It is snowing today; flurries then actual snowfall, none of which has stuck. It is February 23rd, and I am quite ready for March to arrive. February is such a bleak month; it has none of the charm of December with its holidays, nor the collective sign of relief come January that they are over. November has my birthday, and is only the beginning of winter. By February, I am quite done with this winter business.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that people are more likely to die in the late-winter than the rest of the year. Looking out at the sky today, I’m not surprised. If the cold doesn’t suck your bones dry, the gray doldrums certainly will take a toll on the ol’ soul. Doldrums – that’s what it is. Often that means a period of dull inactivity, but this month my frantic activity has become so regimented that it feels quite dull, despite the fact that I am generally busy from early morning to late at night.

I said to my friend Charles today that I have been experiencing a lot of deja vu recently- probably, I laughed, because I do the same thing every day – or follow the same routine every week. The monotony  of constant excitement,of a planner full of things to do, every day. Work, never ending work, work for every pair of hands…it’s during these middle-times when the cogs of organization run smoothest, and the routine… up, dressed, et, in the car, off to school, stuff stuff stuff, sludge grudge mudge fudge then this then that a little bit more keep on task, back in the car, errands – dog food! The car is out of gas! Wait, I’m forgetting something…, then home, et, undressed, to sleep, and hopefully sharpish because I am tired and I got stuff to do tomorrow….keys, wallet, phone…keys, wallet, phone…and back up, the sky is gray and so am I, socks, shoes, backpack – keys, wallet, phone, planner, recorder, chem notes, bio notes, stats notes, lab book, IR report, cook children’s badge, keys, wallet, phone. And out again, into the cold! Singing loudly in the car, walking up the stairs, into the library, past the turnstile, in, sit down, check email, read, lecture, walk, lecture, walk, lecture…keys, wallet, phone…plug in the earphones, download the lecture, rename the lecture, place into iTunes, get notebook – keys, wallet, phone – listen. Listen. Then up, stretch, and down. Listen. Up, dressed, et, work work work, Hi! How are you, oh not much, there are lines on your forehead, oh yes I was in lab, goggles, you know, better edit this essay now, send an email, get an email, eat some animal crackers, test in a week? Yes, yes…did you get your first unknown yet? No, no, not yet…where is my lab book?back in the car, back home, back to microwaving my dinner, back to my PJs, back to my bath, back to my toothbrush, back to bed, then up, et, dressed, backpack, lunch sack…keys, wallet, phone…

Methinks someone needs a vacation.