For 2014, my resolution is to focus on less. Here are the ten things I want to do less:

1. Eat: Less junkie food and sweets. Somehow I developed an appetite for high-calorie food such as hamburger, cheesecake and flan. I’ll have less of those in 2014.
2. Coffee: Each morning I had to have an extra-large coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts. After work, I would crave for another one and my excuse would be night class or if I had to stay up late. I want to cut back to just one cup a day and if I could go down to just a large size.
3. Work: I want to work less, but more efficient. All that I need to do is managing my time better.
4. Stress: Don’t stress myself out too much over every little things. Just deal with the matters at hands and let everything else go. It’s much easier said than done, but I can do it.
5. Grumpy: Whenever I get stressed out, I become grumpy. If I could reduce stress, my grumpiness will be subside as well.
6. Sit: Get off my ass and get back to jogging. I have been slacking off lately.
7. Yell: Less yelling at the kids when they disobey or fight with each other. I can’t control my emotion when I see them hurting each other.
8. Social Media: Less use of social media. I don’t use Twitter much anymore other than checking on what’s up with the industry. I need to cut back on Facebook as well.
9. Read: This might seem ridiculous, but I need to devote less time on reading. These days, I try to read every chance I get. I want my kids to take a nap just so I could have an hour or so to read. Whether reading a book on typography, CSS or jazz music, I can’t seem to stop once I started to get into a book. I want to learn everything I could when I read; therefore, I have no time for fiction. I should just put the books away and just go to sleep with the kids. So that when they wake up, I also have enough strength to keep up with them.
10. Petty Fight: When you live and interact with someone everyday, petty fight is inevitable. My wife and I had our ups and downs and most of the time because we’re exhausting. The good thing is that we get beyond that and still love each other dearly. In 2014, my goal will be to make less petty fight, more sweet love (I wish).

Tonight is our last night at Iberostar in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic. A week of vacation has flown by. On one hand, I’ll miss the fresh fried eggs for breakfast, the calamari curry for lunch, the grilled lobster for dinner, the exotic fruits, the various desserts, the endless cocktail drinks, the warm beach water and the fun swimming pool. On the other hand, I am getting burned out from chasing after the terrible two that had been known as the little boy who runs all over the property.

With the all-inclusive package, our family, which consists of the four of us, my mother-in-law and the three members from my sister-in-law, didn’t have to worry a thing. Our beds were made when we were having fun on the beach. Our food was ready whenever we were hungry. Above all, what made the experience pleasure were the people. From bartenders to room cleaners to chefs, they made the guests satisfied by being attentive.

For example, the interaction I had with the supervisor at the buffet restaurant left a positive impact. The first night I asked him for some cereals, specifically Fruit Loops, for Dao since he didn’t eat much dinner. I also requested milk for Dan. He gave me a bowl of cereal and a carton of milk to bring back to my room. The next day, I asked him the same thing. Not only he came back with what I asked for yesterday, he also introduced me to one of the chefs. He told me that he would be off the next day and said to tell the chef whatever I needed. When he came back the following day, he asked me if I got what I needed.

With just that one level of personal attention, especially with guests who have children, he made my experience at Iberostar a memorable one. This is my third all-inclusive vacation and each one met my expectation simply from the people in the hotels and resorts. They know exactly how to engage their employees.

I am obviously not doing well under stress. Between taking care of my mom in the hospital and missing my wife and kids, I have been eating like there’s no tomorrow.

I had fried chicken wings and Alize for three days. Took my mom out to a Thai restaurant to regain her strength. Took my niece and nephew to TGI Fridays and Friendlys and stuffed ourselves with burgers, fries and all the junkie food. I have such a bad influence on them. I’ll get them to excercise once the weather gets nicer.

Now that my mom is recovering and I am about to head back to my wife and kids. This is actually the first time that I am away from them for a week. I need to get back to a healthier diet, but Dan’s birthday and Thanksgiving is coming up. Ok, maybe after Thanksgiving, but then Christmas is coming up. Alright, let’s make it a New Year resolution then. I know I say that every year.

Mom is still not discharged from the hospital. Her pneumonia is under control, but she is still very weak. Her heartbeat has been irregular; therefore, they still want to monitor her to prevent her from getting a stroke. She’s still coughing quite a bit.

In term of mobility, she could move around a bit with my help or the nurse’s assistance. They are planning on transferring her to a physical rehab facility to work on her strength once she’s discharged from the hospital. The nurses here have been very nice. Some go the extra miles than others.

The technicians come around the clock to draw her blood, take her temperature and pressure and give her respiratory. It’s a bit calmer today. She is just mostly resting. To pass time, I am redesigning this site for 2014. It’s not a complete redesign, but I have been itching to give it some changes.

I am missing my girl and boys quite a bit. Can’t wait to see them soon. Poor Dana having to take care both of them all by herself. Dan is getting quite wild. Last Monday, he broke Eric’s treasures. He destroyed some of the legos Eric had spent so much time to build. When Eric saw what happened, he broke down and cried. I know how much he loves and guards his works and I felt so horrible. As promised to get him to calm down, I took him out last night to buy new set and he picked out one that cost $105. Ouch!

This morning I opened the fridge and there were new delicious apples and cherry tomatoes so I asked my wife, “Mommy, you didn’t get the salad?” She immediately threw a fit. I was like, “Wow, calm down mommy. I just ask a simple question.” She fired back, “No, you’re accusing me of not buying the salad.” Five minutes early, she was screaming at Dao to get him to brush his teeth. It didn’t seem like the day started out well for her. So I just packed up the kids and got to school.

As we arrived into the parking lot, Dao was still sitting with his head down. I asked him, “What’s wrong, bud?” He replied, “I am sad.” I followed up, “Why are you sad?” He started to weep, “Because I miss my mommy.” I opened the door, hugged him and told him, “It’s ok, honey. Mommy will pick you up after school, ok?” He nodded his head and all three of us went inside.

Cả tuần nay ngày nào cũng mưa. Sáng nay đi làm cũng mưa não nề nên lúc trưa rủ bà xã và chị vợ đi ăn sushi buffet cho đỡ buồn. Cũng đã lâu rồi không ăn buffet. Lần này đám nhỏ còn ở nhà trẻ nên ba chị em được ngồi ăn thoải mái.

Nào là cua rang mặn, nào là nghêu xào, nào là cánh gà chiên giòn, nào là cá chiên chua ngọt, nào là cá sống và sushi đủ loại rồi thêm vào một chai sake nóng. Ba chị em ngồi từ một giờ trưa cho đến hai giời rưởi. Ăn no nê thì chuồn về nhà luôn chứ đi làm nữa không nỗi. Đến giờ ăn tối thì chỉ có mấy đứa nhỏ ăn còn mấy người lớn chỉ muốn leo lên giường mà thôi không còn ăn tối được nữa.

Trời mưa rủ nhau đi ăn cho đỡ buồn. Sau khi ăn xong thì còn sầu thảm hơn nhiều. Lâu lâu có như vậy cũng tốt lắm.

Lúc xưa tôi mê gái đẹp. Bây giờ có vợ rồi tôi chuyển sang mê chữ đẹp. Cái hứng thú hiện tại của tôi là kỹ thuật sắp chữ. Giống như nhạc, chữ cũng có giai điệu và nhịp điệu. Làm thế nào để sếp chữ cho rõ, đẹp và dể đọc thật là một điều thú vị.

Lúc trước tôi sếp chữ theo sự cảm nhận riêng của mình. Bây giời tôi sếp chữ theo thiết kế mình làm. Tôi đã bỏ ra khá nhiều thời gian đễ đọc và học hỏi thêm về cách sắp chữ. Hằng đêm tôi thường thức đến một hai giờ sáng để đọc những cuốn sách nói riêng về lịch sử của chữ và cách sắp chữ. Lúc mới đọc thật buồn ngủ lắm nhưng càng đọc tôi càng thấy rất thú vị. Thư viện của trường đại học George Mason có một kệ sách dành riêng cho chủ đề chữ. Tôi lần lược đọc từ mới đến củ. Quyển sách mà tôi đọc đi đọc lại là The Elements of Typographic Style của Robert Bringhurst. Đọc lần đầu tôi chẳng hiểu gì cả nhưng rồi càng đọc tôi càng thích. Mỗi lần đọc tôi học được mỗi thứ khác nhau.

Cũng may là chữ Việt Nam ta viết theo chữ Latin nhưng có thêm phần dấu rất kỳ diệu. Cũng may là tôi còn giữ lại một phần vốn luyến nhỏ của chữ Việt. Ngày xưa tôi rất lười học và ghét nhất là viết chữ. Lúc học lớp một tôi nhờ một đứa hàng xóm viết chữ cho tôi khi cô giáo cho bài làm ở nhà. Nó viết xong tôi tặng nó cây cà rem. Vì vậy mà chữ viết của tôi bây giờ vẫn xấu vô cùng.

Đa số người Việt mình thì lại rất chú trọng chữ viết tay. Có rất nhiều người Việt thường thích dùng loại chữ script. Có lẽ là vì tôi viết chữ xấu nên tôi cũng không ưng chữ script lắm. Mỗi lần làm việc với người Việt tôi thường được lời yêu cầu dùng chữ script để nhìn cho nó “lả lướt.” Chữ script cũng có lúc cần dùng đến nhưng không thể nào dùng trong mỗi trường hợp vì nó rất khó đọc.

Theo cá nhân tôi, một người thiết kế trang web hay thiết kế đồ họa cần phải nắm vững công nghệ sếp chữ. Dùng chữ nào cho phù hợp với cái mình thiết kế là một sự thách thức không dễ. Nhưng khi chọn đúng chữ thì cũng như gặp được người đẹp như ý.

Made it through my second week of school. I really like the Brand Identity Design class. I already created over 50 logos for the project. The professor is tough, but his criticisms are constructive. I like the class so far even though it takes up so much time outside of class. I am back to four-hour sleep schedule as well as extra large Dunkin’ Donut coffee.

The only time I could do my homework is when my kids were asleep. I have finally come to term that there’s nothing I could do when they were awake. The weekends are even worse. After spending the whole day with them, I could hardly stay up at night to do anything. From six in the morning to ten at night, my time is devoted entirely to driving them around and doing something with them. This past weekend, we went to Roselyn Jazz Festival on Saturday and Burke Center Festival on Sunday. We sure had crazy fun, but so exhausted afterward. Unlike my sister-in-law and her husband who liked to work in the yard on the weekend, we just drove around to the mall, park or any event we could find. As long as the grass were trimmed, we spend no time at all around the house.

My wife brought up the subject of a third kid last night. She warmed me that we better make one by the end of this year or else we’re done. The clock is ticking. As much as I wanted a girl, I won’t survive if we have another boy. Cu Dan alone is a handful. I am probably going to have to stop school if we have our third.

Dan seems to like babies. He loves to point out kids who are younger than him as baby. The other day, we were driving by a restaurant he yelled, “High. High.” We were like what? He continued, “High. High. Baby. Baby.” He pointed to the kid sitting on a highchair, but he only said the word “high.”

I can’t believe school starts next week. I am taking Brand Identity Design and Graduate Design Seminar this semester. As a result, I am winding down my freelance projects to concentrate on school work. I still have one project in the queue waiting for the client to get rolling. We were halfway through and then the client doesn’t have the time or the devotion to work on it. At this time I am not taking on any freelance works until school is over. I am very excited to get back into class though. I really like being around other creative students.

I am diagnosed with mild Hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease. My Factor VIII is 32%, which is low. The normal Factor VIII is between 50%-108%. I have nothing to worry about. I just need to be careful not to get into major injuries. If I need major surgeries or dental works like root canal, I would need to notify a hematologist. I should take only Tylenol, not Advil, Aleve, Aspirin or any NSAID class. Chances are my sons would also have the disease.