Senator Mark Kelly on Trump Suggesting He Be Executed & Hegseth Opening ...

Did I mention I love Christmas??????Of course you know that world! Happy Thanksgiving America - will be watching your parade

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Trying to sell my house in this market was a learning experience..........I am ............Oh and congrats Robert and Whitney Dancing with the Stars

 First I want to congratulate Robert and Whitney for being the winners at Dancing With The Stars.  I don't normally vote, but this time I did because I was really hoping Robert would win and he did.  Great!!!!!

Now for my experiences with the attempt to sell my house in this market.  As always, I share so that it can benefit you.  This was not my first rodeo so I was really surprised at the changes and unethical behaviours of real estate agents - not all of them, but enough to have me rethink my options.  

     I always keep my eye on MLS.  I saw a house I loved in Niagara Falls which was about a kilometre from the Falls.  It was cheap compared to Toronto and had it all.  It was dated but beautiful including a bright family room extension with a pool outside.  The fireplace was calling out my name so I contacted the agent who wanted to come to Toronto, pick me up and show me other houses he had on the market.  I informed him that I would transport myself and that the house I wanted was the only one I was interested in.   Initially he was polite, but when he realized that I wasn't budging, his true colours were depicted.  He said he didn't need money and had lots of listings.  He said he wanted to deal with my agent only.

I already had an agent in mind and there was no way I was going to deal with the agent for the house in Niagara.  I couldn't believe, he didn't want to show me the house.  The house was vacant and I had no way of reaching the owners to let them know what was happening.

I put up my own house for sale at the recommended selling price and was told that it would sell in a week.  I told my agent that I considered the house a tear down but he informed me that the house was one foot less than the alloted amount for it to be torn down - oops.   I went to Niagara Falls and with an agent,  my own had recommend, Ivanka Levska for the Niagara area, I found a house and it was love at first sight as soon as I entered the front door.  The downfall was the basement which was suitable for a horror movie.  However,  I felt I could avoid the basement and put in a conditional upon selling my own house.  It was a few houses from River Road, about a kilometre from Clifton Hill.  The owner wanted more money and I felt like she was  playing games and so I made it clear, take it or leave it, but she continued to negotiate like I was at a flea market.   I decided to leave it.  Later I did try again but they sold it to someone else.  Bye, bye, house.  I found an apartment on Main Street, Chippawa which was perfect and took a look but the stairs were endless which came with a nosy neighbour and an insecure storage area where more endless stairs were (no elevator for what I wanted) so good bye.  Ivanka was so patient and kind and kept on working hard to help me find something.  Then I found it again, another house, a beautiful perfect house that met all my requirements and it was very close to the falls, blocks away.  Perfecto and completely renovated.  I put in another conditional offer and got into an argument with my bank.  Thank God they didn't loan me the money.  Of course when you want a loan, there is always someone and I was offered 500,000 (which didn't cover the price of the house) for 30,000 fee to be paid within a month.  I declined of course and lost the house.  So, I am doing all this expecting to sell my house quickly.  I arranged and prepared for my furniture to be delivered to Niagara, I found a brand new lawyer in Niagara (mine had died).  I had prepared everything for a move and then accepted that I would have to sell my own and then buy - no more conditional offers, one step at a time.  Meanwhile the prices were dropping in Toronto.  Another house which was selling at the same time as mine, for the same price, went down continuously in price which eventually sold for about 300,000 less.  I was not going to do that.  I had one open house in the beginning and that was it.  I put the price down once and there was no open house while the other other down the street had one whenever  they decreased the price.   My house was staged and it was uncomfortable, but I thought it would be just for a little while longer.  I stopped seeing new clients and decreased my practice slowly because I had to be ready to leave the house with little notice.   I still was prepared to sell at any time because this is Toronto and everyone wants to be here.  I remained ready to go but I continued to see prices drop.  Now while all this is happening, agents are coming into my home some with clients and others not.  Some are not even agents but assistants of some kind.  Sometimes, an agent would bring in my mail, some would leave a card, some would pick up a coin and put it on my desk.  There were the good ones.  Then here it comes.  Some would leave my door unlocked either at the front or back, leave the lights on, one even pulled a baseboard out and left it on the floor.  One agent I found in the house when she wasn't supposed to be there, which she blamed on her assistant.  She had provided two different times, neither at the time I found her inside.  However, I did offer her coffee which she accepted and she was likeable.  She was trying to figure out how to turn my house into a three apartment building.  She also wanted to know if I needed to borrow money.  Nope, I don't.  Real estate agents seem to have their fingers in so many pies. 

  My own agent brought in one couple only and that was a couple I had supplied the phone number to a family member.  There was interest mainly for a tear down and I kept seeing people taking measurements outside and viewing and trying to figure out how to do that.  I didn't think they could grow a foot of the property.  There was interest but no offers.  Mainly agents didn't even bother to cancel appointments or state why those interested didn't put in an offer.  Neighbours told me that families would walk up and down eyeing the house but they never came in.  One couple I found doing that, I offered her to come in.  She said the house was similar to what she was looking for.  I told her I was taking it off the market.  She wanted to know if it was coming back on in the Spring and I said no, and that I was waiting for  a bidding war again.  I got the impression that people were just waiting for me to drop the price again and again as others were doing but I don't normally do what others do.  I didn't have to.  People had to sell either because they couldn't afford their house anymore, couldn't pay their mortgage and some had bought another house and had to sell.  People coming into my house thought it needed work, didn't like my trees (some loved them), didn't like where the stairs were etc............. During all this time, I am still trying to figure out how to manage a private practice and get my hours in for my education.  As I saw houses being sold around me, I saw cute houses being torn down so contractors could build massive replacements for rent.  My house was suitable for a family liking a yard, not for megga tenants.  Part of me was glad, since I didn't like the way my city was headed.  Part of me realized I was losing money.   Neighbours were coming to me grateful the house could not be torn down and others telling me they didn't want me to move to Niagara but to stay.  They were conflicted as well wanting me to stay but also wanting me to get what I wanted.  They couldn't understand why I would want to trade in my city.  Others, friends and family were happy because then they could come and stay in Niagara.  I had planned to find something with a separate living space for visitors with lots of parking.  To me Niagara is a natural transition to slow down and smell the roses.   My little piece of heaven.  

     The worse agent I had to deal with came to my backyard where I was sitting and told me my house was expiring the following day and he had a client interested in putting in an offer.  The client was in his car, had already seen the house and was  parked outside.  I told him to contact my agent and put in an offer.  He said he would only have his client put in the offer if I signed with him.  Then he started to play games.  Really??  He tried to use psychology to manipulate me and that is when I stopped him and sent him on his way. If you are going to use psychology, make sure it isn't with anyone who has a degree in it.   As soon as he left, my next door neighbour came and alerted me that he had knocked on their door trying to get information about me, but her husband sent him on his way.  Did I mention I have great neighbours to share my drive with?  She was glad that I had sent the agent away and  I didn't want to deal with him.  She was sure he had left something in my porch.  So I have cameras of course, a security alarm, panic alarm, fire alarm.......and yes I watched him  take whatever he left with him.  I guess he didn't want me to know who he was since he behaved so poorly.  I let my agent know about him and provided him with the agents photo and who he claimed to be with.     That is when I re-inlisted for the second and last time.  I have been told that I wouldn't believe how agents will speak to another so disrespectfully these past several years and I reply that I do believe it.   The three months passed quickly and I wanted my house back and this time I stayed in the house while everything was being put back.  The stager, herself didn't stay long and I understand why.  My dining room table was destroyed, scratched terribly and screws missing when trying to put it back together again.  I had taken so much care and never had the table been dismantleted with any move.  A trophy was completely broken and it was painful throwing it away.  A small train - broken, my painting from Greece damaged.  My case for an item in rememberance of 9/11 etc... I found items in every nook.  This was so disappointing because I trusted my agent.   Now I understood why they wanted me to sign a final contract which I declined.  They told me the contract was to demonstrate to other agents that the house was now officially off the market.  I didn't believe that for a second.  I replied that there was no need to sign another contract since all the details were contained in the initial.  They have three months to bring me an offer of anyone who saw the house when I was signed with them and if I don't and sell to one of them, I will need them to get their full commission.  Now since I no longer believe that all agents are ethical, I wouldn't be able to trust that and so as I told them I will not sell my house to anyone except them during this time (I have no intention of paying more commission than I need to).  Also, there is a clause  in the final contract to not go after them for anything (like the destruction of my property?) As for paying 5% commission for the future?  I don't think so.  I will try the 1% commission people and see how that goes.   After the delisting I got letters, attention galore.  Not going to happen.   I pick my battles.  I will never stage my house again.  If you do, take pictures before and after of every item.  I recommend you sell your house first and then buy.  I think I covered it all.  I don't want any agents knocking on my door without an offer ready for my lawyer to study.  As for my Niagara lawyer, he told me I did the right thing taking my house off the market.  I have decided to retire at the end of next month.  Having a private practice and trying to sell a house at the same time is too difficult.  Moving forward I want to be more prepared.  It may not be for several years before our economy changes.  Now I have an oversized desk ready for any voluntary organization that wants it.  I have offered it to two without any interest being expressed.  What do you think?  Oh, by the way, remember that agent from Niagara who didn't want me to see the house he had a listing for?  He called me.  Yup, looks like he could use the money after all.  All sweet as pie once again.  I just told him I had an agent for Niagara Falls.  Yes, Ivanka Levska, I would recommend you to anyone wanting a house in Niagara or listing one.  And by the way I did exceed my education hours once again but I'm exhausted.  Time to slow down and just enjoy.  Now I am attending meetings with Sisters in crime and Crime Writers of Canada.  Soon, but not yet I will get back to my books.  Have a good weekend.  I told my sibling that my house looks like a tornado hit it.

Goodmorning World.

 Well,  Sunday at Mass, a parishioner sighed and remarked about how many orgainziations are asking for money and the conflict of who to give to.  I had also been thinking about that.  My UofT college called me regarding a dinner because of my being a donor.  I had to decline mainly because it was evening and parking is a problem when there are movies being made.  Since I have injured my leg I am more mindful of not being able to out walk anyone, forget about running which has always served me well in the past.  That is the same reason I declined for sisters in crime, Christmas dinner.   If there is no parking guarantee, there is no me.  Then there is Sunnybrook Hospital asking for donations consistently.  Naw,  not after going to their emergency room and finding out I had to wait 10 hours just to get triage.  Also,  I still paid 50.00 to see my pedomitrist, since not all is covered by  OHIP.   Yes, my insurance covered it, but it is mainly principal.   What if I didn't have insurance?  Then there was the parking issue, which you can read all about my experience in an earlier blog.  What a nightmare, so no.  I will not be donating.   Send me all the Christmas cards you want.  Sorry, not.  I will be uploading a video about our pathetic health care and what is most annoying is the Minister of Health ignoring the investigation.  That is why a free media in a free country is important.  To keep it that way.  We have a government at a Federal level for all of Canada and then we have leaders for each of our provinces.  They control education, health etc....Then we have municipal leaders for cities, towns etc.....So, you see, it is important to understand who we are voting for and why.  If we are in a mess, then we need to vote differently or we can just kick ourselves.  So, if I haven't depressed you enough.   Meghan Nicoles, CEO of Food Banks, Mississauga (just next door to Toronto) was on the news this morning as I was eating breakfast which consisted of one poached egg, fresh cut fruit and one slice of buttered toast and of course two cups of black strong coffee.  Meghan reported  that there were nearly 2.2 million visits at food banks across Canada.  One in four families across Canada are struggling with food insecurity.  There were 300% more visits in Mississauga than before the pandemic.   There are 20% more visits this year, than last.  A growing amount of people needing the food banks are working class people who never needed help in the past but their paychecks haven't kept up with the cost of living.  People and families are now having to decide between eating, paying rent or buying their medication.  There has been no increase in pensions for the elderly or seniors.  Those without families to care for them, well you know about the shelters.  I would like to hear more research about that.  Now, just in case I haven't made you sad enough or happy depending in what country you are at,  CSIS Director just last week reported to the news and outlined security threats posed by Russia, China, Iran and India.  Where is that poster of mine which states bang head here? I can say more but won't.  

Now the good news!!!!!!!  Santa came to town yesterday.  I remember as a child my mom bringing me to the parade every year and then we would go for dessert at the Eaton Centre downtown.  We would look at the Christmas displays and I recall a school bus taking us kids skating at City Hall and then taking a walk to the Eaton's Christmas display.  It must have been my Church since we had a jolly Priest with us who obviously loved us children.  I love Christmas in case you haven't noticed.  I am still in the midst of putting up all my Christmas stuff, but take time to socialize.  I am fortunate to live in a city which has so much to offer.  Yes,  I still want to go to Niagara and my experience, I shall share so it doesn't happen to you blindly.  See you soon.  What do you think?

Thoughts of the Week and my favourite neighbour - Men beware......she knows when I do not like the delivery man

 It has been quite an active week, but I am glad that I can slow down and focus on Christmas as I decorate my tree.  Retiring from Psychotherapy is more exhausting than retiring from the military.  I went to my last peer meeting yesterday to say good bye.  Someone mentioned that no one has retired yet (I am another first?).   I was invited to stay with my Association and am thinking about it, but things change when you retire as do priorities.  As for the college,  I did get a call after emails flowed back and forth.   I now know that there are two ways to stop working, one is to compile the not be active paper work which is what I thought and did the paperwork for.  That is where we are listed as Registered Psychotherapist - not active.  However, with the phone call I realized it meant still paying for registration and taking courses but not seeing clients.  No, that is not how I define retirement.  The other option is resigning.  That means quiting and if I want to return to start from scratch.  I don't think so.  I recommended that there be a third option of Retirement, and became specific of what that means.  So, I compiled the paperwork for resigning and behold there was a slot for retirement as one of the reasons with a request for an explaination.  I did not fill that out.  I couldn't seem to move to the next portion and thought it was a computer clitch but what I did not fill out was my pronouns.  Unless, I filled it in I could not move to the next phase and so I chose she/her.  I have heard so many complaints from people about pronouns because people claim it is no one's business and I guess they are right.  What I am typing out is I am a woman who likes men.  I think this is equivalent to one being Mrs/Miss which caused Ms to originate.  People who hate all this, play along because they don't want to stand out as being opposed and therefore bring eyes to them, especially at Conferences where one has to stand up and declare themselves.   I don't really care about all that but when I am trying to retire and I can't move forward until I indicate that I am a heterosexual woman, born a woman and attracted to men, then I shall just click it.  So, now hopefully,  everything is done, or is it?  Another thing is -  I am all over the internet as a psychotherapist.  So, now every day for a bit of time, I contact all these sites to let them know that I am retiring and please remove me.  That too takes time.  So, that is all for now.  I am tempted to attend another meeting today but this time it is with the Sisters of Crime.   I will finally be able to focus on my writing books which has taken a back seat.  Meet my favourite neighbour.  I always have special treats just for her.  What do you think?

The dark side of private rehab | Full episode | the fifth estate

Niagara On The Lake - White Christmas

 I spent a beautiful day at Niagara On The Lake yesterday with a group of people I know from Toronto.  I went to see White Christmas at the Shaw Festival.  I loved the venue finding it cozy probably because of the wood within the interior.   The staff in Niagara area is always welcoming and polite which enhances the experience.   The only thing missing was snow, because watching the play was joyful and Christmas began to fill me.   We also did some shopping, the first time in a long time for me mainly because of lack of time.  I bought two tops which I wouldn't have worn a year ago, but what the heck.  One is Mickey Mouse shouting Merry Christmas and the other is white with silver beads.  Now I just have to try them on  to see how it fits.  I also bought some warm slippers which was a hit. Of course chocolate which has become a staple in my home.  It ended with a trip to a restaurant, a new place which I won't identify because there was a lipstick stain on the coffee cup brought to me.  Otherwise the food was fantastic as was the service.  I didn't realize how empty the night is at Niagara On The Lake.  They definitely hang up the sidewalk.  What a contrast to the business of my city.  I was planning on doing a lot of paperwork today and attend a meeting where I wanted to say goodbye to colleagues and let them know I am leaving but I think I will pause and put up my Christmas ornaments.   The play lifted my Christmas spirit, so work can pause a bit longer.  What do you think? 

A trauma informed Therapy for men and couples by Kristal De Santis, LMFT

De Santis loves working with men as do I.  She reports that 75% of suicides globally are by men and one in four men seek professional help.  Early intervention reduces risk of suicide.

Safety Exercise:  Emotions?  Is it going into your body?

Deep breathing together.

What is stability to you?  It begins with grounding.

Self regulations :  Him breaths ;  her possibly reaching out to him.

Repair work:  I’m sorry about that action; I can see I hurt you.  I understand how my actions affected you.  Now how can I make it right.  

Here is my plan for doing it better next time.  How are you doing?

Respect:  Where are they at?  Rupture to repair.

_____________________________________________

Suicide is going to be a topic I am going to talk about again.   I downloaded a lot of slides, however some did not want to have things shared.   In that case I won’t be sharing anything.  As you know I have decided to retire 30 Dec 25 and will then be considered a Registered Psychotherapist - Inactive.  What I am going to do moving forward is still provide you with notes of theology, psychology, u-tubes of interest as it pertains to mental health and pretty much continue as I have been doing.   If you have any questions of anything I share, please do not hesitate.  What do you think?

    

The Community Effects on the Soul - English

                                    

THE COMMUNITY EFFECTS 

                                                                       

                                                            ON THE 

                                                                       

                                                                                                     SOUL

BY: Silva Redigonda

                       

The Community Effects on the Soul

The texts Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant  by Anne Tyler and Lives Of The Saints by Nino Ricci both demonstrate the effects the role of the community has in the lives and fates of Pearl and Christina.  This essay will argue that both Pearl and Christina were influenced by the community to conform to a way of life not of their preference and that their reaction to this influence ultimately led to Christina's death and Pearl's isolation.  

                    The Pressure of Conformity

  Both Pearl and Christina live in a community where society dictates the norm of what is expected of a woman.  Women should be married, as in Pearl's case and married women should behave virtuous as is expected from Christina.  Pearl and Christina are both resistant in their actions from the pressures of the community, yet eventually succumb to the pressures.

Pearl is conscious of how her single status is considered inferior.  Being thirty and not married is defiant  but pressure to marry takes its toil.  Pearl understands how the community is reacting towards her,  "They had thought she would be an old maid.  They'd grown tactful …insultingly tactful.  Talk of others' weddings and confinements halted when Pearl stepped out on the porch"  (Tyler 6) Pearl also feels that education is considered a finality to the prospect of marriage, "She felt that going to college would be an admission of defeat."  (Tyler 6)  Marrying Beck and leaving her community immediately because

of his career, gives the reader insight that she marries because of peer pressure rather than love.  This insight is reflected by her not being happy just by being married to Beck.  She appears to need the attention that marriage provides in her community.  "She never even got to enjoy her new status among her girlfriends…Everything seemed so unsatisfying."  (Tyler 6&7)  

The stigma of single life continues to haunt Pearl.  This is demonstrated when Beck leaves her.  Pearl behaves as if this has never occurred.  Not even her children are informed of the truth.  Pearl reflects how the community had responded to her single life prior to marrying Beck,  "They had been so sure no man would marry her.  She could never tell them what had happened." (Tyler 11)  Pearl's pretense that her husband is away on business extends a lifetime.  As an adult, her son Cody recalls, "First he leaves and Mother pretends he hasn't… A thirty-five year business trip…"(Tyler 284)       

  In Lives Of The Saints Christina gives the illusion of not caring what the community thinks about her.  But from the beginning a simple act as changing her clothes after being bitten by a snake while alone with a man provides an insight to the opposite being true.  When Christina's son returns with help he notices," She had put on a new dress, a sleek flowered one…and had combed out her hair." (Ricci 11) 

Comments from the community such as, "You're too proud" (Ricci 46), and "Walking around like a princess" (Ricci, p 47) illustrate that the community feels that Christina is arrogant.  This is reinforced when Giuseppina, Christina's 

Childhood friend tells her, ,"…You can't afford to walk around like a princess.  It turns people against you."  Christina becomes pregnant from a man other than her husband who is in America and Giuseppina's  predications come true.  The community rejects Christina, "no one stopped by anymore…and if people passed my mother sitting in the front of the house they did not look at her…"(Ricci 52)  The effects of the community on Christina is demonstrated by her withdrawal.  Vitto relates the changes in his mother, "My mother began more and more to keep inside…sometimes simply shut up in her room; and she and my grandfather hardly spoke.." (Ricci 52).  Ultimately the pressure from the community is too much for Christina.  In her own moment of desperation she succumbs to a an act of superstition as was advised by her childhood friend, "you take a chicken …drain out the blood, then cut out the heart …wash your hands in the blood…pour into the ground".  Christina had found it humorous and ridiculous at the time (Ricci 54).  The community effects her so profoundly that Christina eventually performs the act.   Vitto provides this insight,  "Now the mystery of the blood on my mother's hands explained itself, for on a wooden block in front of the chicken run lay the limp headless body of a chicken…and a pan of blood resting on the ground nearby (Ricci 114). 

The community's rejection of Christina continues and it is not until Christina's behavior demonstrates a lack of defiance by attending church after a time of absence does this change.  Vitto relates, "And so our home which for

months had known only a lenten silence, was once again filled with a little life and conversation…my mother's presence at church…taken  perhaps as some kind of a sign…of the repentance and guilt…" (Ricci 146)

Both Christina and Pearl succumb to the pressures demanded from the community.  Pearl feels the need to be married, to be socially accepted. Rather than face life without a husband after Beck leaves her, Pearl continues a life of deception to avoid the stigma of being without a husband.  Christina's rejection by the community causes her to perform a superstitious act to redeem herself and to return to church. These women are similar in allowing the community to influence their lives.

                            My Soul Thee Takes

The community leads to Pearl's isolation from others as she attempts to keep her life apart from the community who has judged her.  Christina is led to her death in her attempt to escape the community.  Both women are victims of their community who has condemned them.

It is not until nearing the end of the text Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant that the reader understands the gravity of the community role's in 

diminishing the spirit of Pearl.  "….she hadn't been anyone's wife for over a third of a century; that she'd been frantic, angry, sometimes terrifying mother; and that she'd never shown the faintest interest in her community but dwelt in it like a visitor…doors tightly shut when at home.  That her life had been very long indeed 

but never full, stunted was more like it."(Tyler 285).  This is not the same woman who was once social, happy and content with life before the community 

passed judgement.  Ezra brings this to light has he reads his mothers diary to her recollecting her past, "I baked a few Scottish Fancies but they wouldn't do to take to a tea…I went out behind the house,…I believe that at just this moment I am absolutely happy." (Tyler 277)  It is through these diaries that glimpses of Pearl come to light.  Ezra enlightened indicates, " She [Pearl] had once been a whole different person…had spent her time swinging clubs with the Junior Amazon and cutting up with the Neal boys…and taking first prize at the Autumn Recital Contest (Tyler 264).  Pearl was driven into isolation, Ezra reflects, "Certainly she saw no friends; she had none.  As near as he could recall, she had never had friends."(Tyler 259)

Pearl had many suitors to choose from in her youth, "Frank brought her perfumed blotters and a box of …candy…Roy couldn't seem to tear himself away…Burt Tansy took her to the comic opera…Arthur…Hugh McKinley…"(Tyler 268).  Pearl had no problems attracting men but because she remained single when others considered it inappropriate, it reflected negatively on her persona.  The contrast of her full and happy life before being judged by the community and then trying to hold on to the image of marriage to avoid rebuke by the community leads to her isolation. The final obsession of being married is fulfilled at death at her eulogy.  The minister who never met 

Pearl reads," Pearl Tull, the minister said, was a devoted wife…" (Tyler 285) She had accomplished her deceit to her end.

Christina lives in a very social village.  The desperation and conflict of her own beliefs in contrast to the community leads to a nervous breakdown, "Your mother's staying in the hospital a few days." (Ricci 116).  Christina manages to escape her community, only to be faced with another on the ship to America.  The person she will need the most not only judges her as well but his own problems with alcoholism causes her death."  It was not the first death for this physician who Christina considers, a "drunken idiot" (Ricci 212).  Christina's own death is foreshadowed when the doctor recalls the complications of the last pregnant woman on board three month earlier, "The baby, unfortunately was stillborn." (Ricci 217) When Vitto is sent for his help, the doctor responds, "You're that woman's son, aren't you, the pregnant one who thinks she's a princess." (Ricci 228)  

Ricci and Tyler both demonstrate the influence a community has on its' victims.  Christina and Pearl were both judged.  Pearl acts the part of a married woman through out her life which takes away the joy of life and of living free to love.  Christina more defiant manages to escape after realizing the community is consuming her.  Her escape is not complete for another community is there to judge her, one that Pearl avoided after her marriage to Beck.  The person Christina will need the most on the ship has already judged her.  This judgement from a doctor is ironic due to his incompetence as a physician.  If he had thought 

more about Christina as a person,  he would have remained sober and would have had Christina monitored after giving birth.   Both Pearl and Christina failed to be able to live the life they wanted.  Though Pearl and Christina both left the community they lived in, Pearl chose to do so in isolation.  Christina bolder than Pearl escapes the country only to die at the hands of another community in judgement of her.  These two women were victims of a community who betrayed them.

Bibliography

Ricci, Nino.  Lives of the Saints.  Toronto: Cormorant, 2004.

Tyler, Anne.  Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.  Toronto: Random House, 1996.

  

Have decided to retire!

It has been quite a year and doesn't stop.   I have attended all my conferences and have exceeded once again my education requirements.   The Conference with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists will be my last due to retiring.  I will continue to provide you with notes until that is all depleted.  Why not use it if it benefits you?  I have watched some new investigations of interest to post and share.   When I say retiring, that doesn't mean stopping.   That means change.   This will be the third time I have retired from careers.  That doesn't include my other miscellaneous jobs I have had since I was thirteen years old.  My objective now is to close down my business which will take a while.   Deciding to make this next transition is comforting.   I have given myself lots of time to decide and I am hoping that once the dust settles, I can have more time to write my next book.  I read alot this summer and had to slow down because my focus was to sell my house.  It gave me an opportunity to think towards a different direction.    I will definitely be sharing that with you so you can prepare yourself if you ever have to sell or buy property.   My services have always been to protect people, justice and helping those struggling.  As my mother once told me, I never had just a regular job.  I have been offered quite  a few very interesting positions, but the timing was never right as I made my clients a priority.  So, that is all for now as I proceed with the college to retire.  Have a good week.  What do you think?

Rememberance Day - Never forget

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14TJn8TbZew/ 

New Minister for Veteran Affairs reports

 "On the subject of veterans’ homelessness — veterans are two to three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population and women who experienced military sexual trauma are 4.4 times more likely to face homelessness — she says “one homeless veteran is one too many.” 

Blue Jays/Hallowe-en/Conference - Retirement - Should I?

 As you know I am not a sports person but sports orientated or not, it was impossible not to be pro Blue Jays.  The buzz in Toronto was impossible to ignore.  We even got a break from hearing repetitous terrible news as the focus was Blue Jays.  The Blue Jays became our break from what ails us as we focused on winning.  Even, I would monitor the scores and watch segments which I have never done before and it was a learning experience.   I recalled playing a bit in grade school during lunch breaks until a teacher took me out of class and wanted me to play for the school.  I said no, not quite understanding why she thought I was good enough for the school team and not sure if I could keep impressing her.  I have always played just for fun and if it is for the school, it is no longer fun.  She tried everything even telling me I can take time off classes to play.  It is at a different level.  That continued as I grew older and played at various sports - I quit, when it became serious.   For me, sports was for fun only.  As I watched the segments of the game with the Blue Jays and Dodgers,  I thought it was more of a chess game, which was a different perspective.  Each move was calculated and methodical and at times I felt it painful to watch.  If I meet a Blue Jay again, I shall just thank him.  I will be more prepared.  The game could have gone either way and I respected both teams.  Fans who were so invested mourned, but none could mourn more than the Jays.  I think they were amazing.  I have a new found respect for all players.

Hallowe'en was something different too.  I had more at my door at over 200 than ever before.  I had little police people with motorolla radios and all in full gear.  It was so cute.  There were also swat teams and superheroes and superheroines.  What amazed me was how polite the children were.  I only had one person, I found disturbing.  He was a middle aged mustached man who grabbed a handful of chocolate and when I told him to just take one, he gave me a most hateful glare.  I was glad there were a lot of people around.  In the spirit of the Jays playing their final game, one sole teen was dressed as a Jay with his own baseball bat (probably not a good idea having a bat).  I couldn't believe the amount of kids who came in groves.  I was exhausted when it was over.  

The conference was also tiring mainly because of all the technical problems which went non-stop during the first day and didn't quite quit.  I missed one session as a result and had to watch the repeat of another video because I kept getting booted out.  I was surprised at how inefficient I found the technology to be which tarinished the experience.  At the end a spokeswoman downplayed the incompetence by saying there were a few problems.  Nothing worse than downplaying the problems.    However, do you remember or know of the day when children who were non-white had to have the National Guards so they could go to school with white children and the angry mobs?  Yes, I got to see them and hear them speak now as adults.  That in itself made the entire conference worth while.  I was in so much awe.  I took lots of notes and will be sharing that with you.

Retirement -  I keep changing my mind each day.  But I was thinking of what I love to do.  It wasn't until a family member told me I love what I do that surprised me.  Why do people tell you instead of asking you?  That is a problem for so many and it is because of that that I notice it more and perhaps make more of it.  But, what do I love?  My work as a therapist does not make me happy.   It is fulfilling and rewarding but not what I would call fun.  What I love is writing (books) but it does not bring in the bread and butter, but I do find it fun and love meeting people.  I love travel.  I love learning new things.  That is all for now, while I weigh in the pros and cons.  Some days I am leaning more of continuing and some days more on leaving.  My skills are transferable.  I am educated.  I think analytically and systematically.  What is there not to love?   I am giving myself til the end of December to decide.   I have all my education hours, so I just need a bit more time.

That is all for this week.  There is lots to share and I shall probably have more time next week.  Though we are in day light saving time, I am still on the old clock.  My body doesn't want to transcend and it doesn't have to.  I manage my own time.

       I want you all to have a nice week.  Keep safe.  If you want to order a book from me do so at https//www.silvaredigonda.myshopify.com.  If for any reason, you have trouble ordering a book, please let me know.