MacKenzie...

My little girl must have missed me while I was gone. She never seems to be stressed, but it seems she has a problem with anxiety. I no sooner got home than she scratched herself a new cut on her little arm, er leg. It wasn't so bad to start with, but she was trying to get a toy from under the desk, laying on her hurt side and she made it much, much worse.

She now has a hole in her arm, I can see all the way to the muscle. We saw the vet today. It had already become infected. The vet gave her a shot and I have some pills for her to take as well. They trimmed back the hair and flushed her wound. It looks terrible. I need to leave for class soon and I'm finding it hard to leave her.

She's only 3 years old, the poor thing has been through way too much in those short years.

Chicago

I landed in Chicago yesterday morning. I came in for the annual College Art Association (CAA) Conference. Most folks come to give presentations or to interview for jobs, I came just to see what it was like and I can already say that the idea of interviewing at this thing is daunting at best. It is a sea of black trench coats (yes, that includes me) and everyone seems to know exactly where they are going but me, which is of course absurd, since I can't possibly be alone in that. I suppose that's the general sensation one would get when they come alone to something like this.

I only made it to 2 panels today, last night I stayed up too late catching up with two of my favorite old friends, Luke and Kirby. Tomorrow is my last day here and I leave early Saturday morning- not even close to enough time. There are a handful of presentations I want to see as well as the Book and Trade Fair, and then there's supposed to be some openings happening. I guess we'll see.

I can already say that when I come to this event next year (here's hoping) I'll plan to come earlier, stay longer and better prepare myself since there were several events I would've liked to attend that sold out or filled up before I got here. Ah well, it's all an experience. And right now I've decided to be proud of myself for figuring out what I have all on my own!