CURRENT MISSION

To aim to act as absurdly as possible so as to distract the world from more pressing issues.

ABOUT ME

Things I like more than life: musical resonance, colourful cinematic prowess, aimless and foolish travels, baseball, and awkward moments. I am a terrible sleeper and harmonica player, but other positives exist, such as awakability and ukulele powers. My car said Mike Gravel '08 on it, but don't let that fool you. Like you, I enjoy traveling. I love staying in, cooking, and drinking whiskey or stouts while listening to Jon Brion, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band or Tom Waits (maybe a few more exist), or just watching a weird movie.

Now studying writing in an MFA program in New Orleans, trying not to drink every night. Aiming to start a baseball team. I published a book about my past life! A link to that: http://www.pearlandpavement.com

PHILOSOPHY

I guess a philosophy won't be properly contained in a quotation, but I'm a bit of a nihilistic fatalist who appears downtrodden while in contemplation of the limits of fun. Pleasure is something we all owe to ourselves, or as Salvatore Paradiso once said:"It is the responsibility of every human seriously intent on living an
extraordinary life, to follow whatever path they find to be illuminated
by their dreams." That's a fake quote, by the way: he never wrote that. And I'm pretty sure I invented Salvatore Paradiso, too. But you get the point. Also, the irony in putting a quote there after saying I didn't believe in them? Nevermind. I'm not as clever as I think you think I think I am.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

By mooching off of others and responding to people when my time permits. Shwing!

I attend and I surf and occasionally I host. Mostly, I poop and reference pooping.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been saved by a few people while traveling around, especially when I was lost on the streets of Barcelona, having all of my stuff stolen. My roommates and I denied allowing our couch in Florence to a person I met in Budapest, and I regret that now; hopefully I can make up for that at some point. Since, I have actually CSed, and it works, man.

Interests

Music, traveling, writing, baseball, reading, thinking, talking, drinking wine, staying in, things. My father sells lamps and tables, so...I suppose I am inherently interested in illumination and substantive dependability. I am doing my best to work away from these things.

• dogs
• writing
• books
• make up
• cooking
• recipes
• wine
• drinking
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• camping
• baseball
• teaching
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Oy. This will take me far too long to discuss. Jon Brion, Architecture in Helsinki, Tom Waits, Andrew Bird, Bonzo Dog, Chet Baker/Punch-Drunk Love, Being There, Brazil, L'auberge Espagnole, Back to the Future, Fellini, Olmi, Ferreri, Monicelli, Mastroianni, Gondry, Lecomte, Age & Scarpelli/The Fountainhead, You Shall Know Our Velocity!, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, Candide...? This scrapes the surface of my being. I can't list much more for fear of ruining our future conversations, but I spend all of my money on these things, and it is upon these shoulders which I shall rest my life.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Camping out on a "voodoo-cursed" beach on the southern coast of Portugal...that was fun.

Teach, Learn, Share

I LOVE sharing music, discussing politics (learning that of other countries is great)...ukulele. I'm generally an unqualified teacher. Maybe some recipes can be swapped, or I can teach you some Italian. I feel as-yet unqualified to be an authority on anything, really.

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