Wow

OK, so Amir has been thinking about getting braces for a while now.  (He does not have American teeth.)  But Jose just recently had them put on.  Go Jose! Today Amir had an appointment to speak with an orthodontist.  I thought it was just a consultation.

He came home like this:

I dunno.  Words fail me.

New member of the household

So...yeah...this happened.

Her name is Harley and she's a schnauzer mix.  Isn't that an adorable face?  And the dog's not bad either.

Happiness

I was pondering on the nature of happiness. Why so elusive?  Ephemeral? Dunno.  We cannot choose all the things that come into our lives.  Things happen beyond our control.  But we choose how we react to them.  Let's be honest, life can be pretty crappy.  But my dear family has what we call mock therapy.  We, as a group, choose humor.  Maybe that's why I need to call my dear family- to get perspective- and to laugh.  My mother always quotes Abraham Lincoln "Most folks are just about as happy as they make their minds up to be."  Reading a book on Martha Washington I came across a quote from one of her letters- "I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have also learnt from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances: we carry the seeds of the one, or the other about with us, in our minds, wherever we go." 
This has been a lesson I have needed to learn.  My dear mother, bless her heart, tried to pound it into me when I was younger. I suppose I am finally ready to listen.  

Smartness

Ok people...this is just a brag (not even a humble-brag) concerning my dear darling husband.  He got straight A's this term. Yes indeedy.  Another reason he is the bestest.
Also..sent this to a realtive already, but couldn't resist posting here.  Reading a book on Elizabeth I of England and came upon a picture of a French prince.  Tell me who YOU think it looks like?


I know, right?

Last of the pics

Alright...so this isn't all the pictures I took.  But close.  These are from the airport in Tehran.  (On our way home.)  This is one of Amir's cousins.  The son of one of the aunties from Kangavar.  (And of course Mohsen.)

And something I learned while in the airport.  Tehran is THE place to go for nose jobs.  Holy nose bandages!!  Every other person had a bandage.  And not just the women.  Men too.  Yes I shouldn't laugh, but ever time I saw a new one I couldn't help it.  One of Amir's male cousins got a nose job and I asked him why?  I love my husband's nose.  It has such character.  I told him it's his heritage right on the end of his face.

To each his own I guess.  Amir said plastic surgery was big in Iran and not terribly expensive   So if you're in the market for good work and reasonable prices....

All in all though, we had a delightful time. Yes I cried in the airport.  These people are all my family now.  Wish we could have stayed longer.  Amir's family also says we need to come in the spring when it's pretty and not so cold.  

As a wise man once said, it's not the places, it's the people you miss.  

Hamedan

Amir's family has decided if we visit again, it has to be in spring or summer. I have to concur, as it was cold.  And Hamedan was the coldest!
One of Amir's uncles (mom's brother) lives in Hamedan.  He and his wife are lovely lovely people.  One of his sons is another one of the Amirs.
So Hamedan has TONS of history, but we didn't get to see a lot.  Wikipedia it it if you have a burning desire.  Again, could spend weeks there and not see everything I want.
We went to see the Ganjnameh inscriptions as well as a ski resort.  No one was at the resort.  I guess its a summer thing.  But it was a lovely view of the city.

Hamedan skyline.

Cold cold mountains.
Obviously not enough snow for skiing.

This is one of Amir's uncles construction projects.  It's an apartment building.  I wanted to show how things are built.

A construction close up. 

The Ganjnameh inscriptions.
I think its an odd place for inscriptions.  I guess its good to be the king.

By now you know I love me some signage.

Awesome park near the Ganjnameh inscriptions. 

The park was like an M.C Escher drawing.  It had different levels and steps and ramps and water and ice.  It must be gorgeous in the summer.

This water fall was just up from the inscriptions.  It gives you an idea of how cold it was.

I was worried Amir would slip and break something.
I shouldn't have worried; he is a sure footed mountain goat.

They had these odd hiker statues and benches made out of ...I'm guessing gravel or ash or something.  I hate to say it, but it reminded my of kitty litter.   (SNL Litter Critters)

Terraced fields are so terribly evocative.
This is the only picture I have, but they were all over.

Cousins

Amir and Amir

Somayeh and Sohrab came to Hamedan to visit too.

Amir, his uncle and aunt.  (I think it's Gahfoor and Mahri)

Aren't they sweet?

Brief Albuquerque Interlude

Amir and I live in, lets say, a lower lower middle class neighborhood.  Today we had eight cop cars, a swat team and a helicopter down the street.  Just a typical Friday really.  But I text-ed Amir to let him know.  (Not because he would worry, but so he wouldn't get stuck trying to get home.)  This is what he text-ed back: "Yeah there was a chihuahua off leash."  This right here is why I love this man!!