I did not go to the Festival in the Desert. It's tres cher and tres difficult to get there. But I'm going to the affordable, accessible, but still-hopefully-cool Festival sur le Niger in February.

I did not take a picture of the sheep market every day. But I took a few and I'll take a few more so you can see how huge it is now. Last night we managed to drive through in E's truck. On the way out the sheep were milling about and baaa-ing; on the way home they were all asleep. Awwww. Hundreds of little sheep, sleeping peacefully in the dust, all nestled up together, unaware that this week they will be purchased for extortionary prices, have their throats slit, and be roasted and shared with friends and family. Mmmmm, mouton.

I did not see very much of the Dakar rally, whose 11th stage ended in Kati on Wednesday. The drivers camped out near the airport Wednesday night, and we went out there like all the other boring Bamako schmucks who have nothing better to do on a weekday night than drive to the airport and try to catch a glimpse of some big-ass trucks. We (and the rest of the riffraff clumped at the gate) could see into the field, where there were two helicopters and lots of men wearing headlamps, but that was all. When we were walking back to the truck we heard, then saw, one of the motorcycles. Apparently they'd had a rest day in memoriam of the two cyclists who have died during this rally.

I did not see the Iranian president. But I did see the huge crowds of people eagerly awaiting his arrival yesterday.

I did not go out Friday night. But I watched Coal Miner's Daughter, and oh my god, if you have not seen this movie, go rent it, now. Not only does Sissy Spacek do a great job playing a teenage hillbilly Loretta but she sings all her songs. And she has great conversations with her husband Doo (Tommy Lee Jones). Try this in your hillbilliest accent:

Loretta: A guitar! I can't play no guitar.
Doo: Well, Loretty, most people can't, without they learn how first!

Most people can't, without they learn how first. Words to live by.