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In October 2023, was in LA with Beardsley and we stopped at Little Saigon in Westminster, California and then a few weeks later I went to Saigon proper to visit Jen and my family. Just some notes from the two trips.

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We talk about lemongrass, Dennis' favourite herb and  its origin and its uses. There are a lot.

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It got weird going from being the hidden middle child to being the oldest. I am the oldest biological child of my parents. Like Catelyn Stark, my mom hated this adopted child, though he did earn some of it. It gets complicated when you're uprooted from the home you know, ripped away from your bio mom and siblings and get taken to a frozen land. I wasn't sure what he was up to of late, but the old man met up with him in Nam.

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I never fulfilled the Viet stereotype in Canada, but I surprisingly met a number of people who did.

PS -  I was told viet folks will move to edmonton, calgary, saskatoon, etc. from vancouver / toronto, to escape heat from the police there

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It is weird on what Vietnamese will like from outside the nation. For example, in 2023, Jen tells me the popular foreign beer of choice is...Budweiser. For Vietnamese expats (Viet Kieu), Bud was popular in the 80s and 90s. Music wise, Hotel California seems to have made a lasting impression on older Vietnamese, including making me hate the song because it was played ad nauseum during the parties my dad went to in the 80s and 90s. While drinking Bud.

Also, Vietnamese have a special talent in making upbeat depressing songs into ads and dance remixes...

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I've tied on a few and can count the number of blackouts I remember on one hand!

PS: Redux of Season 1, Episode 7 "Slightly darker black (out)".

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I used to watch professional hockey. No one in my family ever did. I don't know why or how I started, but I enjoyed it (also MLB when the Jays won back to back world series. Yes, I am a wagon hopper). The desire to watch took many blows over the years. It wasn't even because of the decline in the 90s with the VCR line or early 2010s drought (to be fair 2006 was  a miracle and inspiring). I've become one of those guys who just doesn't care anymore. Ironic, because I met guys like that before and never understood why they gave it up. Now I do.

P.S. - CBC f*ed up arguing over the payment for the Hockey Night in Canada theme song. That was a huge consideration in stopping watching. Idiots.

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Some random notes from my 76 (actually 6, no Dennis, I'm telling the truth) trips to Vietnam. Also a way to segue into our follow up podcast series about Vietnam. 

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I have no rhythm, I have no melody. It wasn't for lack of trying to learn a couple of instruments when I was younger and more daring.

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If you're lucky, you'll have good grandparents who spoil you. If you're luckier, they'll still be alive. Just thoughts on my dead grandparents, especially my grandma, who I actually met.