As I sit trying to decide what to do tonight to celebrate New Years Eve this year my mind wanders back over the years and I try to remember where I was each NYE. I don't know why we make such a big deal out of this one day of the year but personally I love the holiday and enjoy being new places to celebrate it.
Finding Home and the Meaning of (My) Life
Unfortunately, as I've discovered, the answer is not always 42. I used to think I had everything figured out. I had a plan and I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I set goals and accomplished them. And when I left Kenya a little over a year ago I knew I would stop at nothing to return to the country I felt like was a home away from home. And I didn't.
However, now I'm listless and floundering and I have all these questions floating around in my head. Do I stay in Kenya or do I move somewhere else in Africa? What about another continent? Or stateside? I guess there is something to be said for living in the moment but it would be nice to know what it actually is that I do want in the long term. Maybe it's just the commitment-phobia is rearing its ugly head now that I'm quasi settled somewhere.
However, now I'm listless and floundering and I have all these questions floating around in my head. Do I stay in Kenya or do I move somewhere else in Africa? What about another continent? Or stateside? I guess there is something to be said for living in the moment but it would be nice to know what it actually is that I do want in the long term. Maybe it's just the commitment-phobia is rearing its ugly head now that I'm quasi settled somewhere.
Singletons, Beware!
Smug Marrieds are lurking behind every poinsettia bush and Christmas tree. As Bridget Jones laments, why is it that all smug marrieds think it's appropriate to ask singletons about their love lives? I can't tell you how many times in the last week people have asked me the status of my dating life. Just substitute Bridget for Captain Awesome and the conversation usually goes a little something like this (just a lot less British and not quite so witty):
The Neuron Project
So this past year has been a rough one. As you know, I went through a traumatic event that produced some unintended side effects that have stubbornly lingered on. I'm not one to talk about my feelings or outwardly express emotion but, in an effort to appease the powers that be (my parents), I spoke to someone about the persistent remnants of this event that I continue to experience. (I promise my blog is not going to turn into some ooey gooey emotionally sappy space. I am just giving you a little background of why I am starting this so-called project.)
Amboseli Game Drive
The weekend before I went to Ethiopia for work I took a road trip to Amboseli National Park. Amboseli sits on the Kenya/Tanzania border next to Mount Kilimanjaro. It is well known for the free range elephants that wander through the park letting visitors get up close and personal with their herd. The views and the animals were magnificent. I'll let them speak for themselves:
Home for the Holidays
One layover and 25 hours later I made it home to Dallas. I'm still recuperating from jetlag and have spent the last several days getting the basics out of the way (i.e. doctor's appointments and IKEA, Target, & of course Christmas shopping) so I can enjoy the holidays and catching up with friends.
Needless to say my cats (and of course my family) are thrilled by my return. My mom has been telling them for the last few months that their momma is coming home just to see them and I think Wylie believes her. He doesn't let me out of his sight and is much more affectionate than he ever was when he lived with me. I think his neuroses might stem from untreated abandonment issues. (Yet another reason I should probably never procreate real babies.)
Needless to say my cats (and of course my family) are thrilled by my return. My mom has been telling them for the last few months that their momma is coming home just to see them and I think Wylie believes her. He doesn't let me out of his sight and is much more affectionate than he ever was when he lived with me. I think his neuroses might stem from untreated abandonment issues. (Yet another reason I should probably never procreate real babies.)
Merry Christmas from Fleur and Bubba!
Harar Hyenas: An Adventure Waiting to Maim and Kill Someone
...fortunately that someone was not me. While in Ethiopia for work recently some colleagues and I decided to travel to Harar* for some sightseeing and locally brewed beers. When I heard they also had trained hyenas that came when called and I could feed them I was all in. I mean what's a missing finger or two in the name of a good time?
Evidence that it really did happen and I didn't run screaming into the night after the break.
Evidence that it really did happen and I didn't run screaming into the night after the break.
Ethiopia! I'm ready for our love affair.
Have you ever walked into a place so different but so familiar at the same time? Ethiopia reminds me of many countries I have visited throughout Africa but the one thing that struck me was the one thing that was so much like home. What was this, you ask? Left hand drive on the right side of the road. It has only been a year since I've last been home and driven around the States but for some reason it was completely disconcerting to me to have the driver sitting on the left and driving on the right. Call me crazy but that's what stuck with me upon arrival to Ethiopia.
I spent one short night in Addis Ababa upon arrival so I did not get a chance to explore Ethiopia's most well-known city. Fortunately I'll have another chance to explore the city on my way to Shire in a couple of weeks. Early the next morning we headed out to the 2nd largest city in Ethiopia, Dire Dawa. We have been here about 4 days and I have been fairly lazy about getting out and about. We hit up the pool bar at our hotel the first couple nights and then tried out a restaurant at another nearby hotel. Tonight we hit up a local Ethiopian joint and had some delicious njera and shiro. I could eat this all day every day.
5 days down, 3 1/2 weeks to go. Bring it, Ethiopia!
I spent one short night in Addis Ababa upon arrival so I did not get a chance to explore Ethiopia's most well-known city. Fortunately I'll have another chance to explore the city on my way to Shire in a couple of weeks. Early the next morning we headed out to the 2nd largest city in Ethiopia, Dire Dawa. We have been here about 4 days and I have been fairly lazy about getting out and about. We hit up the pool bar at our hotel the first couple nights and then tried out a restaurant at another nearby hotel. Tonight we hit up a local Ethiopian joint and had some delicious njera and shiro. I could eat this all day every day.
5 days down, 3 1/2 weeks to go. Bring it, Ethiopia!
Kenya's War: Over the Line or Good to Go?
So for those of you who don't know, Kenya is at war; they broke the news over Twitter just a few weeks ago. Locals have been inundated with newspaper stories of the developments made each day in the military's campaign to take down Al Shabaab's stronghold on various Somali towns. I have been keeping up with the local news here but to gain a more international and less potentially biased perspective, I also monitor Al Jazeera's news updates as I have found they provide the most reliable coverage on issues in Africa over other news stations.
Easy Schmeasy...Cooking for the Clinically Insane
Since my initial cooking attempt of Tex Mex went off without a hitch I decided I would spend my first day of R&R cooking dinner for a few friends. Fortunately it was not at my house as I do not have a oven or even a very functional stove. (I did just procure a slightly used microwave though...oh the possibilities!)
Disclaimer: I am typing this as I cook. Therefore there will be frequent updates and perhaps a random fire or two.
The menu: pulled chicken wraps with broccoli pasta alfredo and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I decided to also throw in a guacamole starter since that takes me approximately 10 minutes to make including chopping and taste testing plus I figured it would keep the boys occupied as I attempt to finish the rest of dinner.
Around 2pm: I returned from grocery shopping and started chopping and cleaning vegetables. I threw 4 small avocados, some chopped onion and red pepper, and a jalapeno in the blender until mixed. I added lemon juice and a little salt to taste. There was an unfortunate incident where I put the spoon in to test the consistency a few seconds before the blender actually came to a complete stop. Happily it didn't break or kill the blender or take out my eye for that matter when it came flying out of the blender at me.
Since I am incapable of chopping broccoli I asked the housegirl to chop that for me so I didn't come off as a complete imbecile when there were huge chunks of uncut broccoli in the pasta later. She did an amazing job and puts my chopping skills to shame.
Around 4pm: I took the chicken that was quasi defrosted (hopefully it's ok to continue on it's defrostation while in the oven?) and sprinkled Hidden Valley ranch seasoning on it and drizzled some barbecue sauce on it. I set the oven on as high as it can go because I know it takes longer to cook and you have to put things on higher temperatures since we're at a higher altitude. Unfortunately, I don't actually know what that equates to in cooking terms but hopefully 300 degrees Celsius is adequate to get the job done.
Live blogging commences. Continue on here:
Disclaimer: I am typing this as I cook. Therefore there will be frequent updates and perhaps a random fire or two.
The menu: pulled chicken wraps with broccoli pasta alfredo and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I decided to also throw in a guacamole starter since that takes me approximately 10 minutes to make including chopping and taste testing plus I figured it would keep the boys occupied as I attempt to finish the rest of dinner.
Around 2pm: I returned from grocery shopping and started chopping and cleaning vegetables. I threw 4 small avocados, some chopped onion and red pepper, and a jalapeno in the blender until mixed. I added lemon juice and a little salt to taste. There was an unfortunate incident where I put the spoon in to test the consistency a few seconds before the blender actually came to a complete stop. Happily it didn't break or kill the blender or take out my eye for that matter when it came flying out of the blender at me.
Since I am incapable of chopping broccoli I asked the housegirl to chop that for me so I didn't come off as a complete imbecile when there were huge chunks of uncut broccoli in the pasta later. She did an amazing job and puts my chopping skills to shame.
Around 4pm: I took the chicken that was quasi defrosted (hopefully it's ok to continue on it's defrostation while in the oven?) and sprinkled Hidden Valley ranch seasoning on it and drizzled some barbecue sauce on it. I set the oven on as high as it can go because I know it takes longer to cook and you have to put things on higher temperatures since we're at a higher altitude. Unfortunately, I don't actually know what that equates to in cooking terms but hopefully 300 degrees Celsius is adequate to get the job done.
Live blogging commences. Continue on here:
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