Casimir Pulaski Day.

In the morning in the winter shade
On the first of March on the holiday
I thought I saw you breathing

What's there to say?

"Why not just tell people I'm an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They'll believe anything you say, because you're a reporter. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, 'I'm an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight,' people would say, 'Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He's cracked up. You can't believe a damn word that comes out of his mouth.'"

—Michael Jackson

IRI

Sometimes I feel like the whole world is falling apart.

I know, over-dramatic.

But seriously. I don't notice the chaos until I look at all the little fragments that are breaking apart and falling away far from my grasp.

I grew up in a little country that's been on the news quite a lot in the past few weeks. A country under the rule of an oppressive Islamic Republic that came to power after the people kicked out a somewhat stupid King.

Yesterday, while on the bus, a friend asked me why many Iranian Canadians are so intensely affected by what's happening in Iran... do they still feel so attached to the country they left behind?

I didn't really know how to explain the attachment to her. I haven't been back to that country in 7 years, but watching the things going down in Iran makes me angry and emotional. It might be because all of my family minus the parents and sibling live in Tehran... the centre of the insanity. It might be because I was always against the current system and now seeing it fight to stay in power in the most illogical manner makes my blood boil.

I think my breaking point was when I innocently watched a video posted by a friend. A video of a girl lying on the street dying, while her dad knelt down beside her, trying to comfort her, trying to tell her not to be afraid.

I think my rage and sadness is much like the rage and sadness felt by the Iranian people themselves. It is an accumulation of resentment after years of hardship inflicted on a people by a government that dictates under the name of democracy.

It's obvious that the region is in for a change. What kind of change, I don't know, and that's the part that worries me the most.

mmm...

I'm pretty sure my sleeping brain is just as active as my fully awake, 11 in the morning brain.

This morning I woke up to fresh home-made butter-milk pancakes. They were pretty much the best things ever. Sometimes it scares me how much my mom and I's brains work alike... despite our many differences.

For example, these pancakes.

Just last week I was reading a magazine, and saw the recipe for these buttermilk pancakes in the food section. I skimmed over the ingredients and was excited to see that we had everything Ineeded to make them; that is, everything except baking powder. I wasn't sure if we had it and started to wonder.

Then the next day, my mom returns home from grocery shopping, baking powder in hand. I thought it was some weird coincidence.

Then this morning, I wake up to amazingly awesome pancakes in the kitchen.

What?

On a hot summer's day...

Orhan's random food/recipe entries may have inspired this sudden need to talk about a little snack I had alongside with my dinner tonight. Sadly, I was hungry as hell and ate everything before I had a chance to take a picture... so I have to supplment with an online pic. I promise to take pictures next time.

On a hot day nuts might not be the most appetizing of things in the world... and to solve that problem, the Middle Easterners decided to add fresh walnuts to some good old plain yogurt. Some people add honey to taste, although I've never tried it.

Walnuts are packed with lots of protein, vitamins, and omega acids, so If you ask me I think you should give this little snack a try. :)

The right fit.

There is something oddly awkward about a new blog. It's almost like the first day of class at a new school. You don't really know anyone, don't know what to say, and don't really know what's to come.

It's like that new pair of shoes that fit fine but take a few walks to find their place around your feet.

I guess that's how I feel right now. I like the idea of starting this anew but I find it hard knowing what to write. With my last blog, there was always something I saw or heard about that got me writing... and I had no problem writing it because I knew the blog's identity.

Smiling spoon is like a new friend I haven't yet made.

I don't know if that makes any sense.

Bonjour.

I haven't done this public blogging deal for some years. I thought I'd give it a try. I missed the little community of readers, and the drive they gave me to write.

So I guess this is hello to the old and new :)

P.S the template is under works.