I am pleased to announce that one more boy will be joining our little family early next year. I nicknamed him Done because we’re done with baby-making after him.

I must confess. I was hoping for a baby girl—even the boys wanted a baby sister so that mommy won’t be outnumbered—but we are happy with what we get as long as the baby is healthy. He is doing great so far.

My poor wife has been going through quite a bit of challenges in the first trimester. She has been experience nausea and fatigue much longer than she had in the past. She bears all the pains in carrying a new soul. Mad love and respect.

A breezy and beautiful introduction to the world of typography around us. Striking photography and brief design backstory make it a pleasurable and informative visual reference for both casual and serious typographic apprentices. Currently on sale on Amazon for $5.56. Can’t beat that bargain.

I’ve been back from our family reunion for a week already, but haven’t had a chance to blog about it. I had been busy at work, preparing the syllabus for my teaching engagement, and hammering away with my final project.

In any rate, this year’s reunion was fantastic. It was a whole week filled love, laughter, food, and liquor. Between Saturday evening to Wednesday night, we emptied one Johnny Walker, one Rémy Martin V, one Grey Goose, one Hornitos, one Don Julio, six Patróns, and cases of beers.

This year’s spot was phenomenal. We rented a house right by the beach in Destin Florida. The water was clear and warm. The sand was white. A typical day for me was waking up early around 7AM, went running, and dived straight into the beach. Read or listened to music until my wife texted to tell me that the kids had woken up.

I headed back home, took a quick showered, got the kids ready to join the big family for breakfast. Depending on the kids, we would either go to the beach or mini golf and arcade. After lunch, we spent the rest of the day at the pool.

Everyone then gathered back into the big house for dinner. After dinner the men made more food for drinking. We ate some more, drank a whole lot, sang karaoke, and even danced. The kids also showed off their singing and beak-dancing skills. Đạo even performed two songs. Pour Đán who could barely made it to dinner. Because of all the water activities, he crashed before had a chance to finish his food.

We drove from Virginia to Florida and back. Each trip took us two days, but I enjoyed driving.

This year the reunion in Destin was much better than San Diego last year. Those couldn’t make it this year really missing out. We definitely should go back to Destin for a reunion in the future.

My book is featured on a German site: „Professional Web Typography“: Ratgeber für die perfekte Webtypografie. Thanks to Denis Potschien for covering it.

An essential guide to create effective advertising design. From the creative process to typography to layout, Blakeman provides the foundation for designers to build upon on their own. It’s a good reference if you can get past the Copperplate headers.

Concise writing and clear illustrations complemented with excellent real-world examples make this book a must-have reference on typographic elements for print and digital designers.

A good overview on the history of typography, legibility, and book design. More relevant to graphic than web designers, but it is still an informative read on typographic design.

Robyn Blakeman, The Bare Bones of Advertising Print Design, (p.44):

Effective use of white space is the key to an organized design that enhances readability and legibility. Readability is achieved when a viewer can read an ad at a glance. Legibility refers to whether, in that short look, they understood the message.

The Fall semester will be busy and exciting. I can’t wait to launch the final project for my MA. I will close out my chapter as a student and transform into teaching.

I will be teaching three different classes combined into one. Here’s the break down: 17 undergraduate students for Web Design and Usability (AVT 415), five graduate students for Web Design and Usability (AVT 519), and one graduate student for Advanced Web Design (AVT 619). With 23 students in three different classes seemed overwhelming, but I had figured out how to run the class after months of thinking and preparing for the course. I will have a teaching assistant to help me out so that will be good.

Because I have other things going on at work and in my personal life (more on that when the time comes), I asked to take off teaching in the fall, but they could not find a replacement. I didn’t want to see the class gets cancelled and let the students down; therefore, I decided to move forward with it. It will be a challenge, but I am looking forward to it.

Last Monday I woke up with a migraine. Đán woke up with a fever. Đạo woke up and didn’t have to go to camp. Since all three of us stayed home, I decided to take them out for some light activities so their mom could do some work and rest.

We went to the park and they could play mini golf. I still think golf is extremely boring, but enjoyed watching them played. Then we took the train ride. Something about sitting and holding my sons on both arms and feeling the breeze took away my migraine.

In several occasions, the train ride had released my stress even for just a short five minutes. In that short period, mind was so clear and focused. Life felt simple and I treasured every second with the kids. I just closed my eyes and held on to them slightly tight. Not because I were afraid that they would fall of the train, but I needed the affection.

If I were to have five minutes left in this world, that how I would spend my time.