Woke up early this morning and replaced the kitchen faucet. What a pain trying to unscrew the hoses in such a tiny area. Went to Eden for lunch and checked around jewelry stores for platinum wedding rings. The price varied from $48 a gram to $95 a gram. Why is there a significant difference in the price? Does platinum come with different qualities? Please advise.

Ran back and fort between Home Depot and Lowe’s for a lawn mower. Finally decided on Troy-Bilt, which powered by Honda engine. Also bought a trimmer as well. Mowed the grass at the new place for the first time. Invited sister-in-law and her husband over for bun oc. Had some raspberry cheesecake afterward. Enjoying a smoothie now while typing. Damn, the weekend is coming to an end. Life is exciting, isn’t it?

Woke up at eight this morning and the rain was pouring. Stayed in bed and closed eyes for a little bit longer. Got up and cleaned the drains in the bathroom sinks. So much hair stuck in there, yuckie. At noon, a cousin and his wife dropped by to check out the house. Went to have some pho after they left and went to pick up Street Fighter 4 for sister-in-law’s husband birthday. Stopped by Marlo to check out the sales. Ended up with a dinning table with six leather chairs and a sectional sofa. Went over to sister-in-law’s place for dinner. Enjoyed some Street Fighter action. Went home took a shower and loved the laundry shooter. It’s the best feature of the entire house. Sitting here listening to Dexter Gordon’s Ballads while typing up this post. Damn, a day off drifted by so fast.

I took my laptop with me to the jam session so I listen to some jazz and work on the newsletter as well. I then decided to pull up GarageBand and make a record of the session. Here is one of the tunes both faculty and students played together.

I knocked myself in the head for forgetting to attend Wynton Marsalis’s 2009 Nancy Hanks Lecture. Fortunately the entire lecture is online to listen and watch. Marsalis dropped his jazz history knowledge and played some hypnotic jazz samples. It’s quite a remarkable lecture.

Bill O’Reilly said Emimen “represents the lowest form of entertainment in this country” and that Em means nothing and his newest video, in which he makes fun of Sarah Palin, means nothing, and yet, Bill brought it up on his own show. So Bill makes something out of nothing? I have to hand Bill his double standards.

Lil Chuot Con is getting cuter and cuter each day. Love those big brown eyes (“ngây tròn”).

“Chỉ có ở người mẹ, bạn mới tìm được lòng chung thủy tuyệt đối… Bởi vì nơi mẹ bạn luôn là mục đích đầu tiên và sau cùng.” (Only from mother, you can find absolute faith… To her you’re the first and last purpose.) -Trịnh Công Sơn

Thai Hoa’s heartfelt rendition of “Huyen Thoai Me” brings back my childhood memories.

Marcus Roberts demonstrates the styles of Jelly Roll Morton, Duke and Monk with his own touch.

I am loving Thu Hoai’s live performance of Phu Quang’s “Em Oi Ha Noi Pho” at Quan Van Nova. Although the tune has been covered countless time, Thu Hoai managed to bring something fresh to the tune without any reinterpretation. It has to be that raspy, sexy voice.

Thanks for dropping by our crib as well as the gifts. We might have a gig for you in August. I’ll get the exact date once the word is out. Hopefully, you guys will be available. I would love to hear this tune again live as well as other songs about Ha Noi.

This has to be a joke:

[B]anh mi pho is stuffed with the ingredients for pho, the sacred soup of Vietnam: beef scented with star anise and cinnamon, fresh basil and crunchy bean sprouts.

I wonder if banh bi pho comes with raw beef on the side. Creative or sacrilegious?