Aardvark Dreams

This past weekend my partner and I visited my grandma in the desolate Wisconsin cornfield where she lives. While we were there, she recommended a favorite song of hers, which she used to play on the jukebox at her first job in 1953. It was "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller. Just a little recommendation, from an 88-year-old woman to you.

On our way home, we saw a flock of what I believe were tundra swans flying overhead. A nice glimpse of life in the otherwise bleak fields of northwestern Wisconsin in the winter.

Northwestern Wisconsin is not a place where I'd like to live again, but there are some spots there that I love. For example, Crex Meadows is a fascinating area with a lot of cool bird life. If you're nearby, I recommend taking a drive through the area in the summertime.
(Once, my friend took me on a muddy off-road drive through Crex Meadows in his little Chevy Malibu. A swarm of mosquitoes kept pace with his car, probably hoping we'd sink into the swamp and provide a nice bloodfeast for them. I distinctly remember making eye contact with an enormous mosquito as it flew next to my window. I think it was wearing googles and a little white aviator scarf. Never again. Just stay on the roads if you go there.)

Krispy Kreme is back in Minnesota. I like these donuts (as I like all donuts), though there are plenty of great local bakeries that have better donuts. (Cub Foods donuts are also solid, fight me if you disagree.) But this state doesn't have a huge donut culture, which is probably why people have gone (do)nuts for the donut chain. (It's also probably why Krispy Kreme didn't make it last time they were here.)
Anyway, I was recently in the area and decided to go through the Krispy Kreme drive-thru for a donut. Or at least I tried to, but the line wrapped through the parking lot. The inside line was no better; it went out the door.
I just don't think it's worth it to wait in that long of a line for a donut. So I went home, donutless. I made up for it a few days later by going to my favorite quick breakfast spot: Mi-Sant, a Vietnamese cafe with banh mi, croissants, and more. As I write this, I'm eating the Nutella-filled croissant I always buy while I'm there to eat the next day. If you are in the Twin Cities, go to Mi-Sant instead of Krispy Kreme. I know it isn't the same thing at all, but it's still better.

Other than just not participating, the least wasteful way to do Christmas gifts is to use wishlists. Your recipients are less likely to throw away the item they actually asked for. Put away the bath bombs. Lay down your whiskey stones. Ask your loved ones what they want!

On the subject of Christmas, I would really like an advent calendar that is entirely foods and drinks, but a good variety of them. I don't want a bunch of mini jars of jam, or a thousand tiny chocolate bars. I want something different every day! Does such a calendar exist?

I still have not built a gingerbread house (as mentioned here), but I'm thinking of going for it this weekend or the next. I know everyone is waiting with bated breath.

I did a tarot spread for my friend for her birthday on Friday. (I did this spread, if you're interested.) It was really enjoyable, and it reminded me of when I had endless time on my hands and used to interpret people's dreams on Tumblr. It was fun and often hilarious.
I'm not ever going to do that again, but I do have fun interpreting tarot, dreams, and the like. I think it's because I rarely remember my own dreams. When I do remember them, they aren't very detailed. Which brings me to my dream last night: I was being chased by a group of aardvarks, and one of them bit my hand. What does it mean?!