It’s been a long snowy winter where I live (Aylmer, Quebec), and I see it’s been similar elsewhere. This is my third winter in retirement, and I’ve noticed some changes about how I handle this wonderful (not sarcasm) season. I do enjoy watching the weather channel and get thrills when I see the red screen … More Winter and Retirement, Part 2
Some pictures define a life. When I retired almost 3 years ago now (!) I took up writing as my new raison d’être. In year 1, I wrote and self-published the book Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story by Michele Sabad. Year 2 was spent marketing, which I found I didn’t hate: the signings, the … More Writing, Retirement Year 3 Begins
This is my third winter of retirement. It occurred to me this fine, freezing Quebec January morning, that my winter survival habits have changed since my working days. In those quickly-forgotten working days of January, I would bundle in as much winter gear as necessary to catch the bus, where I would overheat on said … More Winter is Better in Retirement
This time of year, I see many posts on social media of favourite quotes, advice, words of wisdom. Maybe I’m naturally contrarian, but I always think of a smart-alec snarky response! Here’s some New Year’s resolutions and advice translated Stevie-style. Caution, to be read with a sense of humour as it was written with tongue-in-cheek. … More New Year Resolutions – Debunked
I know Christmas Day is still a week away, but for me, Christmas Season is well underway and almost over. I don’t know if it’s because we’re a military family, with members spread far and wide, or because we’re just a normal family, with grown children and expanded families of their own to attend – … More Christmas Season 2018 in pictures
I’ve been doing a lot of signings lately for Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story by Michele Sabad. My retirement life as an author has kept me interested, busy, and happy. As a student of human nature, I didn’t get out in the public much in my former life as a computer programmer, sitting at … More Author Marketing Lesson : Where the Book Buyers Go.
I deliberately avoid political or controversial discussion online. It never seemed appropriate to me to argue a position without face-to-face interaction. I have opinions of course, and am old enough that some have even changed over time. So today, online, I break my rule and will post an opinion. Tomorrow, in Canada, throughout the country, … More Legalization of Marijuana. An Opinion.
This is a post I wrote about Thanksgiving 2 years ago. And although in this year of 2020, it won’t be the same, for me and my family, there are similarities to our family traditions of having a different kind of Thanksgiving. It’s Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. I recently read a “Psychology Today” article … More Thankful for Thanksgiving
The People you Meet! Such a busy summer for Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story by Michele Sabad. I made it to London, Ontario; Souris and Winnipeg, Manitoba; Aylmer, Quebec; and of course lots of places around Ottawa for book sales and signings. Here are some fun notes about how these things can go: London, … More Summer Through the Lens
Hometown? Not exactly. As an army brat, I don’t have a hometown. But Souris, Manitoba is where my father lives. Not exactly the tourist destination one thinks of for summer vacation when you live in Aylmer, Quebec. But when relatives live across the country, (and we military families do get sprinkled across the country), you vacation … More Road trip 2018 – Part 2
Stevie Szabad, Author 