CURRENT MISSION

People are only strangers until you meet them.

ABOUT ME

I grew up in KS not far from Wichita, where I've lived now for about 8 years. I've also lived briefly in Chicago and travelled most of the east coast, been to Boise, the Rockies, Oregon etc. A lot of my travelling has been solo, but I've shared some great trips to Telluride CO, western KS, Austin TX and Chicago.

I currently work at a small ad agency using words to convince people of things. Yes it's like Mad Men. No its nothing like Mad Men.

I spend my free time devouring all the good things (handmade food, local beer, art, live music, nature, etc) Wichita has to offer.
I like people with laid-back personalities that make it easy to become friends over the course of an evening.
I love to show people the ropes of having a good time in Wichita or just provide a comfortable place to crash quietly overnight.
Im open-minded, mellow, nonsmoking, non-religious, etc etc, and willing to host people of all personalities/lifestyles.

PHILOSOPHY

Couchsurfing is just like staying with friends you haven't met yet.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I cook, listen, talk, offer blankets, tour guide you around town, make you meet my friends, make coffee in the morning etc.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I haven't surfed yet, but I've had some incredible people as guests...a lot of really neat musicians and adventurers who just need to get off the road awhile.

Interests

I love to cook [everything is better from scratch. Never too much garlic. or wine.], ride my bike [I gave up a car somewhere around 2011], read [old dead authors], garden [succulents are my jam!], collage, write letters, study french, buy local art, drink coffee, collect postcards [not for value: I write/mail them], invent cocktails [once won a local martini competition w another bartender!], drink wine/hoppy beer/scotch, hoard cool rocks/bones/crystals, visit museums, see live music...etc. etc.

• arts
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• cocktails
• coffee
• drinking
• gardening
• shopping
• traveling
• music
• live music
• cycling
• art history
• history
• journalism
• tourism
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

French movies, Wes Anderson movies, ALL the bizarre foreign films on Netflix, anything super-saturated color wise, garage sale books alone in the 25cent box, poetry poetry poetry. I never tire of new music, almost any variety. Bob Dylan, Sylvan Esso, Ane Brun, Ben Howard, Wye Oak, Lake Street Dive, Trails + Ways (They surfed w me!), Andrew Bird, Jose Gonzalez, Brandi Carlile, Melody Gardot, John Mayer, Fiona Apple, Angus+Julia Stone, the xx, Jack Johnson, etc etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I rode a century (100-mile bike ride) w/o really training aside from my everyday commuting. A group of cyclists met every week outside the smoothie shop where I worked to go on training rides for their BikeMS (https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/SPageNavigator/BIKE_HOM_splash.html) century in September. They saw I was always hopping on a bike to go home and eventually dragged me along on their rides. I was hooked and have been riding with them ever since, so far totaling 3 centuries.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've stopped practicing these tricks in carpeted rooms, but there are several fun ways to open a beer w/o a bottle opener. Just sayin.

Ask me anything.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I LOVE to cook and I always clean up after myself. I'll leave my own laundry/dishes unattended at home, but volunteer to do the same tasks in someone else's life. Go figure.
I'm a quiet/tidy guest as the rules demand, but love the excuse of new company to relax and try new things. I promise equally not to freak you out or be a total bore.