OMG! What a classy bash for a real class act; Tony Bennett in celebration of his 90th Birthday!

I don't know how long NBC will keep this video available for you to watch but if you have a chance, grab it. Even if it is just to listen to star after star performing live, to make this event more eclectic and enjoyable. What amazed me the most was that STILL the BEST performance of all, belonged to the man of the hour, Tony Bennett himself who outsang them all, at 90 years young. What an inspiration. <3

Link to the video of the show originally broadcasted on NBC on 12/20/16:
http://www.nbc.com/tony-bennett-celebrates-90-the-best-is-yet-to-come/video/tony-bennett-celebrates-90-the-best-is-yet-to-come/3441442

Performers: Lady Gaga, Alec Baldwin, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Diana Krall, Andrea Bocceli, Kevin Spacey
Place: Radio City Music Hall, New York

My "Welcome" at the US-Canada Border!

I was certainly treated differently, this time!!!

After having been a US citizen for 31 years and traveling to Canada numerous times by air and car, I was treated VERY differently this time!!!

I was questioned extensively, at the border, by one Canadian Immigration Officer, while he was taking notes and then, even more extensively by another officer in a building while he had the notes of the first officer in front of him. Meanwhile, MY CAR WAS DRIVEN SOMEWHERE ELSE to be thoroughly searched/examined.

They were polite but very firm! The whole exercise took 45 minutes.

Apparently, I may add "I CAN EASILY PASS AS A TERRORIST" to my acting resume!!!

Falling for Robert Redford

Seeing these two photos of Robert Redford on my friend's Facebook wall, instantly threw me to another time and place - to the night that I was introduced to Robert Redford and the place, a cinema in Tehran, Iran ....

My aunt, who had already seen the film, and had fallen in love with him, insisted that my father take me and her to see the film so not only I can meet her new love but she can revisit his lovely face too.

Lo and behold, I also left my heart, next to my aunt's, in the theater....
The film was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - And the time 1970


.دیدن این دو عکس از رابرت ردفورد در صفحه دوستم نسرین یکباره مرا به مکان و زمانی دیگر پرتاب کرد - به شبی که با او اشنا شدم ... خاله ام که فیلم را دیده بود وعاشقش شده بود به پدرم اصرار کرد که من و خودش را به دیدن ان فیلم ببرد که هم من با این عشق جدیدش اشنا شوم و هم خودش یکبار دیگر روی ماهش را ببیند ... ای دل غافل که بنده هم دلم را در سینما - بغل دل خاله ام - جا گذاشتم و امدم.... انگار دیروز بود --- فیلم بوچ کسیدی و ساندنس کید بود وزمان
1970

29 Years And Counting...

It wasn't really planned. It sort of worked out that way but however it came to be, it has survived for 29 years!

I was working as a Legal Administrator at a family law firm in the Woodland Hills area. Shorty after my first anniversary there, my employer (Ron) informed me that he is in negotiation with a much larger firm to merge. Once that happened, he apologetically told me that the partners of the larger firm wish to be in charge of the administration. I didn't even let him finish his sentence because I knew how painful it must be for him to verbalize it; He needed me to go on and 'Go On' is exactly what I did.

I decided to start my own company and provide services for the selected few clients. But how would I start? I asked Ron's permission to contact the firm's referral sources to see if any of them would need my help or know someone who does. I knew he wouldn't mind, but under the circumstances he even offered to help spread the word by asking around.

I borrowed the firm's phone book (believe it or not, back in 1987 people and businesses actually had phone books... the kind you WRITE ON) and started selecting and calling individuals on page "A". I landed my first project when I made it to page "C". She was a family therapist and was being audited for payroll taxes and payroll reports for the prior three years; none of which she had done!!! That project took three months of 4-days-a-week / 8-hours-a-day work to complete and I have been at it ever since. I am proud to say, that today is the 29th Anniversary of Nahzi Nikki Bookkeeping and Management Services and tomorrow I have a lunch date with Ron!

A Tasty Surprise

I find it interesting that there are still SO MANY FRUITS I have not even heard of, let alone tasted!!! I had one of those experiences tonight at a friend's. She served SAPOTE !!! Do you know what that is? Well, I had never heard of it before.

Apparently, it is native to eastern Mexico and Central America. It is an ovoid drupe, 5–10 cm in diameter, with a thin, inedible skin turning from green to yellow when ripe, and an edible pulp, which can range in flavor from bland to banana-like to peach to pear to vanilla flan. The one I had, tasted like pear!!! INTERESTING...

Life is full of pleasant yummy surprises. ;) Thank you Gole joon <3

Little Black Fish

It is exciting to know that Mohammad Aghebati is directing a version of The Little Black Fish for stage. You see, my tie with this "little" book goes back to my own youth. I was 15 and in 10th Grade when I asked our school principal to let me turn a very small vacant room on the second floor into a library. She welcomed the idea, had the room cleaned and a book case was placed in it. All books were to be donated by the faculty and the student body.
The first book I purchased for that library was the Little Black Fish by Samad Behrangi. At the time, as well as today, I think that was THE perfect choice for THAT library. 　

"I've always imagined heaven to be a kind of library." - Gabriel García Márquez

Link to: Fundraiser Indigogo (Deadline 8/18/16)

Wikipedia in English
The Little Black Fish

Wikipedia in Farsi
ماهی سیاه کوچولو