My wife and I have three daughters between us who are all adults and grown

All of them also happen to have children of their own

Thank God they are all healthy and doing fine

He blessed us with two more grandchildren to up our count from nine

Which gives us a grand total of eleven and we love them all

I think I am forgetting someone and I am trying to recall

I am having so much trouble trying to get these numbers straight

Oh yes one of our granddaughters has a son which makes us both “Great”

So that tallies up to an even dozen if you count generation number three

We have to add these branches to our ever growing family tree

They seem to mature so fast and the youngest are changing day to day

We much appreciate the pictures and the videos that are being sent our way

The oldest is now twenty six and the youngest are eight and ten months old

Thanks to Covid 19 delays there were three graduations this year to unfold

One completed University and has already started her career

Her sister finished high school and was tops among her peers

Their younger brother finished grade eight and will begin high school in September

Another granddaughter completed her electrical course and will soon become a union member

Our oldest grandson is working but also enjoys making music on the side

If he gets the right break he could be heard nation wide

When it comes to attending classes, three of our granddaughters don’t have far to roam

That’s because her mother is teaching them right from home

They are only steps away from their school room on their own farm land

With every lesson and instructions for each child laid out and carefully planned

The great grandson is attending public school and just finished grade one

Another grandson is in his last year and then his high school will be done

That just leaves the babies with three more years to grow and play

Then they soon will be recruited and sent on their way

It doesn’t seem so long ago when they were young and small

I am not just talking about the grandchildren, I am talking about them all

It seems like only yesterday when my own daughters were attending their first class

It seems so inconceivable that all these years have past

The track for me is shorter than the road I’ve already laid

It’s nice to remember back when we lived, laughed and played

If I had the power to slow down time, that is what I would choose to do

Use the time that I have left and stop to take in the view

The January sixth hearings are meticulously exposing each layer of the Republican’s plot

Many of their members have been put on the spot

Witnesses have shown that Trump was complicit in the plan

Still the experts aren’t agreeing if they will ever get this man

Each hearing exposes more evidence in this crime

It’s still up in the air if any participant will actually serve time

There was an FBI raid on Jeffrey Clark’s residence in the early hours

Which was the first time that the Justice System exerted any power

There are so many names being exposed in this crazy scheme

Rumours are out that Trump has issued pardons for most of his team

These hearings are having an impact and the ratings are high

Fox News wasn’t airing any of it just to protect their guy

The first night they actually broadcasted their show commercial free

To protect their viewers from peeking on the other channels just to see

Their plan is to continue to keep their followers in the dark and completely unaware

Meanwhile all the other major networks televised it live and on the air

These hearings were the topic that everyone chose to talk about

Then another major event took things down a different route

It was something that was in the air and we were all forewarned

The Roe V Wade abortion law was now overturned

This now garners all the headlines, out there front and center

The January sixth hearings is now just a weak contender

The timing of this seems to be right on cue

It takes the spotlight away from this plotted coup

This could have been instigated by this group as their plan “B”

Is this more than a coincidence? We will have to wait and see

Doesn’t it surprise you that it was announced at this time?

Just when this committee was getting to the meat of the crime

Why do you suppose they picked this particular date?

It will now be illegal to have an abortion in more than half the States

The Republicans are protecting the child when it’s in the womb

Yet they won’t protect the children at all in the classroom

They are concerned with this life until the mother gives birth

Once they are delivered they are now of little worth

Gun laws are more of a priority than a woman’s rights

It makes one wonder how they are able to sleep at night?

This party and the Supreme Court are abusing their authority

In the coming by-election they will be the majority

Then there will be no stopping them on this quest

The Department of Justice better start issuing some arrests

Time is running out on the Democrats and they have to prove their case

They can’t have Trump campaigning in the next Presidential race

If every Republican involved ends up going scot free

The United States will become a complete catastrophe

I like to say thank you to all the folks who read my blog last week

This entry would in turn reach the highest peak

So many people enjoyed it and their comments were encouraging to me

I have to admit I was as proud as I could be

I’ve never seen so many liking what I wrote

I could go on forever, but I’m not one who likes to gloat

With so many responding, some businesses want to advertise on my site

Now it looks as if I will be earning some money for the things that I write

There are so many sponsors now trying to get the upper hand

It looks like “yours truly” is finally in demand

The contracts that I’m looking over are as baffling as can be

Can anyone out there recommend a lawyer for me?

So many people were interested on what I had to say

Such a turmoil about the topic, I won’t bring it up today

I am hoping to address each and every concern of those who wrote me back

Trying not to take their words as a personal attack

The stuff that I penned really means a lot to me

It is up to each person to agree or disagree

There were many in my corner who thought I explained it well

Others were totally against it and told me to go to hell

Yet there were more readers than I ever had before

Maybe I should tackle these issues even more

The accusations and the insults I won’t take to heart

I knew this theme would be problematic from the start

I was happy just to get it off my chest and so many of you agreed

This is the only way we will be able to succeed

Far more were on my side and thought I phrased it right

Then you have a few others who are just looking for a fight

I apologize now to those who felt slighted from  what I had to say

It’s unfortunate that you can’t see things my way

That is why we have to discuss these topics and get them off our chest

Thousands of you read it, which certainly makes it my best

So my few followers must be wondering what last week’s debate was all about?

Especially when they come to the realization, that I didn’t put one out

So thanks to all my readers who do read my poems when they appear

I don’t get to accumulate a thousand readers in the whole year

Many years ago, there was a group that got together on Wednesday mornings for breakfast at the Burger World on Hammond Street in North Bay. Three of my former workmates were in this clique and invited me to attend. It used to be a ritual for me and I would never miss a week. However has time went on, I would skip a week here and there and finally I just stopped attending all together. I believe the organizer of this affair was Jim Sasyniuk. When I started to become a regular I was issued with an official plastic card which showed that I was a member of the “Hot Stuff League”. Jim gave every person in this fraternity one. I was saddened to learn that Jim had passed away on May 27th. One story I remember is when I wrote a poem about the history of hockey in North Bay. Jim got very sentimental when he read this and insisted that I send it to the nugget. There were many times when I would see him at the Battalion games and he would urge me to send it. Needless to say I didn’t and it never made it in the paper. So as a tribute to Jim I decided today not to write a new poem but instead to honour him and send it out on this weeks blog. Rest in peace Jim.

Hockey History

Above the mantle in my recroom hangs a picture on the wall

Of four hockey teams my father  once played for, the first of them “Scollard Hall”

There he poses with his mates when they won the NOSSA crown

“Garland Beverages” and “The Boosters” are the final two teams he would play for in this town

“The Trappers” were  the second team. That year they were northern champions of the Junior “A”

Then off to compete for the Memorial Cup was the next series they would play

Their dreams of being national champs would end up in defeat

But little did my father know that he would see this pattern repeat

History would repeat itself,  it would become a recurring theme

Three of his sons would play high school hockey and then play for our junior team

Our family was not alone for that pattern would occur in other households in the Bay

Generation after generation playing for the “Trappers” continues to this day

The other day on a historical site that I chose to delve

Was a picture of a Trapper team circa nineteen twelve

Hockey is synonymous with our city, they go hand in hand

Living here all my life, I can certainly understand

King Street arena was the ice pad where my father used to play

Its location is where the Central plaza stands today

Memorial Gardens since nineteen fifty five has been our hockey shrine

So many events I’ve attended there, it’s like a second home of mine

I wasn’t tall enough to see over the boards when my older brothers used to play

My history with the Gardens goes back a long long way

I still recall the years they won and how the crowd did roar

My highlight of the sixties was when my brother played against Bobby Orr

I was attending high school with members of the team when they won the POHA

My contact with some of them continues on today

Eight years later came the Air Canada Cup and North Bay was chosen host

Our local Pinehill Coffee Shop won it all, Midget AAA champions from coast to coast

Many hockey fans dreams must have finally come true

When the Niagara Falls Flyers relocated here  back in eighty two

Major Junior Hockey had  finally arrived,  never to be the same

To honour the hundred years of rail, Centennials became their name

After twenty years of hockey, they would stay here no more

The highlight would be league champions in nineteen ninety four

With so many players from this franchise that went from here to pro

The departure of the Centennials was a tragic blow

Gone was Major junior hockey, so back to the NOJHL was the way we would go

Our Team “The Skyhawks” would start it off by being champions three years in a row

They truly were a dominant team and proved it year after year

They were the class of the league, the ones everyone would fear

Twenty thirteen in Brampton, the Battalion, like the Flyers would share the same fate

Their negotiations with the city went sour and they chose North Bay to relocate

Memorial Gardens would get a facelift and the seating would have to increase

The team owners and our city fathers agreed to a fifteen year lease

Their first year of existence our Battalion got to the finals before bowing out

This year’s edition seems to have more grit and clout

The “Centennials”  patch on the shoulders in the first year was a nice touch

 The game they wore Centennial  jerseys the fans  appreciated so much          

Still something is missing as I walk around the old rink

Every game I attend it causes me to think

The tribute to Bert Templeton  behind the home bench is gone.  Is anyone aware?

Has anybody else noticed? Does anybody care?

 The banners of past championships are no longer there to see

How has it come to this? How can it be?

During construction, these artifacts must have been put away

Is that their final fate? In mothballs there to stay?

With over a century of this sport being played here, it just makes me ill

That this could happen to a city that once earned the name “Hockeyville”

I just want all these memories and accolades to last

We can still embrace the future, while we continue to honour the past.

Chris Reynolds

December 4, 2014

The “Gun Violence Archive” is a data collection agency in the States

As you can imagine the information they’ve collected hasn’t turned out great

There already has been two hundred and twelve mass shootings that have occurred so far this year

Four or more people have to be shot for this statistic to appear

This doesn’t include the shooter who has committed the crime

Needless to say these numbers are increasing all the time

It’s hard to believe that six hundred and ninety three of these incidents happened the year before

This organization is independent, I guess the government doesn’t want to keep the score

Thirty four of these events happened in a place of learning

This to almost everyone is more than a subtle warning

It seems once again, discussion is coming to a peak

They haven’t finished burying the ten people in Buffalo who died last week

It just amazes me how unconcerned the government is with this crime

They wouldn’t even address it now because it would be a waste of time

They are so steadfast on their rights to bear arms

This is the credo they live by no matter who it harms

Apparently ninety percent of their population wants restrictions to be put in place

The Republicans are the ones who are stopping it in this case

The “National Rifle Association” are their backers in this crusade

If they even think of changing laws, no more money will be paid

The killings in Buffalo were racially motivated in this case

“Payton Gendron” travelled two hundred miles to get to his designated place

He researched to find a “Tops Friendly Market” and killed ten black people there

He live streamed his attack on “Twitch” for everyone to share

He describes himself as a white supremacist and it’s what motivated him to do the crime

They are calling it an act of “domestic terrorism”, another term we are hearing all the time

“Salvador Ramos” is the sniper who killed twenty one people at a Texas School

The fact that nineteen of them were young children is exceptionally cruel

They wouldn’t be his first victims as he shot his grandmother earlier in that day

Now we are hearing stories that this incident wasn’t handled in the right way

It took over an hour before officers reached the classroom they now say

Their police force is now being blamed because of the long delay

Both of these assailants were only eighteen years of age

How can someone so young be filled with so much rage?

“Gendron” in Buffalo laid his gun down and was able to survive

“Ramos” in Texas wouldn’t make it out alive

Gun restrictions in America are now front and center

Don’t expect this situation to get any better

Suggestions are to have teachers in the classroom armed

This is their way of trying to reduce the numbers that could be harmed

They are looking to retired veterans to assume a new found role

Have only one entrance to each school and have them volunteer to patrol

Once again they are ignoring this recent carnage and the ones from the past

With their obsession of bearing arms this certainly won’t be the last

Friday night was another hockey marathon and I  got to bed quite late

When I woke up in the morning it was now after eight

This just threw my whole routine off but I managed to get myself in gear

It was raining all night long but now the sky was clear

I noticed more people out as I went along my way

There was quite a difference to what amounts to just an hour delay

The fishing season had officially started and there were anglers on the lake

It got me to wonder what time did they awake?

With so many people on the path, we were forced to share

Usually on our mornings there is hardly anybody there

When I arrived at my daughter’s she was outside her back door

Being Saturday morning we were able to talk a little more

She was sitting on her steps drinking a cup of tea

She got a bowl of water for the dog while she was waiting there for me

After a while the puppy was getting restless, so we decided to head home

After feeding my canine and eating breakfast I got the urge to roam

I kept myself busy a couple of hours but the feeling wasn’t going away

It ended up that this guy was going to exercise some more today

This feeling inside me just didn’t seem to abate

The dog must of sensed it as he was now laying inside his crate

Just doing up the latches was all I had to do

Where I was going? I didn’t have a clue!

I was now on my bicycle that I had taken from the shed

I was heading for Marshall Avenue but I turned around instead

I would find myself stopping to buy water at a McKeown Avenue store

Drank half a bottle and decided I wanted to ride a little more

As I was heading for the bicycle path, I had a second thought

I was close to the cemetery and decided to visit my parent’s plot

So I coasted down Airport Road and headed to this site

Once I arrived there, things just didn’t seem to go right

I thought this would be a short jaunt, but that was not the case

It took me a while to find my parent’s final resting place

I stayed with them for a spell and then got back on my bike

Heading for home would be the last leg on this hike

When I got here, I let the dog out and gave him his treat

After all that walking and pedaling, my exercise was now complete

This weekend it was quiet and I was on my own

I walked around my property and was amazed by how much had grown

The grass was all greened up and some dandelions were starting to appear

It was even nice to welcome our first thunderstorm of the year

This inaugural storm raged throughout the night

My dog who usually hates these events seemed to handle it alright

The noise it produced didn’t seem to bother him in the least

He slept throughout most of it and was a calm little beast

It has been too hot the past few days to stay out in the sun

So I decided to stay indoors and get my series binging done

I ended up sitting on my couch and viewed them most of the day

The evening was reserved for me to see the “Battalions”, “Leafs” and “Oilers” play

After watching so many dramas I wanted to watch something amusing

“The Kids In The Hall” was a series that I ended up finally choosing

They have a new eight episode show that was making its debut

I used to love their old series and decided I would watch this one too

Enjoyed the entire season and laughed through every one

This killed almost four whole hours when I finally had them done

Just a little warning if you decide to peruse them too

The first episode has a skit that may have too much for you to view

The series is showing on “Prime” and the content is a little more risqué

There is also a few obscenities that you will hear them say

Something caught my attention during one particular scene

So if you decide to partake of it you’ll know exactly what I mean

Now I was at the hour when my hockey games were to commence

All three of them were able to keep me in suspense

Our North Bay team won and got the series win

Still not sure when their semi-finals will begin

The “Leafs” were beaten by the “Bolts” by a score of two to  one

They lost the series four to three and now their season is done

The “Oilers” were successful and finished off “L.A.”

There is still two more games in this playoff round to play

The “Penguins” are at the “Rangers” and the “Stars” will play the “Flames”

This will be another late evening as I endeavor to watch these games

The rest of these playoffs will be putting us “Canadians” to a test

Since the only teams remaining both hale from the west

It’s now early Monday morning and the latest results are in

Despite Dallas’s goalie making sixty four saves, Calgary got the overtime win

Gaudreau got the winner which brought mass jubilation to the place

We now have a best seven “battle of Alberta” in this case

Calgary” winning this morning ensures “Canada” being represented in the final four

With “Toronto” out of the picture, there just isn’t any more

No matter who represents us, our Country will be behind them all the way

I will be in front of my set witnessing them no matter what time they have to play

We are now into the third month of this continuing horror in Ukraine

This country is hanging tough in defense of their domain

This certainly hasn’t been the cakewalk that “Putin” had in mind

So much for the weekend skirmish that he designed

His ego has been tarnished and he wants things back to their former glory

In order to achieve this he wants to get back some of his lost territory

The atrocities he is committing are piling up everyday

How do you stop a leader from acting out this way?

Many countries are coming to Ukraine’s assistance by offering up some aid

Already there have been too many casualties and lives that have been paid

Is the world supposed to sit back and just let this tyrant proceed?

I think it is imperative for all of us to see that he does not succeed

He is now threatening nuclear action if anyone interferes

This is an option that everyone of us has grown to fear

So with that being said, are we just going to hope for the best?

Let this Russian despot continue on his murderous quest?

Ukraine has to be rescued from this unfortunate plight

The nations have to get together and get it done right

This is just an example of what our future could hold

We have to pay strict attention to see what will unfold

There are countries worldwide that also have nuclear arms

The fact that this threat is out there should sound some alarms

This whole state of affairs is complicated and has to be resolved

This has to be well planned out and everyone has to be involved

Propaganda is rampant for the Russian people of course

The only information they receive is from a local source

You wonder how this is possible in this technological age

Why isn’t there anyone around him trying to control Putin’s rage?

The war crimes he is committing are piling up as well

The people of the Ukraine are experiencing a living hell

So how do you approach someone who is lying to his own nation?

Controlling all the news that is being broadcasted on each local station

He is shuffling between cities as he continues with his attacks

There has to be a point when it’s time for some payback

Supplies for Ukraine military are coming in left and right

I think it is now time for these nations to assist them in their fight

It is now at the point where enough is enough

We have to deploy some troops and call in Putin’s bluff

Countries have to send in their manpower to help Ukraine defend

That is the only way to see this tragedy come to an end

If NATO is to be taken seriously they have to prove it to this man

These nations have to show their power and stick to this plan

They have to demonstrate to him that they are ready for anything

This also would send a message to all the others waiting in the wings

Now that the weather is starting to warm up it’s time to spend more time outside

Unfortunately due to circumstances we can’t control sometimes we are denied

We have a nice screened in front porch that is well used from spring to fall

The house is also air conditioned if it gets too hot to go out at all

Now is the time of the season where the temperatures are fluctuating a lot

So when the weather becomes comfortable we head to our favourite spot

The only problem being is that it is hit and miss at which way the breeze will blow

The direction it is going will affect whether we get to stay or go

We both have our share of allergies however my wife’s  are more severe

The only time we get to enjoy outside is when the coast is clear

This also in turns brings out our neighbours and everyone else on the block

They are also enjoying this weather and getting out for their walks

We are very similar and like to get out for the day

The only problem being that ninety percent of the time the wind is blowing our way

So when they are out there to smoke or enjoy a toke

Their fumes inevitably find their way to us and causes us to choke

There was no solution as far as we could see

That’s when my wife and I came up with our plan “B”

We seldom use our back deck because it’s always just too hot

This past weekend we erected a gazebo that we bought

It took us a while to erect it and frustration was setting in

With no instructions we had no idea on where to begin

We managed to fumble through it and were able to complete this chore

The two of us accomplished this, even though online it suggested four

We searched the internet for instructions but were unable to find a site

We have some extra parts but everything turned out right

So now we have a refuge on both sides of our place

We can now hide out in our eight by eight foot backyard space

Depending on the wind direction, be it east, west, south or north

We know have a couple of oasis to shuffle back and forth

The puppy has adapted and has taken it all in stride

This way we will all get to spend so much more time outside

In fact I have spent all day under our shelter and completed this week’s entry too

This is exactly what the both of us have always wanted to do

We will now be able to enjoy the coming seasons without a care

Now knowing that we will be able to finally breath in all that “fresh air”

The first decent day of spring and I was determined to take it all in

Of course a walk with the dog is the way it would begin

We took the usual jaunt and were back home a little after nine

Fed the dog his breakfast and everything was going fine

The temperature was supposed to attain the twenty degrees celsius mark

They were calling for rain but thankfully not until after dark

So my plan was to take advantage of this whole day that laid ahead

Trying to believe in everything that the weatherman had said

After I finished my breakfast I raked the yard of all of its debris

Tired of viewing broken branches and dead leaves for everyone to see

I started on this chore just wearing a sweater

In no time I was in a t-shirt which proves things were getting better

It was the first time I was in short sleeves since October of last year

It took quite an adjustment to finally get myself into gear

I managed to fill three garbage cans with the waste that was on the lawn

As far as the back yard was concerned almost everything was gone

I didn’t pace myself too well because before too long my forehead was starting to get wet

This was only proving things were getting warmer because I had broken into a sweat

I was going to tackle the front of the house but I ran out of garbage cans

Once I entered the house I found there was a whole new plan

We got on the “Canadian Tire” site and decided to order some patio chairs

We decided on purchasing four of them but we only ended up with a pair

Two of them were damaged and we promptly brought them back to the store

The ones they had left in stock were worse than the ones we had before

We were now into early afternoon and both of us were looking for a treat

It turned out to be very convenient to have the “Dairy Queen” up the street

We decided to reward ourselves and headed there right away

One banana split and strawberry sundae would be the order for this day

The line for the drive through was stretched out to the max

We decided to seek another location and we quickly made some tracks

During our short deliberation, I decided I wanted to hit “Subway” too

With some coupons in my pocket that’s what we decided to do

I picked up two subs for the price of one and went back to the car

My wife had left the vehicle and I knew she couldn’t have gone far

I decided to go and look for her because I couldn’t open my door

It wasn’t very long before I spotted her in the “M&M” store

We threw our purchases in the car and then headed for “Lakeshore Drive”

It took a lot of detours on our part but we finally arrived

We completed our orders there and decided to head home right away

We now had ice cream and frozen foods and we couldn’t afford any more delays

My wife finished her dessert while mine is still on ice

It now has been over four hours since I placed that order to be precise

I managed to finish one sub sandwich and still have another one to go

Looks like I will be having the same supper for two days in a row

After all this running around I still had my weekly poem deadline to meet

I am writing this now and am looking forward to my treat

This is the second last line and I know this will end soon

It has now reached its completion and I am heading to the freezer with my spoon