CURRENT MISSION

My mission--world domination one couch at a time!!! Ha, ha, just kidding. I want to experience all that life has to offer...other places and cultures...life is a cup, drink it up!!!

ABOUT ME

I grew up in a tight community south of St. Louis, and old friends and family are very important to me. That said, I love new things and change--love making new friends! Love travel, of course. ;) I'm into sports, music, guitar, piano, songwriting, movies, writing, acting, my church family. Spiritual things are very important to me, and I love talking with people about what is going on in their lives. I started out in engineering (hated it!), and am currently making plans to be involved in aftercare for victims of sex trafficking.

I think people find me very open and welcoming in general. I'm good at making people feel like family. I'm pretty much a goofy dork around anyone who knows me well at all. ;) Life's too short to be "cool." I like to have fun. Love to laugh!

PHILOSOPHY

The secret to life is DELAYED GRATIFICATION. There is a reason. What you reap you will sow.

God blesses us with health and material possessions and talents and influence so that we can help others.

Finally, I believe that He humbled himself and became a man named Jesus to die for all our sins--past, present, and future--and to bring humankind emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical healing if we choose to receive it. I've received His sacrifice to cover my sins, and He gives me great peace daily. I want to share the message of peace and fulfillment I've found with anyone who doesn't have it. But I don't believe it is my job to convert or convince anyone to believe as I do--God reveals God to man.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

CS has been mostly awesome. I think it is a wonderful concept and have surfed and hosted a few times now. I'm looking forward to meeting more cool people and having more CS experiences!

Interests

Hmmm...I kind of listed interests in the "about me" section...but as I am a person of diverse interests, I can certainly add more.

Reading...I love to play guitar on the highest hill in town watching the sunset over the park and city...I like to hike and be in the mountains and see stars shining bright and clear away from the haze of the city lights...I love a good action/adventure movie, romantic comedy, satire, some dramas...I enjoy eating in general, and eating healthfully, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables...but my great downfall is CHOCOLATE, lately especially DARK...mmm, and Mexican food...skiing in the majestic mountains of Colorado...jetskiing...

• writing
• acting
• dining
• chocolate
• mexican food
• drinking
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• piano
• hiking
• skiing
• sports
• engineering
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Misty Edwards, Jack Johnson, Shane and Shane, Norah Jones, John Mayer, Maroon 5, big band, jazz, blues.
Movies: August Rush, LOTR, The Last of the Mohicans, Oscar, Pride and Prejudice (BBC), Office Space, Live Free or Die Hard, Braveheart, Emma, The Princess Bride.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Fireworks over the harbor unexpectedly greeting Jess and I the night we disembarked the train in Lagos, Portugal, were unbelievable. And the beach and coastline were even better. What a magical place! ;)

Teach, Learn, Share

There are two basic kinds of constructing stained glass windows: the lead came method (most church windows, large panels) and copper foil (most hobbyists, suncatchers, small detailed work, Tiffany lamp shades).

With the copper foil method, 1)glass is scored and pieces are broken 2)necessary grinding is accomplished with a diamond bit grinder 3) pieces are wrapped in adhesive copper foil tape and 4)soldered together along all the seams.

With the lead method, 1)glass is scored and broken, 2)grinding (usually can be less precise than copper foil) 3) panel is built together like a puzzle using H -shaped lead came in the seams 4)the panel is soldered at the joints 5)a portland cememt mixture is poured along the seams, brushed in the gaps, and brushed off to dust with the help of a whiting powder.

I prefer the crisp, clean lines of lead to lines of solder which are difficult to get perfectly smooth.

Now you know a thing or two about stained glass!