Friday evening Dana and Duke picked me up at the Metro. We drove to Lotto for some Korean food and picked up two big-ass jackfruits (36 pounds each) before heading to Lancaster to visit my mom for the weekend. About ten minutes on the highway, we had to bust an exit because Cu Dao was crying and his mom couldn’t stopped him. We changed him, drove on for about fifteen minutes and he started to scream again. We stopped at McDonald’s for the dollar-menu sundae. Dana took over the wheel and I tried to entertain Duke in the backseat. I made him laughed out loud until he was exhausted. I gave him the bottle. He knocked it out and slept the whole way through. Am I good or what?

Duke got up when we arrived around 10:30 pm. He wanted to play to with grandma and didn’t go back into bed until midnight. The next day, Duke, Dana, my boy Nate and I went to the outlet to do some shopping before heading to Eric’s birthday. Duke has so many cousins now and two are just a year or two older than him. My cousin who has three 3 kids advised me not to hold Duke too much or else he would get used to it.

The thing is I am not trying to spoil him. I am more like making up to him. On weekdays I don’t get to spend time with Duke too much. I get home from work around 6:30 pm, take a shower and get to play with him for half an hour before supper. After doing the dishes, it would be around 8:30. Dana and I would give him a bath and then send him off to his crib. The next morning, I get to play with him for another half an hour before leaving to work. Therefore, I really want to spend time and hold him whenever I get a chance and usually the weekends are the best time to do so. I am just hope that he won’t be too spoiled.

Our our back to Virginia, Dana drove and I played with him until he fell asleep and he did the whole way through. Watching him sleep makes me realized that what people saying are true. Cu Dao looks so much like his dad, but much cuter and much more handsome than his dad. My cousin even said that he looks “ngầu hơn” his dad because of his striking eyebrows when he does his serious look. All I can say is that Cu Dao is so far my best achievement in life.

Nowadays many young singers cover classic ballads, yet hardly any of them could give new life to the old songs. They either sound mad lazy or extremely uninspired. So far, Duong Quoc Hung is the exception. On his debut Chot Nho, Duong Quoc Hung actually sounds passionate as he breathes fresh air into the timeless tunes with the help of Nhat Trung.

Ngo Thuy Mien’s “Ban Tinh Cuoi” has been sung as a duet countless of times before, but Duong Quoc Hung and Phuong Trinh managed to make it their own. Phuong Trinh’s slightly husky, sultry vocals is a perfect match to Duong Quoc Hung’s soulful voice. They have done a superb job of supporting each other. I can’t ask for more. On Truong Sa’s “Xin Con Goi Ten Nhau,” Duong Quoc Hung maneuvers his flow effortlessly around Nhat Trung’s straight-forward, intoxicating bossa nova groove. “Mot Mai Em Di,” also by Truong Sa, gets a surprisingly pleasurable tango flavor. His version of Dien An’s “Vet Thuong Cuoi Cung” is refreshingly fervent and his rendition of Lam Phuong’s “Phut Cuoi” is so damn mesmerizing without having to belting out like diva Bang Kieu. Trinh Cong Son’s “Ru Em Tung Ngon Xuan Nong” would have been fantastic without Nhat Trung. I just want to bitch slap the dude for singing like a spineless bitch like, “ru maaai ngaan naaam.” He should have just stayed behind the board and not in the booth.

On the two newer tracks, Nhat Trung’s “Chot Nho” and Le Quang’s “Loi Tu Biet Tinh Yeu,” Duong Quoc Hung’s poignant delivery came through. He seems to make very wise choice in his song selections. Every tune was successful executed and each one displayed his range. This debut shows tremendous potential. Let’s hope he won’t fuck up.

Cam Ly is apparently not a very exciting singer. On her new release, Em Khong The Quen, she gives an oral report instead of singing Minh Vy’s mundane, Chinese-inflected songs. She hardly pushes her delivery simply because her range is as wide as a virgin’s ass. She sounds consistently flat throughout the album. “Cafe Miet Vuon” is the only tune she switches up her tone to mimic a jealous wife—something Minh Tuyet would have made more convincing. In fact, Minh Tuyet covers most of the sister’s songs with much more success. This one is going to be a Minh Tuyet’s record as well.

The other night I heard a high-pitched voice while sleeping. I mumbled to Dana, “why are you playing Bang Kieu’s songs in the wee hours?” About a minute later, the voice jumped an octave above Bang Kieu’s highest falsetto. I woke right the hell up and there was Cu Dao soaring out in a voice that I have never heard him cried before. I thought he was doing that “neu ngay nao tinh ta daaaaaaaaaaa phai” in Bang Kieu’s rendition of “Phut Cuoi,” although I don’t recall letting him listening to any of Bang Kieu’s recordings. I am still not sure where it was coming from, but I am so glad that he hasn’t pull that shtick again.

Our online venture, Simplexpression, has been neglected ever since we welcomed a new important member into our lives. Now that Dana has a bit of time, more pieces will be added soon. You now can follow us on Twitter to see the latest pieces. I also tightened up XHTML/CSS a bit for better performance and easier to update.

Big shout out to my man Tim for copping the Puppini Sisters necklace on the grand opening day. He gave it to his wife/college sweetheart on the moment they welcomed their lovely daughter into their world. Tim, thanks for making our product part of the special event of your life. I still have to learn a great deal from you on how to be an ideal husband.

This debut release marks the emancipation of Hoa Mi after twenty years on hiatus. Through the test of time, the nightingale’s soprano shows no sign of deterioration. She still sounds sensational and sentimental on classic songs like Ngo Thuy Mien’s “Ban Tinh Cuoi,” Lam Phuong’s “Mot Minh” and Trinh Cong Son’s “Ru Ta Ngam Ngui.” Unfortunately, Bao Chan’s lackluster arrangements aren’t doing her ageless voice the service. Even on his own tune, “Ben Em La Bien Rong,” he brings nothing but a smooth, snoring flavor that is perfect for airplane restaurants.

The nice thing about a grand-opening restaurant is that the people are very passionate. Hoa Vien Quan opened three weeks ago in Eden Center across from Hai Ky Mi Gia. From the server to the owner, they treated us with careful attention like finding a good spot for Cu Dao’s stroller and asking us if we liked the food.

We started off with the server’s recommendation: stuffed escargot (oc nhoi). Buried inside the meat, the escargot was hardly distinguishable from the plain stuffing. I had shaky beef with steamed rice (com bo luc lac) and it was not so bad although I prefer a simpler version with just beef and watercress dipped with salt, pepper and lemon instead of soy bean. My rice dish comes automatically with a bowl of soup, something I have to ask for at other places and even get charge for it. My mother-in-law had grilled pork with vermicelli (banh hoi thit nuong) and she liked it. Dana had Hoa Vien noodle soup (hu tieu Hoa Vien). The soup looked clear and tasted a bit plain, but she also liked it.

The common dishes don’t stand out, but they aren’t horrible either. So if I crave for a Vietnamese dish at one in the morning, I can still get it at Hoa Vien Quan since it opens from 9am-2am. The space is small, clean with simple decorations. The red and peach painting makes the place a bit “sen.” There was also a karaoke machine and it was a good thing that it didn’t turn on while we were eating.

Duke turns five months today. It’s unbelievable how fast time has zipped by. Bringing him home from the hospital seems like yesterday and the video of him crying as soon as he breathed air still plays clearly in my mind. Watching him laughing, turning, crawling and growing everyday is a bundle of joy. Every time I hold him in my arms, look at him, smile at him and get a smile back, I feel very fortunate to have him in my life. It’s truly a blessing. I love you, my Cu Dao!

These days I don’t have to stay up in the middle of the night anymore. Duke is sleeping better, but his mom is the reason I can get some sleep. She has been nursing him every two to three hours a night. Every time he cries, all I have to do is get up and move to the other side of bed. It’s time to switch breast.

Although she stays up and feeds him at night, she still gets up and goes to work. At work, she not only has to do her job, but also has to pump milk for him three times a day. Even though her job is more stressful than mine, she manages to pull 110% in production. (I can smell a bonus check coming.) Not sure how she does it, but I am very proud of her. It’s definitely a good thing to marry up.

While mooncake comes with all kind of flavors including lotus, red bean, durian, chocolate, ice cream, coffee and shark fins, I still prefer the Vietnamese combo style with sausage, roast pork, salted yolk, herbs and spices. After lunch at Present, Duke, Dana and I went to Eden Center to find a mooncake. We wanted to get just one to try out first before getting a whole box. After looking around a couple of places, we decided to buy one at Kim Phung bakery after the owner proudly bragged that he makes the best banh trung thu and even folks from California ordered his. I have to concur. Other than the egg yolk is a bit salty, the cake was delicious. It tasted just like the ones in Viet Nam I had years ago. Dana and I ate the whole piece late Saturday night. Although the price is a bit expensive ($7.35 a pop), I can’t wait to grab a few boxes for family and for me this weekend.