Reading/Viewing Stats for the first half of 2026

We are halfway through 2026. It is time to reflect on the media and literature that I have consumed to this point in the year.

It has been a good year for streaming shows. I really enjoyed Wonderman, Maul: Shadowlord, and

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 2, but the big surprise for me was The Residence. This Netflix murder mystery drew me in with quirky humor, a likeable yet eccentric detective, and a compelling cast of characters. There were moments in a few episodes that seemed a bit superfluous, but it is a detective story.

I have been taking advantage of the Marvel Unlimited app with thousands of Marvel Comics. I finally finished up my full read-through of X-Factor, and after reading the more recent Imperial story, I have moved on to the Ultimate universe. I have to say, an early impression is that I have been missing out on some very good storytelling!

I have read some good books this year so far. I am trying to catch as many baseball games as I can, as both the Cubs and Tigers are in a mid-season surge, and I keep looking at the sad amount of podcasts that I have listened to this year.

Well, here is the data for the halfway mark of 2026.

Movies Watched: 9

Rewatch: 6

First Time: 3

In Theater: 2

T.V. shows streamed: 63

First time: 61

Rewatch: 2

Books Read: 9

Fiction: 7

Nonfiction: 2

Pages Read: 2,074

Audiobooks: 0

Fiction:

Nonfiction:

Hours Listened:

Books Abandoned: 0

Fiction:

Nonfiction:

Pages Read;

Short Stories Read: 0

Fiction:

Nonfiction:

Pages Read:

Comic Books Read: 114

Print: 41

Digital: 73

Book Titles:

Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Duke Volume 1 by Joshua Williamson (Graphic Novel)

Transformers Volume 1 by Daniel Warren Johnson (Graphic Novel)

The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin by Jaleigh Johnson

All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison (Graphic Novel)

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire by Dr. Chris Kempshall

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

Movies Watched:

KPop Demon Hunters

Mario Brothers

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Mandalorian and Grogu

Ticket to Paradise

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Karate Kid

Good Morning Vietnam

T.V. Series Watched:

Wonder Man

Vox Machina Season 2

Vox Machina Season 3

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2

Maul: Shadow Lord

Daredevil Season 2

Big Mistakes

The Residence

Podcasts: 8

Lost Ballparks (3)

The Colbycast (2)

The Rebel Basecard Podcast (2)

Coffee with Kenobi (1)

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

Total: 38

San Francisco Giants (Spring training 2)

Chicago Cubs (Spring Training 3)

Chicago White Sox (Spring Training 1)

World Baseball Classic (4)

Chicago Cubs (12)

Detroit Tigers (5)

New York Yankees

San Francisco Giants

Anaheim Angels

Washington Nationals

Tampa Bay Rays

Atlanta Braves

Miami Marlins (3)

Chicago White Sox

San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies

Coca-Cola Kids (A Team) Fantasy Baseball: Mid Season Update (updated 7/19/26)

Week 15: Coca-Cola Kids (94-151-35) vs. Fried Chicken Bucket (130-123-27)  11-7  "Kids Come On Strong with a Balanced Attack Against Fried Chicken Bucket"  (5th Division, 10th League)

Week 16: Coca-Cola Kids (105-158-37) vs. Pacaya Chiltepes (136-132-28)  10-10  "Kid's Pull out a Tie with Division Leaders"  (5th Division, 10th League)

MLB All-Star Break

Week 17: Coca-Cola Kids (115-168) vs. ACEsymptomatic (137-156-27)  

The MLB season is flying by as we approach mid-season in a few weeks. This is a good time to revisit Coca-Cola Kids A Team and look at mid-season leaders and MVPs of the first half.

Team Leaders after 14 Weeks:

Runs: 43 - Ketel Marte / Julio Rodriguez / Kazuma Okamoto

1B: 57 - Jonathan Aranda

2B: 24 - Rafael Devers

3B: 2 - tie Dillon Dingler / Ketel Marte / Sam Antonacci

HR: 20 - Colson Montgomery

RBI: 58 - Dillon Dingler

SB: 11 - Julio Rodríguez

BB: 48 - Jonathan Aranada

Ks: 108 - Kazuma Okamoto

BA: .293 - Sam Antonacci

IP: 102 - Jesus Luzardo

W: 6 - tie Jesus Luzardo / Robbie Ray

L: 7 - Kyle Bradish

SV: 12 - Seranthony Dominguez

Hits: 90 - tie Jesus Luzardo / Freddie Peralta

BB: 42 - tie Kyle Bradish / Robbie Ray

K: 110 - Jesus Luzardo

HLD: 12 - Robert Suarez

SP ERA: 2.83 - Ranger Suarez

RP ERA: 0.56 - Robert Suarez

QS: 10 - tie Logan Webb / Michael McGreevy

This Kids team just hasn’t measured up in the first half of the season. Lots of solid players with solid fantasy stats, but no superstars have risen to lead this team to regular wins. One first half MVP is catcher Dillon Dingler. In a season where the Kids were counting on last season’s MVP Cal Raleigh to lead the team, Dingler has stepped up when Raleigh struggled to start the season and ended up on the IR.

On the pitching side, there are lots of average seasons in play, but Jesus Luzardo has lived up to expectations and led this team in four pitching categories.

The Kids are out of contention and have already made three trades to make the team respectable by adding categories they have struggled with like stolen bases. Expect more trades as the deadline approaches. Kids management looks to pick up a variety of rookies or young players after the deadline.

2026 Coca-Cola Kids A-Team (updated 6/28/26)

Position Players

C: Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers

1B: Jonathan Aranada, Tampa Bay Rays

2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks (Keeper)

3B: Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox

SS: Trea Turner, Philadephia Phillies

OF: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (Keeper)

OF: Sam Antonacci, Chicago White Sox

OF: Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox

Utility: Rafael Devers, San Francisco Giants

Bench

1B: Kazuma Okamoto, Toronto Blue Jays

C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners (Keeper)

3B: Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants

IR: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Pitchers

SP: Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants

SP: Kyle Bradish, Baltimore Orioles

SP: Jesus Luzardo, Philadelphia Phillies

SP: Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants

RP: Robert Suarez, Atlanta Braves

RP: Seranthony Dominguez, Chicago White Sox

P: Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays

P: Ranger Suarez, Boston Red Sox

Bench

SP: Freddie Peralta, New York Mets

SP: Michael McGreevy, St. Louis Cardinals

SP: Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers

Players Dropped or Traded:

Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds

Andres Gimenez, Toronto Blue Jays

Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies (Traded)

Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners (Traded)

Taylor Ward, Baltimore Orioles (Traded)

Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres

Kody Clemens, Minnesota Twins

Pete Fairbanks, Miami Marlins

Carlos Estevez, Kansas City Royals

Mason Montgomery, Pittsburgh Pirates

Caleb Thielbar, Chicago Cubs

Coca-Cola Kids (B Team) Fantasy Baseball Mid-Season Update (updated 7/19/26)

Week 15: Coca-Cola Kids (114-98-40) vs. Splendid Splinters (109-98-45) 6-10  "Pitching Struggles to Keep up with the Splinters"  (4th in League)

Week 16:  Coca-Cola Kids (120-108-42) vs. Underdawgs (81-143-46) 13-3  "Underdawgs are Just That as Kids Dominate the Week"  (3rd in League)

MLB All-Star Break

Week 17:  Coca-Cola Kids (133-111-44) vs. Trot's Cardinals (129-116-43) 

The MLB season is flying by as we approach mid-season in a few weeks. This is a good time to revisit Coca-Cola Kids B Team and look at mid-season leaders and MVPs of the first half.

Team Leaders after 14 Weeks:

Runs: 57 - Zach Neto

1B: 58 - Kevin McGonigle

2B: 24 - Rafael Devers

3B: 3 - Kevin McGonigle

HR: 25 - Hunter Goodman

RBI: 47 - Hunter Goodman

SB: 15 - Ronald Acuna Jr.

BB: 51 - Kevin McGonigle

OPS: .938 Munetaka Murakami

IP: 110 - Sandy Alcantara

W: 8 - tie Cam Schlittler / Sandy Alcantara

SV: 18 - Paul Sewald

CG:  1 - Sandy Alcantara

K: 118 - Cam Schlittler

HLD: 12 - Robert Suarez

SP ERA: 1.62 - Cam Schlittler

RP ERA: 0.56 - Robert Suarez

SP WHIP: 0.92 - Cam Schlittler

RP WHIP: 0.84 - Robert Suarez

QS: 12 - tie Michael Wacha / Sandy Alcantara

The Kids are sporting three mid-season most valuable players. Cam Schlittler on the mound has sported incredible control of the plate leading the team in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, and WHIP. Hunter Goodman has brought the power to the Coca-Cola Kids this season not unlike his counterpart from the 2025 season Cal Raleigh. The big surprise of the season for the Kids is the Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle who is leading the team in 3 offensive categories.

The Kids do miss having Ronald Acuna Jr. who is on the IR.

2026 Coca-Cola Kids B-Team (updated 6/28/26)

C: Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies

1B: Kody Clemens, Minnesota Twins

2B: Travis Bazzana, Cleveland Guardians

3B: Sam Antonacci, Chicago White Sox

SS: Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers

OF: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers

OF: Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals

OF: Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs

Util: Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels

Bench:

1B: Rafael Devers, San Francisco Giants

OF: Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves

IR: Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox

IR: Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta Braves

Pitchers:

SP: Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees

SP: Freddie Peralta, New York Mets

SP: Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers

RP: Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates

RP: Robert Suarez, Atlanta Braves

P: Paul Sewald, Arizona Diamondbacks

P: Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins

P: Orion Kerkering, Philadelphia Phillies

Bench:

SP: Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals

SP: Kyle Bradish, Baltimore Orioles

SP: Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

Off the Team:

Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs

Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers

Shane Baz, Baltimore Orioles

Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals

Erik Sabrowski, Cleveland Guardians

Carlos Estevez, Kansas City Royals

A Little Human Harmony

A little story to demonstrate my observation of human harmony. Recently, I was driving on a four-lane, business highway through our town. On one side is the back yards of a neighborhood, and on the other side is hole 18 of a golf course. People will often speed through this area as the speed changes from 35 to 45. Nevertheless, it can be a “get out of the way” stretch of road.

On this particular day, there was a group of about 8 vehicles, including mine, and it took me a minute to realize something seemed off. I wasn’t passing anyone, and they weren’t passing me. Every car in our group was simply cruising along at a sweet, calm 35 miles per hour. I felt a moment of harmony created by human choices to not rush, to fall into place, and just be. We all drove in this peaceful harmony for about half a mile until there was a stoplight to snap us out of harmony.

The title of this blog is “Seeking Positivity in the Galaxy,” and I found it! It was a matter of moments, but it left an impact on me. Now, I continue to look for this human harmony, or if others are experiencing it while I am completely missing it. I have tried to create it in the same stretch of road, but there is always someone who is in a hurry or someone to slow. I have tried to set a pace shopping to see if others would walk in time, but there was always a shopping cart that needed to get through or someone stopping to, well, shop. Making it happen probably is the wrong way to go about it.

Anyway, it happens! Human harmony exists; we just have to wait for it and be ready to experience it when it does. 

May the Fourth Be With You: a reflection

I love Star Wars. I have ever since my grandma took me to see Star Wars in the theater in Yorkville, Illinois, in 1977. Who knew my life would be shaped in such a way on that unassuming trip to the movies.

I don’t know. I guess I accept it as a day for me, a fan of Star Wars. I appreciate when someone says to me, May the Fourth Be With You or Happy Star Wars Day. It makes me feel good. I enjoy my fandom. So how do I spend the day?

To start, I don’t take the day off from work. I am fortunate to work in an environment where I can wear a Star Wars shirt. So I get to show off my newest or most favorite Star Wars threads. This year, I wore my new Mandalorian and Grogu film t-shirt. I listened to my Star Wars playlist on Spotify as I got ready in the morning. I collected the limited May the Fourth cards on Star Wars Card Trader. It is always fun to see what card designs they come up with. This year, the cards were pretty much focused on the Mandalorian and Grogu. That is fine with me!

When I came home from work, I immediately fired up Disney+ and watched the final two episodes of Season One of Maul: Shadow Lord. I gasped, sat on the edge of my seat, said “Oh No!” many times, pondered, cheered, pondered some more, then it ended, and I was in disbelief. It is an amazing show and was a great way to celebrate Star Wars Day.

I wasn’t done. I knew I wanted to do more to celebrate my fandom in my own little way. My family left me alone (although I always do wish they would join me), and I decided to watch Solo: A Star Wars Story. I love this film and was always disappointed that it didn’t do better at the box office. I still can’t figure out why people didn’t care for it. I think it gets better the more it ages. It was hard for some to accept that someone other than Harrison Ford could play Han Solo, but I feel that Alden Ehrenreich did an exceptional job.

Anyway, I have to share a moment that just turned out perfect. When Solo and crew enter the malestrom on the way to Kessel, a thunderstorm heavy with lightning started to roll in outside. I had the window open so I could hear the thunder off in the distance. As the Kessel scene started to pick up with action in the mines, the storm hit outside and lasted all the way to the takeoff, and Kessel run in 12 parsecs. It was a dramatic play in the movie and a dramatic storm outside. It was great!

I didn’t want the night to end even though it was getting late on a work night. I let Rogue One roll anyway. I got about an hour in before I called it a night.

It was a great day and pretty par for the course over the last several May the 4ths. I love celebrating “Star Wars Day.” I know it isn’t for everyone. It isn’t their fandom, and I am totally cool with that. I mean, I don’t celebrate Die Hard at Christmas, which isn’t really parallel to this at all, but it was the best I could come up with. Well, May the Fourth Be With You…Always.  

Fantasy Basketball: Rough Season for the Flat Soda Bombers

It wasn’t a complete disaster for the Flat Soda Bombers, but we could say that the Bombers did just that; they bombed.

Full disclosure, the team manager hasn’t ever managed a fantasy basketball team, and he hasn’t followed the National Basketball League since the Michael Jordan days.

The Kids took 6th place in the league while their star, first-round pick Giannis Antetokounmpo spent most of the season on the injured list. Not to make excuses for the Bombers, but some may argue there weren’t any other NBA stars on the team. It was a team of really good middle-grade players. You can be the judge.

Here is the final roster for the Flat Soda Bombers:

Starting Line-up:

PG: CJ McCollum, Atlanta Hawks

SG: Kevin Porter Jr. Milwaukee Bucks

G: De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

SF: Zion Williamson New Orleans Pelicans

PF: Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks

F: Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat

C: Jaylin Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

C: Kristaps Porzingis, Golden State Warriors

Util: Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans

Util: Coby White, Charlotte Hornets

Bench:

SG/SF: Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs

PF/C: Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks

SG/SF/PF: Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons

IL: PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

IL: C Nikola Vucevic, Boston Celtics

Reading/Viewing Stats 1st Quarter 2026

It is time for the first quarter of 2026 report, where I share how much I have been watching, reading, and listening to content. I have been kind of disappointed in my overall reading stats, but I have to remind myself that I do a lot of reading in tabletop role-playing game manuals. That reading doesn’t get recorded because I am not finishing any books, but reading and getting information piece by piece. Anyway, here are the reading, viewing, and listening stats for the first quarter of 2026.

Movies Watched: 3

Rewatch: 2

First Time: 1

In Theater:

T.V. shows streamed: 37

First time: 37

Rewatch:

Books Read: 6

Fiction: 5

Nonfiction: 1

Pages Read: 1002

Audiobooks:

Fiction:

Nonfiction:

Hours Listened:

Books Abandoned:

Fiction:

Nonfiction:

Pages Read;

Short Stories Read:

Fiction:

Nonfiction:

Pages Read:

Comic Books Read: 42

Print: 18

Digital: 24

Book Titles:

Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Duke Volume 1 by Joshua Williamson (Graphic Novel)

Transformers Volume 1 by Daniel Warren Johnson (Graphic Novel)

The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin by Jaleigh Johnson

All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison (Graphic Novel)

Movies Watched:

KPop Demon Hunters

Mario Brothers

T.V. Series Watched:

Wonder Man

Vox Machina Season 2

Vox Machina Season 3

Percey Jackson and the Olympians Season 2

Podcasts: 3

The Colbycast (2)

The Rebel Basecard Podcast (1)

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

Total: 29

San Francisco Giants (Spring training 2)

Chicago Cubs (Spring Training 3)

Chicago White Sox (Spring Training 1)

World Baseball Classic (4)

Chicago Cubs (7)

Detroit Tigers (5)

New York Yankees

San Francisco Giants

Anaheim Angels

Washington Nationals

Tampa Bay Rays

Atlanta Braves

Miami Marlins

Stats Gathered January 1 - April 12, 2026