What I learned from 100 days of rejection | Jia Jiang | TED

Christian The LION True Friendship Aerosmith I Dont Wanna Miss a Thing

RED ONE | Official Trailer - What can I say? I enjoyed it.

My temporary store for my books is silvaredigonda.myshopify.com

As you know by now, I am always dealing with some nuisance or other. While shopify deals with the domain of my store, they have provided me with this temporary domain, so you can order an ebook or soft cover book. Of course there is also a mail strike going on. What are the chances? Oh boy. So, why not order an ebook. If you have any and I mean any problems please let me know. Ominous is my favourite book and the last one I released this year. You can still order the book, which is in soft cover only, for $24.95. I don't say 25.00 because it sounds more expensive. I will mail it out to you as soon as the strike is over. I will be selling my books at the legion 7 Dec 24, for their Christmas Fair. The legion is at 1050 Weston Road, M6N 2S2. Please come and visit me and buy a book as a Christmas gift to someone you love or hate. I can help you choose. The legion is on Western Road, West side, South of EGlinton. Oh boy...........

Oh Boy, Thoughts of the week (my web site www.silvaredigonda.ca is down) Taylor Swift is in Town and the Good, bad and Ugly are hard at work.

Well, I did attend a webinar last Saturday held by Susan Chuang, a professor at Guelph University. As always it was interesting. I wrote notes and will start providing that for you next week if everything returns to normal sooner rather than later. Of course it is about family. Next: I noticed yesterday that my site where I sell my books is down. Apparently my domain disappeared and now they are working on getting that back on line. It should take about 24 hours. I'll give them til Monday. I try to keep my weekends free from any kind of work or media. Note: Try. Work balance is very important and I am prone to having fun. Next: I was alerted yesterday that I am going to have a seven hour exam at the end of April. I have seven hours to complete it in one setting but I should be able to do it in four hours. Yeepeee, can't wait!!!!! Of course, they don't call it an exam. They call it a CBA. I will be provided with 30 situations, judgement cases and I believe the pass is 85%. They are trying to make it as stress free as possible. How nice. I hope all the colleges do that. They will be providing me with more information - how nice. This is all to protect you, the public. I was asked three questions. Would I be able to write the exam? Would I still be working? Or, three is there any reason I couldn't do it. Let me think? Don't want to? I don't think that is a good response. Retirement? Can anyone retire nowadays? OK, I'll do. There you go, now that is a sound judgement response. On a lighter note we have Taylor Swift in town. Our city counsellors who seem to be mostly Swifties, made a Swifty road sign which cost thousands to welcome her. My city counsellor objected. I have to make sure to vote for him. Counsellors called those opposed - haters. So, is this the solution statement now at city hall - Don't agree with a Swiftie fan therefore you are hater? I think Taylor Swift is a smart business woman and you have to be, to be a billionaire. She is always welcomed in my town. The news this morning reported that she is expected to generate 282 million dollars in our city. Hotels have marked up their prices 10 times (greedy. I don't think they should be able to do that. Niagara falls did the same thing and upset a lot of people during the summer eclipse). The Anti Fraud Centre reports that 184 Swiftie tickets were reported as being fraudulent (as of Wednesday). Not nice Fraudsters. These are kids you are ripping off. As far as I am concerned if Taylor Swift is in town and is making so many people happy, perhaps she should live here sometimes. Of course, we need to keep her safe because there are some actual haters out there. My town needs excitement with all the shootings going on. Fortunately, most don't know how to shoot and I am not going to be their instructor. Three Police Associations are protesting the Bail System and are asking the government for help. What would our city look like if the police went on strike? I would take a sabatical out of town. Yesterday there were some 23 people I believe arrested for shooting about a hundred rounds, including hitting an unmarked police vehicle. Our police heros were on the scene and arrests were made quickly. How do they accomplish that? Let's support our Police who do their best to keep us safe with so little. Oh, they are going to hire more police, naw, not to match the crime...silly. They are trying to replace the ones retiring. Now, I have two busy days ahead, so I think, I'll go shake it off.

Veterans Day - Poppy - No frills disappoints

Well, I did go. It was the first time I attended since I retired, with lots of drama. First as I drove to the cemetary I spotted a woman, I had seen chasing a Coyote a few days earlier. She was trying to film the poor beast, while he was trying to get away from her. I was concerned because the woman showed no respect for the animal as she was filming him and I was concerned that she was going to corner him. This time the woman was searching for him without success. It is no wonder that they are starting to attack. They have less land to feel safe in. A man saw my plates and asked me where I wanted to go and began removing the safety pods so I could drive through. What a guy! There was no way I would have been able to walk the distance that was cordoned off. I drove to the steps and parked where film crew and others were given priority. I managed the steps with one of my crutches and I was so glad I carried it with me. I found a beautiful tree and made it my resting place. I was asked a lot of questions and I wasn't expecting so much. One of the cemetery staff asked me if I wanted a chair and I accepted, thus losing my spot at the grand tree. During the service, an elderly woman fell onto the ground. Initially, I thought she had died, her eyes were wide open and still. She was with someone who was helping her and calling 911. For some reason, I called out that we needed a medic. For some reason two medics reacted but their equipment was in their vehicle. It is comical really because we all reacted as if we were still in the military. Why would I call for a medic? Fortunately, EMS were at the parade as well, so they responded immediately. Paramedics arrived and they all brought her back to life and of course I gave her my chair. What a woman! I would have gone to the hospital if I were her, just to be safe. However, she wanted to remain for the entire parade. I couldn't understand why there were not chairs for more people, especially the elderly who need to be there for reasons they alone have. I saw the VIP civilians come in their glory as well as the politicians, perhaps one and the same. One woman was insisting I have another chair and I insisted that she stop. OMG. After the service, I hobbled over to the coffee which I was really looking forward to. There I was approached by an MP who spoke of his ambitions. I marvelled at this new generation of hopefuls. I did tell him to be careful what he wished for (because I have seen so many lively and wonderful people going to war zones and returning different. I wanted more for this young striking man who has his entire life ahead of him.) After some discussion with him, I went to the cenotaph to compliment the young cadet who was so perfect in her role; and so much better than myself when I had to do that, which I shared with her. She informed me she wasn't a cadet, she was regular force. Boy, how long has it been? Then I was approached once again by a civilian woman wanting to know where I had been. I told her Europe, the Middle East and Canada, as I continued to go to the safety of my car. I hobbled down the steps and helped my leg into the car. I decided this would be my last parade. I went off to have breakfast with legion members and while they were going off to another parade, I decided to go home and then return. I did and spent most of the day at the legion where I heard the stories about the poppies. I had to admit I was so much in awe of these volunteers who give so much of their time for the causes of veterans. They have welcomed me so warmly and earnestly. Then the stories came. I shall call her Alaine, not her real name (I hope. I am bad with names). Her parents were both World War vets from England. They immigrated here and at the time, citizenship was automatic with Canada. I didn't know that had changed and wondered why so many things have to change and not always for the best. Look at us now. It appears with no surprise that her parents had suffered, due to the war. She later told me that "No Frills" at Black Creek and Eglinton had refused her to have poppies on the premises. She said she was so upset that she had to take a break before going to the next place and had to have a coffee to calm down. I felt really bad for her because I saw her pain. I don't go shopping there and Fortino's my grocery store has a poppy box at customer service. I always make a mental note of where they are because I keep losing mine. Then I heard from another member who had served, whom spoke of one man who gave him one hundred dollars and wanted only one poppy at the Eaton Centre two years ago. It was evident that he had appreciated the gesture. Then he talked about how wonderful the children are and that of course, gives me hope. I was given a Military Service Recognition book, Volume X1, and he wanted me to look at the pictures at the back of the book that children had drawn. The work is stunning. These children are so deep and their drawings are so amazing. What gifted children. He gave me a pen of a palace guard, hat and quilt - so cute. I have tried to go to England three times while I served and never did make it. Was it time? My hairdresser also went and I have been suppied with cookies and tea bags from the West Minister Palace since his return. I was also provided with an Afghanistan,

Lest We Forget pin (2001-2014). It rests against the following words, " Once again Canada was called upon to send our Canadian Armed Forces into battle. More than 40,000 soldiers served in Afghanistan. 2,179 soldiers were wounded. 158 soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice and thousands more will need assistance for years to come."

Thoughts of the Week - Rememberance Day - Rob Ford Thank you

Our Premier, Doug Ford has extended us Veterans and Military Personnel free access of the Go Train. I am grateful to him. Already there is a lot of hoopola about who didn't get it and why we don't get more, yada, yada, yata. I remember years ago and it is probably in my book that I went to Marine Land which is in Niagara Falls Canada and a sign stated that American soldiers could get free access or a discount I can't remember which (I have to read my book). That is the only time I got mad and spoke up. I did get that discount or freebie, because come on, we're in Canada and soldiers here were being dismissed in their own country? I know there are a lot of discounts in the States for soldiers and Veterans. Every time I go there I get discounts even in clothing stores. It's everywhere. We never did get anything at home. Perhaps times are changing. However, I am really appreciative and grateful that Rob Ford has thought enough of us to give us this. I think it is big. I know I was getting 25% off the train as well and so first class was appreciated. I never take things for granted. Recently I was listening to a person named Richard on the news representing the City of Toronto and I was disappointed since he sounded like he was dismissing women who served. He said men and a few women. I wanted to strangle him. If someone does, I assure you it wasn't me. I thought of all the WW2 Veterans I have met in my time whom were women. I think of all the deaths and suffering. I think of when I went to Dacho, concentration camp and saw the ground where two British Officers who happened to be women were tortured and killed. What would they think of Richard? Richard was so effective that before the interview was over the woman interviewer stopped saying women and just said men. That is all it takes. I haven't been to a Veteran's parade since I retired. I was about to once, but I wasn't a dignitary so couldn't get a parking space. I explained I was a veteran but I don't think he understood what that meant. However, since I joined a legion and have been encouraged to attend, I am debating. I will be donating my helmet and a few other items to the legion because I see how proud they are of what they have. I have donated some things to my old military school and also to my Chief who is now deceased. The military world is a paradox. There is a connection to all who have served. The only thing stopping me right now from attending is my right leg. Will I need to sit? How will I look if I lean against a tree? I found my beret which is still acceptable. I would have to wear my red running shoes which will match my beret. All things to think about. But what is most important to me is the military family and thoughts of all those who died so we can have the freedom we enjoy today. To all who have served. I love you. Have a good weekend and spend a moment to reflect.