CURRENT MISSION

Improve my Japanese, scuba dive a lot, finish my book, hang out with cool dogs and people, and train a lot of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

ABOUT ME

I'm a writer and progressive communications strategist, working with a nonprofit group to save the world. Oh, and don't pay attention to that "88 percent responded to" stat -- I've never failed to reply to a couchsurf request.

PHILOSOPHY

If there is an afterlife, I may meet someone in the afterlife waiting room who died as a child via accident, war or disease. My goal is to have a good answer if that person asks, "What did you do with the time that was denied me?"

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm happy to take on surfers if I'm around, and thrilled to serve as a tour guide.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Once a nice couple in Vienna met me on the train and let me stay with them for a week. My rent was to watch the European Cup football matches with the husband, drinking beer and rooting for his home country, Germany.

Interests

Books (reading and writing), hiking, yoga, scuba diving, my two basset hounds. Ethical economics and indie hip-hop. Gardening and obscure karaoke tunes. Brazilian jiu-jitsu (I'm a blue belt under Royce Gracie).

• dogs
• culture
• writing
• books
• beer
• yoga
• coach
• drinking
• gardening
• reading
• karaoke
• hiking
• camping
• scuba diving
• soccer
• communications
• economics
• journalism
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Too many to list. Some current favorite authors are Raymond Carver, David Grossman, Primo Levi, Tobias Wolff, Sam Hamill, David Quammen, and anyone who writes anything about Okinawa.

I like all forms of music. No, really. From Uncle Tupelo to Talib Kweli and everything in between. My favorite bands growing up were Husker Du and Camper Van Beethoven, and now I'm mostly listening to Def Jux/Rhymesayers style hip-hop mixed in with Alt-Country/No Depression bands and punkers like Avail, Propagandhi. The Weakerthans don't really fit any of those descriptions, and maybe that's why I like them, too.

My top 10 albums and songs of 2006.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Allen Ginsberg hit on me. If I could sneak in two, me and some friends founded a non-profit debate camp (www.womensdebateinstitute.org ) that focuses on the needs of young women in debate.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a longtime academic debate coach, am fascinated with the culture of Okinawa, and do quite a bit of environmental journalism.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States