CURRENT MISSION

I love stories. I want to tell, and hear, and live a new one every day.

ABOUT ME

Hi! My name is Anders--I'm a twenty-year-old college kid, and hail from a small town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I like making things--something I attribute to growing up in the midst of a 20+ year home remodeling project (no drywall in the downstairs for at least 5 years). I write and make art, and like to take on other projects too. My latest is building a custom handmade bicycle frame.

I love camping and the outdoors in general. Some of my favorite spots to camp, paddle and hike are on Lake Superior, which isn't too far from my hometown.

I love being active too! I run track and cross-country at St. Olaf, and Nordic Ski race for the school too. Ski racing has taken me to a lot of cool spots, including Anchorage, AK, Heber City, UT, and Trukee, CA. I also did a stint of ski jumping from ages 6-12 (the furthest I went was about 35m). In the summer I also mountain bike race.

Last summer I worked at teeny little bike shop in Niagara,WI. I'd love to do something big with writing or art. They are big parts of my life.

PHILOSOPHY

My favorite quote is by Kurt Vonnegut:

"If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind."

I want to do as many things as I can, as best I can do them.

Interests

Running (Cross-country and Track)
Cycling (Road, Mountain, Touring)
Bicycle Framebuilding
Comic-making
Art (see my blog
/olaf-new-media.typepad.com/anders_nienstaedt/ )
Filmmaking
Bicycle Activism (GreenBikes Volunteer)

• arts
• writing
• film making
• running
• shopping
• blogging
• painting
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• skiing
• track and field
• communications
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Some of my favorite books are:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
David Copperfield
The Monkey Wrench Gang
What is the What
The Big Loop (about the Tour de France)
The God of Small Things
Cat's Cradle
The Catcher in the Rye

My favorite book of all time--The Phantom Toll Booth. I've never actually read it, but I've listened to the book on tape 12 times.

I love comics and graphic novels, too! Jaime Hernandez and Daniel Clowes are my favorites!

Movies: I really enjoy documentaries (Errol Morris documentaries, American Movie, The Weather Underground, etc.). Breaking Away is one of my all-time favorites

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I was six years old, my family drove down to Atlanta to camp out and, among other things, watch the '96 Olympic Cycling race. After the race, a pre-cancer Lance Armstrong rode by our section of road. My dad lifted me over the barricade, and I got his autograph. I still dig out that hat and look at it every once and a while.

Teach, Learn, Share

Watercolor Painting:

There is one rule to it. The paint only goes where the water is. Play around with it.

Countries I’ve Visited

Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States