I briefly considered doing another online Advent Calendar this year, possibly with fiction, but I eventually changed my mind. WIth everything I have going on, I know it would only make me crazy and who wants that, right? But for those who missed it last year, my 2011 Advent Calendar is still online and is probably still relevant.

However, I would like to point out that I put together a kind of Advent Calendar of Fantasy Fiction for LitReactor.com and it links to a free online story for every day leading up to Christmas. So check that out if you would like to read some really interesting holiday fiction.

I didn’t actually manage to pick up an Advent Calendar this year, and that’s okay. I’m doing things a little differently this year. However, could I afford it, I would have gone with this deliciously indulgent advent calendar full of whisky. I suppose it’s still early December. Someone could still get it for me, right? Of course that first night catching up would be a fun one…

One of the things I regret about last year is not managing to produce a holiday story for 2010. I’ve mentioned it before, but years ago I decided that sending out holiday cards felt too impersonal and instead started writing stories at the end of the year and sending those to my friends instead. They were early drafts, yes, and had problems, but they were something original and unique and personal and I felt better about that. Some of them even went on to become full-fledged submissions (one of which sold, but was never published).

I was hoping to do that again this year, but unfortunately I never found the time or the idea.

In years past when I’ve also missed my own deadlines I’ve tried to make it up. Frankly, with all the other things I’m working on, I might not have the time. The question is, do I let it go? Or maybe send something out for my birthday?

I’m still deciding…

I know it’s been a while since I last posted anything of substance. WordPress and website woes were the culprit for part of the time and I guess I just got used to not blogging as a result. I still have to deal with a faulty plugin. But I wanted to wish all my Jewish friends a Happy Chanukah.

I celebrated in my own heathen way last night with this gift set from Shmaltz Brewing Company. Their He’brew Jewbelation is always one of my favorite beers with each release and this gift set includes a twelve ounce bottle of each of the releases from 8-14 as well as a blend of all those that’s been aged in rye whiskey barrels. To make it even more fun, the bottles are meant to be used with candles (and come with candles) to form a beer menorah.

Last night I opened the first of the beers, the Jewbelation 8. Tonight, I’ll open the 9 and so on until ending with the Vertical Jewbelation (the blend).

Shmaltz are also setting up events all month long in NY and other cities with the various Jewbelation beers on tap and others (like Coney Island) as well. They’re one of my favorite breweries so I’d suggest checking them out.

And while it’s not Chanukah related, I also got as a gift an advent calendar, so I’m looking forward to opening that every day this month and, soon, decorating my apartment.

Are you doing anything fun for the holidays?