A Galaxy of Joy

I had the great pleasure of traveling out to Chicago for Star Wars Celebration 2019. This is my second celebration and I somehow had even more fun than in Orlando. There is just something heartwarming about finding one of your tribes. A group of people you have a kinship with. And these Star Wars fans are welcoming and wonderful.

I’m excited for the new branches of the galaxy far, far away. The Mandalorian seems to be right in the vein of the Star Wars novels, games, and comics I grew up on back in the mid-90s.

My soul got such a charge out of the whole five days. I met some fantastic people. Hung out all weekend with a great friend and co-pilot. And had once in a life time opportunities that will have a lasting effect on my life.

Glad to be part of this family, and veey excited to do all again in Anaheim in 2020!

”I’m home.” 

Groomsman

I had the pleasure of seeing two of my favorite people tie the knot this weekend. Glad to be part of it!

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A Fine Oration

So I’ve “married” two people now. That is a thing I have done. And it was great! And they are two wonderful, happy, amazing people. It made my job so much easier to let them exchange their beautiful vows as it trumped anything I could have said. A wonderful and amazing day.

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MUHBOMM - Tao

Hiya! Life is a wild blender of whirlwinds of chaos and fragile moments of serenity. So far 2018 has been quite the rebuilding year for me. Full of recovery from the adventures of 2017, financially and practically. It has had a few painful partings and joyful reunions. Overall it’s swept over me more than being defined by me.

And that’s fine. It’s said control is an illusion. It is. Our worlds are such an interconnected series of systems that we are gated into so many of our options. We do have choice, free will, but mostly in what we control about our behavior. Our external lives are bound by geography, economics, social mores, and all other manner of expectations. I feel in 2018 I finally decided to catch a wave and ride the flow.

I wish for so much from the world, but this year I accept I cannot change much of anything other than me. I cannot fix politics, but I can stand for my own beliefs and respect others. I cannot make the trends of media follow my whims, but I can like what I want, and I have no obligation to buy in on what I don’t. I can’t change how others behave, but I can control my own behavior.

I take the time to meditate. I allow myself to stay patient in the growth I am making despite its slow pace. I accept that I can roll with the world or be rolled by it.

It’s almost Bastille Day, my halfway mark for the year. A time I reckon my place in the world. And while I expect for more proactivity for the back half of the year, I can be content in a way I haven’t been in the tranquility of just being here.

MUHBOMM - 2018.23.155 - Tao

Mac Updates His Blog on Monday, Mondays, or MUHBOMM is a weekly column highlighting one man’s view of the universe. Mac Purvis III, is a self described purveyor of amazing things and dabbles in many different mediums of expression. 

The Great American Eclipse of 2017

So the real reason I upgraded my camera was to document this crazy great celestial convergence. I got the phot Gear I needed. I booked a flight to the closest major airport that would be under the total eclipse. And in one day was there and back again through Nashville. And boy what an awe struck moment, to see the sun disappear and hundreds of people around be stare up and see nature breaking its own rules.

Ups: Overwhelming beauty

Downs: So much air congestion as to shut down an entire ATC system and cause a almost four delay to getting home.

I Have New Camera

I finally replaced my Sony α100. I loved my DSLR and it got me through my training at the New York Institutyof Photography. But about 4 years ago the auto focus motor broke and I never found a good way to fix it or afford replacing it. But I have a great scheme that requires it so thanks to better credit here we are. It’s a new Sony α68 SLT. It fits all my old lens and I got some new kit for it too. These are some pics from my first shoot.

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Fly Time

So in my journey to make the best me possible I have taking up flying again. There is something magical about defying gravity. And the culture of aviators is a great place to be.

Who knew I looked good in aviators? 

Boston and PAX East 2017

I had a great time hanging out my annual pilgrimage to Boston. This year there was a highlight of CosPlaying as McCree from Overwatch in his American costume. My buddy was dudded up as RoadHog, and we walked the floor for the better part of an hour with a whole crew. Also when not taking in PAX playing with my shiny new Nintendo Switch. Zelda Breath of the Wild and 1-2 Switch sword fighting ruled the day.

Pros: Great show every time, Breath of the Wild

Cons: COLD very cold, my costume did not survive much more than 2 hours of con time

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Disney Odyssey

My first trip adventure of the year was to the golden land of Orlando. So I haven’t been to a Disney park since I was 6. I was surprised how many memories of the magic kingdom had stuck when I saw things through an adult’s eyes. It was also amazing to see all things I never saw. When I was there as a child it was the month MGM Studios opened (my mom cleverly seeing the opportunity to avoid crowds in the magic kingdom.) So I have never experienced Epcot (though I loved it from afar,) Hollywood Studios, not the Animal Kingdom. And I had my Best friend along the journey the whole time and his lovely wife on Magic Kingdom day. It was a blast and a treasured cache of memories.

Pros: Wow Disney is amazing, Disney Springs is so pleasant, Everest is a great coaster, Epcot and all the Worlds Fair vibes made me feel great, finally getting to ride Star Tours

Cons: Animal Kingdom was over a bit to soon maybe Avatar will expand it to a full day park, heavy rain drenched us on Magic Kingdom day, Star Wars Land wasn’t opened yet

PAX East 2015

Wow, what an amazing trip. For those who have never had the chance to attend a Penny Aracade Expo I cannot recommend it enough. They have been, in my experience, some of the nicest and most enjoyable conventions I have attended. Attendees are polite and cool folk. Panels are engaging. The sellers are great. And it is one of the few places you get the opportunity to mingle with video game creators outside of trade shows.  

Thanks to a robust and friendly community, even tried my hand at the wacky world of costuming this year. Cosplay has always been well represented at PAX and while I'm not sure my StarLord costume knocked it out of the park I had a blast! But seriously my good friend's Cobra Commander is just awesome.

A fun way to get a way for a while. Enjoy a bit of geek culture and community. 

Cobra runs on Dunkin' 

Meeting up with some of my favorite people

Star-Lord and Gamora

It's a huge show, there is only about third of it behind me

New York City 2015

I had yet another opportunity to travel to the Big Apple. Mostly took time to hit tourist stuff I did have time for on more strictly business trips. It was a blast and I always fall more in love with the city every time I visit.

Seasons Greetings and all the best in 2015!