Weeknotes: August 31–September 4, 2026

Monday, August 31

Fall semester begins. From now until mid-December, my weeks will be front-loaded — a three-hour online Michigan History course, Monday nights, followed by Foundations in Digital Video, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, on campus. 

I laid low in August, savoring my free time as summer faded out. I thought I was ready, but now I’m not so sure. After working all day on a screen, I wonder if I’ll have it in me to tack on three more hours at the end of a long day.

I log in to the Zoom classroom. It's very casual — I’m glad I’m not the only one trying to keep a dog entertained. The instructor is getting over a cold. About two hours in, she starts pausing every 30 seconds to take a long drink of water and cough. I can hear her voice going ragged, and it triggers my own sore throat anxieties. We end early, a mercy for her and the students.

Only two semesters to go. In eight months, I think to myself, I will be done with all this.