"I Have Been Changed For Good"

It has been a week since I saw “WICKED” on stage but there is one part, and lyrics of one song, that has been playing in my head ever since: “For Good” a song of friendship sang by the two principle female characters towards the end of the play. Sharing its lyrics is the least I can do…..

(Elphaba = The Green unattractive “Wicked Witch of the West”):
Im limited
Just look at me - Im limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us - now it's up to you...

(Glinda = The beautiful and popular “Good Witch of the North”):
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made from what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/for-good-lyrics-wicked.html ]
But because I knew you

(Glinda):
Because I knew you

(Both):
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

(Glinda):
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

(Both):
And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda):
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba):
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both):
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda):
And because I knew you...

(Elphaba):
Because I knew you...

(Both):
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...



Click here to listen to it....

Aria.... (Part II)

When I blogged about Aria back in early October, he and his band, For All I Am, were hopeful to be able to raise the needed funds to go on their first tour. Their hopes and dreams have come to be their reality!

They started their tour a couple of weeks ago and the audience keeps growing as they play at each new venue. I have been following them on Facebook and enjoying the messages left by fans:
- Melody: best night ever ! it was fun hanging out and talking:) come back soon.
- Hailey: so proud of you guys.
i love you all to too much♥
show everyone what youre made of :)
- Gabby: I'm 'that girl with alcohol poured down her shirt'. Lol, loved you guys last night♥ wore the shirt I got today.
- Katie: You guys were amazing in Lansing! You made a fan out of me, plus your drummer is hot as fuckk.
- Katherine: saw you dudes lastnight it was fuccckin SWEEEEEEET
And last but not least:
- Garrett: so... i got lost on the way home from your show sunday and all i had for company was your EP. night well spent ha come back as soon as possible

An article/interview was just published about them in "Highwire Daze" on 12/1/11. Less than TWO months ago their hope and goal was to buy a van to go on tour. The way they are going, they’ll need a jet soon!

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My Blog @ Iranian.com

How many times have we watched a new artist being interviewed on the red carpet, on his/her way to an award show, talking about their excitement and disbelief of even being there and saying how they were just a viewer, watching that very same program on television the prior year!


I say this because when an unknown artist or band is paying its dues and performing for small audiences, no one really knows which band will turn out to be the Beatles, the Doors, and the Rolling Stones as they were ALL upcoming, promising acts before we even knew how to spell their names!


Here is a band with just that kind of a story. Five guys who got together at some one's garage and started playing their instruments when they were about 12; Aaron on drums, Mario played bass, Tom & Chase strummed on their guitars and their young band leader, their vocalist was no one but a man of our own, Aria Yavarinejad. They were quite serious about their band, "For All I Am" which "symbolizes the ideology of giving something, EVERTHING you have, all the time, regardless of who you are, the hardships you endure, or the misfortune you face."


They played anywhere that welcomed them until they were noticed. Someone contacted them and wanted them to perform, professionally.... They now have a manager (Outer loop Management) and are working on getting an agent. But meanwhile, they are getting ready to go on tour!!!! They are now college students and have reached out to their fans for support. I asked Aria, what is your goal and he responded, "To change everyone's lives through music" and I added, what is the Band's goal and he replied, "To become bigger and better."


Although their style is metal and hardcore and it may not necessarily be the music we listen to but these guys, and Aria in particular, are definitely my kind of men: principled, adamant, driven, positive, go getters, and very focused about what they want to achieve.

They can use our support for making their tour happen. They certainly have mine....


Look for yourself....


My Blog at Iranian.com

Poetry...

This poem by an African kid, was nominated for the "Poem of the Year" in 2005.

"When I born, I Black, When I grow up, I Black, When I go in Sun, I Black, When I scared, I Black, When I sick, I Black, And when I die, I still black...

And you White fellow, When you born, you pink, When you grow up, you White, When you go in Sun, you Red, When you cold, you blue, When you scared, you yellow, When you sick, you Green, And when you die, you Gray... And you call me colored???........."

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My blog at Iranian.com

Inspired by Catherine

Checking my emails has become a morning ritual. I was moved and inspired by what I had received from my friend, Mitra.

It was a rather old short documentary about a climber, but by no means it was dated! The video depicts the 28 year old solo rock climber, Catherine Destivelle, who against the advice of the natives climbs a sandstone cliff in the Mali desert, solo and with no equipment whatsoever, other than her hands and feet and a chalk-filled pouch to dry her sweaty palms which reminded me of the opening sequence of one the Mission Impossible movies showing Tom Cruise hanging from a cliff!
Her beauty was attractive, her smile and generosity at minute 2:07 was heart-warming and her tenacity, focus and determination throughout the film was awesome.

On the day of the climb, she was accompanied by many women of the village and the modernized witch doctor who carried a jazz trumpet under his orange floor-length rope.

She started her ascent while the witch doctor played a tune with his trumpet, accompanied by chants of the villagers cheering her on.
By the time I was 5:05 minutes into the video, I caught myself all tensed, holding my breath and mentally pushing her forward!

In this 4th of July weekend, I am inspired by her sense of independence. Watch and listen to the comments and you will see what I mean and tell me how it moved you!

My blog at Iranian.Com

To you it is a backyard, to me it is my GARDEN!

I had a hundred ideas for my " GARDEN" when I moved in 17 years ago. My friend made fun of me and the way I talked about that small space. You see, it was "backyard or balcony" to visitors, but to me it was going to be my GARDEN.

Years have passed. Some of the ideas came to life and most of them did not but I still feel the same about my garden. This year in particular, it is lush and covered by flowers.

I was thumbing through the October '10 issue of "ReadyMade", a magazine filled with ideas and instructions for everyday life, and I came across a paragraph referring to gardening in small spaces and a related website: Life on the Balcony. The website is filled with suggestions, easy to follow instructions, and videos for gardening in small spaces.

I checked it out and instantly knew I have met someone who realizes how I feel about my "GARDEN".

"Saved by Beauty"

"Saved by Beauty": Iran's remarkable contradictions

Review by Mariel Kennison

Table of Contents


First Pages


Roger Housden talks about his experience - You Tube

Love in the Time of Cholera

If you have visualized painting-like style of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's writing, you will SEE, what you had imagined, in every shot of this film: "Love in the Time of Cholera" adorned by a lovely soundtrack which includes two songs by Shakira, requested by Marquez: Despedida and Hay Amores.


Starring: Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno & Benjamin Bratt

Location: Where else but Columbia..........


My Blog at Iranian.com