Reading/Viewing Stats 2025 Final

Another year has passed, and I have now recorded five years of Reading/Viewing stats.  I have added a few categories and taken some away over the years, but the core of how many movies and streaming shows I have watched and how many books and comic books I have remain the core of my reflection.  

Looking at the statistics, I am down in all the categories except movies watched.  Thinking about the year, there are a few possible reasons for that.  First is the new category that I added.  I did not multitask (reading or watching things) when I was listening to the baseball games.  Many of the 80+ games I listened to would have been spent reading or streaming a show.  Second, I did read a ton of gaming rulebooks.  I don't count those unless I read them cover to cover, but I usually read only the parts I need or are interested in at that moment.  

I do have some standout favorites of the year.  My top novel is I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys.  Her works are so well-written and researched, and I Must Betray You is my favorite of all her books and a standout this year.  This book about the Romanian Revolution in 1989 really highlights the fear of living in a regime built upon lies and violence.  

My favorite movie experience this year was watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off with my family.  My wife and I laughed at the out-of-date references and jokes, but our favorite was the relationship between Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) and Grace (Edie McClurg).   Even more was how our high school graduate daughter caught many of the references.  

Two streaming programs stood out to me this year Andor: Season Two and Taylor Swift: End of an Era.

Andor: Season Two brings the story of Andor and the Rebellion up to the events of Rogue One.  Additionally, this series sheds light on the evil and dangers of the Empire that continues to bring cost and depth to the original trilogy.  Taylor Swift: End of an Era is an excellent documentary of the Eras tour and who Taylor Swift is on a personal level.  It documents the behind the curtain life of not only Swift, but many of her dancers, singers, and band.  It humanizes this group of people whom we otherwise only see as stars of the music industry.  

I continue to read through the 1980/1990s X-Factor run.  It is taking me forever to do this as I am only reading in spurts instead of buckling down to just finish it.  Regardless of how I am reading this series, I am enjoying it.  I have also enjoyed the current run of The Amazing Spider-Man as it is making its run up to issue 1000.  

	2025,	2024
Movies Watched	21	16
Rewatch	12	8
First Time	9	7
In Theater	4	1
TV Series (Streamed)	128	138
Rewatch	22	49
First Time	106	89
Podcast Episodes	30	37
Time Listened	1742	1561
Books Read	13	21
Graphic Novels
Fiction	9	18
Non-Fiction	4	3
Pages Read	3281	4480
Audio Books	0	2
Fiction	0	3
Non-Fiction	0
Hours Listened	0	16:50
Books Abandoned	3	2
Fiction	3	2
Non-fiction
Pages Read		258
Short Stores Read	0	0
Fiction	0	0
Non-Fiction	0	0
Pages Read	0	0
Comic Books Read	175	189
Print	73	123
Digital	102	66

Book Titles:  

Void Rivals: Vol. 1 More than Meets the Eye by Robert Kirkman Art by Lorenzo de Felicia (Graphic Novel)

The Salt Thief: Ghandi's Heroic March to Freedom by Neil Bascomb

The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfred Lupano and Leonard Chemineau, art by Christopher Bouchard (Graphic Novel)

Phandel we and Below: The Shattered Obelisk 

The Davenports (abandoned)

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetya

Dungeons and Dragons: Worlds and Realms by Adam Lee

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Meirlich and Oga's by Annabelle Hiel

Star Wars X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole

Operatic by Kyo Maclear art by Byron Eggenschwiler (Graphic Novel)

X-Men: Bizarre Love Triangle by Peter Milligan Art Salvador Larroca

Starfinder: Era of the Eclipse by Tim Pratt

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Movies Watched:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Wicked

Captain America: Brave New World (Theater)

Inside Out  2

Rogue One

Star Wars: A New Hope (theater)

Elemental 

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Thunderbolts (theater)

Hamilton

Avengers: Infinity War

Superman (theater)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Back to the Future

Fantastic Four

Home Alone

It's a Wonderful Life

White Christmas 

T.V. Series Watched: 

Skeleton Crew

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 

Music By John Williams

Andor season 1

Fur Babies

Disney Treasure

Light and Magic season 1

Andor Season 2

Star Wars Rebels

Dance Moms Season 2

Dead to Me season 1

Dead to Me season 2

Dead to Me season 3

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld

Pepsi, Where's my Jet?

Star Wars Visions Season 3

Vox Machina Season 1

Stranger Things Season (various eps.)

Stranger Things Season 5

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2

Wizard of Paws season 2

Taylor Swift End of an Era

Podcasts:

Rebel Base card Podcast (3)

60 Songs that Explain the 90's (2)

The Colbycast (4)

Teachers in the Dungeon (1)

Lost Ballparks (13)

Classic Baseball Radio (5)

Coffee with Kenobi (2)

MLB Team's Games listened: (min 5 innings)

Chicago Cubs (34)

Detroit Tigers (27)

San Francisco Giants (5)

Seattle Mariners (4)

New York Yankees (2)

Texas Rangers (2)

New York Mets (2) 

Kansas City Royals

Washington Nationals

Pittsburgh Pirates (2)

San Diego Padres 

Miami Marlins

Milwaukee Brewers 

Boston Red Sox (2)

Philadelphia Phillies 

New York Mets

Tampa Bay Rays

Top 6 Topps Digital Holiday Cards 2025 (SWCT, Bunt, Marvel Collect)

Topps Digital has always created Holiday season cards much to my pleasure, but this year they seem quite exceptional.  So, a present from me to you to celebrate the Christmas holiday, here are my Top 6 holiday cards.  Like all other digital card top 5 collections, these are cards that I actually own in my digital collection.  This time I am also including the back art.  Let me know if you like seeing the back art too!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

6. Captain America  Holiday Heroes,  Series 1 - Happy Holidays - Blue,  Uncommon Card Count 15,481

Who would like a Holiday Greeting from Captain America?  Definitely me!  This card is as classic as they come, almost Currier and Ives classic.  

5. Tarik Skubal  Santa Archives,  Series 1 - Holiday Relic - Rare 

This is a fun card, and it doesn't hurt that the subject here is the 2025 AL Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.  There is lots to love about this card, but the relic patch of the Santa hat is pretty spot on, well played.  And seeing the fierce pitcher in a Santa hat is rather enjoyable as well.  

4.  Rogue and Gambit  Holiday Collection '25,  Series 1 - Base - Snow - Uncommon  Card Count 18,958

Adorable isn't usually the word I associate with the X-Men especially when it comes to these two fierce warriors and cursed lovers, but this card is about as cute as can be.  These two making a Wolverine Snowman is pretty funny.  Rogue appears to be having a good time while Gambit (Remy) has an ornery look on his face.  

3.  Jace Jung  Topps Holiday '25,  Series 1 - Green Signature - Super Rare  

This is a great card build.  I enjoy the holiday boarder with garland on one side and snow flakes on the other.  The team logo on the bottom left, team name in block letters going up the left side of the card along with the baseball diamond with the player's position highlighted.  Then it is a rookie card signature card and from a Detroit Tigers player to boot!  

2.  Zorii Bliss  Holiday Season 2025,  Season 20 - Characters - Uncommon  

Yep, the last two cards in this Top 6 are Star Wars cards.  Choosing the top 2 cards from Star Wars Card Trader (SWCT) wasn't intentional, it is just the way it worked out, and I believe you will see why. 

This Zorii Bliss card (and all the cards of this set) are stunning to look at.  Not because of bright pictures or action filled images, but the art is unique.  I love the sketch style art with the subtle holiday themed snowflakes in the background of the image.  This may end up on my top insert card list for SWCT.  

1. Grogu & The Mandalorian  12 Days of Topps - 2025, 12 Days of Topps - Uncommon 

This is about as Christmas and cute as they come.  We have seen images of Mando flying with Grogu in his satchel which is cute in and of iteself as Grogu's ears are flopping in the wind.  The Mandalorian with his Santa hat on while carrying a bag of presents over his shoulder and Grogu in the front just says Star Wars Galaxy holiday season.  This card won't show up on my top inserts list, but it is #1 on my Holiday list.