A Firecracker; Danny Bonyadi

The story behind this picture goes back to when I was a little girl! In those days, the American Television Channel in Tehran used to broadcast American TV Shows including the Dean Martin Show, Lawrence Welk Show, and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In TV Show (which I loved to watch). Ok, that was the background...

On the other hand, there were a couple of somewhat similar shows on the Iranian TV channel, including The Parviz Gharibafshar's Variety Show. I remember distinctly the evening that an Iranian guest, who was living in the United States at the time, was the guest. The guest was none other than Danny Bonyadi. He was like NO OTHER GUEST! He was extremely energetic and full of fun and laughter. That evening, he, DANNY BONYADI, made such an indelible impression on me that when I saw him amongst the guests last night, I could not help it but to walk to him, tell him my little story, and thank him for having entertained me in such a way that after DECADES, seeing him on TV (or in person like last night) brings a GENUINE smile to my face. Thank you Danny Bonyadi. <3 I have also included here a link to a skid belonging to 43 years ago!!! Hope you enjoy it. >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvlsssZzPc8

Desperation Can Be A Destructive Force

Numb; that is how I felt moments after I finished watching the movie: Rag-e Khaab. رگ خواب

Leila hatami's award winning performance just transported me to where her character was dealing with her shitty life, to the point that I could not wait to get out of it so I can catch my breath!

Kudos to you, Leila... kudos to you.... دست مریزاد ای لیلای حاتمی

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Click on this link to hear the score: Ahaay Khabardar
Performed by Homayoun Shajarian

Click on this link to watch the movie online; "Rag-e Khaab"

After Decades, Neil Diamond's "Coming to America" Still Stirs Me Up

One of today's headlines read, "Neil Diamond announces retirement from concert touring after diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease." It saddened me, not because I knew him personally, or because he was my favorite singer or anything like that but because it was his voice and his song, "Coming to America", that for several years, was the opening number to my radio program, "America, The Land We Live In".

Although I heard that song at least twice a week for years still every single time that I heard it (or still hear it for that matter) touched and reminded me of how I felt (and feel) about having the opportunity to live in America, where I call HOME.

Link to "Coming to America"

The Intoxicating "The Greatest Showman"

INTOXICATING...... At some points, I felt being a part of the magic.... I clicked on "PLAY" expecting to see a musical and ended clicking on "stop" being covered by goosebumps and not knowing quite what hit me!!!
P.T. Barnum once said, "The noblest art is that of making others happy." And what I just watched is one "FEEL GOOD" movie. The kind that has moments that will take your breath away. "The Greatest Showman" is a film full of heartwarming scenes that will fill your heart with joy and will elevate you, and will bring tears to your eyes, tears of joy. At first glance, it may seem to be a movie about the formation of a circus but as the story develops we are faced with layers after layers of trials and tribulations, dreams, injustices, friendships, camaraderies, trust, dreams, and love and love and love.....

Click here to Watch a short video... This is JUST A practice session... You hear me? Just a casual run! Watch and tell me if it didn't move you.

By clicking on these links, you will get to see just a few moments of the magic of this movie <3
The Video of the same song, "THIS IS ME" from the movie, Performed by Keala Settle and the cast (with lyrics)

Another powerful performance was when the song "Never Enough" was performed.
(Singer: Loren Allred)

Lyrics of "Never Enough"
I'm trying to hold my breath
Let it stay this way
Can't let this moment end
You set off a dream with me
Getting louder now
Can you hear it echoing?
Take my hand
Will you share this with me?
'Cause darling without you
All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
Never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it'll
Never be enough
Never be enough
For me
Never, never
Never, never
Never, for me
For me
Never enough
Never enough
Never enough
For me
For me
For me
All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
Never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it'll
Never be enough
Never be enough
For me
Never, never
Never, never
Never, for me
For me
Never enough
Never, never
Never enough
Never, never
Never enough
For me
For me
For me

For me

The Hard Life of "MY" Sparrows!

There are a few sparrows that unofficially live in my backyard. I have a well-used bird feeder, a frequently-visited birdbath, and a shaded backyard with hundreds of branches for them to play hide and seek in!!!

Earlier today, I was thinking, what do "my" sparrows do all day? they neither have to look for food or water since they are provided for them, nor do they have to look for a "shower" since they have their own private bath, or have to look for a safe, or shady place to play since they have their own free and safe garden. So what do they do all day long? Where do they go when they are not "home"?

To top it all off, my sister Mary had an architect called Kevin and a developer called Mark build them a "house" of their own. The deluxe birdhouse arrived this week and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was in "Nahzi's Blue". I haven't put it out there since I am not done using it as a decorative piece yet!!!

But seriously, where do they go all day?



What are they looking for?!

I am beginning to think that perhaps they have their home and family elsewhere and my backyard is simply their "khooneh Khaaly" (Bachelor Flat for my Gringo readers)

You know how it is; 9 out of 10, my imagination is more colorful and interesting than reality ;)

Happy Independence Day Homeless Veterans!

Creating small care packages for the homeless is usually a joyous occasion for me.

However, something does not feel right when you are putting together care packages for homeless people that include veterans on the anniversary of the Independence Day of the most powerful and richest country on Earth!!!
Don't you think there is something wrong with this picture?!
I certainly do!

But I cannot help it but go on with doing my little tiny part in this vast and deep ocean of a remarkable puzzle!

Brunch on a Rooftop

............."Boxwood on the Roof" - The London - West Hollywood.............

It is not every day that you get to meet the executive chef of a high-class eatery in person. Well, I guess I was in luck because as my friend and I were waiting to be seated at the "Boxwood on the Roof" at the London Hotel in West Hollywood, a good looking man, dressed as a chef, personally greeted us and exchanged pleasantries and welcomed us to the establishment.

Moments later, mimosas and croissants arrived "with the compliments of the chef".
Aaaah.... I had forgotten the feeling of being treated by a true gentleman.
Merci beaucoup Monsieur Anthony Keene.