Happy Yalda Night

Yalda night belongs to anybody who loves it and celebrates it. Where ever you are, what ever nationality you are entitled to HAPPY YALDA NIGHT. All who lives in northern hemisphere  have a long, deep and sweet sleep tonight.

Lonely Ape

In Iran about 50-60 years ago (I'm not sure) it was more common to see a big family all lived together. The houses were usually big enough to accommodate several families including dad and mom and their sons with their families, their daughters with their husband and children. Every couple had their own bedroom but share the kitchen, hall and the rest of the house with others. Of course there was more friction and argues but I bet they felt less lonely than us in modern society.

As time passed we asked for more privacy we wanted to be more and more independent. Noways barely any couples live with their parents or in-laws in the same zip code let alone a house. It has it's advantages, less friction is one of them and of course more privacy but don't we feel more lonely? We humans are social creatures , we need to be in close relation with other, we need to live in a group. That's why cities formed.

In small town that everybody knows each other, people walk in street and say hello and smile more often. The bakery probably knows you, the lady working in a coffeehouse knows you. But why in big cities saying hello in street is so weird and unwelcome?

We pass each other on a street and pretend we are alone, by avoiding eye contact and making our self busy with a cellphone. We share small space in elevator or bus stops with several others but we act like nobody exist. We engage our self with different piece of technology or bury our head in a newspaper reading the boring articles like this is a literature masterpiece why? just to say "I'm too busy to notice you are standing right next to me? or I am too busy playing on my cellphone to have a nice friendly chat with you?"

Isn't that weird? This is in our blood! we are social creatures! The modern human acting against it's nature. Technology doesn't help at all if you ask me, just increases this gap between us everyday. If we used to go to somebody house to say hello, first telephone make it easier to call ( voice contact rather than physical contact ) and then e-mail makes it even easier :virtual contact. I'm not saying today nobody goes to his/her friends house or call but the trend worries me!

The pic from here.

Lazy Girl Repellent

I feel, a big fat lazy girl recently nested in my head, slowing me down. Any suggestion how to get rid of her? Maybe I should go for BUNGEE.

Daddy's Sweet Milestone

thousand and thousands of books on wooden shiny shelves; I am running through narrow corridors made by several book cases; playing hide and seek; I am 8 or 9. I loved the place I still do "daddy's library".
As far as I remember my father was always there all the afternoon till 9:00 pm, writing, reading working passionately. The library got bigger and bigger through the years right now he has more than 20,000 volumes in there. Some of the books are quite old, he bought them when he was a teenage boy.
As the time passes he became more interested toward the history first the world's and after that Iran's. He did a handsome of research first by a group of 8 to 10 other writers with similar passions and interests. The group worked together for almost 12 years before they broke up. I remember the up-stair floor used to be dad's library. For several years my mom did her best to keep the house quiet enough not to distract the group of researchers working with my dad on a book called "Encyclopedia of Biographies". When the first volume came out it became the book of the year. But the group didn't last long after that, one of the writers who happen to be a close friend of my dad betrayed his trust. He secretly copied all the Bios the group had been gathering for the years and left. My dad with several other member of the group tried hard to prove he stole the data but they couldn't.
After that heart breaking incident my father sail the boat alone. My mom was always supportive and encourage him to follow his passions. My father gradually became more and more interested in an Iranian historian called "Beyhaqi". He went through his book "Tarikhe Beihaghi" which is the history of Iran in the 11th to early 12th century. He gathered information about every single person named in the book and found out a lot of new things about people who were mistaken before with some other men. It took him several years to complete his book considering the fact that the research part is his passion not a job . Today my father's book is published. I know how much in means to him.
They had a small celebration back home, I wish I could have been there. Dad I am so proud of you. I hope your book find the place it deserves.

The more you cheat the more I make money

I just read a very controversial article on Globe and Mail on line. The article introduce Noel Biderm the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at AshelyMadison Agency. Believe it or not the website is for married people who wants to have an affair. Noel is also the writer of the book called "Cheaters Prosper".

I entered the website, this strange quote caught my eyes "Life is too short , have an affair".
These are the facts about this agency:
1- The website has been operating for 8 years now and have over 4.8 million members.
2- The ratio of the men to women are 70 to 30.
3- The men tend to be between 35-60 years old, while women come in two distinct groups: married 30-50 and single 20-30 years old.
4- There are many single women on the site who are looking to be with an attached man for their own personal reasons

He was available on-line today to answer people's question. During the on-line debate Noel was saying that he himself is faithful to her wife and he is just providing facilities for those who are already cheating but through his website it's become easier (plus he is making money out of it).

He believes that divorced is not a choice for everyone, there are family, extended family, financial, and a whole host of other foundations to a marriage - at least by having an affair the person can recharge him/herself.

What really bothering me is that: in a nutshell this man is a business man and he makes more money as more people cheat on their partner. please note that he is not encouraging people to have open marriage, no he encourage them to have an affair. He does not simply accept the fact that this is all about money. He is trying to justify that what he is doing is good for mankind. He is saying that "The research from geneticists is more clear - it is not in our DNA to be monogamous"!!!!

Not in our DNA? Actually I don't think this kind of social agreements has anything to do with our DNA. Is it in Arab Saudian's DNA that a man can have four women. I don't think so!

I believe instead of encouraging people to have an affair, it's better to encourage them not to rush to get married. No one put a gun on our head to marry (at least not in North America). If someone think staying with only one person for his/her entire life is a torture, fine! stay out of it; have an open relationship. I could understand if someone has open marriage because it's not cheating anymore both side are adults and agree on a new form of social agreement. But Noel makes money by encouraging people to cheat.
One more thing, if someone after a while for whatever reasons feels his/her marriage does not work get divorced.

I don't believe that cheating on your partner can save your marriage. The moment you cheat your marriage is literally ended and it's useless to stay in that misery . I mean what kind of marriage is that when you have to cheat to save it.

Moment of peace

Laying next to him, resting my head on his left arm; my left hand around him, I'm listening to his breath. Nothing else matters for now. We have each other, forget about everything else (job, thesis, etc). Life is beautiful..Life is...Life...L

European spice of downton Toronto

If you are living around Toronto one of the very nice place to hang out is Distillery District. The place used to be the largest distillery in downtown Toronto, founded in 1832. Today the place becomes one of the first only pedestrian village and the city’s only historic district. It has brick lined streets with the European piazza charm. You can find several art galleries, restaurants and cafes inside.

With some of our friends we visited the area last weekend. There was a chocolate maker shop called SOMA. The place is very cosy and nice but you should taste the chocolate over there. I have never had such delicious chocolate in my life. We tried few truffles: Bergamot, Espresso crisp and Douglas Fir. I can't get over it. The taste was magical, the taste of fresh coca bean and charming spices added to the truffles. Absolutely lovely and 100% recommended if you can get there... We bought spicy Mayan hot chocolate to make some at home. I'm looking forward to taste this Mayan elixir :D

Thirsty Soul

Dragging my thirsty exhausted soul, leaning on my shoulder, I am passing through a hot desert; hallucinating. Is that water? Come on buddy you can make it.
She is thirsty. She is tired but not hopeless neither do I. I don't know what she wants but I know what she doesn't want.
Come on my thirsty soul. I will find you the magical elixir. The elixir which fulfills your thirst, your hunger. Come on, come with me, just few steps more...
Come on my restless soul even if I have to make 1000 potions I'll find out what you want. I'll try anything to return the passions you used to have.
I will cheers you up, help you prosper again... I'll find the elixir, don't you give up on me..don't!

Waiting for a job opening

If there is an opening for "Part time animal's baby huger" please let me know. I have a strong resume for your information.
- With more than 10 years experience in hugging different dog's cubs even occasionally feeding them when their mommy was not around.
- Also I have a passionate attempt to raise 5 sparoow chicks whose mother abandoned them after our gardener found her nest behind an old window's cover.
- One in a life time experience in hugging a large crow as big as myself (at the age of 6/7)
- and finally hugging chickens, lamb, colt, rabbits, kittys are only a fraction of my capabilities
Any Koalas', Polar bears', Foks', Lemurs' babies out there, feels lonely I'm here for you :D

It's October 8th

It's Nima's birthday. He is talking to two of his friends called him from Iran to say happy birthday. Nima have some special friends that I love them all so much. They know each other from teen years. When Nima left Iran, these friends every year on October 8th went to Nima's parents place to celebrate his birthday. Every year for about 8 years they never stop that visit on October 8th. This year that Nima's parents are not in Iran they call him instead. This is true friendship, strong, reliable and heartwarming.
I wish Nima have these wonderful friends in his book of life for ever.
Happy Birthday Sweetheart

More Photos of Prince Edward Island

One of the interesting feature about PEI was its red sandstone cliffs. The red cliff in composition with green grass and blue water makes it just magical...
P.S. Picture are all taken by Nima

Trip to Prince Edward Island

Green Gables (PEI)

The house that inspired L. M. Montgomery

Anne Shirley's room

Anne Shirley's room

Prince Edward Island is one of the most scenic places I've ever seen. Green island surrounded with blue ocean, with colorful farms makes it just like a perfect painting. I loved driving along the island passing trough small hills painted in yellow, orange, green...
We visited Green Gables the birth place of L. M. Montgomery the writer of Anne of Green Gables. There was a house decorated in a way to visualize Ann's house as described in book. At gift shop it was all about Anne, dolls in different sizes, the book, several DVDs, fridge magnets,etc. We didn't have that much time but the best thing to do is to stay there for a night and rent a bike , go around the island, maybe next time ;)
P.S. Pictures are all taken by Nima

Trip to Nova Scotia

Peggy's Cove (Nova Scotia)

Peggy's Cove (Nova Scotia)

Lighthouse rout - Peggy's Cove

Lunenburg (Nova Scotia)

Here are some photos from around Halifax in Nova Scotia. We rented a car and drove along the lighthouse trail. On the way we first made a quick visit from the Peggy's cove, a small community of 50 depends on fishing mainly. At bays you could see numerous lobster traps, pretty colorful boats tied along the cove. We visited the Peggy's cove lighthouse point you can see in one of the photos.
After Peggy's we headed to Lunenburg. This city was founded in 1753 and was recognized as UNESCO national heritage site in 1995. The city is built on a slope with overview to the ocean. Colorful houses were the very first things that catch our eyes. We had lunch over there , delicious Haddock fish . Also I am not really a fan of seafood, but I did love the taste of fresh fish.
The weather was rainy and we didn't have a chance to walk along the city. Pretty rocky harbor around Nova Scotia actually reminded me of Newfoundland.
Back in Halifax we visited Maritime museum of Atlantic, very informative visit actually. There we took a tour inside a small survey ship which was being used until 1970. There were tiny shabby rooms for the captain and other staff, narrow gloomy halls for entertainment and socializing, small kitchen with one cook for 60 people on board which all showed harsh environment to leave in for days on sea. I don't know about now days but back then working in a navy wasn't fun at all.
P.S. Photos are all taken by Nima.

Say hello from Halifax :)

I'm in Halifax in a Hotel's business center checking my e-mails and posting on my blog of course. There was a conference, finished today which I attended. The conference went well, I met one of my colleagues from the University of Tehran. I haven't seen him since I left Iran and it was quite pleasant to catch up.
Tonight Nima will join me here and we will go around the city for the next few days. Nova Scotia has beautiful surrounding nature which reminds of Newfoundland. The Halifax itself is much like St. John's but bigger with some taller buildings. One of the places I am excited to visit is Prince Edvard Island. Back in Iran I used to watch two TV series: Anna of green gables and Road to Avonlea both were made in Prince Edward Island. I remember how much I was impressed with the beauty of the island.
Anyway we will back in few days and I'll post some photos from the nature around here.

Passion or Love

Last weekend we watched the movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" with a friend. It's a good movie, what you would expect from Woody Allen. It's about the love, passion, marriage, relationship. There was part of the movie that a middle age wife who was cheating on her husband was confessing 'she loves her husband but she is not in-love with him'. The idea of the movie was to show a life of good couples who are each normal people but there is not enough passion between them.

From wikipedia : Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something.

If you ask me passion can be a strong motivation for two persons to start serious relationship but it's not enough to build up long-term relationship and it's definitely no guarantee that the relationship will work. When two persons attract to each other at the beginning everything sounds very passionate. But as time passes when they know each other much better the passion replaced with real love if the two matched. Everyone might have his/her own definition of love. For me true love is not based on temporary passions comes and goes like a wave, it's a deep feeling you have for someone based on real knowledge of each other. It's a feeling you have for someone you can't live without.

Some people are a loner, they love to be free and live without the idea of committing to a single person. They keep the relationship as far as the passion is high and when it goes down the relationship is dead for them. But for those who are looking for long-term relationship, passion is just one of the required ingredients to build up healthy relationship. You might attracts to someone but also you couldn't stand staying with him/her under one roof for more than a week. Attraction/chemistry is something you need to initiate the relationship but for a life-time relationship you need something deeper than initial and temporary passions. You need to really love your partner the way he/she is, not the way you are imagining him/her.

What I want to say is that don't mix passions with love, you can love somebody deeply but your heart beat doesn't rise up or your cheeks blush every single day you see your partner. It dose not mean you guys have problem or that's the end of the relationship. Visa verse it could means you guys pass the initial phase of the relationship and now with your feet on the ground you have something deeper and more meaningful.

If you want to know someone...

I'm pretty sure you heard this saying "if you want to know somebody go on a trip with him/her". This is really true, I wonder why is that?
It might take years to know someone but traveling is like a shortcut . You learn a lot about your friends on a 10-day trip but you might not learn as much during a year of friendship.
You learn how flexible, tolerant, considerate your friends are. How much they can be easygoing? How selfish they might be to ignore you and act as they are on their own and you don't exist?
When you are going on a trip by yourself, you are free to do what ever you want (obviously) but when you are traveling with couple of people, it is very important to be cooperative. To be considerate enough to let everybody enjoy the trip. Try to learn about their needs and share yours to come up with the best solution for the entire group.
You need to listen and speak up both otherwise there is a good chance that you become (if you don't listen) pushi and boss your friends around all the time or (if you don't speak up) ends up being ignored all the time. Balance is everything.
This summer I had a chance to have short trips with different groups of my friends. I learn a lot about myself and them. Some of my findings are quite surprising :))

Fat man misery point

Yesterday, early in the morning Nima and I headed to Blue mountain region close to Geargian Bay. It's about 1:30 hours drive from Toronto.
Georgian bay is one the most scenic part of Ontario. It's vast and all around it has something to offer. The part we visited yesterday, town of Blue Mountain, has the largest facilities for skiing in Ontario. There is a 126m long suspension bridge close to the town which gives fabulous view over Georgian bay .

Close to the bridge there were several caves really unique. one of the caves had a point called 'Fat man misery point'. The character of that point was it's narrowness, we had to pass through a very narrow space around 36 cm wide.
Along the caves trail, there was a huge rock on which Indian chief used to hold their secrete meetings. One of the rocky wall along the trail, naturally formed in a way that resembles an Indian chief. Can you recognize that?

1000 Island more photos

Maybe the Bold castle caretaker building :)

Another luxurious cottage on one of the islands

One of the island, the owener made a beautiful deck and boat launch

People Camping at one of the island

1000 island from Sky Deck overview

1824 islands and not even one is mine :))

Couple of weeks ago, there was a long weekend thus Nima and I planned a two-day trip to the city of Gananoque. We stayed at a cosy motel for a night. Our trip started with little excitement when right before getting on a cruise, we realized that I left my purse in a Tim Horton 100 km back in BellviLle. I called three possible Tim at Bellville and none of them could find my purse. There was no way to stay, we had to go back. All of my credit cards, driving license, student cards, insurance cards, my cellphone, camera and house key was in there. I called my cellphone several times and there was no answer.
We changed our cruise ticket from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm and headed back to Bellville. I was sure someone stole my bag. In my mind I started reviewing what I should do next: cancel my cards, make requests for driving license, insurance, student card again, change the house lock, cancel the motel reservation for the night and go back home...
When we finally got there, I couldn't believe my eyes. My bag was hanged from the chair, just the way I left it. Apparently everyone who came in thought this seat is taken and the owner of the bag is ordering coffee or something. It was such a relief.
We return to Gananoque and took two-hour cruise along the 1000 island (actually 1824 island). Every piece of land surrounded by water and has at least one three is considered as an island.
the first photo shows two islands, one belong to Canada and another to US, the bridge between the two is the shortest international bridge between the two country.
You can also see the beautiful Boldt castle. Apparently a rich man (George C. Boldt) built this castle for his wife. There was a small island very close to Blodt castle island with a cosy house on it, our tour guide told us that George Boldt built this just-enough cottage for his mother-in-law.
There is a SkyDeck in Gananoque , 130m (400') long, which gives you a fabulous overview of the area. You can see more photos from our trip in the next post.

Zeus is angry

There are thunders one after another, make the sky at 10:00 pm like a sunny day. It rains heavily and strong wind spread the rain everywhere. I can hear the sound of ambulance from outside. We have such a strange summer in Mississauga with temperature below the average almost all the time and heavy rains at least two days a week. It's nothing like Toronto summer. I can feel the strength of this thunderstorm, each time it roars, the ground beneath me shake a little. Someone got on Zeus's nerve :)
The photo is from here.

Bella ciao

One morning I awakened

Oh Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!

One morning I awakened

And I found the invader

Oh partisan carry me away

Oh Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!

Oh partisan carry me away

Because I feel death approaching

And if I die as a partisan

(And if I die on the mountain)

Oh Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!

And if I die as a partisan

(And if I die on the mountain)

Then you must bury me

Bury me up in the mountain

(And you have to bury me)

Oh Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!

Bury me up in the mountain

(And you have to bury me)

Under the shade of a beautiful flower

And the people who shall pass

(And all those who shall pass)

Oh Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!

And the people who shall pass

(And all those who shall pass)

Will tell me: "what a beautiful flower"

(And they will say: "what a beautiful flower")

This is the flower of the partisan

(And this is the flower of the partisan)

Oh Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!

This is the flower of the partisan

(And this is the flower of the partisan)

Who died for freedom

If I win a lottery...

If I win a lottery, I will save some of it for traveling with these experts around the world!!!

National geography travel section has several delicious travel programs, like a trip to the heart of Africa or to the far far away land of Antarctica to watch emperor penguins, or 12-day adventure on New Zealand’s South Island (how about that)

But everything has a price, if you can spare $60,000 , get ready for your 24-day trip around the earth in a privet jet :)

Bravo My Proud Iranian Fellows

I'm following the news from Iran like so many other of my Iranian friends everyday. God knows how proud I am. I am proud of you guys, for your mature act and behavior in response to savageness , darkness and cruelty . I am proud of your sincerity and braveness.
Despite all those limitations, how this mature, wise, brave, open minded, aware generation formed? Guys I am so proud of you!!!
Democracy can't be given to any nation as a gift. Democracy is a goal to be reached to. every nation has to pass the path to democracy on their own feet. There is no free ride. If we don't feel the necessity of having a freedom of speech/act with our skin, democracy won't come or if it comes easy through outsiders interference it will go easy and won't last.
I remember my math teacher back in high school used to say: "If I solve 100 problems for you; you won't learn as much as you solve 1 problem by yourself"
My people are solving a hard problem of "how to reach to real democracy" these days. God Bless you All
Be safe and sound

Hanna beats Barbie

I remember two years ago when I came back to Iran, I found out that my niece (Ava) loves Barbie. This time I asked her what she like me to bring to her. I remember the conversation.

-Do you know Hanna Montana, Aunt Hiva? (She asked me)

- No, who is she honey? (I answered and at the same time googled the name)

- She is a singer and actress. Can you buy her latest movie for me please?

- Sure, sure, I’ll bring it to you sweetie!

I bought one of her latest DVD for Ava and also a book of her lyrics and some shirts. Ava is so into her when Hanna is on TV we literally can’t talk to Ava; she simply can’t hear you :).

She is not that interested in Barbies any more. One day I went to her room and noticed there are plenty Barbie girls around.

-Ava! why so many? (I asked her)

- Dad and mom and my friends bought these for me

It seems during last year every person who wanted to gave her a gift found a Barbie girl as the safe option, but apparently it’s not the best choice anymore.

Ava’s Barbies in different sizes and dresses amazed me, I put them all together and took some pictures. Can you find the lucky Barbie boy???

Coming back to normal life

I came back from Iran.
So many things that I probably won't talk about, so many images that I would never forget.
Iran I went to is not the same country that I left. Something happened, I don't know how long it will take but change is on its way...

Nima and I arrived home late at night, we took a sleep pill and went to bed. Yesterday we tried to rest; had a little shopping , checking e-mails, doing some laundry, yeah we returned to our normal life.

Today I am trying to catch up. I made a note for myself before I left home month ago so that when I came back I knew what I'm supposed to do for the research. It's a big help believe me.

The weather is so nice, around 20 degree It is not like Toronto summer at all. I'll write more about my trip as soon as I catch up a little.

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL ; BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

I believe one of the hardest thing for humans is to have power but not to fall in love with it. The ring of power lures us, not everyone can be a ring bearer.

Asking for change, fighting for equality, coming to power, falling in love with it, becoming a dictator is a repetitive story of our time

Poooooooh

It's hopless

I'm Home

I'm home (my parent's place actually). The weather here in Shahi (northern city of Iran in beautiful Mazandaran) is perfect. I'm catching up

Presidential election is in few days. Everyone talk about it. Presidential debate between four remaining candidates are on. People excitedly talk about it and sending funny SMS (text), making jokes,..

I watched all debates by curiosity, this type of debate between candidates are kind of new. The only thing stunned me was the way Ahmadinejad defended his performance during last four years. Iran from his point of view is:

One of the most powerfull country in the world :O

Our people are totally happy and inflation and recession does not affect Iranian as much as it affects other people around the globe :O

Rate of unemplyment is decreasing :O

He is showing fake graphs to prove Iran have positive economy growth. I am still shocked. How could he do this!!!!

I don't know if he is more a lair or a delusionary. I can't believe it, he tells big big lies right into camera to 70 million people.

All three other rivals called him a lair but he aggressively attacked them and accused them of trying to frame him because he was honest and was doing right things.

I am not living in Iran but how can I be reluctant toward my country mates and all those who I love and are living here.

Iranian deserve better than this. God how would you feel watching poeple whose foreheads are marked by long and frequent prays for you and lying , insulting, cursing ...

Election is getting closer and closer, I just hope Iranian don't be misled by all theses confusing signals and make the best choice. Please Do :)

A Trip In a Glance

Kissing Nima goodbye
Having 1 hour delay in flight to St. John's
Settling down in MUN grad lab with my suitcase ;)
Texting to Nima
Having dinner with Eily and Ashkan my lovely friends
Meeting Shawn, my supervisor from 9 to 12
Talking to Nima on the phone
watching my supervisor gorgeous twins, surrounded in the most colorful toys
Calming my mom on the phone after a bad dream my younger sister had about me
Having a good laugh with 15 Iranians of MUN at UC
Catching up with close friends
Wishing a friend having fun at Hawaii
Solving middle east and the world problems after having delicious dinner
Counting 10000 sheep after a late night tea
watching pretty Asian girl having extra large coffee for the breakfast
Meeting my British smart supervisor early in the morning, talking about 'English got talent' show
Reading an article that Harper government is going to sell another company
Hiking a long way with Eily
Licking an ice cream while my friends are talking
Talking to Nima before sleep
Counting another 10000 sheep
Blogging Friday morning in grad lab
going to have presentation in the afternoon

Are some of my latest St. John's trip highlights...

An Accident!

Monday early in the morning I have a flight to St. John's. I had some last minute shopping, thus Nima drove me to the nearby mall. The initial plan was that he drop me off at mall and head to gym himself. Right before he dropped me off I saw an old man trying to sit on a flat stone, suddenly he lost his balance and fell down on his forehead.
Nime stopped a car right away and I ran toward him. There was blood allover his face.

-You OK? Let me help you sit down

I looked at his face, it was like an old wound open up. the cut was deep and it was bleeding strongly. Two other young girls also hurried toward us.

-Are you guys fine?
- He fell down on his forehead. He is bleeding.
-Let's call 911

We helped him sit back and press some clinex on the wound to help his bleeding stop. 911 asked different kind of questions, I think it took about 5 minutes.
- how old is he? (a 911 operator asked)
-How old are you? we asked him
-I'm 90 something (he answered), I was in world war II (he added)
-Does he feels drowsy?...Is he diabetic?...Is he using specific medicine? (and some other detailed questions that operator asked before deciding to send an ambulance.)

-Good, they are on their way. (a girl who was talking on the phone said)

At this time another car stopped and a lady came out.

-Is he doing fine? (she asked)
- I am a nurse, let me check him! .. she came closer, looked at his wound. Then ask him if he know his name. if he has any numbers, we could call. She looked at his wallet and find a phone number. She called and found his wife on the line.

-Mam your husband fell down in front of the mall, he is fine now. the ambulance is on the way. She brought a bottle of water and helped him drink.
-OK guys I'm living now the ambulance will be here soon. Talk to him don't let him sleep

We start talking to him, one of the other girl asked him about his experience in war to keep him awake.

-How much time do you have? (an old man asked)
-I have time, I should have time, to help you so maybe one day when I fell down someone else take care of me (the lovely girl answered)

Nima went to guide the ambulance toward us. Finally they showed up and we could leave.
We say goodbye to them. The all things took about 40 minutes.

-Oh Nima don't you wanna go to gym? (I asked him)
-Nay forget it, let's go to the mall.

Don't think he was looking for any excuses :))

Start Counting Down

These days I'm busy making slides, writing reports..In two weeks I have another trip to St. John's to meet my supervisors and to attend a conferee. When I come back, in less than a week I'll be on my way to Iran. It has been more than a year and a half that I haven't seen my family.

My mom was telling me she starts making my favorite jam, drying some vegetable from our yard so that I can bring them back. When you are away from those who you love, you really don't feel it until you go back to them. Right there you feel , Gosh what I was missing. I was talking to couple of friends who haven't seen their families for more than 5 or 12 years. For me it sounds impossible.

Anyway it's going to be a very busy month for me but I like it this way. My heart becomes wam by the idea of vising my family again..Cheerssss

Smile :)

I love these photos of me and my older sister Roja. We are standing hand in hand in my grandpa backyard, wearing the same dress; Roja has a flower in her hand .
My dad took these pictures from us. Photography was one of his major hobby...
In the background you can see a part of my grandpa garden.

In this one we are sitting right in front of the house entrance door. ..I love these photos, I really do :))

The Black Shirt

Listening to this song cheers me up and reminds me of a cute Colombian girl, Erica who played this song for me on her ipod. She enthusiastically translated the song to me and explained how popular Juanes is (I had no idea who he was honestly). Listen and Enjoy:

My Heroic Moments

Pica Pica
I was 14 or 15 years old. I came back from school and like everyday call for my dog, Liza (she was a Terrier/Lab mix breed. Black colored with white strip started from her nose to her tail. I found her when she was just a baby) to start our usual journey deep into grandpa garden.
we had a heavy rain the day before and every where was still wet. We almost reached to the one end of the garden that I saw a bucket. Just out of curiosity I went ahead to look inside. There he was, a pica pica, almost drawn in a water collected in that bucket due to rain. He was obviously tired of struggling to come out. he managed to keep the tip of his beak out of water to breath. I took him out, he was too tired to show any reactions. He couldn't fly his wings was totally wet. I ran toward home while Liza was following me with her curious eyes on pica pica.
We had an small store room in our backyard. I took a blow dryer and went inside the room. he was gradually getting warm and as his feathers dried he gathered his strength back. when he totally dried he stood on his feet, looked up and saw me and with a sudden move he flew toward the window. But before flying out he stood there, looked back for a moment and then flew away. I felt like a hero. :))

Liza's Puppy
I was 12 or 13. Liza gave birth to 7/8 super cute puppies. There were colorful chubby woolly creatures with pink nose. I couldn't took my eyes off them. There was an old forsaken shed at a corner of Grandpa Garden with old sofa inside. Liza chose an old comfortable sofa to put her babies on. It was a midnight that I woke up by a continuous noise of one of Liza's baby. I waited for a while to see if it was gonna end but it didn't. I went out toward the shed to see what's going on. Liza came to me, moving her tail in excitement. I saw one of Liza's baby had fallen down the sofa and that's why it was making all those noises for help. I put it back and it became quite. I felt so good, went back to bed and slept like a baby.

Wounded Crow
I was 6 or 7 . I noticed our German Shepherd dog was jumping up and down. I ran toward him and saw a pretty large crow trying to fly away but he couldn't because of his wounded wing. The poor crow was jumping in the air and falling down while our dog was trying to chase him. It was emergency call :). one of the time that the crows jumped up, I stood in a place that he would probably crash on and that was what exactly happened. He crashed down in my arms and I grabbed him quickly. Now imagine 6/7 years old girl carrying a pretty large crow with bloody wing, in her arms which is easily half of her size. I ran toward home to find a bandage. I remember my mom opened the door and screamed:

"for God sake Hiva what is this????"
- Mom, I saved him from the dog, he is wounded.
- Noooooooooo, we can't bring him home. Let him go somewhere out of dogs reach. He can take care of himself.

I let him go. I don't remember how I felt. It was long time ago. :)

Flower of My Vase, Moon On My Porch

Listen to This beautiful music video by Monica Jalili. The music is an old Iranian song.

Wishful Thoughts

News from here and there. He does this, she said that. That guy is not happy with his job, this girl wants to move to another city..He is complaining, and is pessimistic just like a Glum in Gulliver, she believes ...
My mind analyzing, analyzing, processing the information all the time.
I really don't want to hear all these, I can't help analyzing but I might be able to build a filter. then I can prevent some information to get in, in first place, so that I don't have to think or judge.
I'm tired, the grown up world is complicated. I want to keep my simple world forever.
When I am happy I'll show. When I am sad I'll show that too. If I'm concern I'll talk about it.
I want the real world be as simple as my childhood cartoons. there where bad people and good ones. Bad people always loose at the end , they tried hard to trap good people or make troubles for them but always good people was the winner.
I want the world be a fair place, those who deserve better achieve better and those who cheat and are not honest be caught red handed.
Is that too much to ask!!!

Zeta Brain Wave

I can't sleep.
I watched a presentation on Brain Music Therapy on youtube. In one slide it was saying that our brain produces small amount of electrical activities which induces brain waves. Our brain waves are responding differently to different activities. We have 4 type of Brain Waves:

- Delta: 2 to 4 Hz during sleeping
- Theta: 4 to 8 during day dreaming
- Alpha: 8-12 when you are focused and relaxed, for example watching movie
- Beta: above 12 during high concentration, like doing math

What type of brain wave it is, when you can't focus on anything but you can't sleep either?? Zeta??

You too, Brutus?!!!

I don't know if you ever read the story of Julius Caesar assassination. For along time there were conflict between Caesar and Senate. Finally a group of senators plan to murder him. They made a false petition and called Caesar to read it.
When he started reading the fake petition, suddenly one of the traitors pulled down Caesar tunic and the other stabbed him in a neck. within the moments the entire group of traitors striking him out one by one. It is said that, there were 60 men in his assassination and Caesar was stabbed 23 times. Among those 60 men, there was one who called Brutus. Brutus was like a son to Caesar, he was highly trusted and accepted in Caesar's inner circle.
It says that when Brutus stabbed him in the back, Caesar turned back and looked at him in shock and said "You too, Brutus??"

For some reason, I just remember this story...

WILFRED W. GELDER

this is an update to my previous post. We went back to "Gelder Fine Arts" shop. He remembered us in first glance.
-Barabara these are the couple I told you (Barbara is a lovely girl who is managing the shop).
We took a picture with him, he said : Let me hold my brush, just like I'm painting. :)
The above picture is the painting we bought , shows a girl and her dog walking along the river.
The second photo is Nima and I behind him.

Home for Gelder's Painting

Nima and I were looking for a painting for a while. Finally we found it yesterday and it was quite a unique experience for both of us.
We were driving when my eyes caught the site of a small and narrow shop called, "Gelder Fine Art". At first glance I saw several paintings hanged on the shop's walls. We parked the car and walked in.
when we entered, an old man with a bent back was sitting behind the incomplete canvas alone. There were several paint stains all over his pants and coats.
He looked up and smiled.
-It's a nice sunny day isn't it
- Yeah very lovely (I replied, while looking around)
There were so many beautiful paints all over the shops.
-I think these are all his painting Hiva (Nima whispered in my ears)
- These are all my paintings
- Oh there are really beautiful
-Thanks (He answered with his low voice)
I've had this shop for 47 years
- Wow (Nima and I reacted)
- You know next week is my birthday, in March
- Nice, next week is my birthday too
- Really, mine is on March 25th (He seemed amazed)
I am gonna be 92 years old
- I am gonna be 29 (I was thinking God 92, 29 both in March such a coincident)
- 92, 29.. Really? are you going to be 29 years old? (He asked me with excitement)
I am lucky to come so far, I served in military for 8 years during world war II in South Africa, India and Italy.
and then he told us about how he met her wife there and fell in love at first sight.
- I saw her and I told to myself, God I can't live without her. We married in one month
We looked at all of his paintings one by one, while he was briefly explaining where usually he painted them. Most of his paintings were scenery in impressionist style.
- Most of these scenes are somewhere around Mississauga and beautiful Credit river (He said)
- That's interesting I did a lot of photography around credit river before winter (Nima said excitedly)
There was one paint that caught my eyes more than the others, beautiful summer day along the credit river with a girl and her dog walking near the river.
- If you like it take it down , bring it home hang it on the wall for few days and then if you find it what you were looking for come back and pay it.
He offered us a very fair price with huge discount!!
- At this age, all I want is to make sure my paintings are finding a good home. I don't have too many years left and usually after the painters death his paintings' value increases.
Nima and I were speechless. I couldn't think of any thing to tell him in response.
We love the painting , it's just so perfect in our cosy dinning room but more than that this experience make it so special to us. Each time looking at his small signature beneath the picture "Wilfred W. Gelder" remind me of a lovely old man in small cosy shop in streets ville.
We will go back to his shop in few days to pay for the painting and this time I will have my camera with me.

Uncle Nowruz Is On The Way

Spring is coming. Nowruz is on the way. I can hear the sound of uncle Nowruz's horses' hooves, rushing toward me. He is bringing blossoms to bare lands. That's how I always imagined him, an old man with white beard, wise eyes and kind smile. I can hear Hjji Firuz plays his tambourine...Hajji Firuze Sali Yeruze...
Back on those days that I was in my hometown, when greengage trees were blooming at grandpa's garden, yellow dandelions were coming out of ground, pale pink blossoms were covering peach trees, I knew spring was there. When our dogs were going crazy and giving each other romantic looks, I knew love is in the air...
We used to gather all by the "haftsin" table, while waiting for last seconds of old year to pass on...tic tac tic tac...Happy New Year.
All the family kissed and huged each other. My dad used to gave us our gifts and then all of us used to head to my grandpa's place where my aunts, uncles and cousin where gathered. These are part of the most precious memories that I have. When grandpa passed away the family union was never like before, but still lovely.
I missed being with my family for four Nowruz. I am not going to complain about that . That's life..I should go with the life train instead I am having my own Nowruz with Nima.
I am trying to make it just like what we have back home as much as possible. I don't want loose this lovely tradition. I will pass it to my kids one day...
Happy Spring everybody, wish you a year full of good news, heart warming incidents and sweet surprises...(The picture is from here.)

سال نو مبارک

Lab or Kitchen

Check out this website and tell me what you think the website is for by first glance!
Hmm..It must be an educational website, maybe relates to a publisher or something...or maybe it's a university's website..No it's closer to be a website of a publisher or a writer with those list of publications..

But you know what, it's a restaurant's website. Do you believe this??!!
The restaurant is called ElBulli. Just look at its long list of prizes including four times "best resturant of the world" recognition. It is located in spain and had one of the most famouse chef of the world: Ferran Adrià.

Now just let me list some of the amazing facts about the resturant (from wikipedia):
"The restaurant has a limited season from April to September; bookings are taken on a single day the previous October" did you get that on a single day!!!!

"It accommodates only 8,000 diners a season, and gets more than two million requests"

It has been described as "the most imaginative generator of haute cuisine on the planet" and does a great deal of work on molecular gastronomy." Molecular gastronomy is the application of science to culinary practices and cooking phenomena

Ferran Adrià is a controversial figure among other chefs. He is a scientist if you ask me. He actually invents the recipes by trying more than 3000 formula to end up to 300 acceptable recipes with great and new taste.

"he closes El Bulli for six months every year in order to travel abroad, in search of new inspiration and ideas with which to astonish his diners. Adrià, who has been called “the Salvador Dali of the kitchen,” has won global acclaim as one of the most creative and inventive culinary geniuses in the world."
Going to his restaurant could be once in a life time experience.

What is your blood type??

I always thought my blood group is O+ till yesterday that I understood it is B-. God I could have killed myself with that wrong piece of information. Make sure you know what your blood type is! I think I should inform my Japanese friends first :))

Conceptual Naked Ape

These days my mind is occupied with global warming; humans’ impact on earth, etc. how we end up here? So dominant in comparison with the rest of creatures!!

I think the start point has something to do with agriculture. When we learned to do farming we start settling down at one place instead of going from one to the other searching for food. Farming made us different from the animals. We stayed put, somewhere close to rivers, and made houses nearby which was another impact. Humans wiped out the jungles to have more land for farming and also to have wood for keeping their houses warm or building their houses.

Can you see the trend? First we learn how to do farming, which had two main consequences:

1- Building houses near the river and farms

2- Stripping the jungles (to expand our farm land, to use the wood for houses..)

Gradually humans’ society formed and the population increased. Our villages became cities and grow larger. New needs came to picture and intelligent human being found the solution one after another. We learned how to make dams on river. The oldest dam still in use was build almost 1800 years ago (Grand Anaicut).

We are in 21st century, we have large cities like, New York, Tokyo, etc. we have large factories producing every king of product one can imagine per second all over the world. We landed on moon; we are planning to land on Mars we have 18000 satellites orbiting around the earth. God!! we are so intelligent.

But you know what, while we were busy with industrial revolution, making atomic bombs, learning how to fly, making super submarine, we didn’t care much about the impact we imposed on earth.

The all idea of Be Green, Go Green is new. I can’t see the future but I like to be optimistic and believe that thousand years from now the future humans are going to be highly intelligent, emotionally.

I hope our intelligent leads us to better understanding of other creatures. To learn, with our “power comes responsibility”. I hope our intelligence help us to understand torturing and killing a lone, frightened, and wounded bull is no fun. Watching two dogs fighting to death is not joyful.

Many of us eat meat, we need to do that. There are not enough vegetables to feed this large population we need meat to survive but we can stop killing animals to have fancy food. We can stop killing whales in the name of research. We can survive without having Foie gras and stop force feeding poor goose and ducks. We can stop eating fish while the poor creature is still alive.

I think future humans will be in more harmony than us. They will learn the language of animals. They will hear the mourning of a mother gorilla for her dead baby. I hope I’m not too optimistic!!!