About the weather

Cheese of the week: Stilton.

I think we can safely rule out the weather as the cause of whatever's got me down. Today is sunny, albeit considerably cooler and windier than it has been in the last few days, and I still feel like shite. I slept in again this morning and didn't really want to get out of bed at all. In fact I just want to crawl back into bed right now. I'm tired and listless. I've read that this is a hallmark of depression. So maybe that's what I've got. I can't even be arsed about doing any of the light and easy tasks that might normally cheer me up, like clearing my desk and filing away papers.

Postmodern Sass offered this is as a possible reason for my current state of mind, and she's at least partially right. (It's kind of comforting, in an eerie sort of way, when someone knows you well enough that they can diagnose you from several thousand kilometres and at least one ocean away.) The full moon is tomorrow, so that's another plausible explanation. I've been known to get loopy under a full moon. Stop snickering. I've actually kept a log of my weirdness over the last few years and there's a definite correlation.

You'd think Mercury was going retrograde again with all the computer problems I've had today, in addition to the usual litany of internet connectivity issues. If I were slightly more optimistic I'd say that Digital Village Idiot was adding an aura of excitement and mystery to our otherwise dull academic lives, because we just never know when we'll actually be able to access e-mail, web sites like the school library, or submit our papers via Blecchhboard*. Kind of like the lottery, only the odds of winning are less likely and it doesn't have its own TV show (which is only proper because no one would be able to receive it anyway).

Speaking of which, I was appalled today to learn that the letter I'd sent to various school authorities to complain about the horrendous internet access has been reprinted in its entirety in the school newspaper -- without my permission. You can imagine my delight.

On the plus side, I haven't caved into the temptation to drink my problems away. (Although the bottle of organic wine I've saved for Mrs. Clean-Air System's arrival in 10 days' time is sitting on the shelf, mocking me.) I did manage to rouse myself long enough for a 10k run yesterday, so I got a decent (if temporary) endorphin high from that.

Alright, I'm going to quit while I'm behind again. Shout-outs -- or more accurately, mumble-outs -- to Andy, PMSass and Mrs. Clean-Air System for sending things that make me laugh. The only problem is that I have to go to the library to download and read them, which can be awfully embarrassing since I can only concentrate in the silent study section on the 3rd floor.

* Remind me to spare a future rant for Blackboard, quite possibly the most poorly designed and executed scam, I mean software, and the most ill-advised waste of time, effort and money ever perpetrated on academia.