CURRENT MISSION

play. learn. live.

ABOUT ME

I like to play a lot, especially outside. I think if you aren't going out and constantly seeking your own happiness, life will pass you by. Things that make me happy are meeting new people, friends, board games, good nights in, good nights out, playing outside, yarn, and banjos, among other things. A few years back, I decided to go to graduate school to learn new ways to get kids outside and work in education. Working with kids (usually middle and high school) outside is one of my favorite things.

PHILOSOPHY

I want to meet new people, hear their stories, and learn about the world around me. I want to constantly rediscover that home is not a place, but a state of mind. I also think that sometimes, what you need to make your whole day better is a coloring book and some crayons. And maybe some baked goods.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have been out of the couchsurfing loop for a few years now due to a combination of graduate school, moving a lot, and having roommates not up to the idea of hosting. Now I'm reasonably stationary, at least for the next little while, and able to host again, so I'm looking forward to getting reinvolved in the community.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have been both hosting and surfing for the last several years, and it's been an amazing experience. Everyone I've met through couchsurfing has been someone I enjoyed meeting and spending time with. I've also used couchsurfing as a way to make friends with other people in the area, both through meet-ups and just messaging people in the area who look interesting to hang out with. I used to be really adverse to social networking sites, but it turns out I just needed to find the social networking site that matches my personality.

Interests

Reading, photography, being outside, laughing, running around barefoot, biking, learning, summer thunderstorms, board games, kayaking, scrabble, milkshakes, wandering, crocheting, baking, my new cocktail book, and microbrews, especially Colorado ones.

• animals
• books
• photography
• coloring
• beauty
• education
• cocktails
• baking
• running
• board games
• reading
• crochet
• knitting
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• kayaking
• surfing
• biology
• ecology
• teaching
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

I read enough that I used to work in a used bookstore in exchange for books. It's cheaper than paying for everything I want to read and keep.

Favorite Authors Include: Dr. Suess, Ayn Rand, Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, Shel Silverstein, Edward Abbey, Aldo Leopold, Jane Austen, David Sobel.

Movies: High Fidelity, Natural Born Killers, Tank Girl, The Princess Bride, Juno, Wall-E, Benny and Joon, Juno, anything narrated by David Attenborough, and offbeat comedies.

Music-wise, I like a lot of things, but especially live music, which is great, cause we have a lot of that in Colorado. General genres I listen to are folk rock, country, classic rock, alternative rock, and really almost anything that isn't metal.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

There is beauty everywhere. I'm constantly amazed by the things around me, but most especially by nature and the universe. There are some awesome things that go on in the outdoors. I especially like watching storms blow up across the plains. I got caught in a severe thunderstorm-turned-not quite tornado-turned-severe thunderstorm and hail in Kansas awhile back, and that was terrifying, but also fantastically cool.

Teach, Learn, Share

As a teacher in the outdoors, I'm constantly picking up new knowledge about ecology and biology systems. I like to know about the history of the area I live in, and about the local plants and animals. I'm always up for taking a walk and sharing what I know or learning from someone else.

I also crochet, a lot, and I'm more than happy to teach that to anyone who wants to learn. Added perk if you can teach me knitting, since I can't seem to get a handle on that.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Kenya, Norway, Senegal, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States

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