I SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT THE LIBRARY, doing actual research involving actual books. I also walked around campus for a while, because the weather was pretty nice for February: sunny, and nearly 60. Students were walking around in shorts and t-shirts, trying to pretend it was spring, and the weather made it almost plausible.

That’s one thing I like about Knoxville. It can get cold here, but even a bad winter has a few breaks like this one that remind you that it isn’t permanent. One of the things I disliked about living in places like New Haven or Cambridge was that winter seemed to settle in forever.

One thing that I always find amusing about the change of seasons is the way different students react to it. Some stick to shorts and t-shirts until December, then break them out again at the least provocation. Others dress in down starting in November, and don’t give it up until April.

The weather will go to hell again tomorrow, if the forecast holds, with rain and thirtyish temperatures. But at least we got a break. And, as you can see, I managed to walk around campus a bit before and after my research.

UPDATE: Large image formerly at top removed out of mercy to dialup users; still visible here if you’re interested.