Yesterday we checked out scenes from the Dr. Seuss’s classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas! carved out of ice at the Gaylord National. After an hour standing in line, Dao was bored and tired. By the time we could get in, he was already not in a good mood. He didn’t want to put on the big blue thick jacket the hotel provided and the place was freezing. He cried so much that Dana just took him out. I took a few photos and left as well. The walk through was actually pretty short. We paid $24 a person and $12 parking for an experience that was less than five minutes. I could understand why they charged so much to keep the gigantic freezer running, but I didn’t think it was worth while.

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I am loving the new janitor. I have seen him around for a couple of months and the bathrooms have been spotless clean. Not only that he helps make the school look good, but he also helps employees like me enjoy the working environment.

Plenty of time I see him coming into the elevator and I just wanted to say how much I appreciate his work, but I am not sure how to bring it up. I don’t want to offend him or he might take it the wrong way. Would it be ok if I just say, “Thanks for keeping the restrooms clean?”

I don’t know. I think I just buy him a cup of coffee or something.

In an unedited interview, Jay-Z talks about his new book, Decoded, and longevity of hip hop with Jon Stewart.

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Vietnamese romantic comedy Passport to Love (Chuyen tinh xa xu) could be watched in its entirety on Hulu. I’ll view it tonight.

That’s it. I am announcing the severing off all ties with my mother. I am sick and tired of her. Just because she takes care of me all my life doesn’t mean that I have to take her in. I don’t want her to ruined my life. I have a family to look after. My wife and kid are my priority. I don’t have time for her. As a mother, her responsibility was to raise me so I don’t owe her anything. I just want her out of my life.

Shocking isn’t it? I was shocked too and thought it was a satire. The last time I talked to my mom was twelve hours ago and we had a good conversation. I had to call her again this morning to make sure we’re still cool. I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry at these ridiculous accusations. They disturbed me in the past, but I don’t let them get to me anymore. As long as she knows where her place is in my heart, I don’t give a damn about any else’s opinion, even the close ones.

I don’t need to prove to anyone that I love my mom, but let it be crystal clear. The day I abandon my own mother, that will be the day I am no longer a human being. The day I want her out of my life, that will be the day I am no longer existed in this world.

Jay-Z shares his rapping techniques without writing down rhymes:

As I got further and further away from home and my notebook, I had to memorize these rhymes — longer and longer and longer. … By the time I got to record my first album, I was 26, I didn’t need pen or paper — my memory had been trained just to listen to a song, think of the words, and lay them to tape.

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After hitting the publish button on my last post about my dad, my phone rang. A cousin in Viet Nam called and we talked briefly about my dad. Since his retirement, he seems bored and lonely. He doesn’t go anywhere and just stays in the house his older brother provided to him.

One of the strengths on my dad side of the family is that they take great care of each other. Even my gambling uncle is provided with care. As long as he doesn’t gamble, he could have a place to stay. I appreciate the family’s structure and foundation. We respect the elders from the top down through many generations. My dad once told me that his oldest brother is like his parent after my grandparents passed away. The problem with my dad though he doesn’t know how to balance between his big family and his immediate family. The result is that we always come second to his big family.

That was his decision and as a son all that I can do is respecting his choice. Even now when is all by himself, he doesn’t even express that to me. Our communication is totally wrecked. I was thinking to myself yesterday. What if I just take two or three weeks off go back to Viet Nam and just lock myself in with him 24/7. We’ll just hang out and travel together as father and son, something we had never done. Will that help reconnect our relationship?