The new year has begun. I am on the right track of limiting digital distractions. More times are spent with family, especially the boys. I even keep a book out of sight so I don’t pick it up while I am with them.

We have family staying and friends visiting; therefore, my wife has been busy cooking. Her effort is appreciated. We’re also on the right path on building a more meaningful relationship. We communicate more. We split up our parental responsibilities more. I am grateful for the things she does. I listen to her complains and do my best to fix them.

As for my issues, I am still working on taking one day at a time. I want to eliminate as much negative thoughts as I could. Let go of all the irritative thinkings. Leave all the things that don’t concern me out of my mind. I want simplify my life just like my approach to design. I know I can do it.

One if my proud accomplishments for this year is that I set a new record of having read and reviewed 70 books. Here’s my reading history.

I am not sure if I can beat that number in 2015, but I will have more time to read since I have decided to cut back my social media and internet usage. My school will be less demanding because I only have a one-credit research course and teach a class of eight students.

Then again I will be putting more time into my family. I won’t try to break my reading record just for the sake of it. I’ll just read whatever interests me.

Last Thursday I stayed up until two in the morning to create two ABC charts for Đạo and Đán. Since Đạo is learning to write, he needed an ABC chart to reference some of the letters he couldn’t remember how to write. To use my design skills, I created a chart for him based on The Legend of Chima, one of his latest favorite TV shows. The design didn’t take very long, but the search for the images and the selection of characters took a bit of time.

I also designed a chart for Đán based on Thomas and Friends. The letters for both of the charts are set in the classic Bembo. At first I was going to use a sans serif, but Đạo was confused between the letter I and l; therefore, I settled on a serif for better distinction between the two.

I hope to get the charts printed at Kinko’s tomorrow to see how they turn out. Obviously the graphics are copyright materials. I even used a disclaimer on the chart. I only use them to help my kids learn the alphabet and not making any money. I hope they won’t come after me. If they do, I just take them off Pinterest.

Spent the entire day turned an office room in the basement into a Lego room. I couldn’t stand seeing Lego pieces all over the house so we give the entire room to them to build and display their Legos.

While the kids enjoyed their new Lego room, I reorganized the basement and got rid of most of the junks that we haven’t touched in years. Even though it was a beautiful day and we missed an opportunity to get out of the house, it feels good to have a nice space to play with the kids.

New Year Eve is tomorrow already. Time flies. Looking forward to 2015.

Since Đạo and I get two weeks off for the holidays, we let Đán stays home as well. Because the weather has been cloudy and wet, we have not gone anywhere.

Yesterday we woke up around 9:30. My wife worked from home. I kept Đán entertained so that he wouldn’t interrupt Đạo from building his Lego.

At noon we headed to the kids’ favorite place for Phở then went to Krispy Kreme for some fresh doughnuts. The kids enjoyed seeing the doughnut assembly. I have to admit. I am kind of addicted to the glazed doughnuts that came right off the racks. We sat on the couch in the store and enjoyed some jazz—something we weren’t able to do with the kids for a while.

Then we headed to my sister-in-law for clams and bún riêu for dinner. Last weekend we visited my sister in Lancaster, she brought us 100 clams. We ate about 30 and brought back home the rest. All we did in Lancaster was letting the kids played together and ate. Sammy and Eric were very good at playing with Đạo and Đán. Sammy was very patience with her little cousins.

On Sunday we stopped by a fantastic train museum nearby my sister’s house for a bit then headed to Philly instead of going straight home for Thanh Thanh’s infamous chicken Phở. The place was tiny, but it was always packed. We were third in line. When we we got a table, the server asked ask what would we liked. My wife asked for a menu and he said we only serve phở gà and boiled chicken. So we ordered two bowls and half a chicken. Both the phở and chicken were indeed delicious. Even though I am not a big fan of phở gà, I enjoyed the tangy noodle soup and the fresh, juicy and slightly fatty chicken. We’ll be back for sure since the kids also loved watching the subway train passing by on the bridge on top of the restaurant.

Being completely offline while around the kids has been quite nice. Even my wife had made the effort to do the same. In addition to focusing on the kids, I am showing more affections to my wife. While driving, we held hands the entire time like we used to when we were still dating. We talked and I said, “I love you” a few times and her response was, “Why all if the sudden?” I always loved her, I just haven’t shown much, but that had all changed now. I can’t take the love given to me for granted.

Being grumpy, silenced and distanced only made our relationship worsened. The cold treatment was not working. All that it took was a hug and some nice words to each other to break the ice. Even if we were arguing, we could made up by just reaching out to hold each other’s hand. I learned this technique while watching Đán and his cousin Khôi playing with each other. One minute they fought over some toys. The next minute they hugged each other and shared cookies or ice creams. It is just amazing how kids don’t hold grudges against one another. I am learning to do the same with my best friend, the mother of my kids, and the love of my life. We’re going to be in each other’s grill in many years to come, so might as well make it enjoyable for both of us.

I have many flaws as a dad and a lover. My kids don’t have a choice. They are stuck with me and they either will grow to love or hate their dad. I am striving for the former. As for wife she still has a choice. The fact that she has been willing to put up with me all these years proved how much love she has for me. I could be a demanding prick at times. (My mama doted me and spoiled the brat out of me.) Others would have left my ass a long time ago. I am not sure what she sees in me that makes her stick around. Whatever it is I am grateful to have her by my side. I have to do whatever it takes to keep her. I am sure my life with be even more miserable without her.

Christmas is now behind us. In a few days, 2014 will end as well. Around this time of the year, I like to review my personal progress to make improvements in 2015. I actually have started to make some changes before the holidays began. Once again I need to get my priorities straight and cut back on digital activities such as Facebook, Twitter and computer usage.

Facebook, without a doubt, is a great tool for catching up on family and friends. I had, however, found myself being sucked deep into it. I had became the parent that I came to despise: the ones who attached to their digital devices and just let their children do their own things. I must confess. I also am a bit envy of those couples with perfect life. They take vacation all year round. Their kids are well-behaved and they show affection for each other while I am still struggling with my own relationship. I am proud to report that I have been Facebook-free for the last couple of weeks. Though I have not deactivate my account because I have work-related tasks, I have deleted the Facebook app off my iPhone.

In addition to Facebook, I am cutting back on Twitter. I use Twitter primarily to stay up-to-date with web industry. Technologies are moving as such rapid speed that I can’t no longer keeping up with everything. I need to focus on my core strengths and let everything else go. I deleted the app off my iPhone in the past week and planning on using the Twitter web site once or twice a day.

At home, I limit the use of laptop as well. My only time for blogging or doing anything on the computer would be when the kids are sleeping. So I need to wake up before them or stay up late after they had gone to bed. When I am with them I want to give them my full attention, something I have shamefully neglected. I have always been around them whenever I have a chance, but I was not fully engaged and that has been changed before the holidays started. I am off work the entire next week as well so my time will be with them.

Being digitally disconnected in the past two weeks had given me more focus on the physical interactivity. I am spending more time on nurturing our relationship. With the kids being our priority and my own issues, we had drifted away, but deep down, we are inseparable. We have way too much love for each other and for our boys. The foundation we have built is solid. We need to maintain it.

My personal issues have effected our relationship. I am working hard on most of them, but I know for sure that at least one could never changed. I am not so sure how to overcome that one. It makes me miserable, stress out, and resentful. The more I try to ignore it the more it takes over me like a drug addict. Writing has been somewhat helpful, but I can’t seem to publish it for the public. It’s too personal to share. Nevertheless, the blog has remained therapeutic for me. It is still a personal space that allows me to write down my thoughts.

Like most established singers from Việt Nam who settled in America, Hà Trần caught the oversea disease: covering old ballads to death. Hà Trần released the first Tình Ca Qua Thế Kỷ under Thúy Nga productions in 2007. Despite the mechanical arrangements, it was a huge success in bringing her closer to the Vietnamese-American audience that would never give the idiosyncratic side of Hà Trần a chance.

Seven years later she follows up with the sequel under her own label with much better arrangements from Vũ Quang Trung, Ignace Lai and Thanh Phương. Her reinterpretation of “Cho Em Quên Tuổi Ngọc” is one of the best performances of one of Lam Phương’s most covered ballads. She soars like a songbird over the grandiose semi-classical orchestration. Likewise, her rendition of “Hương Xưa” (Cung Tiến) is exceptional. She maneuvers her way around the string-ladden arrangement with ease and emotion. In addition, her excellent take on Từ Công Phụng’s “Giọt Lệ Cho Ngàn Sau” makes me wish she stayed in this orchestrated realm for the entire record.

“Xin Thời Gian Qua Mau,” another one of Lam Phương’s beloved ballads, gets a fresh bossa-nova makeover, but it isn’t quite like the stringed pieces. Both “Ảo Ảnh” (Y Vân) and “Vết Thương Cuối Cùng” (Diên An) don’t have the Hà Trần’s peculiar and the arrangements are stale. The upbeat medley consisted of “60 Năm Cuộc Đời” (Y Vân) and “Nếu Có Yêu Tôi” (Trần Đức Duy & Ngô Tịnh Yên) comes of as an oblivious attempt of making something different. Her silly scatting should have been gutted completely.

Although Tình Ca Qua Thế Kỷ 2 has a few sidetracks, the album is definitely worth listening particularly the semi-classical numbers, the bluesy “Người Em Sầu Mộng” (Y Vân & Lưu Trọng Lư) and the heart-rending, acoustic “Nỗi Lòng Người Đi” (Anh Bằng).

Found this old treasure in the basement and could not stop reading it. Flesch and Lass had indeed penned a classic writing guide. I find their techniques on how to save words, find the right word, give it a punch, and get the most out of words to be useful. Not sure why I have not cracked this book open all these years.

After four years on hiatus, Hà Anh Tuấn returns with a production-driven album. The process begins with producer Nguyễn Hoàng Gia coming up with the beats. Then composer Nguyễn Hoàng Anh and Nguyễn Bá Hùng Lân write the melodies and arrangements before returning them to Nguyễn Hoàng Gia for the lyrics. As a result, the beat is the major force behind the album.

After two minutes of pointless intro, the album starts with “Cuộc Chiến,” a strong, hip-hop backbeat complementing lyrics about self struggles: “Cơn đau hôm qua không còn dấu vết / Chỉ còn lại nổi sợ và hoan mang / Chẳng thấy bống dáng của ai kia / Tự mình lại làm mình đau.” “Vô Hình” begins with a lonesome piano stroll before the thumbing drum bass kicks in. The story of battling oneself is now shifted to invisible love. “Thủy Tinh” continues with a pop-rock progression. The theme stays on the heart-broken territory: “Vỡ tan dễ như chiếc ly thủy tinh tự mình đánh rơi trong một cơn mê say.”

“Nhịp Si Mê” switches to an infectious reggae groove before “Cứ Thế,” the only slow joint on the album, takes down the vibe. Xanh Mãi (Forever Young) picks it up again with a R&B-rap collaboration and a positive message: “Tuổi trẻ luôn đi tới không nên rút lui / Vẽ lên những giai điệu cho bạn cho tôi / Để sau này nhìn lại ta không tiếc nuối.”

The title track closes the album with futuristic rock production. Although the concepts and the styles are all over the map, the beats keep the album coherent. It’s always a treat to hear a Vietnamese album with quality productions.

On the album cover Uyên Linh and Dũng Đà Lạt fused into a single entity like El Lissitzky’s 1929 poster “USSR Russische Ausstellung.” In the album Uyên Linh’s voice and Dũng Đà Lạt’s guitar weaved together like a pair of lovebirds.

With an entire record penned by Dũng Đà Lạt (five out the seven tracks are specifically for Uyên Linh), the two make Ước Sao Ta Chưa Gặp Nhau for themselves and no one else. The title track kicks off with just Uyên Linh’s voice accompanied by Dũng Đà Lạt’s picking guitar to give the sense of intimacy: “Em, đưa tôi đến xa xôi bình yên / Nơi tôi đã sống bao tháng ngày yêu dấu.”

“Ước Muốn Tàn Phai” continues with the dead-slow tempo expressing their love-hate relationship. “Trông Tình” brings the vide up a notch with a funk arrangement. The bass guitar combined with the electric keyboard is hypnotizing. “Ngày Mưa” returns to the simple guitar accompaniment, but “Như Cánh Hoa Đêm” switches up the tempo with Dũng Đà Lạt’s savory obstinato dancing around Uyên Linh’s vocals. The last two tracks, “Tình Lại Đến Như Vừa Bắt Đầu” and “Nơi Cuối Chân Trời,” are arranged and accompanied by Hoài Sa.

Because Dũng Đà Lạt and Uyên Linh have crafted an album for themselves, they have no interest in bringing their stories to you. You have to come to them and the album might take some time to get into or might not at all. Furthermore, Uyên Linh’s style is more of a traditional pop singer. She has a big voice, but barely gets out of her comfort zone. Then again she doesn’t need to for this up close and personal record.