THE DUAL LIFE - JULY 28, 2013

THE DUAL LIFE

Welcome blog readers to another update from your COTW in east africa. in the midst of a VERY slow work year (after a busy one last year), i was ready to throw in the towel on Nairobi (BTW, its nickname "Nai-robbery" is striking closer to home with thugs with guns robbing people walking to work in my hood!). but after spending nearly 3 weeks in lamu in quiet, sleepy, shela village i came to realize that even paradise can get boring. i was this close to giving my landlord in NBO notice that i would moving to shela full time sept 1, but my gut started to rumble that that was the wrong thing to do. 

if i had a business to run in paradise and was building something here, it'd be different. but being here as a part-time screenwriter with nothing really pressing every day, the notion of becoming a part-time rummy drinking on the terrace at Peponi hotel every day as well was all too imminent. plus, silly as it sounds, i really missed my "things" at "The Stable" and still really loved that place. so leaving shela the last trip, i concluded that living here full time wasn't the answer and that somehow i wasn't done with NBO, or NBO wasn't done with me. 

my 9-week Hollywood Acting Master Class has really been a ball and after returning to NBO this last time, more 'teaching art' opportunities have presented themselves. as well as a possible high-end coffee chain that may hire Slingshot Prods to shoot some arty food clips and lifestyle stuff for their social media consumption. in short, some favor was rolling my way and possible work was making life a lot more fun. 

the other factor was that my crib in shela would remain only for 10 months a year, so if i moved my edit bay down here, i'd have to pack it up and be a gypsy somewhere else every august and december. not exactly a "home base" situation. so, The Stable won out and i've been very happy so far with the decision. no more bubble sitting, i'm in NBO thru 2013 and lamu will remain a nice to place to visit but i wouldn't want to ...you get the rest.

the other thing on one of the Slingshot Nation burners is the Slingshot Talent Agency. after training my students in TV & Film acting and set protocol & how to audition, i have enough actors now that i think can compete in the industry here. Kenya requires all TV programming to be 60% original content made in Kenya, so the need for trained talent could be sizable. at any rate, we had our first meeting with our potential clients with Lorella and Virginia, an old media pro here in NBO who will serve as Managing Agent and handle all the day to day deals. by the next blog the slingtalent.com website should be live. another fun adventure and one i never imagined getting into when i left L.A. 

well, it's July 28 (my dad would have been 94 today), and getting late this sunday nite. the longer i'm here the smaller Cali gets in the rear-view. it's been a tenuous year to date, but i think things are turning around and picking up. you have to be here a while for folks to know who are and trust you. my impatience was cause for some pro-longed self-pity parties, but i believe i'm coming out of it! Lord willing the rest of the year could be quite busy and fun! we've already hit rock-bottom morale wise at sling prods and now we're aggressively preparing for rain to come and extending our tent poles. as they say on Broadway, "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk!"

time for some pics!

intrepid watch-kitty Paka Paka guards the Stable.

the real stable is 50 feet from my house. these magnificent equines clop down the cobblestone
for their daily walks.

Capt. my captain Yusef heading us back to shela.

you can walk to lamu town from shela or ride a donkey...as one does. 

anniversary bubbly on the upper terrace waiting for the Chanceys to arrive from NBO.

waterfront sunset in shela village.

my friend Nymabura in her newly expanded shop African Corner.

matt chancey arrives, old chap.

matt & jennie arrive via private plane. as one would.

main street in lamu town. could use some paint.

driving back from the new lamu port we had a flash flood of cattle.

shela village from the sea.

Catski lives in lamu town with my authoress friend errol T. feline still life.

you never know if the locals are cool with their picture being taken, so i was relieved
when this capt gave me the thumbs up.

if you live in a place long enough, you can get some special photos. heading back to shela
at dusk, her scarf finally got my attention blowing in the wind and i put the iphone 5 in stealth mode.

the dining terrace at Peponi Hotel. across the channel is manda island.

on a clear day...from my upper terrace.

local in lamu town.

old school open-air swahili architecture in lamu town. 

morning light in my bedroom in shela. i think charlize went to get coffee.

capt aswif, a mover and shaker in shela.

some camera gear on the way to the airport.

dhow on the right.

was bumped to a different flight and a much better plane. 

4 seats across instead of the usual 2. comfort. and quieter.

oh yeah, and i started a tee shirt line. if you print it will they come?

thank you Dminer in dallas for help with the graphics.

your summer is our winter and NBO can get COLD. Africa isn't hot everywhere.

Soap Opera day in the master class. brian and tracy killed it!

"william and damaris, hold your glasses a little higher into frame, please."

the new Hemingway's hotel is finally open in Karen.

lunch with delia stirling of Brown's cheese chatting with 5 star Michelin chef barry.

testing out the slider bar at a food shoot at Brown's Cheese farm.

hero cheese platter.

A sneak peek at their new ice cream line launching sept or oct. canon 5D with the 100mm Zeiss prime.

my landlords in NBO are building an african party hut. an easy stumble home.

wilson airport boarding for lamu and malindi.

at least this thing gets above the clouds.

open cockpit? a rarity in this day and age.

reverse angle of lamu town villa. 

guest room at friend's Sabrina's White House guest house.

breakfast this morning in shela.

sunday morning mass where the kiswahili singing sounds angelic.

cool signage in lamu town.

on the patio at the lamu house hotel. friday night was packed for the Prixe fixe dinner.

apres mass latte.

the view out to sea.

donkeys at work. lamu house hotel in the BG.

frank of lamu house loads food for the sunday brunch he throws on manda beach at the
lamu house beach club. it can get crazy. in the good way.

shela local (and harlem transplant) Lee is always styled out, here at the sunday brunch.

dhow sail on today's sundowner cruise.

the light on this oiled hardwood was amazing.

sundowners heading home.

our dhow had a flag flying from the California Republic. took me back. 

shela village awaits. it was a long day.

our new flier for the master class. it's gaining traction.

chilling with lee and new friends sailing home.

ALL FOR NOW! THANKS FOR READING!