It has been a couple weeks of wrapping work up for a slowdown, shifting lockdown status, and kicking business efforts into the next gear for my clients. So, I have been busy as ever but it is a blur 'til I look back into my pictures.

Let's se what I have been up to in your Pre-Christmas Zekely!

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Lately, I have been starting with a ladder shot to give you a general impression of the weather and mark the triumphant return of Oh The Ladders You Will Climb @zekepickleman/oh-those-goofy-ladders There have been dustings of snow, brisk windy days, and a general lingering just below zero degrees.

Though the internet installation gigs will hopefully be done for the year, I will have to go through my folder and showcase the best of this strange strange year.

Live music is an elusive creature this year as restrictions shift, big-money acts are scuttled, and small venues have mostly left the curtains drawn on their stages. I have a greater story to tell with @town-crier but can share this shot of Ron Sexsmith https://www.ronsexsmith.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Sexsmith safely playing at his residency at Revival House Stratford https://revival.house

That article will focus upon the music and the scene so I can leak this shot of the Asian fusion delicacy I enjoyed while listening to an exclusive performance by the 2005 Songwriter of the Year. An unbelievable night under normal circumstances. This was extra special in 2020 and I hope to have earned premium WifePoints©

The music, fine dining, and inspiring entrepreneurial tale are not the only things going on at https://revival.house. On an off day, we worked with local charity initiative A Child's Smile https://www.facebook.com/AChildsSmileStratford/ which has been delivering toys to need regional children for over 30 years. Here, we have loaded in a landscape of toys which we had delivered to families across the region. Cash to the right charity is definitely the way to go as they can pool it together, buy wholesale, and supply much more than we can purchase retail.

Days off spent helping the community feel pretty well spent.

'Tis the season for festive decorations because you can't keep the spirit of this community down! This poor little tree lives at an unstoppable BBQ restaurant which has just opened in the last couple of months to tremendous support. https://keepinitcreole.ca is a great team with whom to work as they provide kickass southern BBQ in the great white north.

Plenty of my time has been spent working with the folks evolving, progressing or even just surviving. Most likely the narrative for the foreseeable future and I am alright with that.

Speaking of charity, I also had the chance to work with the Multicultural Association Perth-Huron www.maph.ca to arrange more toys and essentials to be delivered to newcomers to our country and region. This time, we partnered up with our Paramedics to deliver them all door to door in one of the EMS ambulances.

While the adults were momentarily shocked by the flashing lights, the kids were flabbergasted and seemed very impresses by the spectacle and bags of toys. That too is a story to be told by @town-crier as everyone needs a little happy kids and resourceful volunteers.

While life is not all fun and games, there are definitely plenty of fun and games in my life. Red Dead Redemption II has been around a while but I am not a player of single player games with few exceptions. Red Dead Online has launched though and is only like $10. So, we have gotten the old gang together to raise a little hell on horseback in the late 1800s. Here is the posse talking to some stranger looking to pay us to get his property back. One way or another...

You bet your ass there was beer involved. Will I review this one for #beersaturday or will I have found another seasonal gift pack I couldn't wait to save 'til Christmas day? Well you may just have to wait a few days to find out!

In the meantime, any week which includes beer is good enough. One with a brand new IPA will get my stamp of approval.

@powerhousecreatives is in a state of evolution but I will keep hanging my decorations like this one so nicely made for me by one of my oldest pals @brittandjosie

As of Christmas eve, we are being moved to grey level LOCKDOWN for 30 days to help ease the increasing load on the healthcare system. Should be an adventure.