On the first day of class, spring 2011

38 degrees Fahrenheit is a terrible temperature. Anything warmer is better because it's closer to that realm of comfortable weather. Anything colder and you've hit freezing and the realm of snow, scarves, and heavier layers of heat. At 38, though, it's uncomfortably cold but it isn't cold enough to reach freezing, so you end up suffering through the purgatory of winter weather with a world covered in slowly melting ice that coats the roads and your car while a muddy, partially frozen mix of slushy sludge covers the ground. You have to walk to your car in several inches of water from the melting snow and getting your shoes soaked is almost unavoidable.

It's absolutely miserable weather, I promise.
It was 38 degrees this morning when I left for the first day of classes.

The drive wasn't terrible, but I got to Somerville station between trains, too late to get the early 11:52 but too early to just saunter onto the 12:51. Thus, I waited outside on the partially constructed new platform in the icy, not-quite-freezing weather under a roof that didn't quite do the trick. If the train doesn't go under it, why do you need such a high roof, anyway? 15-20 feet off the ground, a roof that high up does a poor job of actually fulfilling the role of a roof.

I overheard the cell number of a loud, obnoxious man making numerous business calls on the train and I was going to post it here in case people wanted to say hello, make a friend. I decided not to. I'll think of it as his free warning. Next time, though...

Anyway, my train ride is almost over, after which it's time for my first law class in two years. Until 20 minutes ago when I checked my schedule one last time to find my room number, I thought law was on Thursdays and research methods was on Tuesdays. Oh the joy of being wrong.

Location:Newark, inbound