Mom of two silly boys, student, dancer, performer, clown, designer, potter.

As a host:

If you're allergic to cats or children, I'm afraid my place won't work for you as I have two of each. The children are two awesome boys, and they are not babies anymore so they are pretty much out of the seriously gross stages. They don't even get up that early, so if you like to sleep late you'll be fine.

I also bake insane popovers, sourdough bread, and soft, salty pretzels from scratch. Have yet to master the home-baked bagel...but I will! If you visit in late summer or fall, I'll have amazing homegrown pickles from the garden. And homemade kimchi and ruby kraut in the late fall and winter.

I LOVE to cook and bake. I used to eat macrobiotic, so I'm familiar with that style and can easily accommodate vegetarians and vegans.

As a guest:

I'm a neat, reliable, fun and friendly guest. Happy to chat the night away or keep to myself--whichever works best for you. I also like to go out dancing, flea marketing, enjoying the natural landscape, and exploring back alleys and holes in the wall.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm here to be a part of the worldwide community of seekers and adventurers, and to show off the beauty and hidden treasures of my adopted corner of the world.

I have been around the world for both work and pleasure, and have stayed everywhere from 5-star luxury hotels to Zen Monasteries. I first discovered Couchsurfing when I worked on the Travel Innovation Summit--a worldwide competition of the most innovative travel technology startups!

For me, the best way to travel (the only way, really) is to become immersed in the culture of a place and experience life like a local. One must approach any new place or experience with an open mind and heart, because you never know how something can change you until you let it. And life IS change.

Interests

Dance, Comedy Improv, Circus Arts, Food, Theater, Cinema, Design, Literature, Poetry, Kitsch, Gardening, Americana, History, Education Reform, Social Media, and (of course!) travel.

• cats
• arts
• culture
• books
• literature
• poetry
• theater
• design
• beauty
• dancing
• ballet dancing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• baking
• pilates
• gardening
• technology
• movies
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• swimming
• communications
• teaching
• history
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

1930's jazz.

Film classics: noir, screwball comedies, new wave, etc.

Books--too numerous to mention, but one of my favorites is definitely "Clabbered Dirt, Sweet Grass" by Gary Paulsen.

Avid Prairie Home Companion listener.

Also a HUGE fan of the living history series produced by PBS a few years ago: "Pioneer House," "Colonial House," "Texas Ranch House."

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Giving birth. Twice.

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach pilates and ballet. Would be happy to offer a free mat or barre session in my home or yours.

There's that fresh baked sourdough bread I mentioned earlier in this profile. When was the last time you had a nice, chewy, tangy piece of sourdough fresh from the oven???

Happy to serve as a guide to great theater, art, dance and even burlesque (yes!) in the Hudson Valley, as well as some of the best outdoor spots for hiking and swimming. In fact, one of them is in my backyard--there is a swimming pond for cooling down on hot summer nights.

And I have an extensive library of books, in case you can't sleep.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, cooking, baking, dancing. I'm happy to stay up talking late into the night, but equally happy keeping to myself if you are busy (or just like to sleep).

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain