CURRENT MISSION

My mission is to create the best mission statement, ever.

ABOUT ME

I was told about this website from a friend. I want to do some more international traveling soon so I figured I better get on here and see who I can connect with. After working for a few years in the corporate world, I'm back in school getting another degree in Nursing. I now have loads more time to travel during school holidays but not as much money to do so. Go figure.

I'm a really social person- love meeting new people and spending time in new places. A lot of my travels the past few years have been based around music, going to festivals and catching favorite bands in different cities across the US. When I travel to a new place I like to learn a lot about its history (nerd alert!), go to a few museums, take in a sporting event and spend some time getting to know a few of the locals. I quite enjoy discussing politics and religion (taboo subjects that they are) with people from different areas- always good to get a fresh perspective on things.

I'm deathly afraid of snakes and hate chocolate, but other than that I can handle almost anything. But now you know my ultimate fear- a chocolate snake.

I run this silly blog with my three best friends (the lovely ladies in my "Aruba" photo with me). It's just a way for the four of us to keep in touch, but it will give you some insight into my dull, boring daily life should you be interested in wasting time. http://www.outbackgang.blogspot.com/
(I'm under "M" for Mindy)

PHILOSOPHY

My personal philosophy is that there is ALWAYS more to learn and more to do in life. Never stop seeking a new adventure.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Have hosted bands and friends-of-friends before, but not through this website, yet. Would be more than happy to host someone, but highly doubt people would want to visit my area unless they want to visit the Hershey's Chocolate Factory (blah, gross chocolate) or Gettysburg Battlefield (do NOT go here if you're afraid of ghosts). But if you're passing through I'd love to have you! Hoping I get some use out of it next year when I travel more.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Um, isn't this kinda the same as "How I Participate"? Just sayin'...
CS experience thus far is limited to emailing some friendly folks about some upcoming trips. But they all seem swell so hopefully I will use the website much more in the future.

Interests

Waterslides, Banjos, The numbers 7 & 42, Rap Battles, Cheerios, Mexican Food, Christmas Carols and an assortment of other random things.

Some more serious interests of mine would be Traveling (shocker!), Sports- Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Penn State Football; Theatre- spend a fair amount of time in New York each year seeing some plays & musicals & ballets; Shopping- a girl's gotta have shoes! and Music- I spend most of my money/free time seeing bands.

• arts
• festivals
• dancing
• tap dancing
• dining
• chocolate
• wine
• beer
• mexican food
• running
• shopping
• politics
• traveling
• blogging
• painting
• music
• guitar
• sports
• soccer
• history
• nursing
• religion
• tours

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC: Radiohead,Tori Amos,Ben Folds,The Felice Brothers,Band of Horses,Leonard Cohen,Dawes,The Rolling Stones, Josh Ritter,Annie Stela,Cameron McGill & What Army,The Hold Steady,Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, Freelance Whales,The Beatles, Springsteen, Mumford and Sons, Middle Brother, Sam Cooke, Missy Higgins,Trampled by Turtles,The Civil Wars,The Pogues, Van Morrison,The Belle Brigade,The Love Language,Fleetwood Mac, We Are Augustines,Damien Rice,The Phantom Band,We Were Promised Jetpacks,The Low Anthem,The Head and the Heart,The Walkmen,The Dodos, Dead Man's Bones,Fleet Foxes,Frightened Rabbit,Iron & Wine,GAYNGSS, Bon Iver, The Black Keys, A.A. Bondy,The Duke and The King, Beach House,Delta Spirit, Bright Eyes and many many more.

MOVIES: Too many to list, but if I had to pick five to represent my favorites it would be the following... The Usual Suspects, Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, Shawshank Redemption, The Big Lebowski, On The Waterfront, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Finding Neverland. (That was actually 7 movies, are you paying attention?)

BOOKS: I'm a huge nerd and am always reading. I mostly read the classics, biographies, best sellers and occasionally some chick-lit. Currently I'm reading a book about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, because that's cool... right?

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

So far I'd say my favorite place I've ever been was Lucerne, Switzerland but in part that was due to the people I was there with. I got to have a private, after-hours viewing of the Monet Exhibit when it was on tour at the Chicago Art Institute. I've had backstage tours of Radio City Music Hall because my mom was a Rockette there back in the day (hence my tap dancing skills). The Grand Canyon & Niagra Falls took my breath away and I wouldn't mind living at Versaille for the rest of my life. Also, everyone should visit Graceland once in their life- it's too tacky to miss.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you to tap dance (very important skill). I want to learn to surf and paint and play guitar. I will share my beer & wine with you, but never my vodka. Sorry.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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