Firefly Valentine's Day Cards
Firefly Valentine's Day Cards
A few years back, while tumbling through the vast, uncharted regions of Tumblr, I stumbled across a set of Firefly-themed Valentine's Day cards. Now, being the self-respecting Browncoat that I am, I immediately downloaded them without hesitation. And, like a loyal smuggler running the same route year after year, I've used those cards every Valentine's Day since. Why? Because when you find gold in the 'verse, you don’t just leave it behind.
Firefly is one of those rare gems of television history: a brilliant, quirky, and endlessly quotable show that was canceled far too soon. Fourteen episodes (and one movie) were all we got of this space-western masterpiece. Fourteen episodes to fall in love with Captain Mal's stubborn heroics, Wash's dinosaur obsession, Zoe's unwavering badassery, Kaylee's sunshine-in-engine-grease personality, and Jayne's... well, Jayne's cunning hat. And yet, despite its tragically brief run, the show still resonates, as fresh and relevant today as when it first took to the skies.
Every year, without fail, I carve out a little time to rewatch the series and Serenity, the cinematic epilogue that tried to give us some closure. And every year, I find myself mourning the lost potential. What adventures might we have witnessed if the show had been given a fair chance? What other shenanigans could our favorite misfit crew have gotten themselves into? What new characters, planets, and philosophical musings might have joined the tapestry of the 'verse? We'll never know. And that, my friends, is the true heartbreak.
But if there really is a multiverse out there, as some quantum physicists (and every sci-fi fan) suspect, then somewhere, in some alternate reality, Firefly got its due. There are ten, maybe fifteen glorious seasons of Captain Tightpants and company navigating the black. Perhaps there's a spin-off or two. A crossover with Doctor Who. A Jayne Cobb workout tape. Somewhere, out there, people are still excitedly discussing new episodes of Firefly. And I can't help but envy those alternate-reality bastards.
In the meantime, here I sit, printing off the same Firefly Valentine's cards and handing them out with a nostalgic smile. Because even though the show is gone, it left behind a little piece of magic. Love keeps a ship flying, after all. And as long as we keep sharing, quoting, and rewatching, the Serenity will never truly be grounded.
Happy Valentine's Day, fellow Browncoats. Stay shiny. And remember: you can't stop the signal.
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42 Bits of Wisdom: Lessons I've Learned on My 42nd Birthday
I am celebrating my 42nd birthday today, and like many others I know, I don't feel my age. Despite feeling much younger, the fact remains that I have lived on this planet for 42 years and have seen and experienced a lot. Although I don't consider myself an expert in life, I have picked up some truths during my time here. So, on this special day, I'd like to share with you a few bits of knowledge that I have acquired throughout my life.
Holding a grudge is a foolish practice. I grew up in a family that was notorious for holding grudges as a means of punishment, but I eventually learned that holding a grudge is like holding a hot coal in the palm of your hand and expecting to burn someone else.
Politics, religion, and family are subjects that make people blind, and no matter how compelling your argument may be, you will never win a fight about them. It is better to let it go, move on, and allow others to live in their own beliefs.
The family you choose is more important than the family you were born into. Additionally, you should never make fun of someone if they haven't seen/heard/watched something. Furthermore, you shouldn't feel guilty about things that bring you joy, even if they may be perceived as "geeky" or "uncool" by others. If your friends make fun of you for something you enjoy, they are not your real friends.
You should not trust tradition or the status quo blindly. It's often not the right path to follow. Instead, choose your own path, even if it's unconventional.
It's crucial to go to therapy.
Honesty is always the best policy. Too many lies are told out of fear, and if you can't trust the people around you with the truth, then they shouldn't be in your life.
Most people should not get married before the age of 30. Furthermore, you don't need a fancy wedding day to signify your love for someone; it's the relationship that matters, not the wedding.
Taking lots of pictures and videos is essential to preserve memories. Similarly, telling the people in your life that you love them often is crucial.
Many of the "great" things in this world are overrated. Instead, define your own "great."
Writing letters and thank you notes to people can make their day.
Imposter syndrome, anxiety, and depression can't speak the truth; they only speak fear.
It's okay to have a messy house; who cares if someone sees it or judges you for it? If someone judges you for having a messy house, they don't need to be in your life.
Don't live your life for other people. Instead, buy what brings you joy, dress in a way that makes you feel confident and comfortable, and live your life for you.
Nobody cares about the things you're bragging about; they may even resent you for it. It's better to keep your wins and losses private because you don't know how others will react.
Never stop learning.
It's essential to learn to be comfortable with being bad at something new. Many of us were raised with the idea that we must be good at everything we do, but it's okay to be bad at something when we're learning.
Make sleep a priority. It's important for your physical and mental health.
Staying hydrated is crucial. Drinking enough water can do wonders for your body.
Always return your shopping cart. There's simply no excuse for leaving it in the parking lot. It's a small act of kindness that can make a big difference.
Don't fall for the allure of fame. It's often an illusion and doesn't bring true happiness.
Give yourself credit for what you've accomplished in life. Celebrate the victories and challenges you've overcome.
Music is a gift that can inspire and heal. Take time to appreciate its beauty and power.
Mental health issues like ADHD, depression, and anxiety are real and should be openly discussed and supported.
It's okay to have a collection of unread books. The joy of collecting and owning books is often enough.
Trying to please everyone is impossible. Focus on being true to yourself and your values.
Many companies and corporations exploit their customers. Be aware of their practices and hold them accountable.
Don't expect your job to care about you as a person. In many cases, you're replaceable. Companies that claim to be like family should be approached with caution.
Be wary of the police and always have a lawyer present when speaking with them. Protect your rights and interests.
The world is imperfect and unfair. Learning to forgive and finding inner peace can help navigate life's challenges.
Learn to distinguish between intuition and fear. Trusting your instincts can be a powerful tool.
Sex is often portrayed as more important than it really is. It's not the only or most significant aspect of relationships.
Women should have autonomy over their own bodies and choices. Society should respect and support them.
LGBTQ+ people deserve the same rights and opportunities as anyone else. Discrimination has no place in our society.
Coke is superior to Pepsi. It's a matter of personal taste, but let's be honest - Coke is the real deal.
Chips and salsa is the ultimate comfort food. It's hard to resist the satisfying crunch and tangy flavor.
Remember that you matter. Your existence and contributions have value and significance.
Age is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience. Embrace the wisdom and opportunities that come with it.
Hurricane Ian
One of the strangest things about an oncoming hurricane is the calm before the storm. Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall sometime in the next 24 hours, and if you were to step outside and drop a pin, you'd hear it. There is no wind, not a single bird singing, nothing. Just absolute silence.
It won't be that way long, because, as I mentioned, we have a hurricane headed right for us. Thankfully we do not live on the western side of Florida which will take the brunt of the storm and bring the category of Hurricane Ian down from a 4 to a 1 by the time it hits Orlando.
Stores were wiped out of all the normal things, bread, water, milk...which I always thought was an odd thing to buy before a storm. If the power goes out what are you going to do with all that milk?
Leslie and I are as prepared as we can be. We have stocked up on snacks, drinks, ice for the cooler, and more. Our yard items have been stowed and put away, and now we just wait. We have a list of movies we plan to watch, and when the power goes out, because it will, we both have lots of books to read.
So until next time please enjoy this image I took with my Holy Stone 700D Drone 500ft above Orlando.
Also just a reminder that I have added a store to my website where you can buy prints. Currently I have 4 photos listed, and plan to add more in the coming weeks. I also plan to be adding some Lightroom Presets there soon as well, and some courses on how to take better photos in the future, so stay tuned.
I'm Not Feeling Well
I'm so sorry friends but I'm not feeling well today, so I probably won't be posting a full post.
Getting sick when you are a self employed freelance photographer is an interesting experience. You almost feel guilty for taking time off to heal and rest. As human beings I wish we could lived in a world where it was OK to take the rest we need when we need it.
Stressing about how you're going to make money or where you're going to find work doesn't help your body while it's fighting the flu.
Alas, that is not the world we live in. We live in a world controlled by bills, political groups, religious organizations, and more. So for now... I'm going to try and get some rest. Till tomorrow... Enjoy these images I took.
It's Never Too Late
It's never too late to start something new. It's never too late to learn a new skill. It's never to late to be a beginner at something. It's never too late to fail, learn, and try again.
That should be all I have to say on that subject, but sadly we live on a planet that teaches us "If you didn't start in your teens or 20's it's too late!" Want to know when its too late? 5 minutes before your death.
How many people have you known that have made it to 50, 60, 70, 80, etc. and said "I wish I had tried..." or "I wish I had learned..."? If it were possible to add up how many people had said some variance of these two phrases in their life I am sure the numbers would be astonishingly high! As long as you are living and breathing it's never to late!
Forget the idea of putting in your 10,000 hours, and with that forget the idea that you have to "become a master" at something. You can do something for the sheer pleasure and joy of just doing it. You can learn something just because you want to know something, and you can create something just because you want it to exist and yet never share it with anyone.
We live in a reality now where it's all about how many likes you got, or how many followers you have. Who cares? What I want to know is...did you enjoy making that thing, or learning that fact?
How many people would stop creating if they no longer had an audience to share it with?
Today a client asked me if it was too late to start growing his business on social media. They worried about their age, and thought the moment to create had passed them by, but that simply is not true. We can start something new at any age of our lives.
In my life I have been a student, a Mormon missionary, an ex-mormon, an EMT/Paramedic, a singer, a safety professional, business owner, fit freak, homeless, divorced, writer, sales leader, and a player of the viola. There is probably a lot more in all of that, and of course I left out things like photographer, lifeguard, and more.
The point is as we age we should always be trying new things and ideas. We should be learning new skills, facts, and concepts. And we should be creating new works of art, things, and nick-naks.
But what we shouldn't be doing...ever...is saying...I am too old to start something new. I'm too late. Because it is NEVER too late to start.
The Olympus - Pen - EES-2
Yesterday I went to my local camera store to drop off some film for development and received The Olympus - Pen - EES-2. Manufactured in 1971 10 years before I was born this camera is absolutely beautiful. It is also a half-frame camera, meaning that instead of the usual 36 shots per roll a half-frame camera will take around 70 shots per roll!
This camera comes into my possession a mear 24 hours before my KODAK EKTAR H35 Half Frame Film Camera comes in, so I am VERY excited to compare the two cameras and see how they both work and compare to each other.
However, if you have the chance to find and purchase The Olympus - Pen - EES-2 or any other models inside The Pen series I highly recommend it!
The Wedding Weekend
This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Woodstock GA with my beautiful wife Leslie to participate in my baby cousin's wedding. Hannah and her now-husband asked me to even perform the ceremony, and it was my great honor to do so.
This is the second wedding ceremony I have had the honor of performing, and I hope it won't be the last. As I prepared for these two wedding ceremonies I thought of all the bad advice I have been given and heard over the years. So I wanted to take the bad advice I had received and turn it into good advice for the couples I was marrying. It occurred that some of this advice could benefit others, not just those rare couples who ask me to perform their ceremonies. So below I would like to share some good marriage advice.
- Go To Bed Angry – Nope, you all heard me correctly, I said go to bed angry. In marriage disagreements and fights will happen. It’s a fact of life, and when these small arguments become a reality, we have a choice to make. We can either solider on tired, worn out, and arguing into the wee hours of the night, or we can respect our partner's need for sleep, we can respect their boundaries, and give them time to process. It has been my experience that things don’t always feel or seem as bleak in morning rays of light.
- The little things matter more than the big things. –The moments in my marriage with my partner, that mean the most to me is when she cooks me breakfast because she knows I am exhausted from work. When she agreed to watch all 11 seasons of Frasier bc she knew it was my comfort show. And when she was my safe place when I needed to cry. Those were the moments that meant the most to me. You both probably already have some of these small moments together…When you find those small moments…Cherish them.
- Communicate – This is the holy grail of all relationships. Talk to your partner and tell them what you want, need, and feel. Too many people will say something like “If my partner truly cared for me, they would just know______” or they will say “If my partner really knew me they would just know ______” These kinds of thoughts poison relationships. If you haven’t communicated something it is not your partner's fault for not being psychic. If you need something ask for it. If you want something express it. You should always feel safe communicating with your partner.
I don't have very many photos of my parents. OK, that is a lie. I don't have very many good photos of my parents, and that's because my parents are very good at making faces whenever a camera is pointing at them. However, during the reception, I was walking around like a Gremlin taking photos, and I am so pleased to have gotten some really nice photos of my parents. I am even happier to know that I was the one to take and create those images.
Through The Window
"Where ever I am I always find myself looking out the window wishing I was somewhere else." - Angelina Jolie.
Talk about the story of my life. So many places I want to see and travel to. I have moved around most of my life living in many different states and cities along the way. Most of my travel has been in and around The United States, and truth be told I have forgotten more about the places I have visited, traveled to, and lived in then I probably have a right to. Some areas I have solid memory of, others I hardly remember at all. But I have always dreamed of traveling to distant areas of the world where no one knows who I am and just wandering.
It is something I have decided to do more of locally, since I can not currently do it abroad. Last week I explored The Apopka Trail Loop, last night I was looking up details to explore the Orlando Museum of Art, and I am hoping once I return from Atlanta, to travel down to the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park to photograph the night sky in an area devoid of most light pollution. Perhaps these adventures will curb or at least satisfy my ever growing wanderlust bug.
Because as the quote says above, I am always thinking about a place far away, and that thought probably distracts me from the adventure and sites to explore where I am now. So stay tuned for my wanderlust adventure in and around the Orlando FL area. I will do my best to share them all with you.
Till then, be well and thanks for stopping by. -AS
I saw a couple shots on Pinterest recently of photographers taking shots through window glass. So since I just had my windows cleaned, and before we mess them up again I decided to try my hand at a few shots. This was the result.