Mena, my daughter's beautiful cat, has died. I loved her. I can't do this right now; I am in Austin and with a bunch of archaeology friends, who are actually a great support. I couldn't have done anything for her if I had been home (naturally I think of what I_might_ have done while I was home, but she seemd to develop some kind of anemia/kidney thing very fast and I did not respond quickly enough).

I am having a very good, not perfect but realistically damn fine time, buying some really good books, eating fine to excellent food, enjoying the change of scene (except there's some guy here who looks a LOT like my boss). I doubt that Trying Not to Think is a good long-term strategy but it will have to do for now.

More soonish, but please have good thoughts for my cat and my girl, who will miss Mena probably even more intensely than I do. Which is not a happy prospect. Love is a bitch.