محبت

،محبت درست نشود مگر میان دو تن

که یکی دیگری را گوید: ای من

salsa

Now this is a congress I would be looking forward to!

droplets

I got home cold and wet, my feet hurting from 10 hours of walking around in very high heels. I was thinking that my hair didn't come out the color I wanted and I have ink stains on my fingers from holding newspaper above my head in the rain, and I also had a big M on my right hand from the meeting I went to ...
A friend had left me a message:

Life is like a piano... white keys represent happiness, black keys for sorrow but only when you go through the white & black keys you hear the MUSIC of LIFE

It made sense. I changed and microwaved some food. Looked in the mirror thinking my hair looks really nice ... a friend called to check on me and ... oh God I won't trade this life for anything ...

cancer

Imagine an old person with cancer, and an old person with no disease. What's different about them? The fact that the first person may die soon? They are both old, they can both die any moment. And I am not even going to argue that the same would be true with young people.

So what is it that awakens people with serious diseases to live a better life? Don't we all know that there may not be a tomorrow?

I was thinking about this as I sat in class listening to the professor who still teaches, despite his cancer ...

instinct

Now that I think about it, my gut feelings have always been right. The only mistake has been when I have ignored them. I used to trust them much more, but I was pulled away, somehow, in the course of life ...

I regain my trust to follow my heart whenever I remember the music I chose, whenever I remember the decisions I made ... I would still do the same ... I am going to be me, even more than I have been in the past ...

It may be that emotions fade in the composer's heart, but love lives within the music ...

indecision

Once again I had to decide something and as usual I had to involve all the people around me ... well, decision made ...

autumn

I guess the pale sun is trying to convince me it's already Fall, no matter how hard I deny it, no matter what I wear ... I like the colors though, the orange, the magnificent red ...

my little sister

People who know both of us will agree that we are two people from two planets. But that's not what I wanted to write about ...

I was talking on the phone as she knocked at the door. I opened it and waived a hand at her meaning that I'll be with you in a second. I knew what she would do. She always walks straight into the kitchen, opens the fridge, and eats all she can take in one hand. After that she usually sits on the couch waiting for me to ask her what else she would like to eat ...

Today she was in a rush though, she drank the rest of the pop and I think ate a chocolate spread sandwich and left. As she was leaving she indicating with her fingers that she had left the door to her apartment open - she's a neighbor - and she had to go ... I guess I'll call her in the morning ...

آقای لاریجانی

... گرچه اطلاعی از صحت این مطلب ندارم اما گفتم حالا

بخش ترجمه سازمان های مهم جهانی دچار سرگیجه مفرط تاریخی شدند. جمله علی لاریجانی: با نشان دادن « لولو» ی شورای امنیت، مردم ایران رو به قبله نمی شوند

ترجمه نیوزویک [تایمز]: علی لاریجانی گفته است که اگر شورای امنیت مثل موجوداتی که بچه ها را می ترسانند ظاهر شود، مردم ایران به سوی قبله مسلمانان جهان دراز نمی کشند

ترجمه نشریه اسپانیایی ال پائیس: علی لاریجانی گفت که اگر شورای امنیت چیز ترسناکی را هم به ایرانیان نشان دهد، باز هم مردم ایران به سوی عربستان سعودی نمی خوابند

ترجمه نشریه فرانسوی اومانیته: علی لاریجانی گفت که دراز کشیدن ایرانیان به سوی مرکز اعتقادات مسلمانان بستگی به این دارد که آنها از موجودات افسانه ای بترسند، این یک داستان ایرانی است

geek?!

I guess I'll have to accept the comment. Truth is, whenever is see "BS" in a text, I read "Base Station". Consequently, the sentence doesn't make sense and after getting to the end of it I realize that I once again managed to overwrite my common sense knowledge with ... well ... work-related BS ...

امشب

عزم آن دارم که امشب نیم مست
پای کوبان، کوزۀ دُردی به دست
سر به بازار قلندر در نهم
پس به یک ساعت ببازم هرچه هست

turnaround

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit

lonely and you're never coming around

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit

terrified and then I see the look in your eyes

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit

restless and I dream of something wild

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit

helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit

angry and I know I've got to get out and cry

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
.....

Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler)

donut

I bent down and left the paper bag with a donut in it on the ground next to him. I saw him light a cigarette ... whatever, it's a cruel world I thought ... and not everyone is as lucky as me to get a hug when they need it ...

too long

I am not sure if I can wait that long, it doesn't even make sense to me ...

pencil

If you know what you're looking for is there, you never give up. No matter how much it seems you are not finding it. I realized this as I was poking my hand into my backpack searching for the pencil I knew I had thrown in there ...

صحرا

،به صحرا شدم عشق باریده بود

،چنانچه پای به برف فرو می شود

... به عشق فرو می شد

liking it

Why am I not liking this? I mean, it's kind of weird but nothing to hate so much! People talk about people all the time and you don't usually even get to know what they are saying. So why care so much? And they're not saying anything bad ... I know that I don't like people poking their noise into my business but come on! it's nothing new ... Maybe it's just me being me as I am. But still, I am not liking this ...

ای عاشقان

ای عاشقان، ای عاشقان، هر کس که بیند روی او
شوریده گردد عقل او، آشفته گردد خوی او
معشوق را جویان شود، دکان او ویران شود
بر روی و سر پویان شود، چون آب اندر جوی او

دیوان شمس

stupid

I think I have met the true definition of stupid! You won't believe it until you actually meet him, I'm sure you'll agree ... Not that I just met him. No, I've known him for a few years, it just took a little convincing ...

sign!

I just love the idea of putting up such a sign!
Great photo Sooski joonam ...

P.S. seems this needs a little explanation. The guy is snatching the lady's purse ...

Emmy awards

• They had a white Orchid to remember the victims of Katrina.
• Every once in a while someone would make fun of Bush or would wish the soldiers to come back from Iraq soon.
• The Jon Stewart show received two awards, but my favorite actor Hugh Laurie in House, although nominated, didn't get an award.
• Light-colored ties were quite popular with the men and I really liked it.
• The new color for women was a bright red, which I didn't appreciate that much. But I liked the new style with shawls on the dresses, especially since I recently bought two dresses like that this year.

Hot Springs

We took Saturday to visit the beautiful Harrison resort where the sand sculptures world championships was held. Wonderful drive and magnificent scenery ... and to finish off the day, as we were enjoying ice cream, mocha and ... we were entertained by the guitar players ... as I watched their hands on the guitar, I thought, I couldn't have painted a better picture ....

untangled

I have almost untangled most of the mess I made on Friday. And I also talked to my dear Elham for a long time on the phone - as we usually do - and it helped a lot with untangling my thoughts ...

دختران

کنار پرچین سوخته
دختر
خاموش ایستاده است
و دامن نازکش در باد
.تکان می خورد

خدایا خدایا
دختران نباید خاموش بمانند
هنگامی که مردان
نومید و خسته
.پیر می شوند

شاملو-

mess

Seen how you sometimes make a mess of almost everything throughout the day? Yeah, I kind of had one of those days on Friday ... it'll take me a while to make all of them right ...

countries

Noticed how there are countries that you only hear of when disaster strikes? Many of the African countries are among that group. All I can say about them is that they are poor and there is a lot of disease and ...

One of the great things I love about Vancouver is that it exposes you to the world. You can find people from all over the globe. And since the government is willing to help them preserve their culture, you meet them at the closest possible to what you would find them in their motherland.

Eating at the Ethiopian restaurant last night, which I should say was awesome, portrayed a different face of Africa for me ...

all over the world!

It's been such a great week and we're still only half way through. My supervisor loved my paper. We had a few good discussions on my future research. The guys from Sierra Wireless came up and it was quite entertaining ...

But I have to say the most exciting thing about this week is that my friends have been bringing me souvenirs from all over the world, and I mean it; Chile, Peru, the States, Switzerland ... geez, it is so cool!

Oh, one more thing, I am seriously thinking of buying an apartment. That should too add to the excitement in the weeks to come ...

no rush

There's an instant in time, when you suddenly stop to realize you were going too fast. It happened to me again today. I had a thousand things planned for the afternoon when I remembered a dear friend is coming to town. I had to free up some time, so I went back to my to do list. Guess what, there was really only one thing I had to do, and it was done by the time I had to go to class. I have realized that it helps a lot to know what you're really in a rush for and what can wait. I have to keep reminding myself there's no rush, take it slow ...

copycat

It's a weird feeling to see people copying what you do. Cute at first, but then it looses the charm. I mean, ok, you can learn from others, but to walk around acting like someone else ... What happened to the small details which were supposed to distinguish people? What's worse is that I think it doesn't even look good when I do it, it's just a habit. So what's with the copycat?! It's getting on my nerve ...

FLIP

FLIP is the coolest ship I have ever seen! Basically it is pulled into sea and left to sink like Titanic . It's research oriented for the time being, mainly for watching whales. The interesting thing about FLIP is that it stays still despite the change in water level, so no sea sickness for the scientists on board!

mother nature

It seems like mother nature has become step-mother nature. I thought Katrina was the last of what she was throwing at us. It's been about two days that the bog fires are burning in Delta - a district in greater Vancouver. It was ok yesterday; but today, the air smells and there is smoke all over the city. I am seeing signs of allergy in myself - I am a little allergic to smoke and ...

The Sun's bailing on us too. I've see the effect on my TV - I use broadcast TV. What next? The moon is going to decide to step out of its orbit? Or the Mars creatures are going to finally come to earth?

donation

$5 for missing children at Shoppers drugmart, $30 on the phone for children with cancer, $ .... I trust them to get the money to the people they collect it for, but should I?!

گل

دوستان گویند سعدی خیمه بر گلزار زن

من گلی را دوست دارم که در گلزار نیست

human

There are people and then there are humans. If I were to give a quick example I would name my supervisor. He's a role model to me. Both at work and as a true human being.
He comments you and compliments you and makes you feel confident. He gives you all you need to grow in your career, refers you to all the resources you need and ... he's just him. One of the best things that happened to me. On his 60th birthday, I arranged with his wife and we showed up at his place to celebrate a true human being. You could see it in the faces of all the people there, he is so special to everyone.
I have shared so many secrets and personal matters of mine with him. With his busy schedule, he's always there for me, always ...
And I remembered all of this because of one of the comments he left on my paper. I cancelled an out of town trip for it. Just to stay and do the revisions he gave me. But it's ok. Work never hurts you, and I can always go some other time ....

you sang to me

I just wanted you to comfort me
When I called you late last night you see
I was fallin' into love
Yes, I was crashin' into love
Oh of all the words you sang to me
About life, the truth and being free, yeah
You sang to me, oh how you sang to me

Girl, I live off how you make me feel
So I question all this being real
'Cause I'm not afraid to love
For the first time I'm not afraid of love

Oh, this day seems made for you and me
And you showed me what life needs to be
Yeah, you sang to me, oh you sang to me

....

Marc Anthony

unaware

As the Globe and Mail describes it, it's a cancer that whispers, and as recent polls show very few women even know about it. Ovarian cancer is so leathal that it kills about 60% of it's victims and yet there is very little awarness about it.

Even the few women who do know a little about the desease assume that the regular "well-woman" tests are able to identify the symptoms. This, however, is not true. The most common way Ovarian cancer is recognized is by a series of symptoms all present at the same time. In order to raise awareness, both Canada and the US are launching nationwide campaigns. We should pass the message on ...

sidetrack

I know about it, I just don't want to care. Honestly, I never took it seriously, and it really doesn't matter after all. It was just a sidetrack. Something to spend a little imagination on ... maybe I should put the thought to rest now.

i walked ...

I had coffee with a few friends and we talked about how long we have been students and ... Afterwards I went for a stroll. I walked on the wide handrails beside the stairs and then on the edges of all the side walks and then on every wired place I could have imagined. Just like old times. Like Sharif. How joyful I was when I walked on the flat surface next to the grass and trees where it would rise higher and higher above the pavement level. Yes, I did that again and it felt as good.

Then I thought about Katrina. I thought about the price of coffee going up 10% with the start of the semester. And I thought how relations are my only survival resort. I thought of what I did not get myself into and I thought about what I do want to get myself involved with. I thought about life and I thought about plans. I thought about Terry Fox. And I thought about correspondence ...

After a long time, I had my chance to think. Alone. Or may be it was that I woke up to a quite house this morning. Whatever it was, it felt ... Ok?! normal?!

آش پشت پا

... جاشون خالی نباشه.اونا رسیدن ایران، من هم خوب آشم رو فردا می پزم. یه کوچولو دیر

caring

I met a foster parent for the first time. I had always wondered what great human beings these people were. She and her husband had two children of their own and fostered a group home. You could have known it when she offered change to the guy who didn't have money to ride on the bus, the beauty in her eyes and the generosity she was willing to share with her community ...

گلزار خاوران

نمی دونم اما فکر کنم چند سال می تونم گریه کنم براشون ... خوب هیچکس هیچ وقت به من توضیحی نداد، شاید هم خوب کسی توضیحی نداشت که بده. من بچه بودم اما به گمونم سنگهای شکسته و بی درخت بودن اون منطقه و ... خودش گویا بود

دلم

.... دلم ستاره می خواد با یه تیکه ابر. بدن دستم یه کم بازی کنم، قول می دم زود پس بدم

back to school

So it's the start of the new trimester. I had the busiest Summer of my life. Events, people, places ... Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of it. It went by like a flash, as with many periods in life, and it left me happier, stronger and more knowledgeable than before. I am getting ready to start the new work-study season, I wonder what life is going to dish out for me!?

small world

As she turned around, their eyes met. They stared at each other and for an instance everything froze around them. They couldn't see or hear anything but each other. Afterall, it had been four years and they hadn't even said goodbye. If they had gotten married at that time they would probably be thinking about having children by now. And if ...

She looked away and continued her sentence. He looked down on his book. She walked away trying not to show any emotions on her face and he tried to concentrate on the next sentence. They both knew it was inevitable as they were now living in the same city. It was just that ... just that neither of them had expected it there and then ...

milestone

It's been three years now, three years, wow! I've come a long way, a long long way. As if the person who came here on the 3rd of September, 2002 was someone else. I remember how I felt unsure about the future as the plane was landing on the ground that I would soon call home. Call home for a period much longer than I had expected.
I have changed, mentally, physically and even emotionally. I have met people, seen places, experienced times. I have learnt so much. And I owe it all to the beauty and hospitality of this land. I can't be thankful enough for all I have.

I got the earings as a birthday present. I loved them, because of the people who bought them for me. I wore them tonight and all the time as I felt them move I could feel a vibe in my body. The strong emotions that had kept me going through the happy and sad times in these three years. My wonderful friends, I owe them more than words can express.

Today, my parents are here with me. My brother and sister live here, so close, so happy. I love myself. I love my life. I love the people around me. There is nothing I want more. Thank you Canada, thank you ...

friends

time

I had to turn it down. There's just too much going on right now and I don't think I can handle a job along with all of this. Maybe some other time ...

i feel ...

I feel I can dance till dawn. I feel I can sing so everyone can hear. I feel I am so happy the world can't contain me ...

interview

They asked me for my resume and I emailed it to them not thinking what they would want it for. Afterall they were a friend of a friend. But now they emailed me asking for a time for an interview. I don't even know what the position is. And I haven't even thought if I really want to do anything else right now. I sent them my resume sure that they'll just have a look at it and that will be that. But now ...

Aside from all of that, I have never been interviewed for a job before and I am not sure if I even have a clear idea of how things are going to be! I like it, a real excitement after some time ...

conversation

So we went to a friends place. They were German, and I should say very nice people. As we sat around the table chatting, something caught my attention. Every once in a while the parents (usually their mum and my dad) would turn to someone looking for an English equivalent of a word. As we were finished talking about a subject we would each talk a few sentences in our own language, face each other again, smile and pick a new subject to continue talking.

We all had a great time, and although not all of us were very comfortable with the common language, the messages got through. We understood the need to let the other family take a few minutes to let the subject sink. By the end of the night, although we were still sitting around the table, we were talking in pairs. Very less frequently were any of the parents needing help with words. Either they needed to brush off the rust, to start talking comfortably or they had realized there are ways around finding a specific phrase ....