Intellectual, whiskey-drinking Texan. Very introverted. That doesn't mean that I'm not social, it means that I don't waste time or energy on small talk. I like exploratory, deep conversations and I am well-versed on a number of subjects. I am infinitely curious, love learning new things and gaining new experiences. I am a native Texan, I have a sharp wit, a sarcastic and dark sense of humor and love bringing all of this to my interpersonal interactions over a drink or two (or eight, if the conversation is engaging).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Culture sharing, plain and simple. Travel is best and most enjoyable if you can live like the locals. I am beginning to travel internationally and do not want to see all the same things that every other tourist sees. I want to see, smell, taste and touch the life that is lived by the people in the areas I visit. Additionally, I want to bring a taste of Texas to every place I visit.

Interests

• literature
• wine
• beer
• cigar enthusiast
• music
• live music
• history
• whiskey
• whisky
• wild camping
• military history
• culinary arts

Music, Movies, and Books

Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, Joy Division, The Cure, David Bowie, and others. Too many to list...

Books: Favorites include "A Farewell to Arms" by Hemingway for its remarkable intensity and an unfettered view into the heart and mind of Hemingway, "A Happy Death" by Albert Camus as it, in my opinion, expresses the ideas behind absurdism much better than "The Stranger" (though I also loved this novel as well), "My Life and Hard Times" by James Thurber because it showcases Thurber's dry wit exceptionally while being set in his own personal experiences, "Man's Search for Meaning", by Viktor Frankl, which perfectly rounds out psychological theory first introduced by Freud and countered by Nietzsche.

Music: Anything by The Cure, which is my all-time favorite band, Joy Division for the insight into the recesses of a dark mind, Cocteau Twins for its ethereal transcendence, The Smiths because I "don't forget the songs that made you cry and the songs that saved your life", Peter Murphy for another flavor of intellectual stimulation. I also enjoy an esoteric collection of other artists such as Johnny Cash, Rammstein, Public Image, Ltd., New Order, Eminem, and many others.

Movies: "Eraserhead" for its surrealism. Most of David Lynch's work is incredible. I also loved "Mulholland Drive" and "Lost Highway". War movies - "Saving Private Ryan", "Red Tails", "Patton". I also like historically-based movies such as "Braveheart" and "300", despite the fact that I hate how Hollywood has abandoned historical accuracy for the sake of dramatization. Just about any movie that is based on (and true to) Stephen King's books - "The Shining", "The Green Mile". I LOVE horror movies. Some of my favorites are "Insidious", "Sinister", and "The Possession".

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Twice I have seen a meteor fall and incinerate less than 25m before hitting the ground. Both times, I was no more than 100m from where it happened. Not really something I've "done", but a spectacular sight, nonetheless.

During my second semester at the University of Texas at Austin, I spent my financial aid check on a motorcycle. It probably sounds like a stupid decision, but I took a few road trips through Texas on that bike and those were experiences I wouldn't trade for the world.

Teach, Learn, Share

Anywhere I visit will be a place whose culture I want to experience and I will want to immerse myself in it. I put a youtube channel together to document my travels and it's a work in progress, but it can be seen here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXcOufEGw-ByOz2m2ROjwA

What I Can Share with Hosts

A true taste of Texas. Personality, philosophy, food and culture. And quite likely a nice selection of alcoholic beverages from the great state of Texas.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, Iceland, Mexico, Scotland

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States