busy...but fun weekend!

Wow!  This past weekend was I busy or what!  First off, Amitis and I started off by going to my parents house on Friday.  We had great food, laughed a whole lot too because both my brothers were mocking me along with Amitis for allegedly "checking" myself out in the mirror.  :-).  Then it was revealed by none other than me that Amitis always comes home from working out flexing her triceps and biceps, claiming she has guns and bazookas!  She turned quite beet red when I revealed that fact to my siblings.

I continued the weekend by going to Del Mar beach with my family (Amitis, Boo Boo, and Banoo), where we spent the morning doing a brisk walk.  It was hot, 89º HOT!  So...anyways, Banoo had never been to the beach, so it was an experience seeing her running around, treading in water, running away from it, and spinning around with utter joy.  One can learn a lot from a puppy, because they view the world with such curiosity, such eagerness to smell and taste everything, and to play as much as possible.  We tend to forget these things when we get busy with life.  But, this weekend, Amitis and I did play a lot.  We went to a cafe for breakfast at the beach that allows dogs.  The dishes were fantastic.  Then we did some shopping (essential goods) for the home, only to be followed by a fun, but all too short visit to Corey's house were my co-workers, and new found friends were enjoying themselves.  We later ventured to Bandar for my best friend's birthday (Soroush), and celebrated it there eating loudly, and cheerfully.  The night ended at his and Faraz's house with music and drinking ensuing the dinner.  

The next day, Ami and I got up a little late, drove to L.A., got stuck in traffic, fixed the Internet connection at my father's office, went to Raffi's Restaurant in Glendale for amazing Persian food, and got stuck again on the way back to San Diego.  

Later in the evening, Amitis made a keen observation and said that when we are together alone, venturing out in the world so to speak, we always have fun.  We do not argue, nor do we really have a boring time.  Instead, we find each other very stimulating, both in conversation, and in common interest(s) – such as dining out at great places :-).  She later confessed this had been one of the best weekend for her, and it hit me why.  There was no one to direct us to do things, or anyone attempting to pull our strings, or to have us run errands, or attend to anyone.  It was our very own weekend with laughter, adventure, and food.  I believe this is of essence to everyone, to have their own time for themselves rather than always trying to please others.

Until next time...have an adventure!

Twitter Saves Berkeley Student Arrested in Egypt

Buck, 29, used the ubiquitous short messaging service to tap out a single word on his cellular phone: ARRESTED. The message went out to the cell phones and computers of a wide circle of friends in the United States and to the mostly leftist, anti-government bloggers in Egypt who are the subject of his graduate journalism project.

read more | digg story

wise beyond their years...

Hello my friends,

It has been a while since I last wrote.  That has been entirely my own doing of being far too lazy.  I recently began working for a company that I believe has so far been tremendously amazing.  The atmosphere is really an ideal one; one that allows for creative thinking, where rather than being a typical work place, it is more of a community of people who are all working on their passions.  But enough about me.  

This post is really more about someone else, someone who has absolutely amazed me for his incredible maturity, determination, and gracefulness through all the ordeals he has faced with a head held up high.  This is about my cousin Simon, who recently (2 years?)moved to Australia with my uncle, aunt, his older brother the outstanding comedian, and his princess of a sister.  Simon, from what we all remember here, had always been a little chubby.  In fact, I used to always tickle him and make funny noises on his belly when he was a baby.  He is much younger than I, in fact he is only 15, turning 16 this summer.  However, he is wise beyond mine, and beyond many other people's years.  I say this because he set his mind to achieve something, and that was to get fit.  He not only accomplished that, but he also managed through hard determination become a kid with a "carved" physique.  I now officially have him to look up to when it comes to building my own physique after his.  That is not all though, when I emailed him congratulating him on his amazing accomplishment, his reply was, "Thank you for the wonderful comments!  And tell everyone hello there and give them our warmest regards and love.  Anyone can achieve their goals, it just takes motivation and self-discipline.  I know that all of you guys have inspired the most."  He goes on stating that his father (my dearest uncle) has had the greatest influence over him.  Furthermore, he gratefulness continues towards myself, my brothers, and parents.  This is all coming from an almost 16 year old young man!  Not an adult mind you.  If I have a son someday, I would want him to be as amazing and grateful as Simon, with Stefan's wit and humor.  If I have a girl, I would want her to be a princess like Mary.  So, this is a lesson I have learned.  Humility, wisdom, strength, and determination has no age, it can come from the oldest, to the very youngest.  

Until my next, hopefully very soon post,

Adieu.  May life grant you wisdom, strength, and above all, love!

yashar

Blind Kid Uses Echo Location to Play Video Games and More.

He wasn't born blind either, which is what makes it even more impressive.

read more | digg story

Can time slow down? - Very Interesting Experiment

Theoretical Physicist Michio Kaku investigates claims of time dilation under the influence of Adrenaline and other drugs.

read more | digg story

life milestones...

So,

It has been a while since I last wrote. I guess, I had writer's block. Nah, I just got lazy I am afraid. One of my very good friends, perhaps my only avid reader has asked when I would post a new blog again. Well, Min Min, request granted!

I have wanted to write about this for a week or so now. I was reflecting back on my own life, where I am, how I am, and what I want to do. I guess, it all began as I woke up on a Monday morning, March 3rd 2008, and realized I was 28! Almost 30! What have I accomplished as a man, a husband, a brother, and son? Was this an early glimpse to what mid life crisis will be like? Or was it simply a way for me to take a step back and look back to what I have done, what I am doing, and what I have in my blue print to do. I realized something in this internal quest of mine. If you do not have a blue print, something to look forward to tomorrow, and the next day, what does your life mean to you? How do we as humans measure our significance in this world? Should we look at the human race collectively and tell ourselves that we are successful for having created marvels such as the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, the Internet and such? Or should we go even deeper and look in the mirror, and ask ourselves, what is it you want? I believe the answer is very simple, perhaps too simple for us to realize what it is. The answer is happiness.

I firmly believe that every individual human wants happiness. Some may see this in the form of creating a legacy that will last eternally (Cyrus the Great?), and some want their offspring to look up into their eyes with a gleaming pride in their eyes, and that will be worth everything. People vary in their wants, but one element is universal - the pursuit of happiness.

I once said to a dear friend of mine that life is full of ups and downs, but the fight is worth everything for that one moment of bliss. That one moment of bliss, such as a child being proud of their parents, a woman smiling at their latest composition they have created and loved by one person, or the whole world, or a parent seeing their children being loved by everyone for being so gentle, and kind. This all brings me to a very famous cliche, it is not the goal that counts, but the journey. The more one thinks about it, the more it makes sense. I look at myself, and I know now, more than ever what it is that I want. I have a loving home, a loving wife, the best parents and brothers in the world, the best friends any man can ask for...and yet, I still know there is more I must do. It is not to undermine what I have, but it is to keep what I have. I want my wife to never worry, my parents to be proud of me, I want my reflection to speak pride, and more than anything else, I want my future kids to proud of me as I have been of my parents.

Perhaps I ought to revise that cliche saying, and instead say, life has many milestones, enjoy each journey that you take to reach that milestone, and enjoy planning the next.

Until next time, never stop dreaming, and never ever think that something cannot be done.

yashar

nariko in cosplay (costume play)

ok, I had to put this picture up because so many people out there have played heavenly sword. So here you go.

The picture is on the left. But for a larger size of the picture, click on the link below:

http://forum.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=messageboard.viewThread&entryID=44239933&groupID=106366614&adTopicID=14&Mytoken=26A7B9D0-FA46-4B98-8E9792FE168AF0A132623474