Probably one of the best times to be here. After a long winter (the winters of 2002/3 and 2003/4 were particularly long), the sounds of birds, the heat of the sun, the cloudless sky — all are welcomed arrivals.

Perhaps the only downside of it all is the effect it has on students. Every class after 10:00 a.m. greets you with one, passionate plea: "Can we have class outside!? Please!!!" With most classes I agree to it at least once, and then remind them every time thereafter and tell them to be quiet. After all, I'm responsible for teaching them, not entertaining them. Classes that are less-than-well-behaved get a laugh and a "Whatever" to such requests.