We made it through 6,502 days. That’s a milestone. We had been through thick and thin. We had gone through hell and back. Our journey hasn’t been easy, but we’re still pushing along.

We are under tremendous pressure raising four kids. Each age presents a different set of challenges. Caring for an elderly is a daunting task. We are doing our best. Navigating through our jobs is stressful, especially during this turmoil, uncertain time. Above all, we have to deal with each other. There are moments of frustration, irritation, disappointment, shame (on me), and doubt.

What’s even in our marriage anyway? Our marriage is not always rosy. In fact, our marriage is quite messy. Nevertheless, our marriage is still worth committing to. We need to embrace both our ups and downs. Our marriage was built on a strong foundation, we need to maintain it.

For seventeen years, we traveled the road of life together. We weathered the storms together. We rose to challenges together. As long as we won’t let go, we will make it together, as we had promised: “Rồi mai đây đi trên đường đời / Đừng buông tay âm thầm tìm về cô đơn.”

Happy anniversary, my love!

Right off the opening track on Björk’s 2001 release, Vespertine, she takes us to her “Hidden Place” that is solace and sanctuary. The beat suggests somewhere out in space and yet fills with romance. “Cocoon” continues with love, “Who would have known / That a boy like him / Would have entered me lightly / Restoring my blisses?” The production is made of crackling sound from a fire pitch. On “Pagan Poetry,” the string intro works so well with the electronic white noise. Yet, the most fascinating part is when she nakedly repeats “I love him” eight times. All the way to the album closer, “Unison,” Vespertine offers a cohesive listening experience. Be patience with this album and you’ll find its quiet beauty. It’s such a romantic album without saturation.

After a brief interaction with the press, Demented Donald walked straight toward the wall. If Mike Johnson didn’t stop him, he could have hit the wall. Let us not get distracted with Biden’s cognitive abilities. Biden is no longer in charge, but Trump is and his dementia is worrisome.

Björk’s 1997 Homogenic pushes her creativity and eccentricity further out. She has such a damn fine ear for her beats. Once again, the production for her album opener, “Hunter” is eerie yet catchy. The drum pattern on “All Neon Like” is throbbing and pounding. “Alarm Call” is the only explicit track. She claims “I’m no fucking Buddhist / But this is enlightenment.” My personal favorite on here has to be “5 Years.” The production is just fucking bananas. The distorted, scratching record is out of this world. Björk was away ahead of her time. It is such a joy rediscovering her visions and innovations almost three decades later.

I love Björk’s 1995 release Post. The beat on the album opener “Army of Me” takes me back to the cyberpunk area, especially The Matrix. I just can’t resist the magnetizing club beat on “I Miss You.” Of course, jazz adds another layer of texture to the mix. My personal favorite has to be “It’s Oh So Quiet.” It’s the most idiosyncratic flavor of jazz swing I heard. Her screams are dramatic yet hysterical. This is a Björk album I have been returning to again and again from start to end.

Demented Donald pointed to the portrait of the fifth president of the United States and stuttered, “That’s Monroe from the … uh … Monroe docu… document.” His dementia has kicked in. He should be checked for his mental capacity to be a president.

Apparently, Demented Donald thinks that Joe Biden has stage-9 cancer. Demented Donald is a laughing gaffe, but not a laughing matter. He is suffering dementia and it is escalating. It won’t be too long.

I have been spending quite a bit of time with Björk starting with her 1993 Debut. The lead-off “Human Behavior” kicks open the electric door with bouncy rhythm and organic sounds. “Venus as a Boy” is a fascinating combination of electronic rhythm section and string orchestration. My personal favorite is the slow-smoking “Like Someone in Love.” The harp adds a soothing, Eastern vibe to her voice. The album is not coherent as a whole, but definitely worth listening to.

A Tribe Called Quest’s debut is an archetypal of an old school hip-hop album. The beats are banging. The lyrics are witty. The deliveries are engaging. On top of all, no cuss words were needed. The album opens with “Push It Along” and the hook is just addictive. The jazz horn samples are just so savory to the ears. The beat on “Lucky of Lucien” is so damn tuneful and you gotta love the wordplay from Q-Tip, “If you go to jail, then who will pay the bail? / Deport you back to France on a ship with a sail / Escargot, Lucien, you eat snails.” And of course the classic, “Bonita Applebum—you gotta put me on” with rhymes like, “38-24-37 / You and me, hun, we’re a match made in Heaven.” We need to get back to the good old rhymes sans the misogyny.

Demented Donald was caught on camera dozing off in meetings during his Middle East state visit. Let’s face it. Demented Donald is not doing well. His health is in decline. Mental illness, dementia, and aging are catching up to him. Soon he won’t be able to hide anymore. Now’s the time to defend our democracy from an ailing authoritarian.