Persepolis

“Men all think their ‘thing’ is irresistible.”
-as heard while watching
the 2007 film,
Persepolis

Have you seen the movie “Persepolis”? Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire during the Achaemenid dynasty. The Achaemenid empire was forged by Cyrus the Great, and spanned three continents, including territories of Afghanistan , Pakistan, parts of Central Asia, Asia Minor, Thrace, much of the Black Sea coastal regions, Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and all significant population centers of ancient Egypt as far west as Libya.
Persepolis is noted in western history as the foe of the Greek city states in the Greco-Persian Wars, for freeing the Jews from their Babylonian captivity, and for instituting Aramaic as the empire's official language. It fell during the Wars of Alexander the Great in 330 BC.

Persepolis is a 2007 movie that is a poignant coming-of-age story of a precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl that begins during the Islamic Revolution. It came highly recommended and it gave me a new look into the trials and tribulations of IRAN. It’s an animated film but it kept my interest all the way through. It’s a ‘must see’.

It’s a great film that explores the qualities of being honest and morally upright. The dilemma of Iran’s unusual culture is still an ongoing mess as you may have read after the recent elections. I watched it in French with English subtitles, but if you have time you can hit this link and watch the entire film in ENGLISH:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=perseopolis%2C+english&qs=n&docid=988816539910&mid=B3B4B5FFBBC0087C0BACB3B4B5FFBBC0087C0BAC&FORM=VIVR22#

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 23, 1984
Monday

I did not see Linda this morning at the Fruitvale BART station. I shall quit seeking her out. I have a feeling she’ll appear one day when I am not looking for her. Could that be risky?

My first day of training was a breeze. Some guy named Stan Burke is the lead instructor. He is very laid back. The training has been a real ‘cinch’ so far.

For lunch, Barbara Reynolds, Bobbie Renbarger, Joe and I went to eat at Vicky’s Restaurant. We followed lunch with dessert at Bud’s Ice-Cream.

I went to Mom’s and my $86.18 check from the Sacramento State of CA arrived. I rode my bicycle to the bank to deposit it. That song called “Free Nelson Mandela” got me going on a speedy ride. I love to RIDE LIKE THE WIND with this tune...
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=free+nelson+mandela&qs=n&docid=942965784910&mid=DDFC3CC50B2856E02D20DDFC3CC50B2856E02D20&FORM=VIVR24#

Tonight, I met Birda, the gal that I always see riding around on her bike quite often. She lives on Tonga Lane (just around the corner). She graduated from high-school in 1973 which makes her approximately twenty-nine years old. She mentioned a step-son that graduated in 1980, so I don’t know if she’s married or what. Oh well, we rode home together on our bicycles. She has beautiful teeth and a striking smile.

I went to eat at Mom’s and came home and left a quick message on Karyn Kossoff’s recorder.
“I give up. You’re never home,” I said after the beep.

I also gave Sue Miller a call and invited her over but she was ‘pooped out’ from her work day.

Now I am ‘jumping rope’ to QUAKE radio tunes “The 80’s”.

I decided to order a brass tricycle paper weight that caught my fancy from the TAPESTRY direct mail catalog I received in the mail the other day.

Karyn Kossoff responded to my message by calling back at around 9:30PM. It was a surprise phone call because we talked until about 15 minutes after midnight! I had a few call waiting interruptions from the geek (Bruce). Bruce wanted to invite me to see “Cheech and Chong”. I kind of shunned the idea.
“Listen, I’ll call you back,” I said.
“…but I’m calling from a public telephone,” Bruce said.
He’s weird!

I received a postcard from Bill Helbush who was in Reno, Nevada at some cowboy rodeo. I sent him a postcard, hinting about the idea of a dinner outing. We shall see if he replies to that one.

Karyn and I continued to talk.
“There was all of this hissing, oooing and ahhing about our hanging out together at the picnic,” Karyn said.
“…so let them wonder, “I said followed by a chuckle.
“Would you like to come with me to a party with my section this Friday in San Bruno?” she asked.
“Okay, why not,” I replied without thinking.
Now I am debating on whether I should go or not.