On Changing Names

In a little over a month, I'll be changing names. The name I've had for the past 26 years, will no longer be mine. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about that. I'm a little excited, for change can be interesting, but I'll also a little nostalgic about the name passed to me from my father. For most people, it won't be a big deal at all, for they hardly think about my last name, unless they're trying to decipher me from a different Katie they know. But at work, that's a different story. Students and faculty alike know me and call me by my last name. What will it feel like to have the unfamiliar notes of a new nomenclature addressed to me?

Enough of the high talk. To business. How many days until the wedding? One day less than six weeks so...41 days. Just 41 more days. And what do I have to do within that time frame? Let's check:

1. Pick out and purchase centerpieces for the tables.
2. Pick out and purchase decorations for the ceremony and reception hall.
3. Add songs to and weed out songs from the ceremony and reception music playlists.
4. Talk to the DJ to make sure 1) he's still planning to do the wedding and 2) figure out a time to meet and discuss payment, setup, and music selections.
5. Talk to the photographer to figure out when we need to be there and if he needs any other information about us for the wedding pictures.
6. Buy some details such as: a garter, a toss bouquet, party favors, a sign in book and pen, and other little traditional details.

What about for other people's weddings?
1. Send out Jenni's bridal shower invites--thankfully they're almost completely finished.
2. Buy party favors for Jenni's bridal shower.
3. Plan games and fun activities for Jenni's bridal shower (and later bachelorette party).
4. Make food for Jenni's bridal shower.
5. Make plans with Tricia for Jenni's and my bridal shower/bachelorette party in MN.
6. Purchase gifts for Jenni's, Elyssa's, and Jenny's weddings.

What about school?
1. Finish grading for the school year.
2. Clean up my classroom and FILE all of stacks upon stacks of papers laying around my room.
3. Decide if I am absolutely positively needed to teach summer school this year, despite the fact that I will need to take 2 weeks off for my wedding and Jenni's wedding.
4. Possibly teach summer school.
5. Register for and take a class about web publishing so that I can help create an online school newspaper for the school next year.

I'm sure there are all sorts of things I'm forgetting about. And I know this is not exactly an exciting blog entry. But it certainly helps to jot things down in a list so that I can sit back and prioritize what must be done when. Alright, time for a break. I love watching streaming anime online...for free.