Went to bed last night thinking that I would be homebound today

When I awoke, there was an opportunity and I went without delay

I had a chance to get out before the rain

I may not get another opportunity again

I went out this morning and took a different route

Sticking close to home is what it’s all about

Stayed on the paths that meander throughout our city

No traffic to dodge and the scenery is quite pretty

The dog enjoys the adventure because he can run free

Even though he likes to roam, he sticks close to me

We weaved through the area with only having to cross a couple of streets

Returned on the same path and our journey was complete

Walked under bridges and through city parks

It was so quiet and not once did my dog bark

Only ran into maybe three people on this morning excursion

To be honest , these paths were a welcome diversion

The sky was starting to blacken so we decided to pick up the pace

The dog managed to find only one squirrel to chase

We walked around ball fields to lengthen our stroll

With each extra step, it brought us closer to our goal

With all the foliage around us, I figured we could stay dry

The leaves would protect us and home was still nearby

Everything was going great, all according to plan

Near the end we had to rush but we never ran

The rain started when we were getting close to home

Which was the main reason we didn’t go too far to roam

The timing was great we were on the final block

We walked up the front stairs and that officially ended our walk

All in all I never got too far away

But when I looked up the totals we put in more steps today

Usually I stay on the same blocks and follow a straight line

Today we took a winding path and everything turned out fine

I had a busy weekend and it started Friday night

My daughter and son in law wanted to get things right

Their plan was to move a refrigerator and put things into place

This was the first step in freeing up some much needed space

So with just a piece of cardboard he slid the fridge into the next room

This was to be the only task he was to perform for the evening I presumed

After doing this all by himself, he wanted to do some more

So with a friend and I, the three of us continued with this chore

This goes back to all those records that I mentioned some time back

In order to store them all, we had to purchase a couple more racks

Because of this, we had to maneuver them to a different location

The trick was to transport them and keep the new configuration

Thankfully there was an empty rack that we could use to start

If we tried to carry a full one, chances are it would fall apart

One by one we filled them and were able to maintain the design

I originally started with four of them and now I was up to nine

We filled every crevice and now have a couple of empty shelves to fill

This finished our Friday night and the next day my daughter would show her special skills

We were back at it early on Saturday afternoon

Then hooked up the stereo and listened to some old tunes

We played some of our favourites and then we took some requests

We got into a lot of “Motown” that we knew would please our special guests

While we were doing this, my daughter took the reins

She performed her special magic once again

She transformed our whole basement with a music and sports theme

With my “Blackhawks”, “Expos” and “April Wine” memorabilia, it’s a dream

I took them out for supper, it was the least that I could do

I couldn’t thank them enough, but she wasn’t through

She came back to the house and moved a few more things around

So if you are looking for me, that’s where I’ll be found

Down in the rec room is where I’ll probably be

Trying to figure out what to do with those thousands of cds

Last month was “Joe Biden’s” last debate and it ended his “Presidential” run

He listened to his fellow “Democrats” and decided he was done

Gave the reins to his “Vice President” and endorsed her to take his place

Looks like this is the candidate that this party has chosen to embrace

 “Trump” and his selected “Vice President” candidate are slipping in the polls

Seems “J.D. Vance” isn’t the right man to perform in that role

He was handpicked by “Trump” because “Vance” likes him very much

This inflated “Donald’s” ego and he figured they are the perfect one two punch

Their convention was going great and they couldn’t do no wrong

That was until “Trump’s” speech ran a little bit too long

They said that he was going to tone down the hostility because of his recent brush with death

They promised he had changed and we could all take a nice long breath

This was going to be a unifying speech for the nation as a whole

He was calm and collected for twenty minutes then he assumed his usual role

Once again he reverted back to the idiot that we all know

Talking about “Illegal immigrants” and bad mouthing “Sleepy Joe”

The tirade was full of lies which is always the case

 What was such a promising event, now ended in disgrace

This didn’t seem to affect him because he felt he was in total control

He was in the driver’s seat and nothing is going to stop him from his goal

Then just three days later “Joe” is out and “Kamala” is in

The “Republican Party” is now in a tail spin

Now “Trump” is the old guy and “Harris” is closing his leading gap

“Vance” is being criticized severely and the “Republicans” are starting to unwrap

“Kamala” is packing stadiums putting “Donald” in his place

Telling “Trump” if you got something to say, “say it to my face”

She wants him to show up for the previously scheduled debate

Is he going to appear? All we can do is sit and wait

The campaign has received record donations since she took the wheel

Hundreds of thousands of volunteers have joined due to her appeal

They are comparing this to the “Kennedy” run if you are old enough to remember

Let’s hope this excitement leads her to the “White House” in  November!

The “Olympic” games have begun yet haven’t started great

It seems the “Canadian” women’s soccer group  are the ones to hate

Looks like they were doing some surveillance on the “New Zealand” team

That didn’t seem to sit too well with the “FIFA” regime

They used a drone to spy on a practice by the “KIWI” squad

The punishment they delivered was pretty broad

They deducted six points from them and banned three coaches for a year

Whether “Canada Soccer” makes an appeal hasn’t been made clear

They fined them $313,000 for this infraction

For all the players involved it must be a major distraction!

They are the defending “Gold Medal” champions and are ready to defend

All the pressure that’s been put on them is a little hard to apprehend

They are the pride of “Canada” and deserve all the admiration

Don’t think for one second that they have been abandoned by their “Nation”

I feel very sorry for these women but now they are on a mission

Through no fault of their own, they have been put into this position

They beat “New Zealand” two to one in their first game

Then defeated “France” and the score was the same

They are undefeated so far and their points still add up to none!

You have to have faith because their journey isn’t done!

They scored the winner in stoppage time when they defeated “France”

If they would have ended in a tie, they wouldn’t have had a chance

Wednesday they play “Colombia” so they still have a shot

If they come  out victorious they advance to the “quarter finals” slot!

This whole fiasco has had a devastating effect on them as a whole

They have become so much closer in trying to achieve their goal

What the “coaches” did was wrong, I think most of us agree

But all of us “Canadians” are hoping they are victorious in game number three

Then justice would be served and they could still contend

Still be in the running and  have their title to defend

The players aren’t the “cheaters” but that’s the price they pay

They will become a team of “legend” if they  go all the way!

I am sitting on my couch and taking some time to reflect

My thoughts are on the fact that I am giving my dog too much respect

I never even considered it, but lately it’s becoming painfully clear

The fact is that I am not the boss of him as it would appear

This was not my intention when I first acquired this pet

To be honest with you, I’m really not that upset

He has been there for me every morning ready to head out the door

As soon as I stir out of bed, he is ready to explore

I guess he is my therapy dog but he doesn’t wear the vest

He is always right there beside me when we do our daily quest

I looked back at the past year and we only missed four days so far

When you really think about it, it all seems so bizarre!

We missed two days last month because of heavy rain

So that record accumulated during winter and spring seems so insane!

It was definitely a mild winter because we don’t like the cold

When it gets really bitter, out daily adventure gets put on hold

Close to six kilometers we cover each and every day

I let him take the lead because he knows the way

Maybe I have given him too much authority and the power has gone to his head

I am now second in command and he is in charge instead

Here are a few examples of what I have had to endure

I thought it was enough when I had to pick up his manure!

He sleeps in every room for hours in the day

We don’t venture into them because we could be in the way

I don’t go out to the front when he is eating anymore

I make sure he is finished before I head out to the door

He follows us to the front porch and he frolics about

Then he sleeps in front of the entrance and we can’t get in or out

We have a fenced in yard for him to go out and play

Once he lets out his yelp, we rush to let him in right away!

I know we got him neutered, but he still thinks he has his balls

We both seem to cater to him and are at his beckon  call

Through all of our disciplining, he has gotten the upper hand

To others that are pet owners, I think you understand

The trick is to let him think he has it and then show no concern

For all the love you give them, you get so much more in return!

Is it just me or are we hearing “Doug Ford’s” name a lot in the news?

From repairing the “Science Center” or making it easier to get your booze?

“A buck a beer” was the platform that he ran

Why he is so fixated? I still don’t understand

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”! Isn’t that what they say?

All of his stupid bureaucracy is obviously getting in the way

Very few grocery stores are warming up to his latest “scheme”

For “Doug Ford” it seems to be a reoccurring dream

Could this be his way of catering to us common folk?

He has a history of hating “unions” and he continues to provoke

Look at the way he handled the teachers, it was a total disgrace!

In the end, these educators certainly put him in his place!

He got tutored by the teachers, but the lesson wasn’t learned

He is in another conflict and once again he doesn’t seem concerned

Only 37 of 2000 grocery stores have aided him in his lament

So if you were to calculate this, it comes out at roughly 2 percent

Not quite a big enough endorsement to put his plan in action

It has been over three weeks and the big stores don’t see the attraction

The “LCBO” has gone on strike and have closed every single store

“Ford” is sticking to his plan and refusing to negotiate once more

Thousands of jobs on the line, with hundreds of millions of public money in its wake

Conveniently left open for his rich backers to swoop in and take!

All these funds would be gone and jobs will be lost in the outcome

I guess this is his plan “B” and he thinks all us “Ontarians” are dumb

All the former employees will be down and out

Every “LCBO” store will be shut down as a result

The rich get richer and all of this will fall between the cracks

So in order to survive, they will raise our “Provincial” tax

Then they buy up all these stores with “Ford” in full compliance

It just seems so obvious, it isn’t rocket science

So if we just ignore him and just play wait and see

Years from now him and his pals will be enjoying a sauna where the “Science Center” used to be!

So “Joe Biden” had a bad debate and panic has set in!

Does this mean they are going to bring “Donald Trump” back again?

Less than four months to the election and “Democrats” are in a fright

Can they not just say that “Biden” had a bad night?

Are the “Americans” going to overlook all the lies that “Trump” said?

Give up on “Biden” and vote for “Trump” instead?

I still can’t believe the way all of this is going  down!

The amount of support they are giving to this “Orange Clown”

“Trump” is a complete moron and the “Republicans” still have his back

I don’t know what they are smoking or maybe they are all on “crack”?

He’s been found guilty of “falsifying records” on “thirty four” counts

That was a jury’s verdict and people are still having doubts?

He’s been found guilty of “sexual assault” in another case

The fact that he still has so many followers is a total disgrace

The man is a “grifter”, “con artist” and “swindler”, it all makes common sense

Even though it’s so obvious, the “Republicans” and “MAGA” followers flock to his defense!

Now even the “Supreme Court” seems to be coming to his aid

The sentencing for his fraud case has been officially delayed

They granted “Trump” broad immunity from prosecution for “Official Presidential Acts”

“Judge M. Merchan” will be back in September after he has weighed all the facts

So what will happen between then and now?

The “Democrats” have to get together and change the tide somehow

This is a country that claims that they are the most powerful on “Earth”

They are going to have to fight to retain “democracy” for all that they are worth!

If you put “Trump” into office, a “dictator” he will be

“Donald” has revealed all his cards and it’s all plain to see

This man has no scruples, he has never earned an honest dime

Then you are going to re-elect him and let him absolve himself of crimes?

The status of “America” is falling, they are no longer held is such high regard

Their politics are a joke and they are unable to take care of things in their own backyard!

If they go “Republican”, there is no coming  back

They have to vote “Democrat” to keep them on the right track!

The “NHL” season is over and it didn’t finish quite the way I wanted

There are millions of other Canadians that are feeling downhearted

The “Oilers” put in a valiant effort only to come up short

They had this proud nation behind them for support

Coming back from three games down and tying the series up

Only to lose in the seventh game and the “Panthers” winning the “Stanley Cup”

“Connor McDavid” won the “MVP” of the playoffs even though he was on the losing side

Once again a team from north of the border has been denied!

It was the closest we have come to finally ending this curse

After what they accomplished it all seems so much worse!

For all the athletes involved it has been a long haul

They have a few months to recuperate before the coming fall

The “NHL” did their draft on this past weekend and free agency starts today

So many players could be moved before they all come back to play

So what do you do until “October” just to fill this empty space?

Do you pursue other sports in an effort to take hockey’s place?

I guess I could watch some “Blue Jays” baseball for a spell

Maybe turn my interest to football and watch some “CFL”?

So I decided that I would watch them pass the pigskin today

There isn’t a game on the schedule and it’s “Canada Day”!

This season will run until the “Grey Cup” game on the seventeenth of November

While this is proceeding, the “NFL” starts early in September

I know this month just started but remember it’s a “leap year”

On the 26th of this month the “Olympic Games” will appear

This year the games are in “France” with “Paris” being the host

We all we be watching and cheering from coast to coast!

These are mere suggestions, I don’t know if I am even going to follow my own advice!

I may abstain from all sports until my “Blackhawks” are back on the ice!

I may just enjoy the summer and put the “sports fan” part of me on hold

Get out and enjoy the warmth before we get back into the cold

Take in some more walking and get out for a bike ride

Do all that I can before I am forced to stay inside

Then I can take advantage of the summer that lays ahead

Not sitting in front of the television watching pro athletes instead

I will have all the long winter to watch my favourite sport

Get out and enjoy the sunshine because summer feels so short

It looks like one those days when I am forced to stay inside

They are calling for rain and possible flooding so my routine has been denied

Thousands of steps behind my fitbit goal and usually home from my walk

Already so far behind schedule and it’s only eight o’clock

There’s a mist on the window and it certainly isn’t bright

The room I’m in is so dim that I had to turn on the light

The forecast is calling for steady rain followed by scattered showers

Time it right and perhaps I can get out for an hour

If there is even a slight chance, I  will be on my way

I’m in no way trying to give in to this dismal Sunday

Yesterday, however was a different story, I got my early start

It would be six o’clock in the morning when I would depart

My dog and I would get our walk in and both were feeling great

There was an event that I wanted to go to that was starting at eight

It was still early and my morning routine was complete

I fed and gave the dog fresh water, then headed down the street

This time it would definitely be a shorter walk

The “Shriners” were having their annual “garage sale” located on the next block!

My wife and her cousin would meet me a little later on

We bought a few articles and then we were gone

We piled in the car and continued with our quest

We stopped and visited friends who have decided to move out west

They were having a yard sale and we stopped in to see

Purchased a few more articles then went to garage sale number three

The location for this was in a much further place

It was happening miles away at our “air force base”

This sale was going to be our final one

We stopped at three establishments on our coffee run!

Up the long hill we climbed and finally reached the top

We roamed around a few neighbourhoods and continued to shop

My wife ran into someone she hadn’t seen for many years

She was so excited, she was almost in tears

The bake sale at a Chapel would  be the last place we would roam

We filled a few bags and then headed for home

We stopped at my wife’s brother’s house to stop and say hello

Left a while later because her cousin “Kim” had to go

We packed her car, hugged and said goodbye

Then we had to make a delivery to a special guy

We spent more than a couple of hours talking to this close friend

It seemed like such a fitting way for this day to end

My wife and I have been doing some landscaping as you are all aware

It’s not set up quite the way we want, but we are getting there

Friday we cut the grass in the front and back yards for the second time this June

Then we proceeded to do some more landscaping on Saturday afternoon

The focal point for our garden was a solar light that we bought

We purchased it weeks ago and put it in a special spot

Attached a couple of hanging plants on it and put it on display

It has been sitting in this spot since the middle part of May

We had over forty pounds of rock loaded in its base

Both of us agreed it enhanced our outdoor space

The light shines bright at night and everything looks great

Then one very windy evening it met with a tragic fate

This would go on the record as incident number one

It sustained some damage and we both thought it was done

With all the wind blowing the leaves it made a loud rustling sound

We never heard the crash when the lamp hit the ground

I thought to myself that this is broken and is beyond repair

I walked over to my neighbour who was outside sitting in a chair

“Dave” looked at the damage and came up with a plan

He put it all back together and once again I thank this man

When I put it back in my yard I wanted to keep it out of the breeze

I decided I could reduce the surface area and turned the lamp ninety degrees

This meant the pots were behind and not much surface area to blow

Four days later it crashed again, this proves how much I know!

This was our second incident and once again “Dave” saved the day

This now brings us to this past weekend on a Friday

We were building a raised garden of cedar posts and board

This is when the third and hopefully the final incident occurred

We had to move the lamp to get it into its spot

We removed all the rocks on the base but unfortunately we forgot

We tried so many configurations on how to make this garden bed

We weren’t making any progress and were falling behind instead

We went about our business and decided to take a break

This is when we made yet another mistake

This now brings us to incident number three

We weren’t even thinking as you can plainly see

This lamp crashed for the third time and was the worst of all

“Dave” once again was there to answer the call!

We took it home and placed it in our house to stay in overnight

We weren’t taking any more chances with this solar light

After all the broken pieces of cedar we had to settle on a design

We ended up with three squares and it looks fine

We planted petunias of different colours that match the ones hanging in the pots

With all the trouble we endured, it turned out better than I thought

We dug a deep hole and spiked down the base in the middle square

Filled it with all the rocks and finally this pole isn’t going anywhere!

Now that this was finally secure, we screwed on the solar light

This is now our centerpiece and looks great all day and night!