November is one of those months that always feels like it’s going to drag on forever. I go through this twice a year. Now and in March. In March it’s because by then I’ve definitely officially had enough of Winter thank you very much, and yet any Canadian can tell you can the season most definitely does not wrap up in March. In fact, you’re lucky to be rid of the snow by the end of April.

For November I think it’s the whole early darkness. I’m lucky in one way since the time change happened over the weekend. During the week I’m outside at 6:30 am with the dog. I get up and take her out to pee before I get Hayley up because otherwise she would just whine at me the entire time I’m trying to get the off-to-school routine done. For about the last two weeks it was incredibly crappy and depressing to go out with the dog because it was so dark out there. I would take her out at 11 pm and at 6:30 am and it was really hard to tell the difference because it looked pretty much the same.

Now that the clocks have gone back it’s light out when I walk out the door and that helps a bit. I’ve still been overly tired so far this week, but it does make me feel a little better to see sunlight out there.

Of course the drawback is that the sun then goes DOWN earlier at the end of the day. For the past four days I’ve taken the dog for a walk (it’s all about the damn dog apparently) in the late afternoon only to notice that the sky is getting dark faster and faster and the temperature sinks down with it.

It’s all a reminder that Winter is coming and you’d think a Canadian who has spent all 35 years of her life living here would be used to it by now but I’m just not. Forget heading East to Halifax, I’m starting to think I need to move a little further South instead.

How many days until Spring?

In my stereotypical Canadian way, I’d like to tell you about the weather around my parts lately and then complain about them because that’s what we do as Canadians. Although I know that many people consider Canada to be a land of ice and snow, we do usually have a decent Fall even if it’s not long enough for my tastes. I’d personally like Fall to last a very long time because what’s not to like? You get to wear warm sweaters but you don’t freeze to death, everyone starts making things like chili and apple crisp, and the trees explode into a symphony of colors. It’s my favorite season.

Lately though, the temperatures have been hovering more at early Winter levels. It’s been hanging out at the freezing mark early in the morning and only inching its way up a few more degrees during the day. Today Hayley asked me if I could give her a hat to wear because her head has been cold at recess and lunch. Yesterday it snowed (though at least it didn’t stick when it hit the ground) and I may or may not have said something inappropriate to be said around young children.

I know we can’t stop Winter from coming but it’s just too early. We still have to go Trick or Treating next Saturday and I’m thinking that all those jokes about Canadian Halloween costumes being designed to go over a snow suit just might be true this year. I’m feeling ripped off, I want my proper Fall back!

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Last week, Hayley stayed home on Thursday and Friday because she wasn’t feeling well and had a low-grade fever. Of course everyone immediately thinks of H1N1 these days when someone has a fever but I don’t think that’s what it was because a) she didn’t have any other symptoms of that particular flu, b) despite being kept home again on Monday to be sure, she was actually fine by then, and c) both my kids have always gotten a low fever with every single illness they’ve ever had. Always.

Still, you can’t send kids to school with fevers so she stayed home and then we kept both the kids home from a birthday party on Saturday. Hayley was especially unhappy about that but she was still under the weather and we didn’t want her to spread it around. We also wanted her to get better so she could go back to school. At least they had some cake sent home for them, so that perked them up!

Meanwhile everyone around me (and I’m including myself too) seems to be sniffling or coughing or both. We’re back to that season of trading off germs from one person to the other, the joys of the school year. Between the frequency with which Hayley brings home colds and whatnot and the media coverage of H1N1 I’ve been thinking hard about the vaccine. I’m about 90% sure that we’ll all go and get it.

Still, whenever I hear points brought up about how fast-tracked this was and whether it’s really safe or not, I do stop and think about it for a minute. I think I’m still more inclined to consider the H1N1 virus to have a higher risk than the vaccine does but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to some concerns.

The vaccine is starting to arrive in Canada and Newfoundland has actually already done their first round, giving vaccines out to healthcare workers. I’ll be listening to the news to see how things go out there, if there are reports of bad reactions. On the other hand, hearing about the plans to postpone or cancel elective surgeries and the possibilities of turning hotel rooms into makeshift hospitals to be able to deal with the possible influx of H1N1 patients coming in re-kindles my resolve about getting the vaccine.

I’ve never been anti-vaccination. My kids were both immunized against everything except chicken pox. Neither had a stronger reaction than some crankiness and a low fever within the first 12 hours and I feel better for having protected them against diseases that could have killed them in a different era. But this one is different and it’s a little confusing, and it’s stressful to have to make a decision really soon.

What are you doing for H1N1? Getting the shot or riding it out?