WOOF: 50 Women Over 50 - Meredith Vieira

The list is endless. Women Only Over Fifty (WOOFers) who lead vibrant, meaningful lives and just seem to get younger every day.

Since we can't cover everyone, WOOF decided to start with 50 and each week pay tribute to one of them.

Meredith Vieira was born in East Providence, Rhode Island, to first generation Portuguese-Americans. All four of Vieira’s grandparents came from the Azores, three from Faial Island, one of the nine islands in the archipelago. They all left for a better life in New England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries – settling around Providence, RI. She is the youngest of four children, with three older brothers.

She first gained national recognition as a CBS reporter based in their Chicago bureau from 1982 to 1984. She later became a correspondent for nationwide news-magazine shows including West 57th (1985–89) and 60 Minutes (1989–91).

Vieira served as the moderator and co-host of The View from its debut in 1997 through the spring of 2006. Her co-hosts gave her a roast to commemorate her final appearance.

Beginning SEP 13, 2006, she left The View to become co-host on The Today Show, and a contributing anchor for Dateline NBC. In addition, she had a brief stint on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2003, appearing in various scenes, A series of guest appearances including Desperate Housewives, 30 Rock, and made a cameo appearance as a reporter in Madagascar: Escape From Africa.

Vieira married Emmy-award winning CBS News journalist Richard M. Cohen on June 14, 1986. They live with their three children in Westchester County, New York. Her husband has had multiple sclerosis since he was 25 years old. She's active in several charities, but says that the one closest to her heart is Multiple Sclerosis, because of her husband's illness.

"I do my best given the platform that I have to get the word out about this disease, to let other people know they're not alone, and that this illness is very much a family affair. Richard and I are often asked to speak about MS, and we believe we have an obligation to do so."

She also serves on the board of the New York chapter of the MS Society, and participates in the annual MS Walk.

I have a special place for Meredith (I call her by her first name because we're friends, ya know). When WOOFer Diana and I took a short trip to NYC for our birthdays a couple of years ago, we stood with our homemade sign, along with all the screaming zanies, outside The Today Show. During a commercial break, she walked over, congratulated us on our birthdays and gave us a big hug! So, back atcha, Meredith!

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WOOFer Revolution: Best Friends

February is the month of love... Last week we addressed love of chocolate. Before that, well, who cares. Chocolate surpasses all other loves...

Okay, not really. So, as February comes to a close we're looking at love between best friends. Cause really, at the end of the day, week, month, year...lifetime, we are most grateful for our family and friends. And for some of us, our best friend may either be a family member or sure seem like it.

Milkbone & d.d.dawg have been best friends for close to 50 years. They are also best friends with their spouses. But hey, there are still some things you can only share with a best girlfriend!!

In fact, what are some topics YOU might only share with your bestest girfriend?

No, you don't have to share details (unless of course you WANT to!!), but just leave a comment on which aspects of your life that just would not be the same without your best female friend. Mention her name, pass along the blog post to her...so we can all "feel the love!"

(When we were writing Women Only Over Fifty, we actually had to edit some of our most favorite best friend stories! -- Milkbone & d.d.dawg)

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Land The Job You Love - Mary Eileen Williams

We're so happy to welcome one of our all-time favorite WOOFers, Mary Eileen Williams. Welcome to the WOOFers Club Blog, Eileen!

Aside from writing your blog and hosting your radio show, Feisty Side of Fifty, you’ve just written a book for jobseekers over 50. What led you to do this?

I feel so many people have been discouraged by the news—especially older jobseekers. I’ve been a job search specialist for twenty years and wanted to help. So I decided to write a book and disclose several insider tips and techniques that make a huge difference in getting a job.

Hopefully, Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50 will save people time, money, and lots of frustration.

What’s the #1 factor holding older applicants back?

We buy into the idea that, because we’re older, we’re no longer valuable or desirable in the workforce. Nothing could be further from the truth! We’ve got great experience, highly developed skills, a mature work ethic, and a substantial network of coworkers, clients, and customers. Besides that, a huge percentage of the workforce is over fifty and our ranks are rapidly growing. There’s absolutely no reason we should feel at a disadvantage because of our age.

What are some tips that will help older applicants?

• Market your skills—substantiate them with examples of you performing your work at its best.

• Use your network to your advantage. There are relatively easy ways to network your way into your targeted companies and get yourself in front of key decision makers.

• Present yourself well on paper: often a resume will be the first impression of you. There is a particular style that works best for older applicants in the book. Highlight your accomplishments in such a way they are readily apparent within a 30-second scan—that’s about how long most reviewers spend deciding whether or not they’ll read your resume.

• Know the interview process. Practice frequently asked questions and how to best respond to behavioral style questions. Create your own list of questions to ascertain the needs of the interviewer and the company. Prepare, prepare, prepare—this is showtime!

• Anticipate success: learn the best ways to market yourself and you’ll land a job you will love!

Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., NCC has twenty years’ combined experience as a job search specialist, career/life transition counselor, university instructor, and writer. She also has a popular blog and radio show called, Feisty Side of Fifty.

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Hear fabulous interviews on Feisty Side of Fifty - Blog Talk Radio!

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50 Women Over 50: Harper Lee

The list is endless. Women Only Over Fifty (WOOFers) who lead vibrant, meaningful lives and just seem to get younger every day.

What can we possible say about Harper Lee that hasn't already been said, written about, published? She wrote one - count 'em - one book. Oh, but what it book it is! To Kill A Mockingbird, Pulitzer Prize winner, 1961 and Academy Award winning film in 1963, became my favorite book the first time I read it, and it still is.

Nelle (pronounced Nail in her South Alabama hometown, Monroeville) was as much a tomboy as narrator, six-year-old Scout. This is one of the reasons I so identify with the book. Jane Hybart, a childhood friend writes that, during a softball game, she intercepted a ground ball hit by Nelle and was set to tag her out at first base. Instead of letting that happen, Nelle plowed right over Jane, knocking her flat. "Like a freight train," Jane recalled. Nelle was also wild about football, and played center on her hometown 4th grade football team. My kinda gal!

I found Harper Lee's insecurity about her writing, refreshing. Reading through the early years of her life, it was easy to see the huge influence played by her supportive father; even if he did think giving up law school to move to New York to write, was an "unpractical profession." He thought she'd be much happier staying in Alabama writing for the Monroeville Journal. Had it not been for the encouragement of an old friend, Truman Capote, perhaps she would've backed out and the world might never have read, "He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning." (I still get chills when I read this final sentence)

Harper Lee was and, according to all accounts, still is her own person; a small-town, Southern girl who took a chance moving to New York to pursue her dream, when staying in Alabama, writing for the hometown newspaper, would've been the safe choice. Every time I re-read To Kill A Mockingbird, I thank her for that decision.

To learn more about Harper Lee, I'd recommend Kerry Madden's biography, Harper Lee: Up Close Amazon

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WOOFers Revolution - Chocolate! 'Nuff Said!

It's Valentine's week and WOOFers are talking chocolate! We luvs chocolate!!

"...an explosion of cocoa science that has the potential to change the lives of people in terms of their health."

"...flavanols have the potential to inhibit biochemical pathways that can cause inflammation, which is a process that can contribute to cardiovascular disease and other health issues."

Flavanols, Schmavanols! Who cares? And, like we say in Chapter Two: Chocolate. Dispelling the Myth in "WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty," smart WOOFers know that chocolate, especially the dark kind, improves our moods and gives us reasons to woof down dinner to get to dessert...a creamy Dove Chocolate or Hershey's Extra Dark. What the hey? Gimme a full-size bar!

Now, before you go jumping on us about ignoring our health, we WOOFers are thrilled knowing these small bites of heaven really do have medicinal benefits. But I can tell you right here...right now, that the only biochemical pathways this WOOFer cares about are the ones from my hand to my mouth.

Unfortunately, chowing down on a five-pound box of truffles usually coincides with expanding waistline. Guess that's why I only bake 2 chocolate cakes a year...for birthdays. There's just the two of us. Still, a full-size layer cake disappears in less 3 days. Not good.

So, what's your favorite chocolate indulgence? Do you eat chocolate for pure satisfaction, or for medicinal purposes? (Yeah, right!)

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"Mind spinning? Mood Swinging? Middle sagging? Get used to it! When you reach 50, shift happens. But, you're not alone. WOOFers to the rescue!"

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My Valentine

I used to think that Valentine’s Day was just for lovers. But now that I am over fifty, I understand that Valentine’s Day is about love—any kind of love.

This will be my first Valentine’s Day with my husband, so that will be wonderful. I will probably get him a mushy card and he will bring me flowers, and maybe even some chocolate worthy of a WOOFer!

But this Valentine’s Day will be even more special because of all the new relationships I have in my life now. My marriage to Tom gave me four step children and eight grandchildren. I have discovered that love comes in all sizes. It is amazing how much love you get and want to give to children.

I got to see seven of the grandchildren a month ago and it was great to embrace those kids. Austin, who is nine, sat next to me on the couch, held my arm and told me about his new school. The seven-year-old twins loved showing off for me, while two and a half year old Mia thought it was great to help her “Mimi” with my makeup. Kaden decided that Mimi was his safe place and would run to me when that little toddler got into trouble. Amy—who is just younger than Kaden—only wanted to avoid Kaden! And little Grissom, who was born January 6th, was quite the snuggler.

So I guess you could say I am very lucky this Valentine’s Day. I have my new number one Valentine and got eight little ones in the deal!

WOOF: 50 Women Over 50: Marian Wright Edelman

The list is endless. Women Only Over Fifty (WOOFers) who lead vibrant, meaningful lives and just seem to get younger every day. WOOF has picked 50 and each Wednesday pay tribute to one of them. This week's woman over 50 & frisky:

Marian Wright Edelman, an American activist for the rights of children, is founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, now in its fourth decade.

Edelman’s amazing journey started in Bennettsville, SC, but was soon tested by her father’s death when she was just 14. His dying words, however, set the tone for her life: "Don't let anything get in the way of your education."

She attended Spelman College, traveled the world on a Merrill scholarship and studied in the Soviet Union as a Lisle fellow. After her arrest for activism during the Civil Rights Movement, Edelman entered Yale Law School in 1963. The first African American admitted to the Mississippi bar, she later moved to Washington, DC, where she founded the Washington Research Project, a public interest law firm, and became involved with issues related to childhood development and poverty-stricken children.

In 1973, she founded the Children's Defense Fund, a voice for poor, minority and disabled children. The organization serves as an advocacy and research center for children's issues, documenting the problems and possible solutions to children in need.

WOOF salutes Edelman and her work. And gives two paws up to her notion: “If you don’t like the way the world is, you have an obligation to change it. Just do it one step at a time.”

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WOOFer Revolution: The Second Time Around

Love is lovelier, the second time around...

At least that's what Andy Williams crooned in the old song, "Second Time Around." He also mentions that love is wasted on the young. Do you agree? What are your experiences with young love and (ahem), "older" love?

So, here's the question: Is love lovelier the second time around?

It certainly was for me! Like many of you WOOFers out there, I've been blessed with a second chance. The first time around, I married young and had no clue about the do's and don't's of a true relationship. I was so busy working and raising my son, that the fact I had a marriage partner was secondary, or quite possibly, even farther down the list! Our son graduated high school, our beloved dog died, and the marriage fell apart. As I look back, these were probably the only two things holding us together.

More than a quarter century ago, however, I met my soul mate. Oh, I know this term is over-used, but I can't think of a better way to describe my buddy, my "second-time-around" hubby. Not to say we haven't had our trials and tribulations, but we worked through them and have a relationship so strong, Hell, high water, earthquakes or tsunamis can't break us apart. I have to credit the failure of my first marriage, along with maturity, in helping me succeed at my second chance.

Just like we say in Chapter Seven in WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty, it's never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks.

Now, it's your turn! Did a second love revolutionize your outlook? How did you handle problems this time compared to the first? Please share your thoughts.

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WOOF: 50 Women Over 50 - Betty White

The list is endless. Women Only Over Fifty (WOOFers) who lead vibrant, meaningful lives and just seem to get younger every day.

Since we can't cover everyone, WOOF decided to start with 50 and each week pay tribute to one of them.

We hope you'll join us here every Wednesday for inspiration (or out of curiosity since it’s not just for felines anymore!) when we peek into the life and accomplishments of a sister on the frisky side of fifty!

There's no special reason 88-year-old Betty White is first on the list. She's just foremost on our minds because the other night the actress and avid supporter of animal rights accepted the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. (Plus if you've seen White's most recent movie "The Proposal," you know she stole that show!)

We won't try to repeat here the lines she delivered with perfect timing in her acceptance speech. Maybe it's on YouTube somewhere. But what we will say is this, she is one of those women for whom dimples were not wasted. As far as we can tell, she uses them 24/7.

That's not to say White hasn't had her share of heartache and disappointments. Personally, she lost the love of her life Allen Ludden in the early 80s. Professionally she had four (count them...4) self-titled shows that flopped. But her successes greatly outweigh her failures. And we're not sure she would view anything as a failure...just the road to something better.

So, here's a big ole tail wag to you, Ms White. Thank you for making us smile all these years and for your devotion to the love and care of animals.

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WOOFer Revolution: Love, Love, Love

Love, Love, Love…The Beatles sing about it. Cupid inspires it. According to C. Porter, goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it. Fall in love.

Ah, yes, love. What’s more pawsitive than love?

Nothing as long as we’re in it! The minute we’re not, cynicism makes us question this thing called love. What to do then?

Ask a kid what they think love means.

That’s exactly what a group of professionals did. And here’s what four- to eight-year-olds had to say when posed with the question: “What does love mean?”

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca - age 8

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Bobby - age 7

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.' Nikka - age 6

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.'
Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

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