Singapore/KL Bangkok Stuttgart Washington DC Toronto Colorado Springs San Francisco

Of the last 13 years I've spent 7 teaching at this school. Today was my last day in the classroom. It was a bittersweet moment. I don't think anyone else has realized the significance of it, but this place has been a huge part of my life, and despite some issues I have with the administration here and some frustration with my students, I am sorry to leave. It was teaching here in the mid-90s that made me realize how much I want to teach. It was an opportunity created by a department here that allowed me to go back to grad school, where I not only earned my PhD, I also met Adrian. Doors have opened through this job, possibilities for later in life have been created, and I have had fun. Mostly.

The political science department chair is retiring next year and my name has been tossed around as a possible replacement. As interesting as that would be, this school is very conservative and being a gay man here is difficult, so I will not be applying for the position. From their perspective, they might look at that and think "our views kept a fag out of here...cool!" But from MY perspective, their policies kept a good professor from applying. Their loss, in my opinion. I'm sure I'll teach somewhere, but not here.

I still have final exams to get through (well, so do my students), and I have 23 papers that were turned in today that need to be read and graded, but my eyes are now looking ahead at our move to DC. I hate the unsettled feeling in preparation for a move, and I know I have a lot of work to do between now and then, not just at the office but at home, and I hope I can get everything done without getting too stressed out.

Also, it snowed here two nights ago, and that's just weird. Well, not weird for Colorado, but weird for any other place.