January 6-7

The Deep Freeze was still around on Saturday as we returned to downtown Reading for game #2 of our busy weekend. The Royals had played in Worcester on Wednesday and won thanks to an OTGWG from Matt Willows, on this night the Railers visited for the first of a back-to-back set at the Arena. The Royals took an early 1-0 lead on a score by Ryan Penny, midway through the second period Worcester pulled even. With six minutes left in regulation time Chris McCarthy put the Royals ahead but it didn't last, the Railers replied a minute later to knot it at 2-2. In the closing moments Worcester got a break into the zone and scored the game-winner with twenty-two seconds on the clock. Mark Dekanich was the goalie of record and deserved a better fate. On Sunday it was more comfortable (if temperatures in the upper teens can be considered comfortable) largely because the winds were much lighter and the chill factor was more tolerable. We reconvened at the arena for the rematch from Saturday and on this day it was all Royals. Chris McCarthy scored in the game's second minute and Ryan Penny scored twice as the Royals took it 3-0, John Muse stopped 28 shots for his second shutout of the season and the team's third. The Royals hit the midpoint of the home schedule (game #18) on Saturday and the season's overall midpoint (game #36) on Sunday, the record stands at 19-15-2 and 13-6 at home. The next home game is on Wednesday the 10th when Worcester returns for round three (or round four if you count the game in Worcester). In many ways I'm lucky to be writing this post, on the way home I was nearly involved in not one but TWO automobile collisions not of my making. We were southbound on 222 north of the turnpike when a tractor-trailer in the left lane decided he wanted into the right lane despite the fact that I WAS ALREADY IN IT. I had to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid being hit, the guy either didn't know I was next to him or he didn't CARE. After I had Jenny and Helen home safely I was coming back to town when I saw a car approaching from the other direction. This fool swerved into my lane, back into his lane and onto the shoulder crashing into the guardrail. That didn't even slow him down, he swerved back onto the road crossing right in front of me and crashing into the guardrail on that side of the road. This all happened in the span of about ten seconds, as he was swerving I was doing likewise and hoping to hell I was guessing right. After he passed me and hit the second guardrail he incredibly kept right on going and I never saw him again. My mother gave up driving about six months ago and she says today she has no desire to ever drive again, stuff like this makes me question it myself. Take care (look who's saying that to who), thanks for reading.