Great - The 8 Traits That Lead To Great Success

by Richard St. John

Reviewed by Mary Kellenberger

At last – a “real” book about how to be your most wonderful self. These kinds of books are generally helpful to some extent. But many are written by rich, successful people, which can be intimidating to regular people like me. Granted, they must have done something (or lots of things) right or they wouldn’t have gotten so far. But, their success and what they’re preaching to me has often made me…

·        Feel guilty

·        Feel apprehensive about ever being able to do all these things

·        Feel like it’s going to be a lot of work!

I greatly enjoy the way another author, Ken Blanchard, weaves his motivational tales. They always tell an interesting story and are quick and easy to understand. Richard St. John's style is as enjoyable to me as Blanchard's. In his quick little read, St. John – who, by the way, is also rich and successful but seems more real to me – also tells a tale of sorts. It’s constructed through interviews with more than 500 successful people over a period of 10 years and is very insightful.

There are lots of great quotes and advice from highly successful people and it didn’t annoy me, like other how-to success books. Also, it didn’t tell me that I was going to be an overnight success but, rather, that it would take me 10 years of doing all this stuff. That’s okay – at my age, time goes by pretty fast. I’ll be there in no time.

5'2" Dynamo Guides Young African-Americans into the Construction Industry

I would like to tell you about a dear friend who has a wonderful attitude and is always a great inspiration to me.

Linda Hannah, pictured at right, is a 5'2" African-American dynamo who has become a front-runner in preparing young people for careers – specifically, in mechanical construction and other construction trades. Described by the Mechanical Contractors Association as “an expert on labor issues affecting minorities, a committed labor recruiter, and caring, compassionate advocate for a diverse workplace in the trades,” she has redesigned the former Skill Builders Program, now calling it the New Skill Builders Program.

Through the program, Linda directs unprepared applicants to community organizations, churches, and Workforce Centers, where classes in math and reading will prepare them for the New Skill Builders 13-week class.

“When they come to our 13-week program, we introduce them to the trades, basic construction skills, interviewing skills, time management skills, budgeting, and conduct test preparation classes,” Linda said. “We teach them the expectations of the construction industry, and show them what they can expect from the trades. These young people didn’t realize they could get paid while they go through an apprenticeship program and make $60,000 or $70,000 a year when they complete the program – plus get great health and welfare benefits.”

Linda has a long history as a recruiter for Chicago-based Pipefitters Local Union 597, which is led by Business Manager James Buchanan. Linda has become an expert at getting students excited about the four-year apprenticeship program at the Local 597 Training Center. She sees construction careers as hugely under-valued by the public and works to get minority students involved in an education program that has become high-tech, often leading to the independence of owning a business.

For a woman who began her career in bank management, Linda found her greatest career gratification when she realized how many African-American teens simply had no idea how to go about finding the right career for themselves and preparing for that career. “Mentors should have a sincere ‘like’ for teens and remember their own teen years,” she said. “A mentor should be willing to share a piece of their life history – go beyond lecturing – be shock proof and, above all, not be in need of immediate gratification.” Linda has done all of those things and more.

She has used her motivational philosophy to provide pro bono technical assistance for start-up mentorship programs such as: The African-American State Farm Insurance Agents; Sisters in the Brotherhood Mentorship Program (carpenters); and the Chicago Freedom School. She believes the absence of mentors’ causes too many teens and young adults re-entering society to remain disconnected from the mainstream of society.

While she knows that mentoring is not a cure-all, she believes in the African proverb: Each one teach one. She is willing to teach as many program managers and mentors as possible so that her concepts can be replicated. Linda is a member of the Illinois Tollway Advisory Committee. She sits on the Boards of Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Chicago Girls Coalition, and Youth Connection Charter Schools, and is the past chair of Girls Best Friend Foundation.

The 5'2" dynamo is doing her share, and more, to bring young African-Americans into an industry that welcomes them with open arms and offers a bright future.

Linda is a great inspiration to me because she is always so cheerful, positive and helpful, and always thinks of others before herself. Tell us about a woman who is a great inspiration to you, and why!

13 Wonderful Women

L’Oréal Paris has announced that the voting period for The Women of Worth National Honoree is open and will continue through October 15 at http://www.womenofworth.com

Visitors are invited to log-on to the site and vote for the honoree who has made the biggest community impact from a pool of 13 exceptional women committed to community achievement and volunteerism. The winning Honoree will receive a $25,000 donation in her name to her associated non-profit organization.

The 13 honorees are a cross-section of women from all across America, and are exceptional representatives of the current trend in grassroots activism:

Maureen Cavaiola, 59, Severna Park, MD, founded Partners in Care, an organization that helps older and disabled adults remain independent in their own homes.

Tara Church, 29, New York, NY, co-founded the world’s first youth environmental nonprofit, Tree Musketeers, at age 8.

Meagan Corlin, 23, Strafford, NH, founded the StarMight Foundation at age 17, a non-profit organization that empowers youth to make a difference through volunteerism.

Angelia Curran, 41, Smith’s Station, AL, is the Deputy Chief of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, a volunteer fire department she has helped since age 15.

Anne Garrett Addison, 45, Lake Stephens, WA, co-founded the Preeclampsia Foundation, whose mission is to reduce maternal and infant illness and death due to preeclampsia.

Millicent "Mama" Hill, 67, Los Angeles, CA, established Mama Hill’s Help which provides tutoring for more than 125 neighborhood youth in South Los Angeles.

Gayle Hutchens, 60, Indianapolis, IN, founded Paws & Think, which matches underserved youth with shelter dogs to enhance the lives of adults and children with special needs.

Shamika Lee, 27, Boston, MA, volunteers at Graham Windham, a home that provides preventive services as well as foster care and adoption.

Pauline Lewis, 69, Phoenix, AZ, founded the Phoenix Foundation for Homeless Children and ministers to hundreds of homeless children and their families by tending to their medical, nutritional, and other basic needs.

Wendy Masi, 55, Fort Lauderdale, FL, established the Love Jen Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance to families who have a child sick with cancer.

Eva Payne, 31, Lincoln, NE, founded Camp Kindle, a summer camp for young people impacted by HIV and AIDS.

Hesther Rippy, 80, Lehi, UT, founded the Lehi-Rippy Literacy Center, which offers effective one-on-one literacy training to help families and individuals develop the necessary reading skills to thrive in society.

Karen Stark, 58, Oklahoma City, OK, founded the HUGS Project, a nationwide troop support effort.

For more information and to vote, visit http://www.womenofworth.com.

Who would you nominate as the most wonderful Woman of Worth in your life? Your mother? Sister? Best friend? Boss? Let us know, right here in this blog! We look forward to hearing from you.

A One-Night Stand with Brad Pitt

Do You Want a One-Night Stand with Brad Pitt …

Because Your Husband Has Gone to Pot?

Baby Boomer women care about their looks … and sometimes they worry about how well their looks will withstand the passage of time. But what about HIS looks? Do you find yourself fantasizing about some movie star, athlete or other celebrity because your significant other has let himself go?

Fortunately, my husband is in pretty good shape, so I haven’t started fantasizing about George Clooney … yet! But I have dream-George on standby, in case hubby picks up a little winter weight (just kidding, Doug!). What about you? Has your significant other taken on some significant blubber? Have you found yourself crying out, “Oh, yes … yes, Antonio! I mean, Henry!” Tell all … and feel free to change the names to protect the portly!

 

A Review of Regina’s Closet by Diana M. Raab

Welcome to a new feature on our weblog - Boomerful Book Reviews!

Regina's Closet by Diana M. Raab

Reviewed by Theresa Bowman

This book was an easy read and I recommend it highly.

The author, Diana, was predominantly raised by her grandmother and she respected and loved her deeply. When Diana was ten, her grandmother committed suicide. In addition to being sad and lonely without her grandmother, Diana was also confused as to why her grandmother chose to take her own life. Diana received little if any explanation from her parents. As a grown woman, Diana received her grandmother’s journal which gave her great insight into her grandmother’s life from the time she was very young to adulthood. Diana wrote her book based on that journal.

The book was written in a clear and concise manner that allowed me to feel my own emotions regarding her story, versus riding on the emotions of the author. She explains that it was cathartic for her write the book and she allows you to see that by sharing her own thoughts throughout the book.

I enjoyed reading a first-hand account about a Jewish family’s struggle living in Poland during WWI and the experiences, events and emotions that occurred while immigrating to a place where life would be safe. Unlike other books I’ve read, this family is not sent to the concentration camps; they immigrate before being captured. The events witnessed by the author’s grandmother – then a young child caught in the turmoil along with the rest of her family – attest to the strength of the human spirit. I was captivated by the insights of this young girl, and also was saddened that she grew up without a childhood.

Surviving the impending war was only part of her grandmother’s story. Her mother’s constant and uncalled-for berating of her every action would, at times, cause my blood to boil. I found myself cheering on this grandmother and relishing her few good fortunes. This determined, intelligent and beautiful grandmother endured much and accomplished many successes until her spirit could no longer rally.