"UP" the cartoon movie

I was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to visit some friends from Vietnam. We decided to head out for a movie and "UP" was chosen.

I had some great time with this movie, it was a very touching movie.
Some of the best parts:

• How the couple lived their life together. How they were so happy and enjoy every moment of life together. How they went out for picnics. How they were together to overcome problems in life. How they sacrificed the saving for their dream trip to fix things that happened in their normal days.
  
  
• When he opened the second part of the "adventure book". When he found out that their marriage together was an adventure to her and how happy she was with their marriage.


• When he read the last part of their adventure book. It was so much love in the last short sentence that she wrote. Yes, that is true love, you don't hold the one that you love back, you love to have them next to you all the time but you don't try everything to keep them around you. You encourage them to live their life to the last limit (I mean it in the positive way)

I was trying hard to hold myself together through some parts of the movie. I was not thinking or regretting about my past family life, not at all.

The whole time, i was starving for the feeling of having a love one, a companion to share with me all the hardness, toughness and sweetness of life.

I was wanting so bad the feeling of having a child so we could spend some quality father-child time together.

Heck, whatever come will come.
But KID, if you ever comes to this life and calls me "Daddy". I am waiting for that day. I already had a plan for you. Hope that you will love it Kid

My fatherhood experience ...

It is too much to talk about the fatherhood in general and if i narrow it down to just my fatherhood experience, it is still a lot of things to cover.

I figured out that the most fun thing is just write down the states that a father could/will/must go through during his fatherhood time ...

And as a jerk, i will take my case as an example:

• Formalism father: It was Friday afternoon and i could not go to Virginia beach with my friend because my "damned friend" had to visit his master. So i called my step-daughter up, and i tried to ask her if she wanted to join me with my plan B "go fishing on Saturday, go to the zoo on Sunday, then go fishing again on Monday". My step-daughter was not home so i left a message to tell her the general plan. I did not follow up the first call to ensure that my step-daughter could get the message. I tried to convinced myself that my daughter could be busy with her friends and she did not want to spend the weekend with me. This is exactly why it got the name "formalism".
• Selfish father: It was Sunday morning and i was about to leave for the zoo. I got a phone call from my step-daughter, she said that she just knew about the message that i left for her. She was wondering if i could swing back the house to pick her up and take her with me to the zoo. I was thinking about the long drive back to Virginia then another long drive from Virginia to the zoo. I decided that i would make it up for my step-daughter at another time so i took off and went with my relatives to the zoo. It was definitely selfish.
  
• Guilty father: I came back from the zoo around 7:00PM, then i had to go to the store to pick up some stuff with my cousins. I had dinner around 8:30PM then i went to my cousin room to use the internet when i got a phone call. It was from one of her friends. The boy told me that my step-daughter did not really feel good, that she was missing me a lot. That i should give my daughter a call. I felt pretty bad, guilty so i called my daughter. I could tell by her voice over the phone. She was crying a lot.
• "Damn good" father: I jumped off the bed, grabbed my car key, then i drove back to the house to pick up my daughter. I tried to call my daughter to tell her to prepare some stuff. I could not get through so i called her friend and he told me that my daughter was having some kind of emotional-attacked. By the time i got to the house, my daughter was getting better. And she was so happy because i was a "damn good" father, that i was willing to drive for hours just to pick her up so we could spend sometime together.
• Fun father: We got up around 9:30AM on Monday morning. I called my cousin "Let's go fishing". 15 minutes later, I and Amanda were on the way to fast-food restaurant, McDonald. No, you are wrong, i was not going to catch fish there. They don't have fresh fish, they only have fried fish and in general, fried fish isn't good for our body so I and Amanda got fried ham instead ;). We got to City Lake Park around 12:30 PM. I was about to show my daughter how good i could be with fishing. So i hooked the worm for my daughter then showed her how to cast the hook. I was trying to get the bait on my hook when i heard my cousin said "damn, just a little one". "OK, i will catch up with you in a minute", i told him. I heard Amanda's voice now "I got one too". That was it, the game started. A lot of fun, except the part that it took me 30 minutes to got my first fish. It was a big cat fish. Any way, during that time, my cousin got 4 fish and Amanda got 2.
  
• Lazy father: We got home around 4:45 PM. Amanda got 2 fish, one of my cousin got 4, I got 7 and the other cousin got 13. We cleaned the fish, actually, just one of my cousin did the work.
  
  
  
• Athletic father: My cousins decided to play soccer. I was up for it ;). We played 3 vs 3, and whichever team got to 10 goals first win. I scored 7 and my team won the first game. It was fun and we were all so tired. Thank to dancing lessons and jogging every afternoon, i could hang on to the game. The other team wanted to re-match. I was so tired but i could not back out. And most of the time, we would see 3-4 players were on the ground. The other team scored 4 first, and they needed only one more goal to win. They did not have that, we hit target 5 times and won the second game. I was so glad that the game was over. I could barely run but i was bigger than other guys so i could just lean against them and had them fell down. Hahahahaha, it was an easy job. I did that before whenever i played soccer in VN.
  
• Goofy daddy: during the game, the ball went out of the field several times, there were two Mexican girls who were jogging on the pitch line. They were so nice to kick the ball back for us. So i tried to ask them if they wanted to join the game with us. And this was the response of my step-daughter "Daddy, after i kill those two girls, i will kill you too, but i still love you"
  

I dropped Amanda off at her house around 11:15 PM. She was so happy and i was even happier. In people eyes, i redeemed myself to turn into a nice father, but i know clearly that

"there is always a boy inside each father"

So:

• let him act like a child sometimes
• let him believe that he is still young (he will accept the fact better whenever he could barely walk off the field)
• let him try to get you so many things to make up for the time that he took for himself
  

It would not hurt anybody

I m not nearer to an absolute truth,
That is purely undistorted by time,
Several times, I say so,
And I know I’ve to speak,
And say to myself, ‘Yes or no.’
I m coolly philosophical at the moment, though.

The words are dancing before my eyes,
In a wild and unreasoning way,
I'm here,
With a feeling of overpowering of my words, indeed,
I find myself locked,
Totally obsessed by a thought,
Yet, I m delighted,
I hunger for it,
My dreams and my reality,
After all,
What life is otherwise there for me??

I wish
For a happy release
Of my high spirits, my enthusiasm;
Something always held me back
From accepting a realism, only
Till I do speak significantly;
Now, I know,
How calm HE is!
How kind HE is!
How unshaken in HIS love for me.

Now I think of nothing
But only of the possibilities,
I keep my voice steady,
Till it must be free,
As I m aware of an absolute authority,
I keep seeking for the divine path
That I should find to become me.

"Comme Toi" - World War 2, The Holocaust and The Children with the Star

I could not write a single word. I just don't have that ability so let some ones else do it.

Có lẽ để giải thích rõ hơn cho các bạn thì tôi cũng nên nói một chút về lịch sử của bài hát. Bài hát được bắt nguồn từ một bài báo nói về tội ác của phát xít Đức trong chiến tranh thế giới lần thứ hai. Trong bài báo có đăng kèm một bức ảnh của một bé gái chưa đầy tám tuổi nhưng đã là một nạn nhân của chiến tranh. Cô bé tên Sarah ấy có "đôi mắt sáng trong chiếc váy nhung", hồn nhiên và "rất ngoan". Tác giả đã xúc động khi nhìn thấy bức ảnh đó. Và bài hát đã ra đời như một niềm thương tiếc và cảm thông của tác giả đối với số phận những em nhỏ trong chiến tranh. Đáng nhẽ các em phải có một cuộc sống bình dị, hạnh phúc vui đùa "bên mẹ và gia đình", phải thực hiện đựợc những ước mơ của mình: "em ngủ em mơ gì?". Sarah vẫn bé lắm, em vẫn muốn được "chơi búp bê với bạn bè cùng lứa tuổi...". Nhưng những người lớn đã không muốn thế, họ đã muốn thay đổi cuộc đời của các em. Lời bài hát là những câu chữ tha thiết, cảm động nói về những suy nghĩ về cuộc sống của những em nhỏ trước và sau chiến tranh: "Tuy cùng lứa tuổi, nhưng Sarah không có được cuộc sống như các em "bây giơ`".
Có rất nhiều bài hát về chiến tranh khiến tôi xúc động thật sự về những số phấn của họ. Đã không ít lần tôi thấy người mình lạnh như muốn đóng băng... Như lúc này không phải là hình ảnh em bé Sarah trong câu chuyện ấy nữa, tôi đang thấy, trước mắt mình là một bé gái da đen. Cô bé đến từ Afrika. Hình ảnh cuối cùng tôi có thể nhìn thấy là nụ cười dính đầy máu trên mặt, cô bé ấy đã bị một tên mặc đồ lính cầm một khẩu súng bắn thẳng mà không thương tiếc. Tôi chẳng biết anh kia sao lại làm như thế nữa...
Bài hát này buồn ghê cả người.....tôi mong rằng bọn trẻ sẽ được động viên nhiều hơn nữa. Bằng tình thương sự cảm thông của người ngoài cuộc.

YouTube guitar. This is the best way to sing this kind of song

"Comme toi"

"Like you"

Elle avait les yeux clairs et la robe en velours À côté de sa mère et la famille autour Elle pose un peu distraite au doux soleil de la fin du jour La photo n'est pas bonne mais l'on peut y voir Le bonheur en personne et la douceur d'un soir Elle aimait la musique surtout Schumann et puis Mozart Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Comme toi que je regarde tout bas Comme toi qui dort en rêvant à quoi Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Elle allait à l'école au village d'en bas Elle apprenait les livres elle apprenait les lois Elle chantait les grenouilles et les princesses qui dorment au bois Elle aimait sa poupée elle aimait ses amis Surtout Ruth et Anna et surtout Jérémie Et ils se marieraient un jour peut-être à Varsovie Elle s'appelait Sarah elle n'avait pas huit ans Sa vie c'était douceur rêves et nuages blancs Mais d'autres gens en avaient décidé autrement Elle avait tes yeux clairs et elle avait ton âge C'était une petite fille sans histoires et très sage Mais elle n'est pas née comme toi ici et maintenant Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Comme toi que je regarde tout bas Comme toi qui dort en rêvant à quoi Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme

She had bright eyes and a velvet dress Next to her mother with the family around She pose lightly unassuming in the mild sun of the end of the The picture is not good, however one can see Hapiness in person and the mildness of an evening She liked music especially Schuman and Mozart As you As you that I am looking so calm As you who sleep dreaming about what She was going to school in the village down below She was learning the books, she was learning the laws She was singing the frogs and princess who sleep in the woods She loved her dolls, she loved her friends Especialy Ruth and Anna and specially Jeremi And one day she might get married in Varsaw She was called Sarah, She was not even 8 years old Her life was softness, dreams and white clouds However others had decided differently She had bright eyes and she was the same age as you are It was a little girl without problems and very well behaved But she was not born as you were, here and now.

Introspection, again

Just a short conversation with a friend that i met online.
What do you think your happiness is ?

Thao: cuoc song cua anh ....anh co thay hanh phuc ko ?!

Nguyen Mai: thieu 1 gia dinh, 1 nguoi vo va vai dua con

Thao: ....anh ko nghi la se yeu ai a ?!.......

Nguyen Mai: co chu em

Nguyen Mai: y anh la "1 gia dinh, 1 nguoi vo va vai dua con " la nhung dieu ma anh dang co gang thuc hien de hoan toan cam thay hanh phuc

Thao: anh quan niem ve hanh phuc la ...nhu the nao ?!

Nguyen Mai: La buoi toi khi minh nam xuong ngu, cam thay khong phai lo lang suy nghi gi ca, nhung gi can phai lam hom nay minh da lam het suc minh.
, la khi met moi duoc 1 cai nam tay cua nguoi vo
, la khi that bai co gia dinh, ban be van con nam tay minh va cuoi
, la duoc xoa dau con roi khen no la "cung dau nhung thong minh"
, la 2 vo chong ngoi uong tra hoac cafe nhin mat troi, ngam trang sao
, la duoc cung ca gia dinh dung truoc bien hit tho
, la duoc cung ca gia dinh leo nui met phi pho
, la ca gia dinh chay choi trong vuon, ...
, la duoc Vo nho dem quan ao di phoi
, la duoc con nho lam giup con dieu
, la sang bi Vo dap ra khoi giuong vi khong chiu thuc day di lam
, la bi Vo noi gian vi xem da' banh ma khong chiu gap quan ao
, la buoi toi 2 vo chong nam doc sach
, la co 1 nguoi de minh quay sang nhin that lau roi noi "i love you baby"

Nguyen Mai: hanh phuc don gian ma em

Thao: hanh phuc cua anh ...cung co "he thong"....qua ha ...hihi

Nguyen Mai: theo em "hanh phuc" la the nao

Thao: sai lam co ban nhat cua con nguoi la luon mong cho 1 hanh phuc lon hon .....

Thao: em rat hai long voi tat ca hoan canh va vui ve tung giay tung phut ......

So damn beautiful.

Just make me realize that only a Vietnamese can share with me all the wonderful things of this kind of music.

Can anything be more beautiful than this ? Em đi dịu dàng Bờ vai em nhỏ Chim non lề đường Nằm im giấu mỏ Anh theo Ngọ về Gót giày lặng lẽ đường quê Can anything be more painful than this ? Anh theo Ngọ về Chân anh nặng nề Lòng anh nức nở Mai vào lớp học Anh còn ngẩn ngơ ngẩn ngơ Can anything be sweeter than this ? Em tan trường về Anh theo Ngọ về Môi em mỉm cười Man man sầu đời tình ơi Can anything be more romantic than this ? Em tan trường về Mưa bay mờ mờ Anh trao vội vàng Chùm hoa mới nở Ép vào cuốn vở Muôn thuở còn thương còn thương Can anything be more touching than this ? Hôm nay tình cờ Đi lại đường xưa đường xưa Cây xưa còn gầy Nằm quay ván đỏ Áo em ngày nọ Phai nhạt mây màu Âm vang thuở nào Bước nhỏ tìm nhau tìm nhau Youtube: "Ngày Xưa Hoàng Thị"

Ngày Xưa Hoàng Thị Nhac: Phạm Duy Thơ: Phạm Thiên Thư Em tan trường về Đường mưa nho nhỏ Em tan trường về Đường mưa nho nhỏ Ôm nghiêng tập vở Tóc dài tà áo vờn bay Em đi dịu dàng Bờ vai em nhỏ Chim non lề đường Nằm im giấu mỏ Anh theo Ngọ về Gót giày lặng lẽ đường quê Em tan trường về Anh theo Ngọ về Chân anh nặng nề Lòng anh nức nở Mai vào lớp học Anh còn ngẩn ngơ ngẩn ngơ Em tan trường về Mưa bay mờ mờ Anh trao vội vàng Chùm hoa mới nở Ép vào cuốn vở Muôn thuở còn thương còn thương Em tan trường về Anh theo Ngọ về Em tan trường về Anh theo Ngọ về Môi em mỉm cười Man man sầu đời tình ơi Bao nhiêu là ngày Theo nhau đường dài Trưa trưa chiều chiều Thu đông chẳng nhiều Xuân qua rồi thì Chia tay phượng nở sang hè Rồi ngày qua đi qua đi qua đi Như phai nhạt mờ Đường xanh nho nhỏ Như phai nhạt mờ Đường xanh nho nhỏ Hôm nay tình cờ Đi lại đường xưa đường xưa Cây xưa còn gầy Nằm quay ván đỏ Áo em ngày nọ Phai nhạt mây màu Âm vang thuở nào Bước nhỏ tìm nhau tìm nhau Xưa tan trường về Anh theo Ngọ về Nay trên đường này Đời như sóng nổi Xóa bỏ vết người Chân người tìm nhau tìm nhau Ôi con đường về Ôi con đường về Bông hoa còn đẹp Lòng sao thấm mềm Ngắt vội hoa này Nhớ người thuở xưa thuở xưa Xưa tan trường về Anh theo Ngọ về Xưa tan trường về Anh theo Ngọ về Đôi chân mịt mù Theo nhau bụi đỏ đường mưa Xưa theo Ngọ về Mái tóc Ngọ dài Hôm nay đường này Cây cao hàng gầy Đi quanh tìm hoài Ai mang bụi đỏ đi rồi Ai mang bụi đỏ đi rồi Ai mang bụi đỏ đi rồi

This is why i do not dump you yet, my sweetheart !!!

!!! 3 GOALS !!! SO SWEET !!!

61': Rooney charges up field on the break from Park's great ball... and SLOTS A GREAT BALL TO RONALDO - WHO BURIES THE BALL IN THE ROOF OF THE NET!!!!! Superb goal on the counter - and that's surely it now. The only question is who United will face in Rome. who United will face in Rome.

39': The big screens around the ground are regularly being filled with worried pictures of the Gunners' boss's face - but they don't seem to be showing the smug smileyness of Fergie very much.

35': Ronaldo has gone down wincing and holding his leg after a minimal-contact challenge by Fabregas. Good to see that he's brought his scuba gear to London...

26': Arsene Wenger on the bench looks like he's just had his birthday cancelled and been told that his cat has a terminal disease all at the same time.

11': Man United have a free kick... AND RONALDO HAS SCORED!!!!!! Superb strike, but the ball went almost through the hands of Almunia!! Incredible start for United who are already making up for their profligacy last week!

8': GOAL FOR UNITED!!!! Ronaldo runs on to a ball up ion the left side of the box, cuts it back across the penalty box - and Gibbs slips over! Park is there to pounce, and he right-foots the ball past Almunia!!!

Introspection

I was learning Python programming language when i ran into this section from IBM's website.

In everyday life, introspection is the act of self-examination.
Introspection refers to the examination of one's own thoughts, feelings, motivations, and actions.

The great philosopher Socrates spent much of his life in self-examination, encouraging his fellow Athenians to do the same.
He even claimed that, for him, "the unexamined life is not worth living."

I read about self-examination sometime when i was little, i forgot the right word for it.
I have been struggling with this issue for a long period of time.

What are we going to do after a process of "self-examination" ==> "re-evaluation" ?
Are we going to change our mind, our targets/goals, our methods ... and even changing ourselves ?

YES, we might have to change our mind, our targets/goals, our methods. I don't really believe that we have to change ourselves unless our CORE values were shaken or we don't have a CORE value set yet.
The answer for myself contains several words Balance, Adaption, Honest, Acceptance and Will

1. We need to accept the fact that changing to adapt to a new situation is necessary
   
2. We need to be honest to ourselves during the self-examination process
   
3. We need to learn/know the balance-point/stop-point for the adaption process
   
4. We need to have the will to the take necessary actions to adapt ourselves to the new condition
   

BALANCING

I had some great time in Washington, DC with my "brother from another mother". The best moment was when we were sitting at Lincoln Memorial and looked down the reflecting lake to the Washington monument.

Just like every time that i stopped by DC area, we always have some good conversations and learn a lot from the other.

I wanted to write this entry last night for you, my "damned friend" or "brother from another mother" but i got so tired, and beside that, you were well sleeping at that time while i was on the trip ~400 miles back home.

I hope that you understand what i want to tell you bro, just by looking at the picture and the entry title.

Hong-Hanh told me a story about how her Dad used to cut cucumber on his hand with a knife. He explained that we should not be afraid that much about cutting ourselves if we know exactly the stop-point.

I am so happy to know that you are freeing yourself from normal rules, limits. You will go far brother but keep this with you all the time
"Everything has a stop point, do not push that point and you will never cut yourself"