Year in Review: 2021

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Each year I create a list of goals for every area of my life. Throughout the year I work my goals, track my progress, and commit to posting my top accomplishments. I hope to inspire others to do the same.

Media

Radio

  • Invited to co-host for The House of Mystery Radio Show on NBC News Radio.
  • Set up a radio studio in our media room to facilitate co-hosting duties.
  • Co-hosted over 80 shows, provided banter, and assisted with editing and marketing.
  • This year we became the #6 show in the Los Angeles Market over the air with a 2.5 – 3.2 market share and 46,153 listeners per episode.
  • Podcast version had 1,923,359 downloads/plays from website/podcast platforms.
  • Listen to the show here https://www.alanrwarren.com/house-of-mystery-radioshow

Movie Reviews

Short Story Writing

  • My story, “Expiation,” was a Semi-Finalist in the 3rd Quarter of The Writers of the Future Contest Vol. 38. Certificate on the way! https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writers-of-the-future-3rd-quarter-winners-announced-for-volume-38/
  • Sold a short story to a 2022 upcoming anthology. More info soon!
  • Submitted to 11 short story markets.
  • Wrote 1 new short story and sold it.
  • Edited a short story from an honorable mention into a semi-finalist.
  • Re-edited and polished all short stories before submission.
  • Received good feedback and made it into 3rd read pile for a well known small press magazine.

Novel Writing

  • Finished proof reading draft of The Tower 78,000 words.
  • Finished restructuring draft of Year of the Demon.
  • Finished proof reading draft of Year of the Demon 80,000 words.

Martial Arts

Certificate of Participation in the Moo Duk KWAN 75th Anniversary Virtual Celebration
Moo Duk Kwan 75th Anniversary Challenge Coin
  • Received certificate and challenge coin for attending last year’s MDK 75th anniversary.
Advanced Kali Seminar at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts
  • Invited to and attended advanced Kali seminar at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts. We covered mostly levels 5 and 6 with the lift series double stick (baston), Panatukan (mano, mano – Filipino Boxing), espada y daga (stick/sword and knife), foot drags, disarms, arm drags. Lacosta 8 and 10. Trained with my friend Tony, a great instructor in his own right, who helped me with new material.
Master Tony D. and me training Filipino Boxing
  • I called my cousin Thorny and received verbal instruction in various martial arts.
My Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan teacher Grandmaster Tony Gould performing a jump spinning kick back in the days of bare foot and knuckle tournaments
  • Grandmaster Tony Gould passed away this year. RIP.
  • I made some martial arts TKD/JKD/Kickboxing videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JSh2IARl90
  • Continued solo training TKD foundation, JKD, Filipino boxing, Kali drills, and sword cuts. HIIT Bas Rutten Thai Boxing three 2 min rounds 3x per week.
  • Improved stretch and high kicking.
  • Began the process of joining a prestigious Tae Kwon Do association.

Family & Friends

  • Brought my mother to see Frankie Valli at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Great show!
  • Began friendship with Al Warren.
  • Patty got a new job in Information Security!
  • Kept up with my friend and former English professor through email.
  • Called my cousin Thorny.
  • Visited in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner at my niece’s house.
  • Called my parents at least twice a week.
  • Celebrated 26 years of marriage & 29 years together.
  • Brought Diesel to yearly physical along with distemper and rabies shots.

Health

  • Physical and flu shot. My weight was up but otherwise healthy.
  • Moderna and booster.
  • Got new prescription glasses and sun glasses at Visionworks.
  • Dermatologist – had an ingrown hair removed. Biopsied just to be sure.
  • Dental Cleanings. Gold star.
  • Ophthalmology changed med. Stable.

Cars

  • Mazda – Oil changes, tire rotation, Mass Inspection.
  • Subaru – Oil changes, tire rotation, Mass Inspection, new alternator, new battery.

House

  • Replaced air cleaners.
  • Set up new larger desk, chair, and double monitors for Patty’s new job. Also brought down and repurposed a bookcase and put together a printer stand.
  • The Association had a company come in to clean dryer vents.
  • Victory performed plumbing work.
  • Replaced defective garbage disposal. I installed it myself.
  • Rearranged media room and set up desk to create radio and podcasting studio.
  • Placed humidifiers upstairs and downstairs.
  • Cleaned out garage and had Affordable Junk Removal haul away the crap.

AV/Tech

  • Replaced and set up a new modem and router and connected all our devices.
  • Installed an air TV 2 as a replacement for the now defunct Locast.
  • Switched to Ooma for VOIP Phone. Phone bill went from $40 per month to $6.00.
  • Replaced dead subwoofer and paired to Vizio sound bar.
  • Cordcutting: Utilized multiple free trials and sales including Paramount +, Disney +, AMC +, Discovery +, Epix, Starz, Apple Music, and Sling.

Whisk(e)y, Spirits, & Cocktails

Summer Shack Knob Creek Old Fashioned Cocktail at Mohegan Sun. These were powerful!
  • Longhorn Old Fashioned
  • Maple Old Fashioned – Tavern on the Square
  • Outback Old Fashioned
  • Pumpkin Beer Nitro
  • Elijah Craig Small Batch – Tasting notes: buttercream and cinnamon.
  • Bully Boy Negroni cocktail in a bottle.
  • Knob Creek Bourbon – 9 Years old.
  • Knob Creek Maple Burbon
  • Jameson Watermelon cooler for Patty.
  • Rye Rickey for Patty

Travel & Fun

Patty and Dave waiting to be seated at Summer shack before the Monkees Farewell Tour.
  • The Monkees Farewell Tour at Mohegan Sun Arena. This was one of Michael Nesmith’s last shows before his unfortunate passing. Dinner at Summer Shack.
  • Went to see Rocky Vs. Drago at the Regal Cinema. Had fajitas and margaritas at Chili’s. Patty got steak and avocado. We sat at the bar to kill time and went to the paper store. The seats at Regal were uncomfortable. 

That’s all for now. See you in 2022!

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