Less than ten days before Christmas and I haven’t got any of my Christmas movies in

I’ve watched quite a few by warming up on “Hallmark” to begin

This is a tradition that my wife and I observe every year

Looks like I’m in for a lot of double features seeing this holiday is so near

We both have our favourites and we watch them together

It’s something enjoyable to do during this cold winter weather

I’m trying to squeeze all this viewing in between my watching sports

Taking in all that football and hockey is cutting my “movie time” short

The way my “Blackhawks” have been playing maybe it’s time for a pause

Take in some entertainment and enjoy some movies about “Santa Claus”

We watch most of the classics and make sure we sample something new

Between now and Christmas, I don’t know how many we will view

I looked online for the top “Christmas” movies of all time

We will watch on regular tv or catch some on “Prime”

“A Charlie Brown Christmas”, “A Christmas Story” and “Christmas Vacation” are my first three

All these classics for me are a “must see”

If you like “Ralphie” when he was a boy

Check out “A Christmas Story Christmas” I’m sure you’ll enjoy!

It’s thirty nine years later and most of the original cast is there

It turned out to be a good movie, so I thought I should share

“A Christmas Carol” is one that we all heard about

There are so many versions, even “The Muppets” put one out!

“It’s A Wonderful Life” must be the most played movie I would say

At this time of year it is probably being played everyday

I enjoy the comedies, I can’t help myself

“A Bad Moms Christmas”, “The Santa Clause” and of course “Elf”

So many films based on this theme

Some are very nostalgic and then others go to the extreme

There are many “Horror” pictures about this holiday as a matter of fact

Then there’s that one question every year that continues to distract!

I have taken that step and I have to insist

“Die Hard” shouldn’t be appearing on anyone’s “Christmas” movie list!

Looks like my evenings are planned in the next days ahead

Watching some late night “Christmas” flicks and then off to bed

If I get too busy, perhaps there won’t be a new poem that will appear

Just in case, I want to wish you all a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy New Year”

I think of all the gadgets out there for us to buy

Especially electronics that I want to give a try

Some that are specific and perform a certain chore

Or ones that are versatile and can do so much more

I see some of them and having one would be nice

Then reality sets in when I see the sticker price

When I was a teenager, a “Sony Walkman” was the thing to get

You could listen to all your music on a single “cassette”!

It came with headphones for just you to hear

The sound was incredible and it came in “crystal clear”

This definitely was a “craze” and everyone jumped on board

Then came the cheaper versions that most of us could afford

So we were now able to listen to music everywhere we went

To all of us “teenagers” it was money that was well spent!

It was portable and convenient and could be carried anywhere

When you think about today’s devices, does it really compare?

We used to take pride in the music we listened to

Recording each song on these tapes was something we had to do

Today we are spoiled and have the choice of any selection

Back when I was a kid you relied on your own record collection

You needed another cassette player, one that could record

This was yet another luxury that not all us could afford

Somehow making a ninety minute tape didn’t seem that long

Even though you had to sit and listen to each and every song!

We got to use this device each and every day

This was so marvelous, all you had to do was  press “play”!

You exchanged music with friends to hear a new sound

This was to us, the greatest thing around!

Some of you may be reading this and perhaps laughing aloud

You have to remember, we couldn’t save our tunes to a “cloud”!

The “Walkman” was where the seeds for portable music were sown

Decades from now people will be asking, “you listened to music on a phone”?

I took a week off from my posts in hopes of clearing my mind

Getting away from that election and trying to unwind

The results certainly didn’t turn out the way I hoped

Now I’ll just leave it to the “Americans” to deal with this dope

I have tried to wean myself off of all the political news

Stayed off of “Youtube”, not taking in one view!

Not watching “CNN”, “MSNBC” or even “Bill Maher”

To be honest, I think I have been doing good so far

I was glued to the TV viewing football and hockey every day

Enjoying watching my “Buffalo Bills” play!

My “Blackhawks” are another story, they aren’t getting blown out

They are more competitive this year, which is what a rebuild is all about

Last weekend I was watching sports from morning until night

“American Thanksgiving” after that election, they certainly timed that right!

I started watching games on Thursday and am still keeping it up

Watched a lot of football including our “Grey Cup”

My “Bills” play at four today so I hope to finish this poem  soon

Right now it’s two o’clock in the afternoon

This is something else that I have to prioritize

Especially when I am usually up before sunrise

It’s been two weeks and yet here I am

There can be no excuses I have to get with the program

Some events out there can make me want to “scream and shout”

Then you have lapses where I don’t know what to talk about!

I have to write when an idea is fresh and tackle it right away

Do it spontaneously, that way there is no delay

Like that old saying “strike while the iron is hot”

I should pursue it when it first enters my thoughts

Sit down and do it right there and then

Write it down on paper using a favourite pen

This is something that some days I sorely seek

Hopefully you will see some better poetry in the coming weeks!

The “American” election is now over and done

I still can’t believe that “Donald Trump” actually won

So another four years of this “idiot” in charge

“Americans” led by this “criminal at large”

Don’t know what consequences are left in store?

I’m presuming this term will be worse than the one he served before

The “Republicans” won the “House” and the “Senate” and definitely rule the roost

This means they will be able to pass almost anything they introduce

Lost are the “guard rails” that used to keep this man in line

Many of them were fired, the rest chose to resign

Finding another “Republican” to control “Trump” is getting sparse

The majority of them are standing in line still kissing his “arse”

Already the choices he made for his cabinet are getting bad reviews

It’s all that they are talking about lately in the news

This is just the tip of the iceberg, there are so many situations to decide

The consequences of this election will be felt world wide

I am not a pessimist but the future doesn’t look all that bright

There is no way “Donald Trump” is going to make it right

Just a couple of months before he takes his proper place

Then he will start his agenda that his electors have chosen to embrace

I don’t know how this will go down or what the results will be?

Unfortunately it’s a case of us having to wait and see

Between rounding up “illegal immigrants” and pushing “climate change” aside

The “United States Of America” will be in for a “bumpy” ride

This won’t be a smooth transition no matter what they do

There’s no doubt that violence will ensue

Some will be shot for the lies that the “Republicans” and “Trump” have said

There could be thousands of innocent people that will end up dead

“Donny” and his “Republicans” have spun quite a tail

All for the sake of keeping their “leader” out of jail

Then as another result of all of this disorder

We will see a lot of “Americans” flooding our “Canadian” border

IT’S ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH EVERY YEAR

A TIME TO REMEMBER WHEN WE ONCE LIVED IN FEAR

A TIME WHEN PEACE ON THE PLANET WAS PUT TO A TEST

WHEN EVIL RULED AND THERE WAS COMPLETE UNREST

THIS WAS A TIME WHEN MEN AND WOMEN FOUGHT THE FIGHT

THROUGH EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT

THEIR LIVES WERE DEVASTATED AND MANY LIVES WERE LOST

ALL FOR PEACE AT A HORRIFIC COST

PEOPLE FROM OUR COUNTRY WHO CHOSE TO DEFEND

OUR RIGHT TO PEACE, UNWILLING TO BEND

NOT GIVING IN TO THE EVIL THAT WAS ALL CONSUMING AT THE TIME

A TYRANT THAT WAS KILLING WITHOUT REASON OR RHYME

THESE PEOPLE LEFT THEIR SAFE HOMELAND TO BATTLE THIS FOE

THEY ENLISTED BY THE THOUSANDS AS YOU AND I KNOW

TO STAND UP FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE WAS THEIR GOAL

THEY WERE PROUD TO BE SOLDIERS:  THEY CHOSE THIS ROLE

THEY LANDED IN EUROPE TO MAKE THEIR STAND

DETERMINED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS FOREIGN LAND

THEY WERE WELCOMED BY THESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARRIVED

WITHOUT THESE BRAVE SOLDIERS NO ONE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED

THEIR GOAL WAS TO END THIS GERMAN KILLING MACHINE

WHO WERE LED BY HITLER, A TERROR TRULY OBSCENE

MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH FAITH WERE THE PEOPLE HE CHOSE TO SLAY

THE GAS CHAMBERS HE USED FOR THESE ACTS REMAIN UNTIL THIS DAY

IT WAS DURING WORLD WAR II WHERE THESE PEOPLE WOULD FALL

THE WAR THAT PRECEDED THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO END THEM ALL

WORLD WAR ONE IS SAID TO HAVE DEFINED CANADA AS A NATION

THANKS TO OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION

WE FOUGHT SO MANY WARS OVER THE YEARS

LOST SO MANY LIVES, SHED SO MANY TEARS

CANADA WAS AN INFANT WHEN WORLD WAR ONE BEGAN

WE HAVE BATTLED IN EUROPE, KOREA AND AFGHANISTAN

WE HAVE SOLDIERS BEING SACRIFICED IN THIS MODERN AGE

TO PRESERVE THE PEACE THAT OUR NATION HAS CHOSEN TO WAGE

CANADA HAS GROWN AS A NATION, WE’LL MAINTAIN OUR STANCE

OUR PAST HEROES ARE WORSHIPPED IN EUROPE: REVERED IN FRANCE

THE MAJORITY OF US HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE: NEVER EXPERIENCED WAR

SOME THINK IT AS HORRIBLE AND JUST CHOOSE TO IGNORE

NOVEMBER 11^TH  IS THE DATE WE HAVE CHOSEN TO SHARE

TO SHOW OUR ARMED FORCES THAT OUR NATION DOES TRULY CARE

WE JUST CAN’T BE APATHETIC AND NOT HONOUR THIS DATE

FOR ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT REACHED THEIR GRIM FATE

TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE SEEMS SO LITTLE A TASK

FOR ALL THAT THEY SACRIFICED:  IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK?

There is a comedian and “Tony Hinchcliffe” is his name

He was the entertainment hired for “Donald Trump’s” campaign

He started the evening off with so many crude and racists jokes

There are so many thousands of voters that he provoked

They were aimed at the demographic that “Trump” was trying to persuade

Needless to say these potential voters felt they were betrayed!

What loyalties they had to “Trump” went up in smoke

Of course the “Republicans” maintain that it was only a joke

“Donald” claims he had no idea of who this man was

Just lying through his teeth as he often does

“Trump” now talks about the size of “Arnold Palmer’s” penis and “Hannibal Lecter”

After taking away women’s rights to abortions he says he’s their “protector”

I’m sure to all these women it must mean a lot?

“Donald” insists on this whether they like it or not

He still has his “MAGA” disciples behind him through thick and thin

This election is a tossup and he could still win

The polls show him and “Kamala” neck and neck in this fight

We may not even get the final results on Tuesday night

So this scenario is going to play out like it did before

Not that we requested it, but were in for an encore

He has been going so long with all his lies and deceptions

His followers still believe all these misconceptions

You see he has never lost and is still the “President” in their eyes

To the “Republican” party, he is still their guy!

Not sure how this will all go down if “Harris” comes out on top?

One has to wonder if this “stupidity” will ever stop?

I’m hoping “Kamala” wins and Trump finally goes to trial

Just let him and his cronies continue to stay in “denial”

“Donny” is in trouble you can see him starting to squirm

“Trump” will become an inmate if he doesn’t get a second term

It would be nice to see him and his enablers finally pay

Just back up the paddy wagon and take them all away

I have been going through my records and enjoying the tunes

Listening to these oldies throughout the afternoon

It’s hard to believe that these records still sound so great

Considering they have been stored for decades in old milk crates

Somehow the crackle in some of the songs doesn’t spoil the sound

When you stop to consider how long these albums have been around

I had to buy new brushes so I could wipe these records clean

This was a ritual I learned before I became a “teen”

Some clean them right out of the case before they begin

I prefer to put it on the turntable and wipe it while it spins

I’m not sure what the proper method is to get this chore done

This was a process that used to be performed by everyone

Then you had the phonographs that could play five or six albums in a stack

They would play one after another so you could listen and just sit back

I don’t know if you can still buy them, not sure if they are in demand?

Seems they were phased out over the years and I don’t understand

Now we have the best of both worlds with “bluetooth” technology on board

You can take your headphones anywhere not having to be attached to a cord

Last year vinyl outsold cd’s, so maybe this isn’t a passing fad

I held on to all my old records and can admit I’m glad

I’ve shopped online and gone to some local record stores

The price that they are asking for albums seems to be so much more

It’s now looking like an investment with what I have in stock

The price they were asking for came to me as quite a shock

So I may comb the second hand stores and take a peek

There are just a few records that I am trying to seek

So if this trend continues, maybe the prices will come down

If not, used records might be hard to find around town

I have enough music to keep me occupied, so many artists to get through

Every song has been a pleasure to listen to

If I never buy a new record, I’m sure I will be fine

I can listen to “Bob Seger”, “Aerosmith” or “April Wine”

We used to hear slogans on the radio and television every day

A lot of us remember them because they have stuck with us someway

They used these to promote products of every kind

They have become ear worms that you can’t get out of your mind

Now that we are “series binging” and have the luxury of “on demand”

It must now be harder for companies to be able to endorse their brand

Pop up ads on the internet is a daily ordeal

They are an annoyance and lack any appeal!

If you are watching a live event you may have to sit through a few

But if you record it for later, that’s what you will fast forward through

A “radio jingle” was one of the first advertisements that people would hear

Then they went to television when it made its premiere

“Advertisers” were the backers that paid for what these medias produced

Now with all these “Pay TV” services, their audiences are being reduced

Gone are the days when all you needed was an aerial for you tv set

If you attached one to today’s electronics, I don’t know what you’d get?

Maybe in a big city you might get a signal or two

It probably wouldn’t be worth the aggravation that you would go through

Now we are spoiled and want tv “on demand”

Take a hold of the remote and be in command

Don’t have to be sitting in front of the set when it first comes on the air

We have the luxury of watching it later, we don’t really care

This is now our new lifestyle, that’s just how it goes

There is a cost for this convenience and we all pay through the nose!

“Netflix”, “Disney”, “Prime Video”, or “Crave” are other options you may choose

So many alternatives out there left for you to peruse

Of course you can’t have anything without your “internet”

Then we are left to wonder how come we are so far in debt?

This is our new “culture” the die has been cast

There is no way that networks like “NBC”, “ABC”, “CBS” etc. can last!

You may laugh about the old days because there wasn’t that much television to see!

I think the joke is now on all of us, because we used to get all of it for free!

Ham, turkey or both are usually your Thanksgiving meal

This year I have found that these choices are losing some appeal

People are opting for chicken instead of that other big bird

Still some have chosen to order pizza, a rumour that I heard

These are traditions, does it really matter what’s on your plate?

For me this is not an issue, for others it could be a major debate!

The plan I had was dinner on Sunday which was the case

My daughter and son in law were cooking and bringing it to my place

I got up Saturday morning and as usual was walking along the way

When I got a message that the meal was happening on this day

So when I got home, I had to kick it into another gear

I had to get my premises cleaned before they arrived here

It took a couple of hours but I got it “spic and span”

Not up to some people’s high standards but I do the best I can

Then I finally got to eat which was now close to noon

I still had to shower and I wanted to do that soon

So after all that work, the place and I were looking pretty fine

Then I got another call from my daughter of mine

So after all that sweeping, vacuuming, hell I even made my bed!

She asked if it would be too much trouble to eat at her house instead?

She insisted on me bringing the pooch so he wouldn’t be alone

We both agreed it was the easiest for everyone and then both hung up the phone

My granddaughter from Toronto chose her favourite dinner

Her mother honoured her wishes and the meal was a winner!

Buffalo chicken potato casserole was enjoyed by everyone

Followed by homemade blueberry pie made by my son in law and our meal was done

The meal was perfect and the company was great

Needless to say we finished everything that was on our plate

My daughter and granddaughter packed a meal for a friend of theirs to eat

I walked down the street with them and my evening was complete

Dinner with family, who could ask for more

On holidays like these, that is what I am “thankful” for

Haven’t spent all that much time on my front porch this past week

It seems the temperature outside hasn’t reached its peak

I did enjoy a few brief minutes here and there

The opportunities unfortunately are becoming rare

It’s October now and still the weather has been great

Especially at this time of year when it seems to fluctuate

I have some “Halloween” decorations to be put on display

This could also be the time when I put the outdoor furniture away

I have to rearrange the front porch if I am to find some space

Instead of going through all that trouble why not put them in their storage place

Even though the days have been nice, they aren’t going to get much better

It’s not the same sitting out there, if you are forced to wear a sweater

You want to be out there when the sun is bright

Knowing it is setting earlier with every passing night

The long days of summer have unfortunately come to an end

The weather is getting cooler, that’s just reality my friend

There is so much to do before the end of fall

I  guess I have to get selfish and take advantage of it all

It seems silly to wait for warm weather that may never appear

You can’t count on it because we are so close to the end of the year

The cold days are going to outnumber the warm ones which is sad but true

So taken in that context, “you gotta do what you gotta do!

It’s time to get into gear and start putting things away

Be careful when you store them, because you’re going to need them next May

My oak and maple trees still have lots of leaves to shed

I guess while I am waiting I could clean out the garden beds

Between the gardens and the leaves I will accumulate a great big pile

The process of disposing  them could take quite a while

Maybe I should head out right now and enjoy the sun

Who knows how long this will take before I get all of this done

I won’t get it finished today but I could put in a major dent

This way I can say I accomplished something in any event

Try to enjoy it and take it all in stride

Hoping we have more weeks before we’re stuck inside

The task that I will regret more than any other

Is when I have to apply the “air conditioner” cover