Our first gig for Simplexpression did well at the 40th Annual Festival of the Leaves.

Since it was our first time, we didn’t really expect much. We would be happy even if we were to sell five items. Fortunately, we sold way beyond our expectation even though some of our competitors only sell items that were a fraction of our price. In addition, we only had a very limited collection. In fact, our display was so simple and spare that one of the customers asked, “Is this all you have?”

We only showcased a handful of selected pieces, but they stood out. The compliments were mostly “simple,” “beautiful” and “elegant.” We also sold quite a bit of our classic designs from our original web site. Big props to my sister-in-law for helping us out. She was great at creating the displays and greeting the customers. Thanks to Duke too for being such a good boy. He enjoyed the parade and running around our booth saying hi to our customers. I spent most of my time looking after him.

Of course, the show wouldn’t succeed without the creative designer who handcrafted these beautiful pieces late at nights. I am very proud of her and her work. I had fun and I am looking forward to future festivals.

In the introduction of Miles On Miles, a book that complies Miles Davis’s interviews, Paul Maher Jr. and Michael K. Dorr point out Miles’s favorite word:

“He plays like a motherfucker,” “my band is a bunch of motherfuckers,” “those guys are dirty motherfuckers,” “my legs hurt like a motherfucker during that tour,” “she’s a fine motherfucker.”

In an interview with John Palcewski, Miles offered his solution to end the Vietnam War:

“What we gotta do is draft all the bitches under twenty-five and send them over there. All kind of tough-lookin’ white bitches, with all that clean, white skin and blonde hair and big tits. When these cats read in the paper that a hundred of them get killed by the Viet Cong, the whole thing will be over in a day.”

Miles sure was something else.

Today Eric, my little nephew, turns seven. We spent some time together over the weekend and I am very pleased with the new changes I have noticed. I was worried about him a lot up to this point. Eric didn’t talk much and he threw tantrum around like a mad kid. Because he couldn’t communicate, he easily got frustrated. He listened to no one and he was always in his own world. He would zone you out as if you don’t even exist when you tried to talk to him. He got really mad when things didn’t go his way. Eric was a bright kid, but he only did things he liked.

Until recently I started to see the changes in him. He is opening himself up and he interacting more with other people. I asked him to read something to me and he did. I am not sure when he started to learn how to read, but I begged him before and couldn’t get a word out of his mouth. I remember my sister used to chased him down with a stick in order to get him to brush his teeth. Now he just does it on his own. He even showed Duke how to do it. I used him as a model and Duke let me brushed him without fussing. Being a big cousin, Eric shows his responsibility. I gave him a test by telling him to look after Duke. I pretended to read so I could observed him with Duke. He actually played with Duke and showed Duke things that he likes to do like cooking and cars. Duke did everything Eric did. When we were at the Borders, Eric picked up a ball and so was Duke. Whenever Duke held on to something, he would scream if we just snatch it from him. He was holding on to a pen and non of us (Dana, Samantha and me) could get him to give us the pen. Eric pulled out his hand and asked for it and Duke gave it to him. It was a joy watching the two of them playing together.

It looks like Duke already have a great cousin to play with and to learn from. Thanks for being such a great kid, Eric. Happy birthday!

My current emotion could be summed in Elton John’s lyrics: “It’s a sad, sad situation / And it’s getting more and more absurd / It’s sad, so sad / Why can’t we talk it over?” The situation looks pathetic as if we’re getting the pleasure out of destructing each other. How the fuck did we get to this point? It feels like I am witnessing my own blood dripping away and there is not a damn thing I could do to stop it. Now all I can do is hoping that time would heal the wound. Until then, I am emotionally wrecked.

Lea Michele as Rachel brought back Britney’s mega “Baby One More Time” and the different was that Lea’s vocals were much more powerful. The star of the Britney episode, however, goes to Heather Morris as Brittany. Her lines were spot on:

“I don’t brush my teeth. I rinse my mouth out with soda after I eat. I was pretty sure Dr. Pepper was a dentist.”

“This room looks like the one on that spaceship where I got probed.”

“Please don’t pull all my teeth. When I smile I’ll look like an adult baby but with boobs.”

If you missed last night’s show, watch it on Hulu.

Miles Davis’s startling trumpet on “Tutu” burnt into my brain the first time I heard it. With electric bassist Marcus Miller supplying the machine groove, Tutu marks the rebirth of the muted, mysterious and melancholy Miles.

Simplexpression will be participating in the Warren Heritiage Society’s 40th Annual Festival of Leaves: “The Festival takes place in historic downtown Front Royal, Virginia on Chester and Main Streets. Come enjoy Front Royal at its best. Arts and crafts abound in the heart of our historic district. Bluegrass, blues, country, jazz, big band, and choir music represent some of the musical entertainment. Other entertainment includes reenactments and short plays.”

When
Saturday, October 9, 2010
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Where
Warren Heritage Society
101 Chester Street
Front Royal, VA 22630

Admission is free. For schedule of events, visit Annual Festival of the Leaves web site. Come enjoy the Festival and drop by our booth to say hi.

Le Quyen gives a live performance of her pop hit, “Neu Nhu Ngay Do,” at a radio station. Quite awesome!

A bluesy tune from Jazzy Da Lam with gorgeous keyboard voicings. Her vocals sound matured and the scatting is pleasant. A walking double bass at the bottom would make the blues even more intoxicating.

Many thanks to the three visitors who took advantage of Amazon’s Fall Blowout Sale to support Visualgui.com.