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.

Thanks to Vistaprint for placing a text ad on Visualgui for a year. I have used Vistaprint to design my business card and recommended its service for simple, economical online printing.

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?

Thu Phuong’s rendition of “Bang Bang” is kind of hot. She is pretty wicked on stage and the “lesbian flesh show” is a bonus. I would pay to go see Thu Phuong performs any time.

While driving home, Dana said to me, “You and your dad doesn’t have much to say to each other, huh?” I nodded my head agreed.

My dad calls my mom every Saturday morning. Since we were in town, mom handed me the phone and I did the same thing I do every time I talk to him. I asked him about his health and then the rest of his brothers and sisters. After that we just stayed silence and I handed the phone back to my mom. She then passed the phone to Cu Dao so he could say, “Hello Ong Noi” (Hi grandpa).

My relationship with my dad is actually better than ever, but the distance between us physically and emotionally is still far away. Even though the time we spend apart is way too long, he is still my dad and I will do anything I can for him. He never asks me for anything since he must have felt that he has not done much for me. I learn everything about him through my mother. Even after we spoke over the phone, I had to ask my mom about his health and if he needed anything.

Plenty of time I told myself to get over the past and let just pick up where we left off, but then where do we start? We are now living in two different worlds. Will our worlds ever become one again? Will we ever be under the same roof again? Right now I don’t have an answer and I don’t think he does either. We’re just letting time passing us by.

Unlike their first met up at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Dao and May enjoyed each other’s company much more at Longwood Gardens. The weather was gorgeous, the place was not too crowded, and the “twin” (someone asked if they were) hit it off as soon as we buckled the two in the stroller together.

Once May’s mom gave Duke a piece of dry persimmon, he didn’t mind that May was leaning on him. He was just indulging himself with the fruit snack. Whenever Dao is interested in something, he is very focused. When he was playing with the water fountain in the children garden, he was just concentrating on what he was doing all by himself. In the mean time, May was running all over the place and splashing water all over herself. I thought Dao was active, but May was like a bunny energizer. She was interacting, laughing and talking the entire time. Love her smiles and the way she “wow” and “ah” the whole time I was pushing her on the stroller. Even at end of the day, May was still running on spare battery. The shot of her resting on the stroller is priceless. The lil babe was adorable.

Before we headed out, Duke and May gave each other a kiss even though they were both exhausted. Isn’t that so sweet? Thanks to Linh for joining us as well as the dried fruit, pasta and chicken for the kids. Duke was eating the entire time, which was fantastic. It was indeed a great playdate.

If you’re interested in web design, check out Andy Clarke on the Big Show. If you’re interested in politics and news media, check out Jon Stewart on the Rachel Maddow Show. I enjoyed both. Have a good weekend, folks!

The Washington Post has a very informative chart comparing democratic and republican tax plans.

An evening of thanksgiving, friendship, and solidarity that aims at sharing our blessings with underprivileged children, young adults, and women in Vietnam

When: Sunday, November 21 at 6pm

Where: Fortune Seafood Restaurant
6249 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044

For more info, visit vietnamdreamforsuccess.org.

Next Stop Is Vietnam consists of more than 300 songs on 13 CDs and a 304-page book with photography. More info at NPR.