Original Cambodian Rap?

I was digging through an old box of videos and found the recording of a Cambodia Rap I performed for Khmer New Year in Long Beach in 1996. I believe this was the first public performance of a Khmer Rap to be broadcast on the Cambodian Cable station, and certainly the first by a White-and-Nerdy boy like me. The Cable station played this over-and-over for about a month after the New Year Peformance, and copies even made it over to Cambodia. During that time, I couldn't go anywhere in Long Beach without Cambodians stopping me on the street going, "Hey! You're that Cambodian Rapper guy!" Even old ladies in the Cambodian Markets would walk by me repeating lines from the Rap and giggling.

My performance was meant just to be funny skit. It's been fun to watch Khmer Rap become a serious medium.

The video and sound quality is horrible. Unfortunatly, the only copy I had was on a damaged video tape, so this was the best capture I could get. If anyone has a better copy of this, please let me know!

2008 Wright Family Christmas Letter

If you like to read sappy, boastful, generic family Christmas letters, then click here for our 2008 Wright Family Christmas Letter. If not, here's the short version:

Everyone's doing fine.

We'll be in Cambodia for six months starting the first week of January. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

They're on to me! Catherine's Letter to Santa

The other day, Michael and Catherine came up to me, and Michael said, "Dad, we're on to you!" He went on to outline their elaborate plan to stay up late and see if Santa Claus really comes to on Christmas Eve to deliver the presents.

The next day, Catherine gave me a letter to mail to Santa Claus. Since I don't have his address, I'll post it here in hopes Santa reads my blog:

Dear Santa,

I know you don't exist. I know I won't get coal. Did you know that celebrating Christmas is celebrating Jesus's birthday? Do you know why we get presents? I do. Becase the three wisemen gave precious gifts to baby Jesus. So Christmas isn't just all about you, it's about Jesus. I want proof that you are real. And don't write back unless you are real!

Sincerely,

Catherine

p.s. Do any penguins live in the North Pole

I'm proud of my kids who understanding the true meaning of Christmas!

Jeffrey's Christmas Concert

Jeffrey performed with his middle school band on December 18, 2008. The holiday concert, featuring the school's bands, orchestra, and choral groups, was held at a nearby church in the large sanctuary barely large enough to contain the hundreds of family members and friends in attendance. We knew this would be a special concert when Jeffrey came home with a tuxedo to wear.  

We couldn't help but be impressed with how handsome Jeffrey looked all decked out in his tux. Jeffrey was quite taken aback at his new duds as well. He declared that while he was wearing the tuxedo, he would only speak in a formal manner, and insisted we all speak to him formally as well! 

The concert was great. Jeffrey and his band members, most of whom have been learning their instruments for less than two years, sounded great. 

We feel blessed to have such a great son who is developing one of his many talents. 

Catherine's Piano Recital

Catherine performed in her second piano recital on December 20. She performed the piece Largo from Dvorak's New World Symphony. She played along with other students of her piano teacher and one other at a local music store. She's only been learning the Piano for just a little over one year. As a completely unbiased observer with some training in music, I have to say she was the best of the bunch!

Enjoy the video!

Happy to be Alive

I had a little scare on my way to teach my final class last Tuesday. I was in the left lane going the speed limit. Two cars behind me whipped around me, not cutting me off, but squeezing in at high speed in the narrow space between me and the other cars in the other lane. No sooner did the second car scoot in front me, that the car in front of him veered off to the left, and the one of front of me veered off to the right, revealing a large trash bag blocking the middle of the lane. I hit the breaks and swerved around the bag, but overcorrected as I began skidding. I ended up flipping around in the opposite direction, facing head-on with a large pick up truck coming straight at me. I honestly thought that was it. Fortunately, the truck driver veered to my left and only ended up sideswiping me, putting in a small dent and tearing up my rear bumper. We both ended up on the side of the freeway, grateful to be alive. The damage to his truck was minimal. After exchanging information, he left. Unfortunately for me, it's really hard to make a U-turn on a freeway in the middle of rush hour. Finally, the traffic on the freeway backed up (first time I've been grateful for that), and some kind motorists allowed the idiot facing backwards on the shoulder to make his U-Turn.

I made it to my class, only five minutes late, and was really happy to be there and be alive. It could have been so much worse. I have no doubt the Lord preserved my life that day.

I found out the next day that the Texas Department of Transportation, fearing frozen road conditions, had applied a de-icing agent earlier Tuesday morning. No ice or rain ever came, and the de-icer is believed to have made the roads dangerously slick. Over 400 accidents had been reported by the afternoon (including 1 fatality)-- five times more than usual. My accident was around 4:30, but I'm suspicious that this contributed to the accident.