✱ We've spent Christmas in the company of our family. We got reunited — me, my wife and kids, my parents, my sister, her husband and his family, including his sister and kids — in my sister's house, where we had a very good time, a fine supper and Santa even paid a visit to my brother-in-law's two nephews, something I hadn't seen in a long time, as my children are way past this belief. Even so it was a joy to see their happiness. Meanwhile, my younger son spent a long time swimming in my sister's pool, and had lots of fun. I have to admit this was a very good night — and I hope yours has been as nice and near your loved ones as well.

✱ I finished reading Julia, an amazing book written by author Sandra Newman, from whom I'd never read anything before but from whom now I want to read lots more. The story, which takes place in the same universe of Orwell's 1984, despite of covering the connection between the title character and Winston Smith, has a life of its own, and a very interesting plot and storyline. Last week I had already kind of admitted I wouldn't be able to fulfill my 2023's reading goal — this book was my 17th this year, placing me 3 titles behind my objective. But, at the same time, I was happy to close the year with this specific book, and, if you're into dystopian worlds and 1984, this is a book you shouldn't miss.

✱ But just because I won't meet my reading goal, it doesn't mean I wouldn't keep on reading in 2023. So I've started reading Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary, which, according to my father, who recommended it to me, is such a page turner that it made him read it twice. I'm still in chapter 8 of a total of 30, but I have to agree with my father. It's a fantastic space sci-fi title so far, probably the one to dethrone The Martian. And unarguably better than Artemis, too, IMHO.

✱ My wife and I were one season behind Superman & Lois, so this week it was time to binge watch all the 13 third season's episodes. Similar to my opinion regarding the 2 first seasons, this one also had a very fine plot. I like the way the writers mix family matters into the duties of the man of steel, who has to face his foes and a lot of different menaces while raising his two teen boys and taking care of Lois Lane. So, after all the 43 episodes so far, while I was looking for information on a next season as I always do with shows that I like, it made me very sad to learn that, despite a fourth season will happen, it will be the show's last, as expressed by the series' executive producers and co-showrunners — and that's such a shame. I wonder if I'll ever understand the reasons behind show cancellations. I guess not, though.

✱ Speaking of TV shows, I forgot to mention that last week I received my Trakt.tv 2023 Year in Review statistics. Now, I don't have a premium account to have access to all my statistics, but I've learned that I watched 198 hours of TV shows and 62 hours of movies during this year, totaling 413 plays. I know that there are people out there who are much more addicted to TV than myself, yet I believe this was a very good mark for myself. And I've enjoyed every minute of these 260 hours… oh yeah 👍

✱ Contrary to North America, where white Christmas is a reality in many places, filled with ice, sweaters and snow, here in the South hemisphere, and in Brazil specifically, the heat is on. Summer has just started, on December, 23. So what did we do? We went to the club's pool. Now, I'm not very much a pool person myself, so I normally go swimming begrudgingly, although I end up having lots of fun despite myself. Besides, because temperatures here are yet around the 30°C (86°C), any contact with fresh water and some inviting shadow turns into a complete bliss.

✱ I'll be on long-waited and well deserved vacations during January, meaning I won't post during the first 20 or so days of 2024. I'd like to wish you and all your loved ones a very successful new year, happy days and conquers... 🥂🍾