Just want to say thank you world for helping us fight our fires

Today I am in my home with windows closed and of course making myself comfortable, because I can be. There is an air quality alert because of the fires in Quebec and Ontario. Of course they have fires out West too. It is unfortunate that the world is not taking global warning seriously. They are too busy causing needless wars and/ or justifying control, or attempting to control other countries, and of course making money as if that will be all that matters in the long run. It won't. Take a wake up pill while you still can. Let's take global warming seriously and stop all this nonsense. We have bigger concerns than petty senseless wars. Now that I ranted for a few sentences, I want to say sorry to New York City because our smoke is causing problems in your own city. I really want to thank the States (including Minnesota)I love my neighours, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and anyone else that I have missed. When we are in crises, we also see the best in people. Keep safe firefighters as you protect us. Last night I could smell the wood burning. That is what gave me a wake up call.

Woman Abuse - Creating a Safety Plan

Well, a long time ago I promised to provide you with a Peel safety plan which I came to when I was working as an Intern at a Women Crises Centre. No men were allowed inside. I dealt mostly with new immigrants who were being abused by their husbands. In some of the countries they came from they were completely dominated by the culture. This is also brought here and some men will not permit their wives to be without them. Let me be clear. This is Canada and women are afforded the same rights as men. Also know that when you come into this country, if you want to leave your husband, you can. Women here, regardless if they are Canadian or not are subjected to physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. I worked at the Crises Centre for a year which afforded me much learning. There is a lot of talk about fearing the police. Let me again be clear. Do not hesitate to call them if you need help. There are women shelters, support staff etc...to help you. Men too are abused but for this series I will be talking to women only since the plan was created for them. This package was compiled by women who have survived and offer their advise to you. The following is a list of items you should try to set aside and hide in a safe place (at a friend's place, or family member's home or with your lawyer (I will add that it never hurts to see a lawyer to check what your rights are. Laws change). 1. An emergency Escape Plan ::Take a photocopy of your passport, birth certificates, immigration papers for all family members, School and vaccination records, driver's license and registration, medications, prescriptions, medical records for all family members, welfare identification, work permits, divorce papers, custody documentation, court orders, restraining orders, marriage certificate. Open a bank account in your own name and arrange that no bank statements or other calls be made to you. Save and set aside as much money as you can - out of groceries if needed. Have enough money for a taxi or Uber. Plan your emergency exits. Plan and practice the steps you will take if you have to leave quickly. Hide extra clothing, house keys, car keys, money etc....at a friend's house you trust. Keep an emergency suitcase/bag handy or to pack quickly. Get a safety deposit box at a bank your partner doesn't use. The Police can bring you back to the home later to remove additional belongings. When you leave take the children if you can. If you try to get them later, the police cannot help you remove them from the other parent unless you have a valid court order. To be continued with 2. Creating a Safer Environment.

Strategies on High Confict Couples - Open to the public

What is Hope?

What is Hope? By: Silva Redigonda My hope is to someday live in a glass house by the waterfront with a dog at my side as I walk along the beach. Is that hope or a dream? Is dream and hope synonymous? Is hope for all? Skinner conducted animal experiments and discovered that when one can no longer control one’s environment, one gives up trying. A dog that suffers electrical shocks and resigns himself to acknowledge he will suffer pain no matter what he does extends to other forms of torture that kills the human soul. Can one understand hope by understanding what it is not? Hope is a perception of what can be. I think that there is a possibility of world peace. Do I really? Actually I do not. Therefore I have no hope for world peace because I believe that it is impossible. Yet, I believe that something must still be done to decrease the probabilities of war. Is that hope? Is hope being a realist? Is hope being a survivor? Hope can be simple or complex. Hope is what it means to the person who has or does not have hope. I hope that the flowers I place at the front yard bring joy to others as they walk by and appreciate nature. I hope, because I love to stop and appreciate the lawns of others which are aesthetically pleasing. I am hoping that someone appreciates what I have to offer my community. I am hoping that someone stops and smells the roses (what a cliché!). Am I superficial? Perhaps I am, for some and not to others. For someone who has no food, she may hope for food, if there is the remote possibility of getting food. If someone has no hope for food it may be because he is dying, isolated and alone with no possibility of enough food to eat. What is hope? It is so much to so many different people depending on their own stories of their own lives. Has life been kind? Has life crippled? Has life taken away souls and hope is only a senseless word? I have hope. I dream of my glass house by the water, walking along the beach with my dog at my side as I ponder the universe because I have hope – of endless possibilities. i Gleitman Henry, Basic Psychology. Pg 93. New York: Norton & Company, Third edition, 1983. As a therapist I have seen people come with the hope that I can help them. At times people want me to tell them what to do because it is too much for them and overwhelming. They just want to feel better. However, I cannot tell others what they should or should not do. What I can do is have them step back and examine what it is they actually want for themselves and help them to help themselves get there. People often complain that those around them are constantly telling them who to be, how to act, how to dress, who to love etc.....Sometimes, they just need the tools to help them stand up and re-examine who they are and who the people are in their lives that they need to stand up to and live the lives they want to. Sometimes, people are at the end of their rope and suicide looks like an option, though they don't want to really take that route. It is just the hopelessness of their situation. Suicide is not an option. Recently a man was arrested just outside Toronto where he was living. Apparently he was "counselling people to die" and providing them with substances which he was being paid for. What kind of person does that? I shall leave that with the courts. What I will say to you is to stay away from people like that. Find qualified Registered Therapists, psychologists etc....to help you find the hope you lost track of. When I wrote the above paper What is Hope, it was for me, how I see the world and my own dream. Would I still love a glass house by the waterfront with a dog by my side? Of course. Will it happen? I don't know. However, my hope has never diminished. Is there someone in your life, you are always belittling? Do you tell them how to dress, wear their hair etc...Are these grown men and women? Ask yourself why you do this and ask yourself if you are causing harm? Better yet, why not ask them? What do you think?

PERCEPTION – REFLECTION Published (inserted - For Love of Country - Military Policewoman)

I walk alone along the treacherous road, Shadows, small wiggling forms appear behind an invisible wall. I continue along the dirt path, Level at this point of time, easing My tired soul. Rows of people drift by me in opposite directions, each reminding me of someone I have known or seen. Some are maimed, I will not use the word Mutilated For it is not proper… Some are missing entire limbs, Lost at war By people different than they and yet the same. I see people of every color who think they are so different from each other; they fail to see that they are the same. Men, women, and children file Past me in one last unison. Differences no longer acknowledged. I see the shadows growing smaller, no longer wiggling, but still and forever quiet. The road becomes larger And forms into a steep hill, I must Once again climb. I reach up to find the Staff to assist my climb. This once again eases my burden. I throw it away too easily when my body feels it is not required. But, my soul Forever searches… I look once again at the people Some have staffs and others don’t. Some are reaching into empty air. They do not realize that there is only one enormous staff, Its rationale is not of this world, This time. The small dark shadows from behind the wall are quiet and still; All seems serene but BLOOD climbs the invisible wall and the shadows Cannot be seen. The rows of people continue to drift by oblivious of each other And of the tiny shadows climbing from the blood. I do not think as I observe I do not realize That on my road I am alone except for my staff, which I may keep or throw away but it, is constant. The road narrows as I Acknowledge my descent. The sun beats heavily, yet the birds remain silent. My lips are parched, My own fault For being silent for it was not proper. I see the rare man reaching out to the wall More often a woman In regret For the TINIEST of Lost souls Who could not speak. I walk alone along this treacherous road Different mates all long gone by And mates not mine, fallen from Their side Childless days; yet embracing them all. I stop and… Look behind me. I see four legged, creatures and also two, sometime three, And am reminded that I’ve never been truly alone. My faithful beasts I too have loved, And they with an affection and intelligence Long under-minded, too often ignored and others worse. These creatures behind me, yet pushing me along With warmth alone, Staffs perched on each one.

Writers Corner

It is overcast once again. I have been balancing my life by taking every opportunity to sit in the sun and read for pleasure. My library had a book sale where for $5.00 you get a beautiful library bag full of books you choose from a wide selection. I bought so many that they remember me. I also did some garden work and decided that I love looking at flowers but don’t want to do the work. So, I will be looking for help in that department. Now back to love of books. Time flies so fast that I realized that it had been awhile since I sent out Ominous to publishers. So, I have to try to balance that out too. What I have found that for my genre it is tough. I am writing about a serial killer and there is a demonic component, a supernatural component and of course there is lots of mystery. I think this is my best book. It is only natural that if I write more, I get better. My own publisher has accepted the book but I am still undecided. I suppose I want a traditional publisher but that is difficult unless I have an agent. I am also thinking about that. Actually, I am doing so much thinking this time around which is slowing me down. But, you know? That’s ok. As I look for publishers I have to ensure that they are legitimate. There are so many scams who have found themselves in the world for writers. There is a site “writers beware” that provides some publishers you need to be weary about. So, first you have to find someone that likes the genre you are writing about and then there is the country thing. You have to be Australian or from New Zealand. You have to be from America or Canada and the beat goes on…………Also, there are those that don’t accept anything with a killing in the first chapter or first five chapters etc…….I chuckled reading a renowned author who was on the kill breaking all the rules of whom? Then there are those who only will work with feminists and you can’t say anything bad about women. Ok, I am a woman. I am a feminist because there are about six categories and believing in equal pay for equal work is a feminist. However, my main character, God forbid is a man. How awful is that? Also, another male detective who works in the team is a man, women normally run away from. He sees women has lunch. So, that won’t work for me. Now there are no gay characters in this book but there will be in my next so I may be able to find a publisher. I had planned on killing my character but I have to think about that. I am not writing a book about a gay character so I can find a publisher. I have had many gay men approach me and since they are not in any of my books, they walk away. I want to write books that is reflective of the society I live in. That includes men in power, white men, men who sexualize women consistently, etc……Then there are those publishers who want you to break down each chapter and summarize it. One wrote in her site that the reason is to know if you know the book you have written. Really? I have to admit I skip those. English class was more interesting. Then there are those who want to know your life story in 200 lines or so. Who am I buddy? Does it matter? So, because I am a straight, female, caucasian of all things and not Native Canadian, or have special needs, etc….I strike out and that is just trying to determine if I should submit anything. So, you see, this is why this method is taking me forever. However, it needs to be done. I do want my book out next year or my two fans or three will forget me. We are forgotten so easily. Oh, then there are those who want to take away all your rights….nada…..I skip those as well. And now that I am on a roll, there are those who don’t want you to provide your book to anyone else, but also may or may not respond within two months, six months or a year. So cruel………However, this is a good experience. Did you know that Harry Potter got shot down 50 times I believe? So, for my few fans out there be patient with me as I am trying to navigate this pathway in the publishing world who have all the power. Hopefully this provides some tips to you writers out there. In the meantime if you wish to buy my ebooks or soft covers, don’t hesitate. www.silvaredigonda.ca To dream……….What do you think?

The Israelite Religion - Theology assignment (from grad studies)

Question 6. When I was in Israel, a woman sat next to me at the Tel Aviv airport. “We are a special people” she remarked in a serious tone. “Yes,” I replied without hesitation. It was not too long into our conversation that she realized I was not a Jew. I hope she knows that I was sincere when I agreed with her that hot summer day. This paper will reflect on these “special people” as the Israelite religion is examined within the socio-religious terms of monotheism, henotheism and polytheism. These socio-religious terms shall first be defined. Monotheism may be defined as only one God existing. Henotheism is the belief in on God without denying the existence of others, and Polytheism is the belief in more than one god or in many gods (Bright, 145). The focus of the Israelite’s religion has been the intense relationship that existed between God and people. Yahweh (Jehovah or the Lord) had chosen Israel with special favour and Israel committed herself to God as God’s people Bright. pp144 & 148). Yahweh came to Israel in Egypt as a God who called his people from nothingness into a new future and hope (Bright. p 157). Yahweh was thought of as being surrounded by a heavenly host or assembly of his angels or holy ones (Bright. p 158). These patriarchal deities survived only in identification with Yahweh and not as rival or subordinate gods (Bright. p 159). In Ps. 82, the gods of the nations are depicted as members of this assembly who for misconduct were degraded to the status of mortals (Bright, p 158). The notion of a heavenly court was shared by Israel and her pagan neighbours. Though there was a repeated temptation by the Israeli people to accord these beings worship, this was censored. The heavenly court plays a larger role in later rather than in earlier periods (Bright, 158). The ancient religions were all developed polytheisms whose high gods were accorded cosmic domain. Tendencies toward a monotheistic were abroad. In one case, the Aten cult was a religion bordering on monotheism. There is impressive evidence regarding the faith of Israel between the twelfth and tenth centuries B.C.E., which traces back to the desert and to Moses, the great founder of Israel (Bright. p 147). That Israel brought the worship of Yahweh with her from the desert seems certain because no trace of it can be found in Palestine prior to her arrival. Israel’s notion of God was unique in the ancient world. Israel’s religion did not consist in certain religious ideas or ethical principles. Her religion rested in the memory of historical experience as interpreted by faith, and responded to in faith. She believed that her God had by his mighty acts rescued her from Egypt and in covenant had made her his people. There is no period of Israel’s history when she did not believe she was a chosen people of God (Bright, p 148). The covenant was a bond in the gracious favour of the divine Overlord in rescuing his people from bondage and giving them their land. It obligated the people in perpetual gratitude to serve him alone and to live in obedience under threat of his extreme displeasure. This concept of covenant is different than those found in the patriarchal narratives. There, the covenant consists in unconditional promises for the future where the obligation was only trust (ibid, p 155). Israel’s faith never changed character (Bright. p 157). From the beginning, Israel did not worship a local natural deity, but a high God of cosmic domain. Israel’s faith from the beginning forbade the worship of any god but Yahweh. This expression is classically expressed in the First Commandment which is thoroughly consonant with the nature of the covenant; the vassal may have but one Overload. One must keep in mind though, that the Israelites did repeatedly worship other gods, as the Old Testament makes clear, but this was not excused or condoned. Israel developed no myth, “the sea is no Chaos monster, Yam or Tiamat, but only the sea…”Ex. 115:1-18. The gods of Egypt are not even deemed worthy of mention (Bright, p 158). In sharp contrast to the pagan religions, in which the image of the god represented his visible presence, representations of the deity were strictly forbidden in accordance with the Second Commandment (Bright, p 160). One can debate if providing Israel’s early faith, the designation of monotheism is appropriate since there is no early literature to explicitly deny the existence of other gods. There are passages where the existence of other gods, seem to be naively assumed such as in Ex. 18:11. However, these are quite as common in later periods when Israel was undoubtedly monotheistic. Certainly Israel’s faith was no polytheism. Henotheism, however, is not a sufficient description of the faith of early Israel because it would be difficult to explain why a religion by comparison so primitive should have been the one to achieve unexampled heights (Bright, p 145). Nor will henotheism do because though the existence of other gods was not expressly denied; neither were their status of gods tolerated. Because of these difficulties many scholars seek some compromise of the word monotheism, such as incipient, implicit and practical (Bright, p 159). I will keep it simple and call it monotheism because to Israel only one God was God (Bright, p 160).