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Mark McNease On Topic: Cowgirls and Alpha Gomers
Enjoy my weekly Substack, Mark McNease On Topic. Subscribe HERE.
Slavery as a career path
Among the most appalling things I’ve heard in 65 years was the recent “curriculum” in Florida that requires history teachers include in their discussions of slavery that some slaves learned useful skills (like how to cut themselves down from a tree?). When I was in the 6th grade, attending a private school, we had to read books every summer. One of them was called ‘To Be a Slave,’ consisting entirely of the lives of slaves described by the slaves themselves. This book would surely be banned today in many states. Slavery was ugly, brutal, vicious, murderous, and demonic (defended with biblical scripture, as we can expect). The images included in the book were searing: men and women with deep scars on their backs from being whipped. Perhaps it taught them the skill of endurance? Embroidery? Surely they learned something they could parlay into a small business after emancipation.
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Interview: 6 Questions for Dave Hughes, Author and Founder of Retire Fabulously
By Mark McNease
I’m delighted to share a new interview with someone I consider a longtime friend, inspiration, and fellow go-getter. Dave Hughes started his website, RetireFabulously.com, ten years ago. We managed to connect, considering some shared demographics with LGBTSr.com. Since then we’ve had many communications and several interviews. I believe he offers some of the best advice on retiring and living in retirement, and he’s now a novelist as well. Can you say dynamo? Enjoy the latest ‘6 Questions’ interview with Dave, and hopefully he’ll inspire some readers to pursue their goals as well, whether you’re retired or not. – Mark
Dave Hughes Congratulations on 10 years of Retire Fabulously! What’s the 411 on Dave Hughes for readers: who/what/where/why.
I enjoyed a reasonably successful career as a software engineer. That’s a broad job title, but at various times in my career, my responsibilities included writing code, customer support, training, and management. Overall, it was very enjoyable. It certainly paid better than being a jazz musician, which was my true passion (and still is). I spent the last 17½ years of my career at Intel Corporation where, in addition to my regular job, I was very active in their diversity and inclusion initiatives, primarily on behalf of LGBTQ employees.
I’m originally from Ohio. I lived in the Washington, DC suburbs for 11½ years before moving to warm, sunny Phoenix, Arizona in late 1995, at age 38. At the time, my motivations were to move to someplace where it doesn’t snow and freeze, and where the cost of living (especially real estate) was much less expensive. At the time, I wasn’t considering where I’d retire, but as it turns out, Phoenix is an excellent place to retire – at least for me.
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On the Map: Bethany Beach and Rehoboth, Dalaware
By Mark McNease
We’ve been making annual trips to visit our friends in Bethany Beach for quite a few years now. The pandemic cramped our style for a couple years, but we still managed to get there. And now it’s full-steam ahead, with strolling on the boardwalks in both towns, browsing in Browseabout Books, enjoying the ice cream at Bonkey’s, and having the regularly-scheduled time of our lives. Enjoy the pictures and some travel info about this wonderful part of the country.
A Top Ten Beach Vacation: Bethany Beach and Rehoboth, Delaware
If you’re searching for a destination that combines relaxation and fun, you’ll find it visiting the beautiful beaches of Delaware, including Bethany Beach and Rehoboth. These two destinations offer something for everyone, whether you’re a family looking for a quiet retreat, or a group of friends seeking a vibrant nightlife scene.
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Podcast Pick: Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
We listened to two episodes of Wiser Then Me and loved it. Jane Fonda was the first episode, and she talked about her third act (60 – 90). It got me thinking about what I want to do in my third act, as I turn 65 in October. Take stock! Are we doing the things we really want to do, and jettisoning those things we don’t really want, or have, to do? Very thought provoking. Her conversations are terrific, and Carol Burnette was as fantastic as she’d made out to be! Give this a listen.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus wants to know why the hell we don’t hear more from older women, so she’s sitting down with Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett, Amy Tan, Diane von Furstenberg, Isabel Allende and Fran Lebowitz (and more!) to get schooled in how to live a full and meaningful life. Join the Emmy award winning-est actress of all time on her first-ever podcast where each week she has funny, touching, personal conversations with unforgettable women who are always WISER THAN ME™.
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‘Open Secrets: A Maggie Dahl Mystery’ Audiobook Out Now, Narrated by Daniela Acitelli
It’s out! My newest audiobook, Open Secrets: A Maggie Dahl Mystery, narrated by the terrific Daniela Acitelli, is now available. It’s our fourth audiobook together. Listen to a three-chapter sample.
Publisher’s Summary
Maggie Dahl returns in Open Secrets. It’s been six months since the media circus surrounding the last murder Maggie solved and a year since her beloved husband, David, died. The dust seems to have finally settled. Then, one morning, a customer walks in and asks Maggie to do her a favor.
Soon, a body is discovered on a rural New Jersey road. A body Maggie is sure belongs to a local author whose next book was rumored to reveal secrets not everyone wanted known. But were they enough to kill for? And who murdered the woman found in the woods? Maggie is determined to find out, even as her life continues its road back to normal, complete with the possibility of new love.
Can she find the answers she seeks in the death of a local celebrity? And will love be part of her life once again when she least expects it?
©2022 Mark McNease (P)2023 MadeMark Publishing -
Dave Hughes’s Retire Fabulously Celebrates 10 Years!
How exciting! My friend, fellow author, and website wonder Dave Hughes just celebrated 10 years of his Retire Fabulously website. I”ll let him tell you about it. With any luck, he’ll let me share some of his new articles here (hint, Dave):
Retire Fabulously! is 10 years old!
Ten years ago, on July 14, 2013, I posted my first entry into a crazy new blog I started called Retire Fabulously! My intention then, as it remains today, is to help you envision, plan for, and enjoy the best retirement possible. -
Now Available: ‘I, Warlock’ 6-Chapter Book Sample with Audio Supplement
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FROM BOOK FUNNEL
Fasten your headphones, and leave the lights on! You can now read the first 6 chapters of ‘I, Warlock: The Warlock Wars Book I,’ and/or listen to the audio version above. Either way, you’ll be spellbound by Julius Tide, his beloved Charlotte, and the evil he must defeat to save them all. You can get the full edition eBook or paperback on Amazon now!
When the world’s survival depends on the struggle between good and evil, only one can triumph. The victor will preserve for humankind what makes life worth living, or he will rule atop a mound of skulls, served by the souls he defeated.
I, Warlock tells the story of Julius Tide, born part-vampire, destined to be all warlock. Follow his journey from a near-innocent, living quietly in the Vermont countryside, to a man whose decisions will determine the fate of the world. Every step of the way he has his beloved Charlotte, whose beauty first stuns him one spring day at a local fair, and continues to comfort him as he undertakes a battle against monumental evil that can have only one winner. Grief, joy, ecstasy, tragedy–it all comes into play as Julius, Charlotte, and a dizzying cast of characters march to their destinies in I, Warlock, The Warlock Wars Book I.
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Cat Talk Radio with Molly DeVoss and Co-Host Dewey Vaughn: Dr. Brian Hurley Talks About Feline Hyperthyroidism
Dr. Brian Hurley, National Medical Director for AmeriVet Veterinary Partners, joins us once again to share his knowledge. We talk about what Feline Hyperthyroidism is, what symptoms to be on the look out for, what the prognosis is, and some of the causes. No matter what age your cat is, this episode is a great resource in helping to understand this disease and how to treat it.
Cat Talk Radio is all about cats, what makes them do what they do, why they occasionally misbehave and what cat guardians can do to fix it. We educate you on how to modify unwanted cat behavior by providing the proper environment and stimulation, enabling cats to express their natural behaviors in ways that are preferable for both the humans and cats. You will learn how to have fun with your cat, fascinating cat facts and be inspired to try new things, which will lead to a happier relationship and closer bond with your cat. We’ll also call attention to the plight of cats in our country, feel compassion for their challenges and share the message.
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‘I, Warlock: The Warlock Wars Book I’ Now Available on Amazon!
At last, ‘I, Warlock: The Warlock Wars Book I’ is now available on Amazon in eBook and paperback. CLICK HERE to get your copy!
When the world’s survival depends on the struggle between good and evil, only one can triumph. The victor will preserve for humankind what makes life worth living, or he will rule atop a mound of skulls, served by the souls he defeated.
I, Warlock tells the story of Julius Tide, born part-vampire, destined to be all warlock. Follow his journey from a near-innocent, living quietly in the Vermont countryside, to a man whose decisions will determine the fate of the world. Every step of the way he has his beloved Charlotte, whose beauty first stuns him one spring day at a local fair, and continues to comfort him as he undertakes a battle against monumental evil that can have only one winner. Grief, joy, ecstasy, tragedy–it all comes into play as Julius, Charlotte, and a dizzying cast of characters march to their destinies in I, Warlock, The Warlock Wars Book I.
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An App for That: Getting a Bird’s Eye View with a ‘Bird Buddy’ Feeder
While it’s not technically an app, it plays one on your phone! One of our friends gave us a Bird Buddy for Christmas, and after waiting several months for it to arrive, we finally have it set up. It has a lot in common with a Ring camera, except that the camera is in the bird feeder. It becomes activated whenever a bird hops on for a snack, and it takes short videos of the activity. It can also identify the bird, and save the video in what it calls postcards that you can view later.
We’re just learning about it, and it can take up to a couple weeks for birds to find it, feel safe with it, and start feeding. You can also do a live view (just like a Ring) and see what the camera sees.
I’m looking forward to seeing who stops by for a meal, what kinds of birds they are, and just how camera shy a Blue Jay can be, which is probably not at all.
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Promo Video for The Twist Podcast #232
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#TransPeopleAreLoved Campaign Recruits Celebrity Allies