burke's in the photo

umbrella art x soho

more burke.

The suns out.

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

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?

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

wallpaper not the magazine.

when life gives you lemons.

duck duck goose.

I really want to go outside.

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.

love love love reflections.

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

a round of amstels

hey

that is all.

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

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

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

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

the green bus x lagos

just outside lekki market

vendors cntd.

vendors just outside lekki

Upon entry into the vehicle, I told Ramon that his name was very Latin, he replies, “You would know about such things because you are so fashionable.” I nearly bursted into tears, you had to hear him say it – hilarious! He asked my name, I said, “Well that’s tricky, because I have three (3) first names and people call me all of them sometimes in the same conversation… My name is Rrrrrrroberrrrrrto Allllfonso Fe-leee-pe, but most people call me all three: pick one.” I began to tell him about how his name is pronounced in my culture he said people often call him, “Raymond.” I said, “Which do you prefer,” he said, “Something to the extent of, You are the boss so you can call me as you please.” My tone got serious, Ramon, this is YOUR name and you can control who says it, how they say it, when they say it, remember that… client or not its YOUR NAME. He must have thought I was joking because he started to laugh and said, “Thank you sir.” I said, “I’m serious” as I began to pump Michael Jackson – Off the Wall: the fun was just beginning…

Just to give you a visual of how happy the guy is…

the happiest man in lagos: Ramon.

Back to Michael…

So Off the Wall comes on and we both randomly start to sing, looked at each other in shock: we both knew the mainstream portion of the song, but hummed the trickier parts – it was like a deleted scene from White Chicks. After a few commercials, Lady Gaga comes on, I know the words, I asked him if he knew who this is, when the hook drops he shouts, “Lady Gaga!” The guy brought a few smiles to my day which helped make me more comfortable driving everywhere with him. It was certainly helpful to hear from someone who grew up here about the culture and how things have been changing. Sadly, for you, this place is painted in the wrong light too often, but that’s society. Sometimes you have to see things for yourself.

On to the subject of this post which is sharing, my very good friend J. Matthew was so kind to give me a parting gift before my trip: worth more than money or any night club owners bbm, it was a book: Food Rules by Michael Pollan.

Transatlantic Sharing

Earlier this morning, over breakfast I actually I read the book. The day’s developments made me feel like I needed to give and decided to share it with Ramon today to see how he felt about it given that we come from two opposite sides of the world, I wanted to see how he felt about it. I know how I feel about it, but maybe sharing it with him can help give both of us a better reaction to it. Maybe it wont, but it doesn’t hurt to share. I had an errand to run at a friends place and while I was gone Ramon might have read 40-50 pages in the book and he loved it. He handed it back to me and thanked me for sharing. It was at this point that I realized that I should let him have it. I never saw someone so happy to receive a book, he said, “he wanted to change his diet and be more aware of the things he puts into his body.” I had no comment, all I said was, “If you give me your email and address I will send you some books my friend and when you are done share them with your closet friends. He couldn’t believe it..

I am just one person and I am no better than the next man, but if I can make a difference in the life of another so can you.

xx

RAF

moi x leye x new friend

beach club x lagos

ripples in the water

converse all star x lagos

corona x center of the world

chin x water on sand x lagos

new friend x dock on water x lagos

moi x water in the background

sun over looking water

chin x moi x sand x lagos

happy monday

xx

RAF