Sunday, March 29, 2009

Verlaine and Rimbaud (or Relationship Talks)

Ours was a happy and memorable relationship; we shared so many common traits that it leads me to believe we were solely MFEO. However, in later retrospect, I realized that it was, indeed, a romanticized friendship between a guy and a "tomboyish" girl, and that I had seen him as a male buddy, but more intimately than others. Relationship, for me, must occur between a male and a female. It is a unique social attachment of two people; it must be built on not only the similarities, but also on the opposition (which is true in the case of my current relationship).

It was my "masculine" features, not the feminine ones, that got along well with him. We were unaware of the necessity to be obtain femininity, neither did he stimulate that of me. Actually, he tried, but failed, which frustrated him because he thought that meant he was not “masculine” enough for me.

So we broke up unexplained. I suffered from the trauma for a long time, but still hoped that we could heal the relationship. But things always came up unexpected when I gained admission to an U.S college. It was not the fear of a long-distance relationship, but his feeling of being inferior to me that made me realize there would be no more hope for me. It is always a shame for oriental men to let their women outdo them. He thought so; and deep inside I might have thought the same thing.

Finally, after all of the struggles I have made to stand up against the traditional gender-based rules, I still lost. But since then, my perception of relationship has changed well. Now, the guy I would fall in love with, must be the one who would treat me as a woman and make me feel like a woman. That is, he must wake up the femininity inside of me, not in gestures and personalities, but behaviors [...]. Since my current boyfriend has that ability, I love him a lot.


I tried to elaborate the last sentence but I'm way too sleepy, plus I thought to some extent it was enough. Please do not take this blog personally.

Music Post

It's been a while since I shared my music. I've been lagging in discovering new music as well, leaving this creative duty to last.fm and Pandora.

Recently, my favorite music include Nina Simone (as ever), psychedelic rock and lo-fi music (duh!) and acoustics by singer-songwriters around the world. The last, while not significantly ear-catching, is the mental therapy for my endless paper-writing.

This is my "Music for the Days" playlist on youtube. Enjoy! I update the playlist on a very regular basis.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56272BC4EC8FD7C3&feature=mh_lolz

(edited on Nov. 28th, 2011)


Saturday, March 28, 2009

Conn Decision

Usually I don't hate random people, but there are two particular type of human being to whom I would develop a strong aversion from the first time. The first type is those who write cliché and propagandistic blog entries. Such phrases as "các bạn của tôi ơi," "tôi sẽ ngẩng cao đầu tiến bước"... make me feel illiterate. The second type is those who try to make sarcasm, which indeed turned out to be lame and rascal. Sarcasm is far more than criticism in that it takes an intellectually humorous mind to make the former one (well it's not that the latter one doesn't, but on a different level).

For me, it's not the matter of academics and intelligence (I struggle in my English class and read The New Yorker to enhance my thinking skills), but that of behavior and attitude. Smart show-off people are annoying but dumb braggarts are even more ridiculous.

In the end, I'm happy that Conn reject those people.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Au Cafe De La Paix (Frenchy's Blues)



The next time I arrive back in Paris (don't know when...), I'll be singing Carla Bruni's songs in French and recreating my own romanticism.

Monday, March 23, 2009

The Hi-tech Connection



These are the high-tech accessories that I'm currently possessing,
You name it.

Why are there so many users of iPods?
And what's going with the flow?
iPods are visions, but only illusions
And iPods have everything to show...

So we've been told and some choose to purchase it
Who knows they're wrong, wait and see
Someday we'll find it, the high-tech connection
The Apple, the buyers, and Steve.

What's so amazing that keeps us screentouching
And what do you think you might see
Someday we'll find it, the high-tech connection
The Apple, the buyers, and Steve.



Rainbow Connection - Kermit the Frog

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

A short reference to one favorite song.

The best thing about being alone is that you can be truly revealed to the self, under no pressure to bargain for the identity. Or at least, in my case, to whom a good day could be as simple as a lengthened period of hot tea within an imagined vast landscape on my own. Then by chance, I encountered "Góðan Daginn" by Sigur Rós, which has conceptualized that ideal of mine. It includes all elements of a minimalist work: few textures, few ornaments, few instruments, the role of bass, the rhythmic stream that seems to flow endlessly and circularly. These ideas, further by the ethereal vocal, bring the song up to a weightless status, which is light, gentle, slow-paced but not relaxed - because when people are in such a status, it's not that they become thoughtless. Indeed, they are just so absorbed in their own concepts that they unconsciously get lost. A "góðan daginn" ("good day") doesn't necessarily have to be cheerful and exotic as that of The Beatles or many jazz performers. It is good when people could spare some time to enjoy life with peace-of-mind.

I send you the sun
Late in a summer's day
Temperature rises
and the walking pace increases
Shines on the warm faces
It's a real day
Go go away cloud

Yes, out to the sea
Where the sea flows
and salt melts the ice

We play endlessly
Now undress away
Heal the open wounds


It's a coincidence, but I want to watch "All About Lily Chou-chou" after listening to this song. Maybe it's because of my friend, Quang, who wrote an inspiring review on it. Or maybe it's because of the movie poster, which reflects sharply the lonesomeness and minimalism of human being.


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Mom has complained about me being dreamy and oversensitive since I was in middle school. She is wrong. However high my eyes are to the sky or far to the horizon, my feet always stick still on the ground.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Oh Well, Summer

Three years ago, I received from Scott Alexander the letter of admission to Connecticut College, along with the financial award of $42,490 a year.

Tonight, it's him again to send me another letter, which again, is highlighted with the keyword "Congratulations" and is followed by a fellowship of $10,000. Is there a word for "the one who brings good news" so that I can address him?

Although the feeling is not as hyped as that one, although I think luck plays an 30% role this time, and although I have vaguely anticipated the result, I still can't help smiling and cheering to self.

Why not?