CURRENT MISSION

To learn, discover, and explore!

ABOUT ME

Hmmm...personal description? Well, let's see, I have a scar on my right knee from a fall while carrying an ice chest during the evacuation for Hurricane Ivan. I once had dysentery. I can touch my nose with my tongue. I can give IV fluids to a cat. I refuse to pluck my eyebrows. I feel guilty when I find money, like in parking lots and stuff. I'm a really good driver. I like showering outdoors. I like hanging out with little kids because they'll laugh at anything. Given enough alcohol I will karaoke shamelessly. I was once told I was 'not normal' because I thought the film 'Titanic' to be just ok. I suck at bowling. The rest of my family goes on vacations or holidays, but I,as they say, 'wander off'. I can't fish because I feel badly about the whole hooking and yanking out of the water thing. I love accents, so I REALLY like being in places where I'm considered to have one. I like sliding across the kitchen floor in my socks. I like boats. As a child I was terrified of Santa Claus, seriously dude, just leave the stuff and go.

PHILOSOPHY

Of all forms of addiction, the addiction to caution is perhaps the most detrimental to life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Being without a couch, I have to be creative. I spread the word to everyone I meet who I sincerely think would enjoy surfing or hosting.

I’m an avid profile reader. I find the variety of views, interests and experiences to be completely compelling. Ever logged in to see your profile had been viewed? Yep…that was me! Sometimes when reading a profile which I find particularity clever, inspiring, or cool...I like to send that person a message....just to remind them of how awesome they are!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I’ve slept in spare rooms, in condos, in a funky, way cool mushroom house, in mountain homes, in the kids room, in hammocks, on boats, on floors, and even a couch or two. Amazing! It’s quite impossible to think of a city or town without the people I shared it with instantly coming to mind. And that...is a very, very cool thing.

Each person I've surfed with has changed me in some little way, added to who I am. I can not imagine, at this point, traveling without Couch Surfing. I'm as addicted to surfing as I am to the act of moving itself.

Interests

Writing, travel, hiking, astronomy, science, star gazing,coffee, conversation, languages, animal welfare, words, social networking, caving, silly limericks, photography, cultures, reading, games of all types, cooking for friends, road trips, being alone in nature, zombies, hammocks, philosophy, conservation, people, film, world cup soccer, music.

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• fish
• writing
• photography
• dancing
• animal welfare
• dining
• cooking
• coffee
• yoga
• flying
• boating
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• poker
• music
• karaoke
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• fishing
• hiking
• backpacking
• spelunking
• hunting
• surfing
• soccer
• bowling
• world cup
• astronomy
• languages
• military science
• physics
• science
• road trips
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

My tastes are eclectic and vampiric (I don't think that's an actual word!). I completely enjoy feeding off the passions of others. When someone shares with me a bit of music, art, film, food, nature or anything and begins with the words....'I really love this'...then I KNOW I'm in for something extraordinary!

My own taste vary from day to day, mood to mood. I've a strong liking towards Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Kurosawa, John Irving, Muse, B Tribe, Kings of Leon. I could go on and on. It's pretty safe to say, however, that my favorite 'whatever' is what ever I happen to be sharing at any given moment.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One? Just one? You must be mad! (This is my favorite section when reading profiles! When I get to your house....I want to hear all about your amazing things.)

Mine are.....in no particular order……

- Being on an airliner which blew an engine over the Gulf of Mexico.
- Cycling in the predawn hours through the streets of Dili, Timor Leste.
- Experiencing Hurricane Katrina.
- Shooting craps at the Crown Casino in Melbourne.
- Spending the night in an abandoned train car in Nicaragua during the Contra War.
- Piloting a converted WWII Army work boat off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
- Flying into Taiwan during a typhoon.
- Helping a python to cross the road.
- Being kissed by a Portuguese Naval Commander.
- Spending a year doing animal rescue.
- Ridding myself of all possessions save those which fit into a backpack.
- Spending a morning with a deaf/mute HIV+ 18 year old Timorese girl at Bairo Pite Clinic.
- Waking up alone, naked, and quite hung over in a hotel room in Havana.
- Spending a year living completely off-grid.
- Dancing with Sandinista soldiers.
- Showering in a waterfall in Jamaica.
- Viewing the night time Sydney skyline from North Head.
- Attending an ‘ember filled pagan festival’ in Tasmania. Thanks Jo!
- Receiving a gift from a US soldier deployed on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border.
- Hiking out to a secluded coral beach in the Whitsundays.
- Road tripping to Del Rio with a NASA physicist. : )

...to be continued

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to spit polish boots, play poker, reformat your hard drive, make a banana and avocado sandwich, repair a flat on your bike, use MREs as currency, properly fit a pair of hiking boots, and how to cook gumbo. I can also teach you how to rid your life of needless material possessions....I mean, if you're into that sort of thing. : )

I’d like to learn Latin dance, how to take better pictures, yoga, surf, philosophy, to speak Spanish because I plan to travel through Latin America, and to speak Portuguese because it’s so damn hot!

I love sharing music, coffee, food (yours and mine), movies, margaritas (not exactly 'sharing', I mean you would have yours and I would have mine), travel stories, and long conversations on just about anything(even zombies!) I can also walk your dog, feed your cat, water your plants and organize your garage ...really, just ask.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Timor-Leste (East Timor)

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Jamaica, Timor-Leste (East Timor), United States

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