So, I went into quarantine early and stayed there. It's been isolating but there's been one upshot, which is that I did a ton of reading. A TON. More than I've ever read before. I'm quite proud of myself of course but I saw someone with 700 books on Goodreads so there's always someone. 

My actual goal was 230 books, which I reached in October-ish. I read three long series (well, almost done with the third) that really contributed to my numbers. I read some new authors but as of today I still haven't finished the annotated Emma. It's by my bed but under all my migraine stuff...which is probably why I haven't picked it up.  

I've finally found a Christmas list I can bop too (it's a mix of new and old). Will I be listening to it on repeat all month? Yup!

The playlist! It's from Amazon Unlimited Music. I accidentally signed up (don't ask, I pressed a button). As much as I think Bezos is a dickhead sometimes, I've loved my music. So this playlist is great, it's called 100 Greatest Christmas Songs or something to that effect. I'll try to embed it below, we'll see if it works. This playlist is my delight and childlike find. 

Except for one song. 

Don't get me wrong. The song itself is nice but it was new to me and was...unexpected. I literarily stopped what I was doing and sent snippets to my friends. Surely it couldn't be real!!! It is though and I might have the maturity of a twelve year old boy. 

I am furiously writing Christmas (Holidayish) cards to people and trying to get them sent off so they'll make it to their destinations by New Years Eve. Which is obviously not Christmas but I had a week's worth of migraines and I did nothing last week. Not even decorate for Christmas. I'm the only lightless house in the neighborhood! Even my Trump loving next door neighbor put one of those inflatable yarn ornaments out (by his Trump sign, it's color coordinated!). It's bad when you're the only scrooge on the block! 

I read this book awhile ago and liked it. So when it popped up in my "to-be-read/reread" shelf, I went ahead and read it. I've read quite a few Bryson books and enjoyed all but one (he seemed really oddly bitter in that one and I can't tell if I didn't get the humor). Often his books are written for a British audience, but with the caveat that non-Brits might enjoy them. I think I enjoy Bryson more when he's bringing history into his work (re: At Home) verses when he's in a setting of which he doesn't understand or he's uncomfortable. I think sometimes when dealing with people Bryson can punch down. It can come off very elitist but yeah, sometimes it's a bit misanthropic. For instance, whilst I like many of Bryson's books, I'm well aware that he seems to see everyone in the south as something off Deliverance and judges from that. So he probably wouldn't like me for existing I guess. Perhaps that's wrong but it's been a theme in a few of his books (heavily highlighted in The Lost Continent). To be fair to Bryson, it's a thing for some people to punch down (or to take the mickey out of) I guess in Europe and it's not always my favorite type of humor. One of the first things a Danish dude said to me was that "All Americans are fat...you're just not fat yet." Thanks Danish dude. He told me later is was a joke but I mean, we're not going to be friends (which upset him?!). 

I've verged. Bryson has a quirk with this writing and is best when he does history and not travel experiences where he has no curiosity (he's done this in Australia, America, UK, Africa, and Europe...occasionally he's overly grumpy and mean). Danish men surely aren't all assholes but I've yet to meet a non-rude one. I've met lovely Danish women though.