European Insertion/Extraction

A quick note before I head to the airport to fly home from Belgium (which will hopefully settle down markets). I write this from the Brussels Sheraton, just before I jump int he shower, head to the airport to fly back to JFK.

I’ll write up some thoughts about Europe and what is going on here later this week.

This is the 2nd time I have done a “Seal Team Six” visit in as many years — a less than 48 hour In/Out; I learned from my last visit. A 5:15pm flight from NY — with half a Lunesta — means I caught a nap on the way here. I arrive a midnight NY time, 6 am local. Unfortunately get stuck behind a literal planeload of Chinese tourists, delaying my way through Customs by 45 minutes. I am at the hotel by 7ish, where a big bed and the other half of the Lunesta allow me to grab another few hours sleep.

Picked up at 11:30 for a lunch presentation and Q&A, I felt fairly functional. The problem with lack of sleep is the tendency towards incoherent rambling, a fate I thankfully avoided this go round.

A mild headache accompanies the time-shifting, but its nothing that an aspirin cannot take care of.

Back to the hotel to grab the MacAir, make minor changes in presentation, then off to the BMW HQ here for the evening festivities. Check out the i3 and i8 (where is mine?), a cocktail party (I drink tea) then my presentation (I’ll get that posted tomorrow).

More drinks (coffee for me) then a debate amongst myself and 4 EU economists and journalists.

Food afterwards (I allow myself half a glass of Bordeaux), then back to the hotel. A (OMG) whole Lunesta at 10pm local time –4 in the afternoon to my body clock) and a solid 7 hours later, I am typing this after breakfast, before I jump in the shower to catch my 10:30 flight home.

I actually feel pretty good, though there is a sensation of mild buzzing. Whether that is the strong expresso or the time change  (I am still on NYC time, so I doubt its jet lag) or whatever, I am aware that something is slightly amiss with my circadian rhythms. Hopefully I can grab some Zs on the plane.

The human body is surprising in its ability to adapt . . .

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