For the finale, #Day25, of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'The Leaf-Sweeper' by Muriel Spark. Interesting final story for the occasion as the central character is anti-Christmas, & a bit broken by the end. Maybe a bit of a secret meaning...

For Christmas Eve, #Day24 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'The Thieves Who Couldn't Help Sneezing' by Thomas Hardy. A more classic tale for the holiday and a pleasant Christmas story of bravery, cunning, and small heroism. Fun, short read.

For #Day23 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'Anaheim' by Jennifer Croft. While not a fan of being reminded about the pandemic, the story is, oddly, a great showing of how most of our lives could be improved with money.

For #Day22 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'The One with the Multiverse' by Josh Riedel. Interesting view of how the multiverse would work. But more an examination of the desire to be special and wanting even just a few inconsequential changes to add meaning to life.

For #Day21 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'Wars and Winters' by Hannah Pittard. A rather short story that still manages to be very heavy and somber. Does seem like it is based on some historical events. If so, wonder if knowledge of them would enhance engagement.

On #Day20 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'The Things Eric Eats Before He Eats Himself' by Carmen Maria Machado. The title basically says it all, but will add, it's an engaging story on greed, consumption, & the hunger/void that comes from living only for oneself.

On #Day19 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'Chris Cornell' by Damian Tarnopolsky. A somber story about the misery of youth, uncompleted dreams & ambitions, & foolishness of artists, even the only self proclaimed ones. Bit depressing but still entertaining.

For #Day18 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'The Exhibition' by Alexandra Wuest. Definitely the most surprising story so far. Did not expect THAT to happen, but also the way the characters reacted & how the world just continued on was so real & both alarming but comforting...

On #Day17 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'You Again' by Seth Fried. One of the shorter stories, but still packs an emotional lunch. Just a pleasant story about second chances and living in, and appreciating, the moment. Made me a bit misty eyed.

On #Day16 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'Conversations Over the Holidays' by Jessica Westhead. Not sure if it's a somber or hopeful story about coming to terms with the simple act of existence in modernity. Sometimes bleak, sometimes kind, overall, a short, good read.

For #Day15 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'Down Burned Road' by Jacqueline Baker. A slightly depressing & very uncomfortable story about relationships & the discomfort of being & existing. Also, some gnarly bear scenes.

For #Day14 of #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'The Lottery' by Adam O'Fallon Price. An interesting story about luck, unluck, and human volatility, especially in human relationships. Has a hell of a finish too.

Seems appropriate that we get a ghost story for #Day13 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar. 'The Crown Derby Plate' by Marjorie Bowen is a delightful & somber ghost tale that is more about loneliness than outright terror. Again, seemed appropriate for the day & date.

For #Day12 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'Shopping Cart' by Christopher Boucher. An engaging story on how an anthropomorphic shopping cart helps a drowning man come to grips with the mess his life has become and be able to move on. Great story, if a little odd.

For #Day11 of #ShortStoryAdventCalendar read 'Children of a Careless God' by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. Interesting story about humanity's carelessness in its imposing of its own will even with the best of intentions. All from the perspective of house cats.

For #Day10 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, 'Tardy Suit' by Thomas Pierce. The shortest of the stories so far, yet, also the most poignant, & probably universal, story as well. We are all nothing more than cogs to corporations who must subdue our humanity for their profits. May we always turn away.

For #Day9 of #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, read 'What to Call You' by Casey Plett. Interesting story on trans experience that is about the larger, human experience of feeling isolated & alone, & desperately wanting simple, real human connection. Bit sad, but oddly hopeful.

For #Day8 of #ShortStoryAdventCalendar 'Ham' by John Jodzio. An interesting story about life after imprisonment & what a man will accept when few other options exist. Oddly tied to doomed symbol of American ideals which makes the lead being a former convict all the more poignant.

On #Day7 of #ShortStoryAdventCalendar read 'The Renovation' by Kenan Orhan. The longest of the shorts so far. Very somber and resolute in accepting all of life: good and bad. Heavy but lighter than previous days. Good read!

On #Day6 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, read 'For John' by Kim Fu. Somehow more depressing than yesterday's, but still a solid story worth reading.

For #Day5 of #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, read 'My Smell Journal [orange peels, ink, coffee filters]' by Katya Apekina. Easily the most grounded/real & depressing story so far. Thus, not surprised the author is Russian. Enjoyed the story. Was glad to finish & move on.

For #Day4 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar read 'Vandring' by J. Robert Lennon. This is a story about grief. Grief about death, about losing a loved one, about the life you could've had. There is no real release or resolution to the tension of the story as mundane as it might be. Feels heavy sort of

Booklet with the number 3 on it.

Open pamphlet with the title Eat Pray Click.

For #Day3 of #ShortStoryAdventCalendar, read 'Eat Pray Click' by Ed Park. Interesting story about the nature of, ironically, story & how a reader engages with a text. Also, an odd existential question on what the true intention of a story or text should be. Will definitely stick with me for a bit.

For #Day2 of the #ShortStoryAdventCalendar got 'The Hookup' by Katherine Heiny. Bittersweet story that shows the costs, both physical & emotional, of being unable to let go of the past. Different feel from yesterday's entry but just as engaging a read.

Very excited for tomorrow & opening my #ShortStoryAdventCalendar. The highlight of my December every year. Wonder what the first one will be*?

*that’s rhetorical, I don’t actually want to know until I read it.

A photograph of the Day 24 story of the Hingston & Olsen Short Story Advent Calendar story, leading to a small bottle of whiskey labeled Bushmill's Irish Whiskey, The Causeway Collection 1997 Rum Cask. A Christmas tree lit for the season is the backdrop for the photo.

The final day of #whiskyadvent/#SSAC2023 brings an Irish whiskey and a story of a prodigal son (perhaps accidentally) returned home. This is the end of the whiskey, but there is still a story to enjoy tomorrow.

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#whiskyadvent2023 #day24 #whisky #weedram #ShortStoryAdventCalendar

A photograph of a Glencairn glass of whisky, next to a small bottle labeled The Whiskymaker's Reserve No. 7, Single Malt English Whisky. Both are next to a small pile of Pastéis de Nata tarts, with molds for making the tarts in the background.

Penultimate day of #whiskyadvent/#SSAC2023 is another English whisky, and a short story about a not-so-typical family reunion.

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#whiskyadvent2023 #drinksbythedram #day23 #whisky #weedram #ShortStoryAdventCalendar #HingstonAndOlsen

Day 22 of #whiskyadvent/#SSAC2023 has arrived, and I'm on vacation. Celebrating with today's dram and, surprisingly, a story by Chekov (of gun, not nuclear wessels) that I'm pretty sure I've read before to mark the occasion.

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#whiskyadvent2023 #day22 #whisky #weedram #ShortStoryAdventCalendar

A photograph of a Glencairn glass of whisky, next to a small bottle labeled Glengoyne 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, both in front of a corkboard made from wine corks.

Day 21 of #whiskyadvent/#SSAC2023 is a clever bit about needs and wants on a few fronts, and a 10-year-old Glengoyne single malt.

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#whiskyadvent2023 #drinksbythedram #day20 #whisky #weedram #ShortStoryAdventCalendar #HingstonAndOlsen

A photograph of two bottles of Mortlach 16-year-old whisky, one a large bottle of the Flora and Fauna bottling, the other a small nip bottle of the distillery bottling from the Drinks by the Dram advent calendar. A Glencairn glass of the whisky is in front of and to the right of the bottles.

Nostalgia lay behind door 20 of the #whiskyadvent calendar today, while #SSAC2023 was s brief read called "The Skull", by Leopoldine Core.

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#whiskyadvent2023 #drinksbythedram #day20 #whisky #weedram #ShortStoryAdventCalendar #HingstonAndOlsen