So a few more pages of the “Donald Trump” saga was added to the book

Seems the FBI was issued some search warrants for them to take a look

They headed to his Mar-a-Lago residence while “Donny” was out of town

All the goodies they were looking for were apparently found

Even though he was in New York thanks to closed circuit television he got to watch it all

From what was gathered from all the news outlets they came out with quite a haul

Being a man of habit, the conspiracy theories were the first things he would spout

Followed shortly for some donations just to help him out

Another “witch hunt” was occurring is a phrase this former President likes to say

Still there hasn’t been any real consequences that he has had to pay

The count was twenty one boxes of evidence when the FBI left his place

Yet still some more charges waiting that he may have to face

Hordes of classified material was gathered by this group

Something that the “National Archives” was wanting to recoup

First time in history that a President’s residence had to be searched

Can a man who lacks any social morals claim to be besmirched?

There are so many cases against “Trump” it begins to make one sick

With all of them pending, will they finally find one that will stick?

A man that was involved in the January 6th insurrection attacked the FBI

Broke into their Cincinnati office and as a result he would die

Once again someone believed all the propaganda that was being spread

How many more of these people will eventually end up dead?

Still I’m not sure if “Trump” will ever be convicted of a crime

I think Americans don’t want to see a former “President” serving time

No matter what this man does or says there hasn’t been any repercussions for what he’s done

Still he is able to continue spouting the bullshit that he won

This conman is making their country a laughing stock and still is the “Republican’s” choice

The members of his party are so chicken that they dare not raise their voice

I can’t understand how anyone can believe anything that this man proclaims?

He is only spawning new members who have no sense of shame

“DeSantis” is the heir apparent to this conservative group?

This is like riding a rollercoaster on an endless loop

No matter who’s in charge, this party will remain the same

There seems to be no signs of improvement in their idiotic game

“Biden” pulled a fast one on them when he got some serious legislation done

Still the Republican party is claiming “Donald Trump” really won

This continues to be their credo in this upcoming midterm elections

Those who promote this myth end up being the “Republican’s” selection

So if you think that this stupidity will all end soon

This party is backing a whole new slate of buffoons

This means they have made a commitment to remain on this course

If this continues it will only make this situation go from bad to worse

Just when you think things couldn’t get more insane

If they don’t convict “Donald Trump” he will be allowed to run again

Saturday morning I woke up early just to beat the heat

Finished my assignment before eight and accomplished my feat

The temperature continued to rise throughout the day

Once it got into the low thirties, I was in to stay

This is now close to ninety degrees on the Fahrenheit scale

When it starts getting that warm, that’s when I have to bail

Thankfully we have the air conditioning to keep us comfortable inside

No sense sitting outside and just continue to get fried

I crawled down into the basement where it was cooler still

Watch the latest political news on youtube until I got my fill

It’s a habit I have gotten into as you are all aware

These are some of the latest tidbits that I have chosen to share

China’s leaders are miffed at the fact that “Pelosi” visited Taiwan last week

The tensions towards the Americans is continuing to peak

They now have fired air to air missiles in the straits of Taiwan

They started with this aggression after “Nancy” had gone

Looks like a move from the playbook “Putin” has used

I hope the escalation between these Asian nations is quickly diffused

Seems like Donald Trump’s appeal is beginning to lose some power

His popularity with the Republican Party is really starting to sour

They are saying the January 6th committee has enough evidence for a conviction

This in turn inside their party is causing a whole lot of friction

“Alex Jones” lost his case with the parents of the children at “Sandy Hook”

Fifty million dollars isn’t near enough of a payout from this crook

The good news is that he will probably be charged with perjury for all his lies

This isn’t the last we’ll see of this corrupt guy

Turns out his lawyers screwed up and sent a copy of his text messages to the defense lawyers side

When I saw his reaction in the court proceedings I laughed until I cried

The messages cover texts he had written for close to three years

So “Alex” may end up calling it a career

The January 6th committee has requested a copy for them to peruse

This is something that they could really use

This will hopefully make up for all the ones that Donald’s supporters have erased

This is really a godsend for their member’s and their case

“Alex Jones” could be responsible for bringing all these traitors down

Thus deposing “Donald Trump” as the biggest clown

Our oldest daughter and her family dropped in from out of town last Saturday

The plan was to stay until Tuesday afternoon and then be on their way

For the two of us residing here it was certainly a treat

Our youngest granddaughter and us would finally meet

They arrived in two cars and all stayed at our place

This meant there were now ten people occupying our space

To better suit everyone, my wife came up with a plan

We were able to make use of  our space the best way we can

So everyone had a bed for them to sleep in at night

All in all the time we had together turned out alright

We baby proofed the premises to keep the youngest children secure

We needn’t had to bother because they were safe for sure

The two of them were never out of anybody’s sight the whole time they were here

Their family kept them protected as they have throughout the years

The great grandson hadn’t seen  the dog for over a year

The baby loved the dog at first sight and never showed any fear

As for the older children, we now both seem so small

All the grandsons now tower above us all

Two of them are still growing and could gain some more

The next time we see them, they might have to duck to get in the  door

Their cousins dropped in to visit and to say hello

During the visit they had the freedom to come and go

Each night we stayed up later than the one  before

Sitting up and talking well past midnight and more

We took advantage of the opportunity to talk and reminisce

The time we spent together is something we all miss

As far as pictures and videos go, we love them very much

It is always so important that our group is able to keep in touch

It was so nice to get together and finally visit everyone

It didn’t seem near long enough before our reunion was done

The time breezed past and soon you were getting ready to be on your way

We hope the time is not so long when you come back to stay

Another seven days has passed and still I haven’t managed to sleep in

Shortly after daybreak is when this adventure would begin

It occurred this past Friday and it started out as a typical day

While walking the dog, I opted to go a different way

Perhaps it had something to do with the topic of last week

The trail I used to take years ago, was the one that I would seek

Instead of taking my usual left, I forged straight ahead

Advanced to Laurier Woods but took the tracks instead

This way I would avoid all the traffic and had no hill to climb

Take the crossing on Judge Avenue, therefore saving lots of time

The trail was the same, just the same as I remember it

Over ten years since I walked it and it hadn’t seemed to change a bit

The dog was enjoying the roaming running wild and free

Even though he had all that space, he was sticking pretty close to me

We continued on our way and headed for the shops

On our way to the gate but then we were forced to stop

The crossing hadn’t been cut and boxcars were filling every track

I decided just to go around them instead of walking back

It shouldn’t be a problem, just a little detour we would have to make

I pondered about climbing the cars, but it was a chance I didn’t want to take

It had to be over forty cars before I could finally get around

What was supposed to be a short cut, I was covering more ground

When I ventured on the other side, things would only get worse

Twigs and branches from the trees were blocking my intended course

I continued on my way but there was no speed in my stride

With every step I took, I had to push these branches to the side

This so called shortcut wasn’t turning out all that great

I would end up tacking on another kilometer before I finally reached the gate

We finally passed through it and headed up the street

Took a turn at the end and we were back on our usual beat

The excursion that we took turned out to be an epic fail

It may be quite a while before I venture off my usual trail

I have a problem in that I just can’t seem to sleep in

I seldom make it to seven before my day begins

I am a creature of habit and stick to a morning routine

It certainly isn’t the way that it always has been

When I was employed I worked shift work and it would alter my state

I worked every weekend and the hours were for certain not that great

Over the years I was on steady midnights, four to twelve and swing shifts as well

These varied year to year but this lasted for quite a spell

When I did get a day shift the days off were in the middle of the week

Days with weekends off was the ultimate goal that I chose to seek

This job started straight out of high school as a summer chore

I was only employed part time but I soon wanted more

The plan was after the summer to go to college and be on my way

Once I started getting forty hours, I wanted to stay

For the first time I was making real money and the pay was good

They asked me if I wanted to continue after the summer and I said I could

So what started out as a summer job turned out to be a career

I would retire halfway through my thirty sixth year

When I first started, there were six other men working with you

Over the years the shift would be covered by two

At one time there were over thirty employees who worked in this place

Each year you would look up at the seniority list hoping you moved up a space

You would wish your fellow worker good luck when he would retire

This in turn would move your name on the list just that much higher

Over the years the days shift with weekends was finally in my sights

Now at the end of this dark tunnel I was finally starting to see that light

Each year I was getting closer to the top of this group

That’s when the office and the hours went for a loop

They decided to cut off some jobs and buy out some of the employees

This is the first time in a while that I started to worry

Once the dust had settled and the changes were done

The employees on each shift would now be reduced to one

This meant for me that I would incur another delay

I continued on shift work to earn my pay

It took twenty nine years to get my day shift with weekends off and I was now in heaven

After a few months in that role, they changed the hours to start at seven

I told them they could change the hours in any way

No matter what you decide, I’m here to stay

I got up every morning before six for seven years and then called it a career

I still haven’t been able to break this habit it would appear

I have tried everything to shake it but I can’t seem to break free

All because of those last years of working seven to three

So far today I have walked the dog, ate breakfast and finished this poem of mine

That is what I’ve accomplished so far this morning and it’s only ten minutes past nine

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