I'll admit it - I've been a bag blogger for the last month. But it's with good excuse! Every August/September faculty from across the state emerge from summer hibernation to begin prep for classes. The dozens of emails I sent them in June and July - offering my assistance with their prep - went unanswered. The past three weeks yield faculty who realize they need to start getting ready for classes - some with classes beginning the next day. Herein lies my receipt of nasty emails which turns into lack of sleep and huge frustrations.

The end of the 'start of the term' is coming to a close. Thank Goodness ~ I'm not sure how much more I could take!

We hit our "3-months to go" mark last week. I can already tell time will fly by over the next 10 weeks. Weekends of showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties/meetings galore. Yes, time will go very quickly from here.

While at a stop light yesterday, I wrote my new last name. I only wrote it once before becoming a bit nostalgic about leaving Lundgren out of my signature. For the rest of the time at the red light I wrote and rewrote my full name. The name I've answered to for nearly 29 years. Then I thought about my dad - no son to carry on his last name. Guess I'll have to leave that to Tait, Pence and Cass.

My current name doesn't require spelling and it's rarely is mispronounced. I'm going to have to get used to "Can you spell that for me?"; "Now, how is that pronounced?" :)

Wonder how long before my new last name becomes second-nature?

Anni Marie Lundgren