rainy days = umbrella art

Was fortunate to get together with my good friend Ryan for brunch on a rainy day. Ry was talking about how someone needs to create art with all of the umbrellas that are just destroyed post rain. My idea to Soho showed him other people felt the same. Ideas are always interesting because I do not know if we will or will ever want to pursue each and everyone that comes to mind, but its always fun to see that they were realized by another.

umbrella art x soho

burke's in the photo

burkes in the picture

umbrella art x soho


more burke.

more burke.

The suns out.

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you must enjoy your own company.

Before you even begin, listen to this while you read. It will sooth the mind and stimulate the spirit like no other. I feel the beat rushing: first from my feet, up my spinal cord, and finally turning up my shoulders. I know there is a purpose for me and everything that I have seen, all that I can become, yet all that I am not without you.

My friend told me it was Spring again in California, and he wasn’t fibbing at all…

rising spring

rising spring

Well it is not quite yet spring here in New York City, but I feel it coming. I am getting older, it’s around the corner like the 24HR deli that we all covet. It’s rainy today, a friend called it, “A monsoon.” I’m not sure if it is or isn’t – regardless it wont stop my progress. I actually prefer the rain because it keeps all of the people who don’t really want to be out & about at home. I was never a fan of the gray area of life, I either want to love things madly or dislike them totally. I’m not really the type of person that likes to feel ambiguous about things. I love rainy days and thus I set out to have brunch today, originally with a friend, but the flu got the best of that friend. I try not to break plans unless the reason is pretty legitimate, and this reason seemed like it, I normally give people the benefit of the doubt, not because I am too nice, but because one monkey will never stop this show. My time is quite valuable because I will never get this second, day, minute, hour back. Ever. The time I take to write these words is time away from everything else in my life. The time you take to read them is also time away from the rest of your life, so for that I am thankful.

I had a great brunch.

hungry? why wait?

hungry? why wait?

I sat alone at the counter with my book in hand, staring at the worlds of E.B. White, reciting them in my cerebrum… Wondering if I would have been able to cut it in their world, in this mythological New York that that that… I hope 50 years from now students will say still exist today. I’m not shy, so naturally I had conversations in passing with all around me – this is one of the forgotten beauties of New York, and that is the natural interaction that can happen: anywhere, anytime. The comfort of routine can often subconsciously hinder our natural instincts of conversing with strangers. I enjoy being alone, not because I don’t enjoy the company of others, but because if I cannot stand myself enough to have a meal by myself how can I expect another to stomach (this is when you laugh) a conversation with me?

A lot of growth can be done alone: while bouncing around the globe, I challenge you to try it. I think for me it has worked wonders. The world has the most beautiful chemistry and balance that I have yet to experience. This is not by random chance, it was fated to be this way – we have to realize that each and everyone of us is at the center of the world yet at the same time we are all so small in the grand scheme of things. Though the world revolves around me and you at the same time it revolves around all of us. I enjoy the sound of my ideas running through my head: reckless, unclear, and timid before I can properly formulate them into topics of conversation. If we are out to coffee and I do not appear interested, please be sure that if I wasn’t I would excuse myself immediately, it is no offense to you, but I’m just deep in thought. Words should not be said just for the sake of it, but because we stand by them and mean them with all of our hearts.

I never know where these posts are going, I just start to type and the words flow. I don’t necessarily start with an objective the ideas stray, but I try to centralize them and bring them all back together. I think the way to make people, ideas, life relevant is to prove them in as many ways possible because then it is meaningful to all who witness them.

lonely building x east village

lonely building x east village

wallpaper not the magazine.

wallpaper not the magazine.

when life gives you lemons.

when life gives you lemons.

duck duck goose.

duck duck goose.

I really want to go outside.

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look at all the pretty colors.

I’m back.
I returned.
I arrived.
I landed.
Nothing has changed.

I Went across the world and back – most of us are still doing the same old things with ourselves. I’d like to separate myself, but I’m no better than you, because we associate together. Why not take a risk? See who you might become… See what the rest of the world is about. I’d like to resist the temptation of living a mundane life. Hopefully.

look at all the pretty colors.

look at all the pretty colors.

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your life…

My friend sent me this earlier today. Interesting.

quite true.

quite true.

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hungry, hungry, hungry

Went for dinner with some special people and had some great conversation.

love love love reflections.

love love love reflections.

Had the pleasure of sharing a round of drinks with some great people.

a round of amstels

a round of amstels

hey

hey

that is all.

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concrete jungle.

Back in New York. I don’t know if she has missed me at all, but I missed her. The sleepless nights. The laughter. The transparency. New York is a beautiful place, but she can’t love me, because of how many people love her so all of the efforts I make to please her are done in vain. I wish for once she would take notice.

art is everywhere.

art is everywhere.

Saw this while walking down the street and thought of my friend Wade. Thanks again for having us at that show a few months ago.

Thanks Wade

Thanks Wade

I wasn’t sure what to make of this, but I like the color.

the pink puppy goes "bark"
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Tell me the truth: Revolutionary Road

Not surprising to anyone who has seen the film and actually watched it closely, but it is a timeless timeless film. Every soliloquy that you can think of if discussed properly with the right amount of evidence can hold water. Our lives are wrapped thinly around a thread that we rarely see, touch, or even acknowledge and this is not because we think we are above it, but simply because if you actually put pen to paper on most of these things you probably wouldn’t do much living. We ride taxis, subways, airplanes, without truly understanding the amount of faith, trust, confidence we invest into things out of control. We only realize how easily disposable we are when our comfort zone has been breached. If people expected an accident every time they rode the subway, I guarantee you people would not ride so frequently. But we are so focused on the, “importance” of our day-to-day lives that we are oblivious to the idea that not everything is in Stacy’s control.

Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road

So this film, they got it right and people might say it was dark or too heavy, but isn’t that what life is? I love life. Although, I work and have ambitions both personal and professionally the most important thing that I can ever do is to live, for without it there would be no life. I must get up every morning, because that is our number one priority while here… in this place. The amount of days that we will live is a variable, but the outcome is very specific, now if you consider that dark well that’s your opinion, the outcome still remains. I simply see it as truth.

Back to the film. On average, you could say that younger people have more lofty aspirations – perhaps because the world hasn’t told them yet that they couldn’t do a particular thing. Even if you told me I couldn’t do something I probably wouldn’t listen to you because if I haven’t tried, then I haven’t lived and you are not me nor am I you. If you live by the aspirations of another or better put, if you let the reasons for why another did or didn’t make a decision be a standard for your life… well then you will never be anything more than the sum of the opinions of others. Being humble is just as important as being self-centered, because if you fail to define life on your own terms, I’m not sure I can express the tragedy. I believe in you, I think you can, we both can break precedent and perhaps some of us wont, but I believe some will. Sadly, for all of us beautiful dreamers we have friends, relatives, associates who have allowed the rigors of life to determine the ceiling of their lives. The reason this film is authentic is simple: it was authentic. The balance between cast & directors – they weren’t afraid to show the fact that dreams don’t always come true. A majority of our lives is spent by us rationalizing our shortcomings in hopes that one day it will all work out. There are so many words that will remain unsaid because we are afraid to be wrong, I am failing everyday, but failure is never permanent for me because I will never cease to live life. Our investments in self are not always rewarded by financial, popular, and emotional standards this is why decisions about your life should be made in the interest of the most important person you know: YOU.

An excerpt from the film…

April Wheeler: Tell me the truth, Frank, remember that? We used to live by it. And you know what’s so good about the truth? Everyone knows what it is however long they’ve lived without it. No one forgets the truth, Frank, they just get better at lying.

Sincerely,

RAF

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it all happens in Lagos.

9:30 AM and the lights go out – the air conditioners cut out, no one moves, no one screams, they just patiently wait for the generators to power back up. There is no central form of electricity, so if you live there you have to supply your own energy.

Guys roam the streets in Occada motorbikes, normally with one passenger, but quite often with two. Most rarely use their rearview mirrors, and almost everyone always honks to let you know they are near by.

The menu says Pina Collada, but they cant make a frozen one.

I haven’t seen a credit card in about 8 days.

A truck started leaking oil in front of my eyes on the highway, we were 10 feet away.

While Ramon was driving yesterday, I asked him, how do the mobile phone companies survive with all everyone selling sim cards etc in the street. He shed a little bit of light, the people selling sim cards & credit for prepaid phones in the streets are actually authorized retailers. They deal directly with the phone companies and are authorized to distribute the products. In Lagos, and I am assuming the greater part of Nigeria, the streets are mobile malls for people who have no time to shop for furniture, snacks, lighters, sim cards etc. I saw a man carrying a heavy looking white piece of wood, Ramon said, “Sir, that’s a dressing mirror, someone is definitely going to need that one.”

We were born into an era that soon became digital, its hard for me to imagine times like these, it’s difficult to find organization in things that to the uneducated eye seem so chaotic, but I guess that’s why we must say Lagos is Lagos, New York City is New York City, London is London and Hong Kong is Hong Kong. One must not spend hours trying to compare where one travels to home because no matter how much one tries it will never compare to home. Instead one should try their best to submerse oneself in that culture and experience it: fully.

I was on my way to Lekki Market to buy some gifts for friends back home. I searched for a few hours for a book of some substance for my good friend Kira. I think she might enjoy it.

retailers x lekki market x lagos

retailers x lekki market x lagos

the green bus x lagos

the green bus x lagos

just outside lekki market

just outside lekki market


vendors cntd.

vendors cntd.

vendors just outside lekki

vendors just outside lekki

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Far from home, close to the equator, but at the center of the world.

Everywhere you go is the center of the world. Anywhere that you are sharing laughter, dance, art, food, water, culture, love, experiences is the center of the world. I am far from home, but sharing all of these things and more with an old friend, familiar faces, and strangers that does not change the idea. Ideas will be scrutinized, debated, questioned, praised, but they will live forever. It is obvious my body will die & decay, but my words, my ideas – they will never die.

moi x leye x new friend

moi x leye x new friend


beach club x lagos

beach club x lagos

ripples in the water

ripples in the water

converse all star x lagos

converse all star x lagos


corona x center of the world

corona x center of the world


chin x water on sand x lagos

chin x water on sand x lagos

new friend x dock on water x lagos

new friend x dock on water x lagos


moi x water in the background

moi x water in the background

sun over looking water

sun over looking water


chin x moi x sand x lagos

chin x moi x sand x lagos

happy monday

xx

RAF

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