Literary Critic -- I publish research on eighteenth-century British fiction, teach seminars on sex and satire (or, whenever I can -- sex AS satire), and I regularly blog about queer feminism in pop culture.

I'm also a young-at-heart gay who enjoys dancing, red wine, and All Things Patti LaBelle.

When it comes to health -- satisfaction over determination, every time. I made up my mind years ago that I will never get along with "balanced" folks who can exercise in the snow or stick to rigid diets. There's too much pie to enjoy.

See now I can't stop writing about myself!!!

I believe in suspenders, sleeping pills, and long showers. I believe that Madonna and jeans are appropriate in every context, and that every kid should know how to play with a Lite Brite. I believe in the short smoke and the long break, a woman’s right to choose, and sleeping in and coming out. I believe that fem bottoms make gay men look better, not worse, and I believe in free speech that costs Republicans. I believe that Republicans are probably fem bottoms. I believe that the saying “chivalry is dead” is just one more excuse for men to fail, and that Guinevere was just faking it with Sir Prance-a lot. I believe that feminism isn’t finished. I believe in nairing, sharing, and Nestle Quick. I believe that our planet is dying and that a rose by another name would not smell as sweet. I believe in social ownership, ghosts, and healthcare for all. I believe The Innocence Project gets it right 100% of the time while the U.S. justice system fails more often than not, and that our justice system was never really just in the first place. I believe that humor can save education and that “serious” education looks hilarious. And I believe that boyfriends come and go but a devastatingly fabulous scarf lasts forever.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Literature PhD student at the University of Southern California -- looking for a place to stay as I crawl to the finish line of dissertation writing. I moved back to PA a few months ago from Los Angeles to help my mother out with some things... and it looks like I'll need to stick around for longer than I had anticipated. I'm a momma's boy for sure, but don't get it twisted -- living with her would constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Seriously, the woman breathes fire.

Despite this app's name, I'd rather not surf from couch to couch... I'm looking for something long-term (a month?) with good people.

Interests

• writing
• literature
• dancing
• wine
• cheese
• coffee
• piano
• teaching
• learning languages
• sleeping
• madonna
• stand up comedy
• satire
• gayfriendly
• computer programming
• musical theatre
• old music
• debauchery
• zelda
• elvis presley

Music, Movies, and Books

Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Elvis, Platters, Drifters, Patti LaBelle, Patsy Cline... I'm also a big opera queen (I even have the pretentious glasses for when I get balcony seating!! And yes, of *course* you are welcome to borrow them!)

I enjoy the reading I do for work (really, really old literature that no one cares about anymore), but if I'm reading for pleasure only then I prefer creative non-fiction. And I think reading is something to be shared -- for example, my ex boyfriend and I actually read all of Paradise Lost aloud in one sitting.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went on 100 dates in 2013 -- just dinner, y'all!! Geez. I did this because my lesbian friend told me that that I didn't have a clue what I wanted. I'm still single after those 100 dates, so it looks like she may have had a point...

But a more serious feat would have to be that I overcame quite a bit to get where I am today -- frequent homelessness, abusive alcoholic parents, coming out in a conservative environment... and I'm on the "spectrum." But don't worry -- my Asperger's tends to be funnier than it is challenging. Or maybe it's the challenge that's funny? At any rate, the struggle is real -- but so is steak on the grill served with bacon-wrapped asparagus. Life is unfair sometimes -- but it's always delicious.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Consistent stand-up comedy (I'm in rare form before 8am -- but don't worry... you'll find it charming)