“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart
and try to love the questions themselves
like locked rooms and like books
that are written in a very foreign tongue.
Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you
because you would not be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything.
Live the questions now.”
– Rainer Maria Rilke –
Hello all and welcome to my weekly journal. This week is all about getting back to the park for outdoor training. The Toronto Japanese Film Festival announces the 2021 lineup, the top ten jazz records of all time in my opinion and more…
1. The featured photo is my partner Nina, my life partner and my training partner. This was after our one-hour training session in the park. A photo opportunity to pose with beauty.
I miss training with groups of people and I look forward to those days. My body craves a training regimen and the best training can be done outdoors. The fresh air, nature in abundance and mostly for the serenity. My outdoor exercise routine is very similar to my indoor exercise routine but I use up more space.
2. Ontario, the province I live in, has been in lockdown for a long time. Far too long, and today we were notified by the Premiere that the lockdown has been extended to at least June 2nd. I was so looking forward to starting our popup Karate program. Karate in the park — training with a group of like-minded folks.
3. The Toronto Japanese Film Festival which runs from June 5 – June 27, has released the lineup of the films for this year’s festival. A great lineup, I’m considering a festival pass.
The passes and tickets are on sale now, the complete festival will be a virtual affair. Some of the movies I want to check out: A Garden of Camellias, Mio’s Cookbook, Sumido, Successors of Samurai, a documentary on Sumo, the Japanese wrestlers and a film about a former Yakusa gang member, Under The Open Sky.
4. I was listening to Jason Ricci and he played a tune on harmonica that got me thinking about great jazz albums. This is a reach but, “Mo’ Better Blues” the movie had an incredible soundtrack, by one of my favourite jazz musicians, Branford Marsalis. Now, not only Branford Marsalis but his quartet, Kenny Kirkland, piano; Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, drums; Robert Hurst, bass and Terrance Blanchard, the guest artist, on trumpet.
For a full list of my top jazz albums check this out. The top 5o Jazz Albums of all time in my opinion.
5. What I am reading this week? Just happens to be a children’s book on Yoga. Little Mouse Adventures, Yoga at the Museum, written by Teresa Anne Power, illustrations by Emma Allen.
I received an ARC, Advanced Reader Copy, my review will be out by May 18th, the release date for the book.
My creative writing workshop at the Richmond Hill Public Library was a huge success. The librarian who facilitated the virtual meeting and all the children attendees had a wonderful time.
Many of the kids are well on their way to writing a short story. I hope they share them with us.
Thank you for reading. If you think someone you know would enjoy my newsletter please share it with them. If you are looking for a great children’s book check out my new book, Samba in Brazil; on sale for a limited time.
Or one of my other books, Samba on a Snowy Day or the Brazilian/ Portuguese version Samba em um Dia de Neve.
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.
Copyright © 2021 Paul Yanuziello, All rights reserved.