THE NEW LIFE

FINDING THE FLOW
About to start month 9 of the new life, and this week i finally found the flow. i love Nairobi, but it took a while for me to let go of my first world expectations. living in a third world country is like swimming above water in a foreign sea. things are anxiety laden trying to fit in and find your groove and there is some inherent resistance. but after a while, you get tired of buffering and eventually you accept your world and stop paddling so hard and sink in. you finally are comfortable enough to swim underwater and things are much easier. you sink into the third world and accept it as it is. and you're fine with it. it's too much work to hold onto your old life notions of how things should be. you get what you get and you don't get upset. just go with the flow.


VISITORS
Had my first visitors to see me in 9 months. caroline and roland from zurich. they were here for a short week, 2 nights with me, 3 in the mara (they saw the coveted leopard their first day. jealous.) then 1 more night with me. it was wonderful. they are very easy company and we saw a lot. it was fun to show off my new digs and new town. they loved it. i'm sure they'll be back and i'm sure i'll see them in zurich in january. my old ranger friend manfred i met in botswana in 1991 is having a big birthday bash in germany jan 12 so i plan to be there and chill in europa and the UK maybe for the whole month. may see some friends in paris as well. COTW catching up with old guard. 


THE STABLE
the new crib is stinking cool. VERY happy here and having it dialed in is a blast. really enjoying the vertical work station. and the whole place has a homey arty vibe. loving it. still not sure if it's more africa lodge than cheesy Vegas lounge, but it's fun. and as a live/work space it's ideal. sleeping quarters on one end, the edit lounge and Lo's office on the other near the kitchen. great layout and positive work flow vibe. can't believe i ended up here. more than i could ever imagine. way cool. peaceful. beautiful, and retired race horses (like me) living right next door. never gets old. one of the coolest places i've ever lived. and i imagine i'll be here a while. it feels like home and i don't care to leave. i have more travel coming up, but i'm quite content to chill here.


SLINGSHOT NATION
Slingshot Productions is finally getting busy with some paying gigs. and this one is a home run. a 6 day shoot in Nairobi (NBO), Rwanda, Uganda, NBO, and Ethiopia. lots o' travel. it's for Full Circle Exchange and they "empower women thru economic enterprise". so we'll be shooting these little factories of workers who are making jewelry, bags, purses, bangles, etc. interviews and B-roll. we started today with Katchy Collection in NBO. very sweet bunch of single mothers working hard and making a living and feeling empowered instead of living off handouts and aid.


the other Slingshot push is to start a seminar series on acting, directing, filmmaking, screenwriting, editing, commercial acting, and some misc fun workshops. we have a cool space in mind in the CBD downtown and ddm just needs to start a 4 hour power point presentation for each! but the climate is good in NBO for young people wanting to have a career in show biz. the cost will be @ $12. we think it can sell out and have good word of mouth. i see it more as a one-man theatre piece and want to produce it strongly so it's immensely entertaining and enlightening. and being from Hollywood is instant street cred over here. and a abundance of IMDB credits after being kicked around in the industry for 30 years also helps. should be a blast. and potentially profitable. i see 9 or 10 seminars i could produce. and my shy, reclusive personality might actually enjoy being on stage for 4 hours a session. (joke). so all in all, the long wait to get my work permit and papers in order is all going to be worth it. in short, i'm very happy being here and having fun! well worth the one way ticket in moving here! the great adventure is only growing! NOW FOR SOME PICS! (i know that's your favorite part...)

the kitchen at a friend's house. looks like a french castle. done to the tee. pimped out as the kids say.

the gnarliest can of glue ever. and great colors. 

the wet season brings spectacular skies.

a log sofa set i had made. more of the rustic safari look.

delia stirling of brown's cheese. i randomly met her and her hubby andy while i lived in phoenix. the connection was
instrumental in me moving here. hmmm, maybe not so random after all!

beautiful skies at the windsor country club for brunch.

caroline and roland from zurich at brunch.

went to the races in NBO. awesome.

felt like del mar or santa anita circa 1920.

place your bet then hit the grandstand.

winner's circle.

won my first bet. $12 dollars won $36 on Whispering Murray.

some shade for the locals.

they parade the horses so you can bet intelligently. didn't help me on the second bet. 

beautiful grounds. total Out Of Africa vibe. i loved it.

i shoulda bet on #6.

they head to the gate.

then run the wrong way around the track!

meanwhile back at my stable, a blacksmith puts on some new shoes.

the biggest slug i've ever seen!

roland and caroline at the elephant orphanage.

pretty darn cute pachyderms.

and an orphaned rhino. in this lighting, it looks like wood.

log furni inside my crib.

a mock-up poster for the seminar series.

some product from katchy collection.

slingshot's latest addition, shem, gives me some pointers.

bounce card wrangler.

i sprained my wrist badly falling at night in the mud. the hair? deferred maintenance.

women at work.

arduous beading and painting.

try string these all days. it makes your barista gig look pretty good.

white walls are a killer.

the bangles are hand painted.

they make amazing stuff.

and such faces.

she was very shy being interviewed in swahili. so sweet.

they sang a song. the harmonies were heavenly.

paka paka has taken my pleather wicker sofa as a crash pad and scratch post. bad kitty!

patio work station.

new dining room table seats 10. good for my saturday nite dinner parties.

all for now!