Grand Canyon.The first impression I got from seeing the Canyon was “How bigger than my imagination it was!"
Then "how could these small eyes see such enormous things?!…”
No picture can depict that feeling.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Red Flowers on the rocks,
Grand Canyon.The first impression I got from seeing the Canyon was “How bigger than my imagination it was!"
Then "how could these small eyes see such enormous things?!…”
No picture can depict that feeling.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Her Job!
Place de la Riponne, Lausanne, Switzerland.Lausanne, August 1993, It was a round 4:30 pm near Palais de Rumine in place de la Riponne. I was keeping my mind busy taking snapshots of different monuments and buildings. That was my escape from Blue-Gray moods that were hunting me almost every day.
I had my camera on the tripod and looking for a good angle to take shot of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Then, I noticed a middle aged woman “running” toward me!
She stopped and asked while smiling:
“What are you doing?”
“Just taking a picture of this church. I think this is a nice angel” I said, in my heavily accented French.
“I have taken a picture from exact same angel as you are and it turned out very well”, she said.
“By the way what are you doing here in Lausanne?” She asked.
“Studying French”, I replied
“What do you want to study after?”
“Genetics… if I can”, I said
“Nice, you will…”she smiled
“But it is not easy”, I said.
“S'il y a volonté d'a il y a une manière” she said (If there is a will there is a way).
I said, "that is right….but…”
She interrupted me … "No, you need to say it ...Vouloir, c'est pouvoir”.
So I said “Vouloir, c'est pouvoir”.
She said “No! Say it so everyone in the square can hear you….!”
I was shy and thought what the bleep!!!!!….
But, she insisted.
Finally I shouted out “Vouloir, c'est pouvoir”.
She smiled and said “My job is done here, good bye and good luck now …”
Then she ran away and disappeared in the crowd and the place de la Riponne.
The whole thing took 5 minutes or less. I stood there in the state of confusion then took some photos and left.
This memory stayed with me to this day. She did her job well whoever she was!?
I wrote this, to her memory.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Head up...
Santa Barbara Beach.
Calm, and cool in a Saturday evening.
Reminded me of many meditative sunsets I've spent there, soul searching and thinking " why life is important, and what I want from it".
I came to conclusion that, my life would not be about "what I have" and "who I think I am".
It should be about how many lives I have touched and how those lives are going to remember me after my sun had set!
Will I hold my head up high, like those palm trees?
I am still trying ...
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
A Comment
I wrote this as a comment to a post, and then, I thought I share it with my visitors as well…
There is a theory between some psychoanalysts that human tend to forget the pain; and bad events for that matter. Unpleasant events are often physical rather that mental, therefore we generally have good memories from past events, and that is probably a very good thing… (For example, this forgetfulness may be a reason for women to consider having more that one child! Imagine if they would not forget the pain they endure during the first pregnancy…)
We forget the pain and unpleasant events of the past so we feel nostalgia for the nice things… if we would remember the unpleasants, we would all be depressed about our past, and post-traumatic syndromes would be more prevalent for just about every little thing.
From time to time I need to remind myself of the unpleasant things that I left behind…so I don’t forget why I left them behind…
Then my life comes to a more realistic perspective.
There is a theory between some psychoanalysts that human tend to forget the pain; and bad events for that matter. Unpleasant events are often physical rather that mental, therefore we generally have good memories from past events, and that is probably a very good thing… (For example, this forgetfulness may be a reason for women to consider having more that one child! Imagine if they would not forget the pain they endure during the first pregnancy…)
We forget the pain and unpleasant events of the past so we feel nostalgia for the nice things… if we would remember the unpleasants, we would all be depressed about our past, and post-traumatic syndromes would be more prevalent for just about every little thing.
From time to time I need to remind myself of the unpleasant things that I left behind…so I don’t forget why I left them behind…
Then my life comes to a more realistic perspective.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Karlskirche
Saturday, July 29, 2006
A drive worth taking...
A typical dawn at pacific coast Highway.5 am leaving Monterey just to see the sunrise and it did worth... This road is about 4 hours of drive but often one cannot drive through it without stopping every 10 minutes. It generally takes a round 6 hours....
Friday, July 28, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Schmetterlinghaus
"Vienna's Butterfly House"
One of these days, after coming home at 7:30pm, I will have chance to fix my scanner. Then I happily digitize some of those older photos that I don't have in the computer and share them with you...
Until then, please bear with me...
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
...Patio...
The Patio in the photo was on the main canal in Venice. But your dream Patio can be anywhere you want it to be... if not already, you will have one some day...
Monday, July 24, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
A poem by Sohrab Sepehri
Unfortunately I was never good at memorizing poems.
However, there was one poem which had stayed in my mind for a very long time. And I kept reciting it to myself for years.
Today, I found a fair translation of it from Persian and would like to share it with you.
Hope you enjoy…
The Foot Steps Of Water
Life's a pleasant tradition.
Life's wing is as vast as death.
Life's a jump the size of love.
Life's not something,
we put on the mantel of habit
and forget.
It does not matter where I am.
The sky is always mine.
Windows, ideas, air, love,
earth, all mine.
Why does it matter if sometimes,
the mushrooms of nostalgia grow?
Let's take off our clothes.
Water is just a foot away.
Let's have a basket and
fill it up with all the greens
and all the reds.
We are not to comprehend;
the secret of roses, but maybe
swimming in the incantation of roses.
Or may be looking for
the song of truth
between the morning glory,
and the century.
Poem by: Sohrab Sepehri
Translated by: Mahvash Shahegh
However, there was one poem which had stayed in my mind for a very long time. And I kept reciting it to myself for years.
Today, I found a fair translation of it from Persian and would like to share it with you.
Hope you enjoy…
The Foot Steps Of Water
Life's a pleasant tradition.
Life's wing is as vast as death.
Life's a jump the size of love.
Life's not something,
we put on the mantel of habit
and forget.
It does not matter where I am.
The sky is always mine.
Windows, ideas, air, love,
earth, all mine.
Why does it matter if sometimes,
the mushrooms of nostalgia grow?
Let's take off our clothes.
Water is just a foot away.
Let's have a basket and
fill it up with all the greens
and all the reds.
We are not to comprehend;
the secret of roses, but maybe
swimming in the incantation of roses.
Or may be looking for
the song of truth
between the morning glory,
and the century.
Poem by: Sohrab Sepehri
Translated by: Mahvash Shahegh
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Woman and the Newborn.
Ashkan, Bashagqards,Iran 1371/2/15
It was not common for people of that region to pose for photos.
So I feel lucky to be allowed...
I very much liked their colorful cloths.
Her baby must be 14 years old now. I hope she is!
"Some like it Hot"
It was funny. A few weeks ago we were in San Diego and visited Hotel Del Coronado where I saw some shots of Marilyn on the walls of the hotel. Chakameh thought she has seen this place in a movie… possibly “Some Like it Hot”
Last night we watched the movie, playing: Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. That was right,a B&W old movie that we enjoyed watching, it was one of Chakameh’s favorites that I had not seen.
It was very funny and I think it was ahead of its own time,(1959).
The odd part of the movie was that it was supposed to be a hotel in Florida!
If you happen to visit San Diego, make sure to visit that place it is very enchanting even at night.
I also remembered to share this with you, that there is an interesting place in LA to visit as well! It is the one and only remaining “Silent Movie Theater” in the US. It is on, 611 North Fairfax Ave. in Hollywood. It is remodeled and trendy, with live music…
I look forward to seeing a show in there!
Cheers
PS: Yesterday’s photo was a repeat, sorry about that.
Last night we watched the movie, playing: Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. That was right,a B&W old movie that we enjoyed watching, it was one of Chakameh’s favorites that I had not seen.
It was very funny and I think it was ahead of its own time,(1959).
The odd part of the movie was that it was supposed to be a hotel in Florida!
If you happen to visit San Diego, make sure to visit that place it is very enchanting even at night.
I also remembered to share this with you, that there is an interesting place in LA to visit as well! It is the one and only remaining “Silent Movie Theater” in the US. It is on, 611 North Fairfax Ave. in Hollywood. It is remodeled and trendy, with live music…
I look forward to seeing a show in there!
Cheers
PS: Yesterday’s photo was a repeat, sorry about that.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Dose of picture for today...
Salzburg Austria,
A city full of character, art and history...Where CAT and I love to explore more.
As a friendly note, if you go there, don't ask locals anything about the movie "Sound of Music..."! More likely they have never seen it and they don't like it!
However, there are tours for silly (Americans) tourists who are in love with the movie!.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
The name
The name for previous photo is " A gray day."
The photo is dated but I can still remember seeing this view in my viewfinder.
Few weeks later, there was a massive snow storm and everything in this picture was under 2 meters of snow...
The photo is dated but I can still remember seeing this view in my viewfinder.
Few weeks later, there was a massive snow storm and everything in this picture was under 2 meters of snow...
Saturday, July 15, 2006
From a Technophobe to a Gadget-man...
I resisted the frenzy of having DSL for years, like many other modern things such as cell phone, electric coffee maker, computers, palm pilots digital cameras etc.
And keep telling myself, what were people doing 40 years ago?!
I am not a Technophobe and in fact use hi-tech equipment all the time at work and consider myself savvy with them. Just did not want them in my home…. always looked for simplicity and practicality… even thou today’s practicality does not go well all the way with the simplicity.
Six years ago I gave in to buying a cell phone after every one was complaining that I am not accessible at all them!
All the time?! That was exactly my argument too, I don’t want to be accessible “At all times”… family would call me sometimes and say “where have you been? You don’t answer your cell phone? And I had to put aside my mild accommodating manners and say that “there are times in the day that I may be in the washroom or shower or sleep or in a meeting etc… please don’t ask me that question any more!… and that was that…
I had to buy a computer because my wife, (my fiancée at that time) wanted to chat with me…
I got an electric coffee maker because French Press was not convenient for everyone!
Got s digital camera because my SLR camera was too big and complicated for people etc,
Back to the DSL story. Finally with a great push from my wife I gave in last week and ordered it.
Last night I plugged in all the wires and restarted my iMac. I was not surprised to see that my Mac automatically recognized the new signal and connected to the net…. Could not be easier than that!...
Too proud of my easy accomplishment came an urge in me to see what the CD that came with the modem is?! Maybe it has something extra in it… so I installed that and as soon as it happened my computer went wacko… make the long story short, lots the connections….
Early this morning I called the Tec support and after bunch of selections on the automated phone options found a live tech to help me, but here comes the interesting part.
He sounded very strange, as if I was talking to a robot, but with personality! And there were these short gaps in his talks too.
After talking for 30min he could not still help me and I had to leave so we postpone the help session. All this time I was having this distracting thought, wondering “where is he from?!”
I even asked him but he went silent!
My speculation is that he could be in a call center in China or India some where and had his voice enhanced with computers so customers would not recognize his accent (Not that I have problem with accents, In fact I may have one too … )
I hoped to talk to him again.
In the evening I called again and talked to someone else but with the same computerized accent!
Now I am using DSL…. inadvertently I am turning into a gadget-man
And keep telling myself, what were people doing 40 years ago?!
I am not a Technophobe and in fact use hi-tech equipment all the time at work and consider myself savvy with them. Just did not want them in my home…. always looked for simplicity and practicality… even thou today’s practicality does not go well all the way with the simplicity.
Six years ago I gave in to buying a cell phone after every one was complaining that I am not accessible at all them!
All the time?! That was exactly my argument too, I don’t want to be accessible “At all times”… family would call me sometimes and say “where have you been? You don’t answer your cell phone? And I had to put aside my mild accommodating manners and say that “there are times in the day that I may be in the washroom or shower or sleep or in a meeting etc… please don’t ask me that question any more!… and that was that…
I had to buy a computer because my wife, (my fiancée at that time) wanted to chat with me…
I got an electric coffee maker because French Press was not convenient for everyone!
Got s digital camera because my SLR camera was too big and complicated for people etc,
Back to the DSL story. Finally with a great push from my wife I gave in last week and ordered it.
Last night I plugged in all the wires and restarted my iMac. I was not surprised to see that my Mac automatically recognized the new signal and connected to the net…. Could not be easier than that!...
Too proud of my easy accomplishment came an urge in me to see what the CD that came with the modem is?! Maybe it has something extra in it… so I installed that and as soon as it happened my computer went wacko… make the long story short, lots the connections….
Early this morning I called the Tec support and after bunch of selections on the automated phone options found a live tech to help me, but here comes the interesting part.
He sounded very strange, as if I was talking to a robot, but with personality! And there were these short gaps in his talks too.
After talking for 30min he could not still help me and I had to leave so we postpone the help session. All this time I was having this distracting thought, wondering “where is he from?!”
I even asked him but he went silent!
My speculation is that he could be in a call center in China or India some where and had his voice enhanced with computers so customers would not recognize his accent (Not that I have problem with accents, In fact I may have one too … )
I hoped to talk to him again.
In the evening I called again and talked to someone else but with the same computerized accent!
Now I am using DSL…. inadvertently I am turning into a gadget-man
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Fishes
This is a small ski resort north of Lausanne Switzerland where I used to live.I spent a weekend in the cabin to the left of the photo and hiked to the top of the mountains on the right of the photo. Behind the summit, there was a small lake... where people could do some fishing!
I wonder how did the fishes got up there?!
This photo is a collage of five 50mm photos, capturing almost 180 Degrees of view...
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Film
I always wonder how some women remember the smallest little detail of an event from past. As if “they have photographic memory…”
This is a story about remembering things… I remember long time ago when I was 8 or 10, I used to go to my grandma’s house very frequently, it was not too far, in fact it was side by side our house, I sometimes even snuck in there from the roof!
Mamany, that is what I used to call my grandma, had a very large house with two yards and 3 sets of buildings… One set was occupied by my uncle and his newly formed family … But, they did not last there very long as I drove them away, or at least contributed to their leaving, by parking my ratty bike in their yard and bothering them by making noises every afternoon when I wanted to sneak out to making more noise with the rest of the neighborhood kids racing our bikes… I don’t think they ever forgot that or forgave me for that matter!
Couple of years ago one of my cousins who is about 6 years younger that me wrote me: “Do you know that I saw my very first movie with you when I was 4 years old!?”
I chuckled… no way! Are you out of your mind?! I was not old enough to go to movie by myself… and categorically denied it
Then she gave me the details… how one summer afternoon, I went to my grandma’s yard and saw my cousin. Asked her if she wanted to see a movie with me?! (She is 4, remember) and she says “yes”. Then I took her hand and went to a cinema called “Mahtab”. Two hours later we came back facing all the grownups franticly looking for us… they were all mad at me!!!!! Obviously and I was punished and banned from going there for a while…
I read the story again and again and thought to myself; She is making it up.
Then she wrote “the movie was about a boy running from home and joining a Circus! And movie was call Toby Tyler or something.”
That was when my jaws fell on the ground and remembered the whole story. She was right and that was my favorite childhood movie.
Last week I found that movie in Netflix and ordered it! Can’t wait to watch it again … sometimes I think that was me running away and joining the circus!
So, some women have photographic memory as my wife does too.
I do think I have one too, but mine has no film in it! :0(
This is a story about remembering things… I remember long time ago when I was 8 or 10, I used to go to my grandma’s house very frequently, it was not too far, in fact it was side by side our house, I sometimes even snuck in there from the roof!
Mamany, that is what I used to call my grandma, had a very large house with two yards and 3 sets of buildings… One set was occupied by my uncle and his newly formed family … But, they did not last there very long as I drove them away, or at least contributed to their leaving, by parking my ratty bike in their yard and bothering them by making noises every afternoon when I wanted to sneak out to making more noise with the rest of the neighborhood kids racing our bikes… I don’t think they ever forgot that or forgave me for that matter!
Couple of years ago one of my cousins who is about 6 years younger that me wrote me: “Do you know that I saw my very first movie with you when I was 4 years old!?”
I chuckled… no way! Are you out of your mind?! I was not old enough to go to movie by myself… and categorically denied it
Then she gave me the details… how one summer afternoon, I went to my grandma’s yard and saw my cousin. Asked her if she wanted to see a movie with me?! (She is 4, remember) and she says “yes”. Then I took her hand and went to a cinema called “Mahtab”. Two hours later we came back facing all the grownups franticly looking for us… they were all mad at me!!!!! Obviously and I was punished and banned from going there for a while…
I read the story again and again and thought to myself; She is making it up.
Then she wrote “the movie was about a boy running from home and joining a Circus! And movie was call Toby Tyler or something.”
That was when my jaws fell on the ground and remembered the whole story. She was right and that was my favorite childhood movie.
Last week I found that movie in Netflix and ordered it! Can’t wait to watch it again … sometimes I think that was me running away and joining the circus!
So, some women have photographic memory as my wife does too.
I do think I have one too, but mine has no film in it! :0(
Monday, July 10, 2006
Gym...
It is very difficult to go to the gym while one has to go through a big party full of food drink and music! Almost impossible!
It happens almost every day that I think of all the conveniences and prosperity around me and then,... think of hungry people in other places in the world and their pain and suffering witch they go through to look for jobs, feed their family and sustain their lives and deal with the BS from there governments...
It puts life into different perspective for me. I feel more content and in my heart, I thank my dad, and mom...
Then again, when I think of the suffering that they went through, I feel guilty for being here...
It happens almost every day that I think of all the conveniences and prosperity around me and then,... think of hungry people in other places in the world and their pain and suffering witch they go through to look for jobs, feed their family and sustain their lives and deal with the BS from there governments...
It puts life into different perspective for me. I feel more content and in my heart, I thank my dad, and mom...
Then again, when I think of the suffering that they went through, I feel guilty for being here...
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
The only tape
When I left Iran I took with me only one tape. It was one of Faramarz e Aslani’s his first album from 1978 or so. The tape belonged to my sister who left it home 15 years earlier when she left Iran…
This tape has been a permanent fixture of my car since then.
Last Saturday Chakameh and I had a chance to go to one of Faramarz’s performances in a club down in LA.
Chakameh had won the tickets answering to a tedious question in a contest in KIRN….Long story short, we both were very excited to see this performance and fortunately it was as exciting and beautiful as we expected.
He is still a great singer, song writer and a fantastic artist with a captivating voice. I also heard a few of his newer songs that were as good. There was also another great guitar player in his band named Ardeshir e Farah. He was great too.
I am sharing a couple of picture with you from that night, July 4th 2006, and encourage everyone to buy his new CDs…
I also want to thank my lovely wife for winning those tickets and many others with her wit and intelligent …
This tape has been a permanent fixture of my car since then.
Last Saturday Chakameh and I had a chance to go to one of Faramarz’s performances in a club down in LA.
Chakameh had won the tickets answering to a tedious question in a contest in KIRN….Long story short, we both were very excited to see this performance and fortunately it was as exciting and beautiful as we expected.
He is still a great singer, song writer and a fantastic artist with a captivating voice. I also heard a few of his newer songs that were as good. There was also another great guitar player in his band named Ardeshir e Farah. He was great too.
I am sharing a couple of picture with you from that night, July 4th 2006, and encourage everyone to buy his new CDs…
I also want to thank my lovely wife for winning those tickets and many others with her wit and intelligent …
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Mini Autobiography
The beginning:
I came after two other "woo roo jacks" (excited kids) into this world and somehow survived all the booby traps in shape of needles etc, in my bed. I was told that my nanny "Nane Piri e" (the old granny) could not take her eyes off me! Not because I was very handsome but because my older brother would play too many trick on me.� I bet it was more of a torture for her.
Tricks did not end there; when I was 4-5 years old my brother would trick me to trade my little mini-car toys with a gum or a candy. A fare sounding trade, except, it was not too long after finishing the candy that I would recognize I don't have the toy anymore or the candy! And according to the Mom's Supreme Court: "A trade is a trade; thou shall make up your mind before it is final".
As for my sister, it is enough to say that her room was totally off limits for me until she left home!
So the treasury of my brother got more prosperous with his and my toys forcing me to relying on Nature for amusement and made friend with ants and pigeons! I loved hot summer afternoons when parents were asleep and I could snick out to the garden and play with ants, send them to sail on a matchbox on our small pool or make them fight!
So I survived a couple of more years to go to school, where I had to fast forward my first and second grade because of the revolution in Iran. (That my have something to do with my underprivileged Farsi!) Since the age of 11 my friends and classmate kept telling me "You were not born for here, where the heck are you from?!" After finishing high school, and about 3 years of military service, I left the country of "gol o bol bol" (flower and nightingale) to find my fate, and to venture my destiny I went on a journey that continues to this day.
Stay tuned for some more stories...
I came after two other "woo roo jacks" (excited kids) into this world and somehow survived all the booby traps in shape of needles etc, in my bed. I was told that my nanny "Nane Piri e" (the old granny) could not take her eyes off me! Not because I was very handsome but because my older brother would play too many trick on me.� I bet it was more of a torture for her.
Tricks did not end there; when I was 4-5 years old my brother would trick me to trade my little mini-car toys with a gum or a candy. A fare sounding trade, except, it was not too long after finishing the candy that I would recognize I don't have the toy anymore or the candy! And according to the Mom's Supreme Court: "A trade is a trade; thou shall make up your mind before it is final".
As for my sister, it is enough to say that her room was totally off limits for me until she left home!
So the treasury of my brother got more prosperous with his and my toys forcing me to relying on Nature for amusement and made friend with ants and pigeons! I loved hot summer afternoons when parents were asleep and I could snick out to the garden and play with ants, send them to sail on a matchbox on our small pool or make them fight!
So I survived a couple of more years to go to school, where I had to fast forward my first and second grade because of the revolution in Iran. (That my have something to do with my underprivileged Farsi!) Since the age of 11 my friends and classmate kept telling me "You were not born for here, where the heck are you from?!" After finishing high school, and about 3 years of military service, I left the country of "gol o bol bol" (flower and nightingale) to find my fate, and to venture my destiny I went on a journey that continues to this day.
Stay tuned for some more stories...
My nostalgia
This spot brings me a nostalgic moment, but not in a dark way.
I was so captivated by … everything… there in Venice that every few steps Chakameh had to tell me “look out, don’t fall in the canals.
To deal with my own nostalgia I post this.
A.
Venice 2004.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Me and Photography....
I fell in love with photography when my dad brought two Canon cameras from his trip to the US. in 1983. A Canon AL1 and an AE1.Since then I have had two AE1s and one more AL1 which they all died of common chronic Electronic shortage syndrome and shutter luck-up…
My last 35mm camera was/is a Minolta I7000 that I own to this day. It is a great camera but I don’t get to use it as often! Can’t handle the weight!
Recently I use a small Sony 5.1Mp rangefinder.
During years of traveling and taking snapshots I have accumulated some interesting shots that I am going to share with you in this site.
Enjoy.
My last 35mm camera was/is a Minolta I7000 that I own to this day. It is a great camera but I don’t get to use it as often! Can’t handle the weight!
Recently I use a small Sony 5.1Mp rangefinder.
During years of traveling and taking snapshots I have accumulated some interesting shots that I am going to share with you in this site.
Enjoy.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
Central Coast
Nothing special, just a little rainbow as it happens frequently here in central coast.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
Monday, June 12, 2006
Friday, June 09, 2006
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
La Boheme...
First I need to thank "My CAT" for linking my Blog in her site :0)
She has very nice poems in her own site, that enticed me to tell you about one of my favorite songs by Charles Aznavour today.
If you have an opportunity, look him up and listen to his fantastic voice. He has numerous albums from 50s to 2000 full of romantic and nostalgic masterpieces of French music. I would call him Frank Sinatra of France or even more...
Here are the lyrics of a song by Aznavour called, LA BOHÈME.
Enjoy,
LA BOHÈME,(Charles Aznavour / Jacques Plante)
Je vous parle d’un temps
Que les moins de vingt ans
Ne peuvent pas connaître
Montmartre en ce temps-là
Accrochait ces lilas
Jusque sous nos fenêtres
Et si l'humble garni
Qui nous servait de nid
Ne payait pas de mine
C’est là qu’on s’est connu
Moi qui criait famine
Et toi qui posais nue
La bohème (2x)
Ca voulait dire on est heureux
La bohème (2x)
Nous ne mangions qu’un jour sur deux
Dans les cafés voisins
Nous étions quelques-uns
Qui attendions la gloire
Et bien que miséreux
Avec le ventre creux
Nous ne cessions d’y croire
Et quand quelque bistro
Contre un bon repas chaud
Nous prenait une toile
Nous récitions des vers
Groupés autour du poêle
En oubliant l’hiver
La bohème (2x)
Ca voulait dire tu es jolie
La bohème (2x)
Et nous avions tous du génie
Souvent il m’arrivait
Devant mon chevalet
De passer des nuits blanches
Retouchant le dessin
De la ligne d’un sein
Du galbe d’une hanche
Et ce n’est qu’au matin
Qu’on s’assayait enfin
Devant un café crème
Epuisés mais ravis
Fallait-il que l'on s'aime
Et qu'on aime la vie
La bohème (2x)
Ca voulait dire on a vingt ans
La bohème (2x)
Et nous vivions de l'air du temps
Quand au hasard des jours
Je m'en vais faire un tour
A mon acienne adresse
Je ne reconnais plus
Ni les murs, ni les rues
Qui ont vu ma jeunesse
En haut d'un escalier
Je cherche l'atelier
Dont plus rien ne subsiste
Dans son nouveau décor
Montmartre semble triste
Et les lilas sont morts
La bohème (2x)
On était jeunes, on était fous
La bohème (2x)
Ca ne veut dire plus rien du tout
She has very nice poems in her own site, that enticed me to tell you about one of my favorite songs by Charles Aznavour today.
If you have an opportunity, look him up and listen to his fantastic voice. He has numerous albums from 50s to 2000 full of romantic and nostalgic masterpieces of French music. I would call him Frank Sinatra of France or even more...
Here are the lyrics of a song by Aznavour called, LA BOHÈME.
Enjoy,
LA BOHÈME,(Charles Aznavour / Jacques Plante)
Je vous parle d’un temps
Que les moins de vingt ans
Ne peuvent pas connaître
Montmartre en ce temps-là
Accrochait ces lilas
Jusque sous nos fenêtres
Et si l'humble garni
Qui nous servait de nid
Ne payait pas de mine
C’est là qu’on s’est connu
Moi qui criait famine
Et toi qui posais nue
La bohème (2x)
Ca voulait dire on est heureux
La bohème (2x)
Nous ne mangions qu’un jour sur deux
Dans les cafés voisins
Nous étions quelques-uns
Qui attendions la gloire
Et bien que miséreux
Avec le ventre creux
Nous ne cessions d’y croire
Et quand quelque bistro
Contre un bon repas chaud
Nous prenait une toile
Nous récitions des vers
Groupés autour du poêle
En oubliant l’hiver
La bohème (2x)
Ca voulait dire tu es jolie
La bohème (2x)
Et nous avions tous du génie
Souvent il m’arrivait
Devant mon chevalet
De passer des nuits blanches
Retouchant le dessin
De la ligne d’un sein
Du galbe d’une hanche
Et ce n’est qu’au matin
Qu’on s’assayait enfin
Devant un café crème
Epuisés mais ravis
Fallait-il que l'on s'aime
Et qu'on aime la vie
La bohème (2x)
Ca voulait dire on a vingt ans
La bohème (2x)
Et nous vivions de l'air du temps
Quand au hasard des jours
Je m'en vais faire un tour
A mon acienne adresse
Je ne reconnais plus
Ni les murs, ni les rues
Qui ont vu ma jeunesse
En haut d'un escalier
Je cherche l'atelier
Dont plus rien ne subsiste
Dans son nouveau décor
Montmartre semble triste
Et les lilas sont morts
La bohème (2x)
On était jeunes, on était fous
La bohème (2x)
Ca ne veut dire plus rien du tout
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Mother Nature colors...
This is one of my favorites. You see exactly what I and everybody else saw on that evening at the Santa Barbara Wharf. Taken with a 50mm/1.8 lens, no filters, untainted and simple. The way Mother Nature expressed it.
Enjoy.
A
Friday, June 02, 2006
Charm
...
Original photo is in colors but since I am a B&W fan I converted it using my Macs “iphoto”, no other manipulation.
It has lost of charm… Enjoy.
Vienna, Austria 2004
Hearst
To reminisce driving on the Pacific Coast Hwy and a weekend in San Simeon.
Hearst Castle, "Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument",
Central Coast CA.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Boston.
CAT and I were talking about Boston today.
Reminded me of my last trip there in Winter of 1994.
This is to my wife, who loves that City.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Friday, May 26, 2006
Untitled!
It is hard for me to name this picture!
The cat was called "Pishi" but the picture has its own soul. Something akin to Serenity... I would take suggestions on the title for this picture.
The Story of this picture....
Please ignore the poor quality of this picture. It was taken with a very cheap, beaten up range finder.
Beside me, there are two of my 4th grad students (and cousins). On the left, Ali Abbasi and behind me is Ali Ramazani.
Location was a remote village called Ashkan in Bashagard south east of Iran; 200 Km north east to the city of Minab, in a dry mountainous area, 150 km away from any paved road, running water, electricity and many other things.
The horizon in the pictures depicts the typical landscape of that region in the country.
There I was teaching in an elementary school as a conscripted Solder-Teacher. (as in Farsi, Sarbaz-Moalem) I had been there for over a year and pretty much knew the entire population of village, 30-40 people. 2/3 of them where my students!
Now back to the photo; it was a weekend, we were in our hike/expedition in the mountain just above the village.
The mountain was impregnated with many different kind of fossils of Ammonites etc.
On the summit where the picture was taken (approximately 2000m of altitude) one could see the wavy sea bottom on the shapes of sand stones, and as we pealed off the layers of the sand stones it was not too hard to find amazing fossils (I gathered many of them and I have some with me to this day).
That day on top of the mountain I broke my eyeglasses! And I was very lucky that those kids were there with me to guide me back to the village.
But that was the least of my problems that day.
On the way down, we met a few other kids from the village who rushed to me and started yelling and crying! As we approached them, one kid said, “You have to come and help, father of Ali Abbasi is going to kill his brother Father of Ali Ramazani! And no man in the village can stop him…”
In disbelief, I saw one brother had a rifle pointing at the other brother, lot of cursing, yelling and red faces…
I tried to talk to him but it did not work. It was a rape accusation/ dispute; a very big deal, and almost no way out of it for Ramezani…
Finally, I stood in front of Ramazani and told the brother “Well, you have to shoot us both or give me your gun then we talk!?... After an hour of dispute he gave me his gun…
That was probably the longest hour in my life, so far.
(That is why I am so patent with everyone!)
Long story short, the two brothers hardy spoke to each other for next few months but they could not resist coming together to say goodbye six months later when I was leaving. I hope they are doing well now.
I have many stories for that time which I may share them, gradually.
For now,
Farewell to all.
PS: About Ali Ramazani; I wish I could adopt him as my child. He was a wasted talent there. He was an extremely gifted child, very well mannered and gentle. Even when I was there, I was thinking of the day that I would go back and take him with me to the big city…
Memorial to memories
Here is my Memorial weekend photo special. And in the spirit of a long weekend for my American friends I post two photos.
Lets say: "See one, the second one is free as well"...!
Talking of memories, I have been contemplating about putting in a special picture and its relevant story in this blog. Story which I have never shared with anyone before from my past life.
After digging through the dusty closet of my past life experiences and memories I thought of a few interesting stories worthy of sharing.
I will post one this weekend, time permitting, so please stay tune.
Cheers,
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Rialto
This is just to get you in to the vacation mood.
Rialto Venice,
yes the marble stone building is leaning....
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Thanks to my friends who were encouraging and supportive of this little fun I am having putting together an album.
And as for anonymous ones, its interesting to hear about assiduity and self confidence from an anonymous blogger! Could that make an oxymoron?!
Well this is just a fun site for me. Just to share fun things with my friends who otherwise may not get chance to see or hear from me often.
I feel sorry for those who tend to judge without knowing others profoundly and can not distinguish between modesty vs. naivety
Resilience and confidence ( positive attitude) is what make me what I am and have put me where I am today. Confidence is there, I just don’t think I have to prove it to anyone. Those who see it will appreciate it, and hopefully my presence will make a little difference in their lives. Those who don’t, I am sorry they miss out on it!
Where I have been and what I have done in my short life is unfathomable for many people, and I do not wish for others the same. I pulled it off with my softness and modesty, Not arrogance and egocentricity.
Stay tuned for some interesting stories and photos…
Cheers to all
And as for anonymous ones, its interesting to hear about assiduity and self confidence from an anonymous blogger! Could that make an oxymoron?!
Well this is just a fun site for me. Just to share fun things with my friends who otherwise may not get chance to see or hear from me often.
I feel sorry for those who tend to judge without knowing others profoundly and can not distinguish between modesty vs. naivety
Resilience and confidence ( positive attitude) is what make me what I am and have put me where I am today. Confidence is there, I just don’t think I have to prove it to anyone. Those who see it will appreciate it, and hopefully my presence will make a little difference in their lives. Those who don’t, I am sorry they miss out on it!
Where I have been and what I have done in my short life is unfathomable for many people, and I do not wish for others the same. I pulled it off with my softness and modesty, Not arrogance and egocentricity.
Stay tuned for some interesting stories and photos…
Cheers to all
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
snail net
So sorry folks, I may not be able to post any Photos for some times due to my snail like slow internet ... But I will not give up!:0)
Monday, May 22, 2006
Cinema
We watched a very interesting and beautiful movie last weekend called, Cinema Paradiso, by Giuseppe Tornatore.
I had seen it many years back and found it quite nice and delicate. I was suggesting it to CAT and we got it and this time DVD included a new version with undeleted cuts so we watched both of them! It was very interesting, the new version was so differed that the ending was dramatically different giving it a “Hollywood ending”?!
As CAT commented it was as if we watched two different movies.
I still think the first released version was more interesting. It would let the story connect to real people and the ending open to viewers imagination.
This director has another great movie called “Malena” . I recommend these movies to “Cinema” lovers if have not seen them yet. They would enjoy them immensely.
Cheers
I had seen it many years back and found it quite nice and delicate. I was suggesting it to CAT and we got it and this time DVD included a new version with undeleted cuts so we watched both of them! It was very interesting, the new version was so differed that the ending was dramatically different giving it a “Hollywood ending”?!
As CAT commented it was as if we watched two different movies.
I still think the first released version was more interesting. It would let the story connect to real people and the ending open to viewers imagination.
This director has another great movie called “Malena” . I recommend these movies to “Cinema” lovers if have not seen them yet. They would enjoy them immensely.
Cheers
Friday, May 19, 2006
Slightly brighter!
So I was told that my photos are dark! I am posting a slightly brighter one today.
Since it has been very hard for last few days to stay positive. I wanted to think flowers today!
So here it is, I hope even for a nano second this brings a lux of light into your heart.
It was hard to decide which one should be in focus?!
"Farmers Market, Santa Barbara CA. 2004
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Just a Blur!
This was just a patch of cloud just a blur. It is great to know that sun was stronger than that...
Vienna 2004-5
Gotan Project, has a new album out give them a try . You may enjoy it . It is called "Lunatico"...
Cheers
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Yet again!
Again and again,
I have been meaning to bring some materials for posting on this site but my stressed mind keeps forgetting. I shall pay an effort to do that tonight... Not that any one is waiting for it!
I have been meaning to bring some materials for posting on this site but my stressed mind keeps forgetting. I shall pay an effort to do that tonight... Not that any one is waiting for it!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Second post ....
Thanks my dear for checking this page. :0)
I hope I will be able to post my notes and photos here as soon as our life gets in better order :0)
Cheers,
A.
I hope I will be able to post my notes and photos here as soon as our life gets in better order :0)
Cheers,
A.
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