Hello all and welcome to my weekly journal. This week I share with you a karate master, music from home, books and more…
1. Goodbye, 2021, hello 2022; this is my last newsletter for 2021. I must admit I feel accomplished: I managed to put out a weekly journal, as in I actually got it done every week for a complete year. Bravo!
I also published one new book Samba in Brazil and I had Samba on a Snowy Day and Samba in Brazil translated to Brazilian/Portuguese and I published those two books with their new names, Samba em um Dia de Neve and Samba no Brasil.
Let’s hope that 2022 brings with it health, peace, love and prosperity for one and all.
2. I found myself immersed in the world of Steve Ubl sensei this week. I searched out all of the videos I could find online featuring him at karate seminars. Ubl sensei teaching a couple of kids, Basai Dai kata, nice.
I’ve had many chances to train with Ubl sensei but have never managed to actually attend any of his seminars. Hopefully one of these days I will be able to train with him.
I was invited to train with Ubl sensei at this last seminar in San Diego but could not get away from my previous commitments. Some of my friends wrote about their experience at this training session for the Shotokan Karate Magazine, ‘A Karate Adventure‘.
3. My ear candy this week was all about NPR and their Tiny Desk at Home concerts. I especially enjoyed, Michael Kiwanuka.
A short solo performance, just Kiwanuka on guitar for a few songs and on keys for one of the tunes, “Solid Ground”. Another great performance was from the tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia and her dynamic band of keys, bass, drums and backing vocals.
As the Tiny Desk folks mention this is a first in their history of at home concerts as the band is performing from a boat. Check out the swinging plant above the keyboardist’s head.
My final concert was the uplifting Dua Lipa.
4. This week I celebrated Christmas with my immediate family, we had some wonderful meals and some good times. We had great fun watching my granddaughter open up presents and explore new and exciting experiences. There is so much that is new when you’re three years old.
This was the year of books, I gave books as presents and I received lots of books that I will be reading well into the new year.
5. The folks at Awesome Gang Books interviewed me and last week I shared their site and the week’s interviews, that included a few other authors. My individual interview link is posted here.
I ordered a book online, a couple of weeks ago, as a family gift, a present for my partner and I – Benvenuti a Casa Pappagallo – an Italian cookbook. I received it yesterday and I can’t wait to start making some fantastic meals.
Thanks for reading. I am wishing you all the very best for the holidays and have a super safe and happy New Year.
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.
Copyright © 2021 Paul Yanuziello, All rights reserved.