It seems redundant, but this year has been a busy one for me. I continued to do my research in Mexico and New Mexico/Southern Colorado, looking at culture groups' attachment to place and land use patterns. I was particularly pleased to have had the opportunity to travel to New Mexico during Holy Week because it gave me an opportunity to see some events that only happen once a year. As I make progress toward tenure, I also have assumed more "service" responsibilities including Book Review Editor for the Journal of Cultural Geography, and Chair of the department's Search Committee.
On a more personal side, in early January, Kim and I traveled to Puerto Rico and took a cruise through the Caribbean. We had a wonderful time. Ironically, we spent at most 2 to 2½ hours on the beach. The majority of our time was spent sightseeing and seeing the geography of those wonderful islands. Throughout the school year, I taught sections of Human Geography, Field Methods, and Seminar in Culture Regions. I thoroughly enjoy the teaching part of my career and appreciate all the enthusiasm that students bring to the classroom. -- When you find yourself on campus please stop by and say hello!