Forget the election. What even more depressing for me right now is that I am bloated. I asked for a big bowl of Pho and my wife sure delivered it. I ate so much and so fast that I am now enduring a stomach ache. We had pho last night as well, but I had a small bowl and woke up in the middle of the night looking for cereal. Duke got up as well and cried for milk so we had our late night treat before getting back to bed. I don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night again, but it looks like it’s going to be a while before I can go to sleep.

T.I. hits Arkansas federal prison to serve another 11-month sentence for breaking his probation. He was planning on making a new album titled King’s Uncaged, but the King is being caged once again.

VNRE

Last night 31/10, Bitexco Financial Tower (BFT) – Vietnam’s highest tower with 68 floors, 262 meters high, was officially inaugurated in Hochiminh City. This lotus-shaped tower is a symbol for the development of Vietnam in the era of international economic integration.

NPR‘s Exclusive First Listen is streaming Cee Lo Green’s The Lady Killer. Check it out.

The Lil Devil was back because he looked so darn cute. Comparing from last year, he looked much more evil this year and of course cute too. The Lil Devil went out treat-or-treating last night. He ran off on the first two houses, but got into the groove afterward. After getting the treat, he blew a kiss back. What a sweet Lil Devil.

Sipping my last glass of Bear Hug‘s rum infusion mango while enjoying Miles Davis’s In Person Friday Night at the Blackhawk. The mango slices inside the bottle are quite bland. I guess the rum sucks all the sweet juice out of them. This exotic flavored rum has been my favorite dessert kind of drink. It has a bit of a sweet taste to it.

It’s now past 10pm and I could still hear Duke upstair playing with his mom. I was going to do some freelance work, but it’s Friday night so I am taking a break. Thinking of calling my good friend up, but might not be a good time. He’s still single and probably out partying right now. He called me the other day, but didn’t get to talk much because Duke was crying. I hope I didn’t scare him away with this married with children lifestyle. I have to take him out for a drink one of these days to reflect on the good old memories. Time has passed us by so quick. Back in high school, there was a girl who liked him, but he didn’t pay no mind because she was like a tomboy. Now her Facebook photos are filled with short skirts and dresses that make her look really weird. I actually think the tomboy look was much nicer, but what do I know? I am getting old. I am wondering how he feels now.

I miss blogging about nonsense. Just write down what goes in my mind and not letting anything getting in the way like grammar, spelling and making sure what I say makes sense. Rum and jazz help tremendously in loosing things up.

What else is on my mind? Oh yeah, I am craving for the old fashion hamburger from The Cheesecake Factory. I could smell that charbroiled, juicy piece of meat. In fact, that’s the only thing I order every time we go to Cheesecake Factory. Of course, a slice of the original cheesecake and a coffee is a must to finish up the meal. Every time I walk out of that place, I either feel tired or sleepy even though I have a cup of coffee in my hand.

What else? Oh yeah, it’s Halloween and my buddy Chris did another wicked theme for Vassar’s homepage. Speaking of Vassar, I really miss the good folks there. We had such a fantastic group. We were like Miles Davis’s all-star band. Everyone had a special set of skills and yet we worked together to bring out the best result. I don’t think I can find a group like that again. Alright, let’s not bring back the past anymore.

On my train ride back home today, I suddenly remember the time my wife and I spent together when we still in Poughkeepsie. The time when we spent the afternoon at the mountain reading, taking a nap and just talking about life. Just like that and now we’re spending our whole life together. I am not hearing any more noise up stairs. Duke and Dana must be sleeping already. I guess I should join them. Good night, cyberspace!

You turned 18 months a couple days ago, but already behaving like a terrible two. We went out for dinner on Monday and not only you refused to eat, but also acted up when we didn’t let you play. You did the same on Tuesday when we were at a Vietnamese restaurant. You did much better when we were having dinner at home yesterday. I take that you enjoy staying home more so we’ll stay home from now on.

You talk and babbling quite a bit these days. You mix both English and Vietnamese. We’re trying our best to speak exclusively Vietnamese at home, but you also pick up English at school. Words you use the most are: “ball,” “bóng,” “more” and “Bac Tram”. “Ball” is your favorite word and you associate any rounded object to it. You call out “bóng” whenever you spot a balloon. We just love the way you accent that diacritical mark. You say “more” when you want more milk, which is your favorite diet. You can drink milk the whole day without food. As for “Bac Tram,” you just woke up one day and repeat the words for an hour or so. I can see why though. Bac Tram treats you really well; therefore, she must be your favorite auntie.

I am sorry that I can no longer dropping you off or picking you up from school. I have to leave before you wake up and I can’t make it back on time before you get out of school. I rely on your mom to handle both and I am feeling guilty about it. I deeply appreciate all of her work and you should be thankful as well. I am looking into moving you to a daycare near work so we could ride the train together. JCCVA is a great daycare and you are enjoying it. Your friends like you and your teachers adore you, but the location is not so convenience for me. We’ll see.

Thirsty celebrated its one-year anniversary yesterday. I was watching the book trailer last night and reflecting on the very special project I was proud to be involved in. Congratulations Kristin and thanks for the wonderful opportunity.

Lil Wayne’s I Am Not a Human Being drops while he’s incarcerated on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon. True to the title, Weezy is not a human being. He’s a fucking rhyme animal with a special talent for making some of the most wack-ass punch lines sound both amusing and intriquing at once. In “What’s Wrong With Them,” he claims “Sanity kills so I live the crazy life.” He indeed lives a crazy life and not only isn’t shy away from telling it, but also telling it in the most compelling way. Even when he gets down and dirty in “Popular,” his rhymes come off hilarious: “I’ma tackle her, get in back of her / bust it open suck that pussy like the dracula.” Weezy obviously likes to fuck, not just women, but the world too. On “Bill Gate,” he boosts, “Weezy fucks the world, yup I fuck it till it ovulates / Get her to the crib get in that pussy and just dominate.” That’s Weezy and he proves that being behind bars could lock down his physicality, but not spirituality.

Looking for some good-old-time blues? Check out Eden Brent’s Ain’t Got No Troubles. Brent got some serious chops on the keyboard, particularly on “Let’s Boogie-Woogie,” but it’s her big, raspy pipe that makes her a sensational bluesmama. Her version of “My Man” is a reminiscent of Billy Holiday’s, but in a higher register and faster tempo. From the funky opening (“Someone to Love”) to the mellow closing (“Goodnight Moon”), the whole album is popping, yet the joint that gets me both bouncing and smiling is “In Love With Your Wallet,” in which she warns the old fool, “Oh daddy, oh daddy can’t you see? She’s in love with your wallet not your personality. / She wants a sugar daddy just to pay her bills / She’s barely middle aged and you are over the hill.”