Mother nature has been slapping us around a bit and it’s got me feeling kind of bummed.

Or maybe that’s just work that’s doing that.

Yesterday the weather was 23 Celsius (73.4 Fahrenheit) and we were able to shed layers and everyone had that spring in their step and the hope in their eyes that the approach of Pleasant brings. People started thinking about swapping out their winter clothes for lighter clothes but dreading the thought of having to clean and press everything.

Today, though, started at 10 Celsius (50  Fahrenheit) and some cold rain and wind. By the evening it was 1 Celsius (33.8 Fahrenheit) and the lighter clothes went back in the closet or people used them to build fires for warmth. The spring in the step was gone and hope in the eyes had turned to darkness.

This bouncing weather left me with low energy and feeling as if I were merely going through the motions. I worked on my exam. I went to work. I ate lunch. I taught a class. I came home. I did very little. Some of it is the weather, but some of it is our odd work schedule.

February is the time when everything starts happening at different times. I’m working on an exam that’s due next week and will soon be teaching and marking at the same time. I realize this doesn’t seem that difficult, but it requires balancing two different mindsets at the same time: : “Hey, you guys, let me help you get ready for the exams!” and “Destroy. Destroy. Destroy.”

Then there’s a couple weeks of “time off” (ruined by the company I work for) and then we start again with a new schedule and new students as the weather turns from Pleasant to Humid.

I also know that I’ll have mostly junior high school next year. That also has me feeling kind of down.