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Mark McNease Mysteries Podcast #70: A House in the Woods 2 (Chapters 1-3, Podcast Edition)
How exciting is this! I’m revving up the Mysteries podcast again, with all new audio offerings of my mysteries, thrillers and fiction. This week it’s the launch of my newest book, ‘A House in the Woods 2: The Devil’s Due.’ I’ll be offering three chapters every week, narrated by my very own Wondervox. No audiobook narrators were harmed in the production of this podcast! Fasten your headphones for weekly commentary, updates, and serialized fiction from yours truly. And now … we begin. Comments and encouragement are welcome! You can leave a voice message for me here. I’m listening!
About ‘A House in the Woods 2: The Devil’s Due’
A House in the Woods 2: The Devil’s Due picks up where A House in the Woods left off. Laurel Calloway is still in the mysterious town of Strickland, New Jersey, where nothing is as it appears to be. Two years have gone by, and they’ve been good to the Calloways. Laurel and her husband Jeremy have a new house, and a new family with baby Isabel about to celebrate her first birthday. Everything seems perfect, until Laurel begins to have dreams. Bad dreams. Something tells her these dreams could really be memories. But of what? Of whom, and of when?
Did she really run over a woman in the road at night? Had they once had a dog? Why are these things trying so hard to surface, swimming slowly up from her subconscious? The more she begins to tell the people around her about these dreams, the more convinced she is that they’re part of it, and that these nightmares aren’t really dreams at all. Page after page, the pace escalates as Laurel begins to learn the truth and plot her escape. But will she succeed? The Devil is in the details.
Mark McNease Mysteries Podcast Copyright MadeMark Publishing
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One Thing or Another Podcast #65: An Interview with Carlos Guillermo Smith, Senior Policy Advisor for Equality Florida
I had the pleasure of speaking with Carlos Guillermo Smith, Senior Policy Advisor for Equality Florida. Carlos was also a member of the Florida legislature for six years (D), and has extensive experience as an advocate for LGBTQ people in a state where anti-LGBTQ legislation has taken hold. I spoke with Carlos about life on the ground for LGBTQ people, how the laws are shaping reality for us and our allies, and what is being done to resist the forces working against us. Fasten your headphones for an engrossing conversation.
Carlos Guillermo Smith A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Carlos Guillermo Smith first joined Equality Florida in 2011 as a public policy fellow and returned in early 2015 as government affairs manager. Carlos previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2011-2012 as the chief of staff to former Democratic Representative Scott Randolph as well as one of Florida’s first openly gay state representatives Joe Saunders from 2012-2014. A twice-elected former chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party himself and longtime LGBT progressive activist, Carlos made history in November 2016 when he was elected to the Florida House as our state’s first openly LGBT Latino lawmaker. [Equality Florida]
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Now You Can Leave a Voice Message Directly for LGBTSr!
Now you can leave a voice message directly for LGBTSr, telling us what you like or making suggestions. Just CLICK HERE and record! It’s that simple. We hear you!
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Subscriber Giveaway! Enter to Win a LGBTSr Coffee Cup – the Perfect Stocking Stuffer
I’ll be giving away TWO LGBTSr branded coffee cups to two lucky subscribers. Enjoy your favorite beverage while you read your weekly LGBTSr email. All you have to do is subscribe HERE. I’ll be pulling two emails/names at random on December 25. It may take a week or two for shipping, but you’ll be cruising into the New Year with a lovely cup from a website dedicated to embracing age and celebrating life.
You can also browse all my branded merch at my MadeMarkShop.com site, should you wish to support all my projects with a purchase!
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One Thing or Another Column: So You Think That Hurts?
Narration provided by Wondervox.
A lighthearted look at life, aging, and the absurdities of it all.
By Mark McNease
Somewhere after our fiftieth spin around the sun our conversations begin to center less on our plans for the future, and more on our aches, pains, and possibly debilitating side effects of the medications many of us take. “What did you think of your weekend in the Poconos?” becomes, “Can this really cause crippling flatulence? My doctor said it’s rare.”
I never really wanted to know about sleep apnea, or bad cholesterol, or Restless Leg Syndrome. Yet here I am, finally enjoying the benefits of turning 65—Medicare card, Social Security, a near-complete indifference to the opinions of others—while I visit one specialist or another for all these ailments. Need a new CPAP machine? Have to get another sleep test! Wondering why my legs have ached for months? Here’s a prescription that probably won’t harm you in the short term. It’s also used for Parkinson’s, but I don’t have that, so no worries. It’s just twitchy, achy legs. And that cholesterol drug you’re only supposed to take for a few months? It’s been five years.
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The Weekly Readlines December 1
The Weekly Readlines (rhymes with headlines!) is a feature at LGBTSr offering news you can use every week.
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES
Santa comes through early: Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler, husband of Bridget Ziegler, notorious co-founder of Moms for Liberty, has been accused of sexual assault … by the woman they’ve enjoyed a three-way with for years! Apparently no children were indoctrinated in the process.
Tiring of his own act, Tommy Tuberville has signaled he’ll lift his block on military promotions, with the exception of “woke” higher-ups, assuming someone can define a word no self-respecting woke person uses.
In her new book, Liz Cheney says Kevin McCarthy told her Trump knew he’d lost, and that his trip to Mar-a-logo shortly after the failed coup was an effort to get poor depressed Donald eating again.
The Koch network endorsed Nikki Haley, while the Mercers prepare to back Trump, guaranteeing Republican voters a choice between heinous and horrible.
Garden gnome-slash-Speaker of the House Mike Johnson declared Trump’s two impeachments “meritless,” and Hunter Biden agreed to testify before Congress providing it’s a public hearing. Fearing they’ll melt like vampires in the sun, Comer and his clown committee are not having it.
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Savvy Senior: Smart Home Devices to Help Seniors Age in Place
Narration provided by Wondervox.
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’ve been talking to my mobility challenged mother, who lives alone, about automating her house with some smart home products to make it more convenient. She’s very interested but we’d like to get your opinion as to which types of smart devices are most helpful for seniors aging in place.
Searching Daughter
Dear Searching,
If your mother is game, smart home products – such as smart lights, video doorbells and voice-activated speakers – can be very useful for aging in place. These devices can add safety and convenience to a home by providing voice and app-controlled operation, which is extremely helpful for seniors who have mobility issues or reduced vision.
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Video Trailer for ‘A House in the Woods 2: The Devil’s Due’
I have so much fun making these! A House in the Woods 2: The Devil’s Due, is now available widely. You can get it on Amazon HERE.
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Where Do Gays Retire Podcast, with Host Mark Goldstein: Uvita, Costa Rica with Joe Studer and Keith Foley
I’m pleased to bring you episodes of Mark Goldstein’s ‘Where Do Gays Retire?’ Podcast. We’ll start with the most recent, and you can expect new episodes to be shared here at LGBTSr.com. You can find all of his podcasts at his site HERE.
CLICK TO LISTEN IN A NEW WINDOW!
Uvita, Costa Rica with Joe Studer and Keith Foley
Keith and Joe moved to Costa Rica after many years of living in Arizona. They have been together for 16 years. They both had a dream of living in Costa Rica and running a small hotel. 3 years ago, they finally made it come true, finding the perfect hotel in Uvita Costa Rica. They sold their home in Arizona and bought Nature’s Edge Hotel in March 2020. The US borders shut the exact week that they planned to move due to Covid, so they had to manage a major hotel renovation project remotely from the states. The borders finally opened in September 2020, allowing them to finally arrive in Costa Rica. Their first hotel guests arrived in December 2020.
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Savvy Senior: How a Health Savings Account Can Boost Your Retirement Savings
Narration provided by Wondervox.
Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’m interested in contributing to a health savings account to help boost my retirement savings but would like to better understand how they work. What can you tell me?
Almost 60
Dear Almost,
A health savings account, or HSA, is a fantastic financial tool that can help you build up a tax-free stash of money for medical expenses now and after you retire. But to qualify, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan. Here’s an overview of how they work and how you can open one.
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The Twist Podcast #245: Thanksgiving Thicket, Tuberville’s Tantrum, and An Interview Small Plate with Author Dave Hughes
Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we chat up Thanksgiving, ponder the damage done to military families by Senator Tommy Tuberville, and enjoy an excerpt from Mark’s One Thing or Another Podcast interview with author Dave Hughes. News, views, and more Twist listicles.
The Twist Podcast is brought to you by Queer We Are where you’ll find a podcast, newsletter, merch and more in the Queer We Are shop.
Enjoy The Twist on Libsyn, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and TheTwistPodcast.com.
Copyright 2023 MadeMark Publishing
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Kapok Aging and Caregiver Resources: The Best Vacations for Seniors with Limited Mobility
Narration provided by Wondervox.
Reprinted with permission from Kapok Aging and Caregiver Resources
By
There is often a misconception that your life becomes dull and monotonous as you age. On the contrary, the itch to be a globe trekker only gets stronger with age, as you become eager to cross off items off your bucket list.
You may be discouraged because of mobility issues or, as a caregiver, may feel that the idea of traveling with a loved one with a disability may be more stressful than relaxing. The good news is you shouldn’t refrain from enjoying the beautiful years post-retirement or miss the opportunity to explore new cultures.
While it may require some planning, there is no shortage of vacations for seniors with limited mobility and their caregivers. In this article, we share some of the best vacation spots, along with ideas about how to get the most out of your travels.
Vacation Spots and Ideas to Consider
Philadelphia
A beautiful city with plenty of accessible museums, restaurants, historic sites, hotels, and restaurants, Philadelphia has plenty going for it. When you’re getting around in the city, you can choose to reach your destination via the transportation authority offering wheelchair-accessible buses with lifts and ramps.