CURRENT MISSION

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. What the world needs is more people who have come alive.

ABOUT ME

Nerd. Quirky. Spunky. Old-fashioned. Ridiculous. Weird. Adorable. Workaholic. Awkward.

I tend to get really into things, and as a result will geek out about a lot of stuff. If you pick the right topic (Broadway, Doctor Who, the AAGPBL, the Muppets, to name a few), I turn into a five-year-old and will start rambling before I regain awareness and realize I should probably stop talking because I'm embarrassing myself.

I currently live with my girlfriend, Kendall, in our house in the Tower Grove area of St. Louis. We have a grumpy old dog named Clarence, and a shy rescue named Merlin, and love spending time with them and enjoying our new home. We play kickball on the weekends, hit up all the museums and new exhibits the city has to offer, and love to go hiking, exploring, and adventuring anywhere and everywhere.

PHILOSOPHY

The glass is half full.

I'm a genuinely optimistic person, and live my life accordingly. I try to keep things simple and look for the best in things, because ultimately, life is more enjoyable that way. There's too much fun to be had and too much to experience to be cynical all the time. If you aren't trying to get the most out of life, what's the point? My work in cancer research has only solidified my perspective on life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love St. Louis and I want to explore and learn as much about the city as I can. If others can show me, awesome, and if I can help show a new arrival around, even better! I am a walking billboard for my city and want to do whatever I can to ensure that others love it as much as I do.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I surfed once on a trip to Kansas City and it was awesome! My former roommates and I probably hosted over 100 people in our apartment in the year we lived together. I've met some amazing people, many of whom I sincerely hope to cross paths with again. Couchsurfers are some of the most open-minded and interesting I've ever met, and my life is better as a result of the interactions I've had with them.

Plus, we had some Aussies write a song about us that referenced Star Wars, Harry Potter, and kickball. How can you ask for more out of life?

Interests

American history and politics are a favorite...I spent four years studying them so they should be, right?

Travel and exploring: see what the world has to offer. Always.

I like to read and try and learn something new everyday.

I play the trombone in an LGBT community concert band, and it's pretty much the coolest thing ever.

I also enjoy: coffee, bad dancing, Rachel Maddow, Dr. Who, beer, canning, cooking, and musical theater

And since we're now new homeowners, working on our house has become my primary hobby.

• dogs
• theater
• concerts
• dancing
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• walking
• politics
• trivia
• traveling
• hiking
• baseball
• kickball
• history
• medicine

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: A League of Their Own, The Muppet Movie, Hot Fuzz, Gangs of New York, The Blues Brothers

Music: Brandi Carlile, Old Crow Medicine Show, Missy Higgins, Norah Jones, orchestral/symphonic, SHOWTUNES!

Books: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, God is Red, David Sedaris, Kurt Vonnegut, and pretty much anything written about baseball

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Built an Inipi lodge and participated in a Lakota Inipi ceremony.

Went to an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League reunion and got to meet former players.

Made a day trip into Jordan to see the ancient city of Petra. It is probably the single coolest thing I've ever done, and I'm so lucky to have gotten to share the experience with Kendall.

Teach, Learn, Share

I wrote my thesis on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. I'm an encyclopedia of knowledge.

If you need a trivia night buddy, I'm your girl.

Countries I’ve Visited

Germany, Israel, Jordan

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