-
On the Map: A Two-Day Getaway to Jim Thorpe (PA)
On the Map is a feature at LGBTSr highlighting travel and events of interest to readers.
By Mark McNease
It’s not surprising that so many people don’t know Jim Thorpe is a place. Named after the legendary Native American athlete, the town changed its name from Mauch Chunk when Thorpe’s widow agreed to have him re-buried here in exchange for the town being named after him.
This is our second trip here. We’d visited a couple years ago during the pandemic, and I wanted to come back when the weather was warm and things were normal – although we’ve learned that the old normal will never really return.
-
Is It Retirement When You Follow Your Dreams?
Two more work days! Or, make that two more shifts in what I call my ‘paycheck job.’ I’ve been working in a grocery store for the past six years, after spending over three decades in the corporate world. Partly that was because we moved from New York City to rural New Jersey, and partly because I was tired of living for the weekend, as most people did before the pandemic. And now, as I anticipate receiving my Medicare card in October, I am leaving the deli counter to be a full-time writer, publisher, podcaster, AI-enthusiast, and what I call an imaginative. My version of a creative. It works for me because everything we want to do begins by imagining ourselves doing it!
Let’s check in with my staff of androids and see what they have to say.
Here are some of the best things about retiring …
Retiring is an exciting milestone in life that can open up new opportunities and allow people to explore the world or simply relax. For many, retirement means leaving behind the stresses of work and embracing a less rigid lifestyle.
-
Lambertville and New Hope Pride: A Rainy Day in Paradise
Click for the audio version. Narration provided by WondervoxAI.
With all the efforts being made in states across the country to force LGBTQ people into silence, out of public view, re-marginalized as outlaws whose very lives are once again being made criminal, it was beyond refreshing to walk in the Lambertville (NJ) and New Hope (PA) Pride parade. It rained all day long, which didn’t dampen our spirits. It was a big, wet, glorious day.
Some thoughts on Pride
Pride for LGBTQ people is not the opposite of humility. It does not come before a fall, but after rising from the weight of discrimination and hatred. Pride is not arrogant or self-serving.
Pride, for us, is:
Learning to love ourselves and each other despite the lies we’re told about ourselves.
Learning to care for ourselves and each other, despite having been abandoned by families and institutions.
Learning to be free, and to celebrate the freedom of others, whether they are like us or not.
Learning to hear the inner voices of kindness, encouragement, and daring, until they drown out the voices of condemnation, contempt, and mockery.
Pride does not mean we’re ‘proud’ to be something we naturally are. It means we reject the rejection, the bigotry, the scorn, the ridicule, the hatred of others, the self-hatred we’re taught from pulpits and state houses and governors’ mansions and laws meant to defeat us. Pride is the conviction that we won’t be defeated, and that we have nothing to hide.
-
LGBTSr Now Includes Audio Versions of All Posts to Better Serve Readers (and Listeners!)
Click to hear audio version. Narration provided by WondervoxAI.
If you’re like me and your eyes aren’t always in the mood to focus properly, audio can be a way to make things more accessible. This is certainly true of those of us into our 60s and beyond. I’ve heard from readers who are visually impaired, or who have trouble reading fonts. Now I can offer them something that makes LGBTSr inclusive of our readers, and our listeners, too!
Every post, article, and news item will include an audio version. Simply click on the audio file at the top of each item, and enjoy the narration. I’m currently using my own venture, WondervoxAI, to provide the voices. The technology is exciting for a tech nerd like me, and the opportunities it offers to be more efficient and provide more service to various audiences is pretty amazing.
Fasten your headphones!
Subscribe here for weekly delivery of LGBTSr on Substack. New content every Friday.
-
Side Hustles for Older People (and Everyone Else!)
Click to hear the audio edition. Narration by WondervoxAI.
The cat is out of the bag: I’ll be leaving my job in three weeks. I spent 30+ years in corporate America, then switched to working in a grocery store when we moved from New York City to rural New Jersey. Six years later I am finally hanging up the deli apron to be … whatever fabulous things I can create! Writing, publishing, podcasting, working with AI and new technologies, you name it. I’m also going to get some side hustles going, and I thought it would be helpful to find out what some good ones are.
Side Hustles for the People
Side hustles are a great way for older adults to supplement their income and stay active. Whether they’re looking for a few extra dollars per week or a full-time gig, there are plenty of options for seniors seeking to make some extra money. Popular side hustle ideas for older people include pet sitting, becoming a freelance writer, delivering groceries, providing virtual assistant services, and renting out rooms on Airbnb.
-
Rick’s Latest Listicle: Friends By Any Other Name
Click to hear audio edition. Narration by WondervoxAI.
Rick Rose
Co-Host of The Twist PodcastWelcome to Rick’s Latest Listicle, a regular feature sharing Rick Rose’s lists of things to know about.
As a single man, another Valentine’s Day came and went this year. But terms of endearment aren’t just for lovers and partners. I use them all the time on my friends. I got great practice living in Louisiana. In the South, affection and respect are expressed abundantly. They can be used in a variety of contexts, from everyday conversation to more romantic gestures.
Here are my favorite Top 5 Terms of Endearment.
5 Sweetheart or Sweets
The word “sweetheart” originated in the 13th century as a combination of the words “sweet” and “heart.” In the Middle Ages, the heart was seen as the seat of emotion, so calling someone your “sweetheart” was a way of saying that they were dear to you.
-
Springing Into Joy: It’s Time To Plant Your Garden and Experience Nature’s Bounty
Click for audio version. Narration by WondervoxAI.
By Mark McNease
The arrival of spring is a welcome sight for gardeners everywhere. After the long winter months, it’s time to get outside and start planting your garden. Not only can you enjoy the beauty of nature as new plants bloom but you can also reap the rewards of fresh produce in your own backyard! Planting a garden in spring is an ideal way to celebrate the season and experience all its bounty.
One of the best parts about gardening in spring is that there are so many different types of plants that thrive during this time of year. Vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers and beans do especially well when planted early on in springtime. Herbs like basil, thyme and oregano will add flavor to whatever dish you decide to cook up with your harvest while flowers like roses, daisies and tulips will bring vibrant colors into any outdoor space.
-
LGBTSr Subscriber Newsletter Now on Substack!
Click for audio version. Narration by WondervoxAI.
Welcome back, subscribers! It’s been a long few weeks without an LGBTSr email arriving in your virtual mailbox, but that is about to change. It helps that I finally gave my notice at work. I’ll be ‘retiring’ in three weeks. Then you’ll find me writing more, publishing more, side hustling more, and generally being full-time fabulous.
Substack makes putting out these newsletters much easier, and since we live in such challenging times, I’ll once again be sending you new content every week. Unsubscribing is easy, so if you’d rather take a pass, just click the unsubscribe button and bid farewell. For everyone else, enjoy your weekly LGBTSr email every Friday! Spread the word, share the love. – Mark/LGBTSr
-
Book Review: Gentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West’s Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber, by John Boessenecker
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Bookworm SezGentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West’s Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber, by John Boessenecker
c.2023, Hanover Square Press $32.99 376 pagesHere, take this.
It’s yours. You’ve always wanted it, you’ve always known somehow that you were going to have it and now’s the time. It’s not like you’ve ever passed on a chance to seize what you want, so go ahead – just take it. But as in the new book, “Gentleman Bandit” by John Boessenecker, remember your manners.
On the morning of July 26, 1875, stage coach driver John Shine was stopped on a short route up a mountain by what he thought was a large band of desperadoes with rifles. One of them, a man dressed in white clothing, head masked, his boots wrapped in rags to conceal his footprints, demanded that Shine throw down the coach’s lockboxes and mail bags – which Shine did, with great haste before he was told to “Drive on.”
-
On the Map: Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market Reopens at Dvoor Farm
Mark McNease
After a week of rain, it was a delight to get out in the Sunday sun. Planting in our garden could wait a few hours – first we had to hit the farmers’ market at Dvoor Farm for opening day. Bread, pizza, fresh produce, soaps! We were welcomed by a dozen local artisans and merchants, offering salves for the rain-weary soul. More vendors will come on board as the weeks pass, making this farmers’ market the local treasure it’s been for years. Stop by, browse, say hello, and support the Hunterdon Land Trust while you do!
The Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market is officially reopened at Dvoor Farms in Raritan Township on Sunday, May 7. After a long winter of waiting, you’ll now be able to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers as well as homemade goods from talented artisans, thanks to the Hunterdon Land Trust. Whether you’re in search of a weekly grocery shop stop or just looking for an afternoon stroll with friends, this lively marketplace has it all. Reach out to your neighbors and get ready for an incredible day filled with unique wares and delicious food – the Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ market awaits!
-
Bethlehem Steels the Show: A Day Trip to the SteelStacks, Wind Creek Casino, and the Historic Bethlehem District
Mark McNease
I had some awareness of Bethlehem, PA, mostly because of the casino, now called Wind Creek Bethlehem. But a friend recently told us about her visit to the SteelStacks, complete with a tour of the magnificent rusting behemoth of the Bethlehem Steel plant, and we decided to make a day trip of it. It’s only about a 50 minute drive from our home, so it was easy, and very well worth it. It was the perfect definition of a one-day getaway. We walked over 20,000 steps (each, not combined!), as we strolled along the walkway abutting the massive factory, headed to the casino, then back and over the river to the north side of Bethlehem. There is a south side and we’re saving that for next time!
-
Savvy Senior: Best Dating Apps for Retirees
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you recommend some good online dating apps or sites for retirees? I’m a 66-year-old widow and would like to find a new friend to spend time with, but don’t know where to turn.
Cautious Carol
Dear Carol,
Whether you’re interested in dating again or just looking for a friend to spend time with, online dating sites and apps have become an easy and convenient way for older adults to meet new single people without ever having to leave home.