Junk—Food for Thought

Today I had a call from my mom. One of my aunts is sick and not going to pull through, she had a stroke. I wasn’t very close to this aunt, though she was an interesting individual. She looked a bit like a short, wild witch, who loved to ride her Harley motorcycle. But it’s what made her fall into despair and sickness that I want to talk about.

            One of her quirks was her love of collecting everything—I’m talking a dozen different vacuum cleaners, boxes upon boxes of clothes, multiple refrigerators—her house was literally overrun by junk. Basically, she lived most of her life collecting useless stuff until she barely had space to walk through her own house.  One night she lost it all. A fire erupted in her basement, and she was suddenly faced with the loss of everything, including her house. Without warning, this threw her into the unfortunate disease of Alzheimer’s, and now a stroke which she isn’t expected to recover from.

            Of course, her life had me thinking. Why do we put so much worth on material objects? It’s not just people like my aunt who have an obvious collecting addiction, it’s me, it’s the neighbors, and it’s most of the world. Do we really need to have the newest most updated i-phone, or car? Or, how about that T.V. you own that works perfectly, but is still not as cool looking as the newest model—what’s happening to us? Is society so perversely obsessed with the biggest and the brightest that we’ve forgotten how to actually live a simple fulfilling life without all the shiny, plastic clutter?

            My partner and I try to make the right decisions by lessening an impact, we drive used cars, we use washcloths in place of paper towels and napkins, we recycle, and we have reusable bags that we keep in the car to shop with.  But, does it really make a difference? I like to believe it does, plus we save the money to go and do things instead of sitting at home. And that if everyone stopped to think that, like my aunt, we could lose everything in the wink of an eye, or the breath of a fire, maybe we would be out getting to know our neighbors and community better. Living is exciting if we let go of the junk, and actually started doing all those things we seem never to have time to do, things that are healing, and happy.

            So, this thanksgiving I’m giving you a challenge: put away your junk and spend time with your family, because everything else is not important, and share this same thought with them.  And, if you don’t have family to get together with (I don’t this year as I’m too far away), then get outdoors, or do something you’ve never done before, like a dance class or some live music—and make it a new year’s resolution. There is more to life than the clutter we surround ourselves with. 

           

Nishi Serrano

Author of ‘Mile High Airship Club’ 

10Q Tuesday with Nishi Serrano

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

NS: Two places hold a special curiosity for me: Scotland and Japan. I have never been to either place, but someday wish to. Scotland is on my list because my Grandpa Nick is part Scottish and I’ve always felt an affinity towards that part of my heritage. As for Japan, I love the culture, art, folklore, and Asian men are HOT!

Does travel play in the writing of your books?
NS: Absolutely! My characters are always on adventures to exotic places, whether in the sky, under the sea, or on a completely alien world. I love building atmospheres. The feeling of discovering something mysterious and new is a passion I like to share in my writing.

If you could spend the night anywhere, where would it be?

NS: Anywhere misty, cold, moody, dark, and haunted—did I mention I’m a Goth at heart? If monsters were involved, I’d definitely spend the night!

Do you believe in ghosts?

NS: Well, since I believe in the existence of other dimensions, I do believe there are many supernatural things on this planet that we do not understand. Plus, I’ve been witness to numerous unexplained phenomena happenings, alas, that’s a different story.

What hobbies do you actively pursue?
NS: The great outdoors is a wonderful playground, hiking, canoeing, and camping are some of my favorite hobbies. Costume making and wearing (cosplay) is another of my interests. I do a lot of research wherever I’m at to find unique events and gatherings. Finding awesome tea shops is also high on my list. Writing is a given.

Tell us about your favorite restaurant:

NS: The funny thing is, before I was living here in Louisiana, there was a little restaurant in the Portland area called The Delta, serving southern cuisine and some of the tastiest darn cocktails I’ve ever had. Now, I don’t mean to offend anyone in the south, but the food at the Delta has far surpassed any food I’ve eaten since moving to the south.

New York or LA? Why?

NS: Los Angeles baby! But I’m partial to la-la land because I was born and raised in California. The memories of LA and Hollywood in the 1980’s are something to cherish—the parties were outstanding!

Tell us about the absolute BEST fan letter you have received.
NS: Since cultivating my online presence, I’ve met some of the most wonderful people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I used to be pretty against meeting people online, but now, I can’t believe I’ve put it off for so long. There is one person in particular that when I wake up and find a letter from her in my personal email, it makes my day. It’s because of individuals like her that I don’t give up writing, ‘cause let’s face it—it’s pretty scary being a writer nowadays. P.S. she’s working on an amazing YA book too!

Tell us about your current release.

NS: Mile High Airship Club is my first erotic Steampunk short story, and it’s a sort of prequel to the novella I’m working on that chronicles the further adventures of Lady Rose and her friends.

MHAC is a saucy piece with a bite of class and a whole lot of steam!

Tell us about your next release.

NS: Here’s crossing my fingers it will be the companion novella to Mile High Airship Club. I’ll give you a little hint, but I don’t want to divulge too much: Peep shows under the sea!

Happy Halloween!!!

If you would like to read more about my adventures and free stories, come join me at: http://www.nishiserrano.blogspot.com

You can also find me at these sites: The Steampunk Empire, Book Blogs.ing, Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Constant Cosplay

 

 

      For those who don’t know, cosplay is short for costume play, or, short for those-who-wish-Halloween was-everyday. Cosplay is one of my not so guilty secrets.

     In the early 1980’s I discovered Star Wars and anime conventions, back then it was hard to find anime unless you attended a con or event. Computers weren’t as widespread, and the internet hadn’t taken over (cell phones, laptops—what the heck were those?! Oh, you mean like in James Bond?). Yeah, I know, I’m ancient.

        If you wanted to cosplay, you got creative—there was no Hot Topic to help you out. My friends and I would hold secret meetings about whom or what we would go to the next event as, and what we would be planning for next Halloween. But we took it a step further, why not dress up whenever we wanted and go hang out at an all night diner? The waitresses hated us, and the patrons always asked what play we were in. Of course we garnered strange, blank stares when we told them we weren’t actors. Back then our salvation was the SCA and Ren-fairs.

     In the 90’s cosplay started taking on a whole new level for me, mainly because more events started popping up. I attended one of the first ever Labyrinth of Jareth masquerade ball, found an entire brave new world through Burning Man, and costuming became a big part of many smaller artsy events. Burning Man is where I discovered my first taste of Steampunk. Black Rock City is a cosplayer’s heaven!

      The whole point of this post is to inspire you to try a little cosplay. You don’t have to be a teenager. At every single event, I’ve met the most interesting 80 year olds living it up in the poshist of styles imaginable, all ages are present and having a wonderful time. No one cares what age you are, or what nationality, or sexual preference, the world is welcome and celebrants seem to have an endearing, innocent hope for a better tomorrow.

     And don’t use excuses for not trying it out. There are events in just about every state. In Louisiana (where I currently reside) there are steampunk events, pirate events, vampire balls—do a little key word research on the web and you will be surprised by what you find. Facebook is another good resource for finding gatherings in your area. One of my favorite states in the U.S. is Oregon. Oregon hosts a plethora of cosplay goodies: The Vampire Ball, Zombie Prom, Faerie Worlds weekend festival and the good and bad faerie ball, and not to mention the Steampunk Film Festival, you name it—there’s something for everyone. And let us not forget the comic and fantasy cons which are in practically every state now too. If you were really resourceful, I bet your schedule for dressing up would have your weekends filled!

Now in the 2000’s, when people ask my age, they are surprised because I feel younger and look younger than I ever have—my secret: Cosplay. Having a little fun outside the boundaries of this constraining world does wonders for one’s vitality.

 

Want to add some reading fun to your costume play? Then check out my erotic steampunk adventure Mile High Airship Club. Tea, airships, and stockades—oh, my! DecadentPublishing

To read more adventures and free stories, go to: http://www.nishiserrano.blogspot.com