Back in the New Flower

After an incredible three weeks in Park City, I'm back in the Addis Ababa, the new flower, feeling down despite simply kicking ass on this morning's roller skate ski! I took minutes off my fastest time from the last 5 months and added a 6th lap around the the beggars, ICS , Kadus Gabriel circuit. I was on fire although I only had 5 1/2 hours of sleep. I need to be on Addis time for school tomorrow. I'm sure 18 days on the snow in Park City added some gusto. The wheels felt awkward at first, but i still did my 2nd lap in 8:40 and despite falling on the third lap (weird slip), I did the 6th lap in 8:48. I could feel the poles were shorter too, but going up hill I used my core to keep short quick glides and I felt confident tucking int he downhills.

The weather here is in the 70s, but I miss the teens of PC. I've pledged to myself to be more productive with the right side of brain and less engrossed in passing time watching meaningless tv (just sports!).

I finally finished "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet". It was excellent once I read the last 150 pages without interruption or distraction. I cried at the end when Jacob finished his journey of self imposed exile. He survived 18 years away from his people and made Dejema his home. I do not intend to do that with Addis, although it was romantic belief that that could happen, it is noteworthy that 470 pages take place during an 18 month period, but he last 29 pages span 18 years and the reader feels boned to them as well. It could be that it took me 5 months to read the first 350 pages and 12 hours to read the last 149. This could've created a greater attachment to those last pages that could've been left out completely despite the feeling that ... that Jacob's last half of his life back in Holland did not affect him nearly as his unintended sojourn to Japan. I will read some other reviews to gain perspective.

I'm lonely here in Addis and need distractions!