I am a writer and a performer. I am working towards a second Master's Degree, this one in English. My first one is in Performance Studies from NYU. I also have completed all of my coursework towards a PhD in theatre. I am 52 years old. I have published a magazine on and off for about 15 years called Karawane: Or, the Temporary Death of the Bruitist. I also used to publish a little punk feminist zine back in the 1990s. I perform at Fringe Festivals around the country and I have also started to share some of my drawings and doodles. My artistic name is Fluffy Singler.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Currently, I live in Rock Island, IL on the western side of the state and I teach as an adjunct in Chicago, three hours away, four days a week. Adjuncts are notoriously underpaid and I can't afford to move to Chicago at the moment, so I am often on Couchsurfing looking for hosts willing to put me up for a half a week at a time.

I also attend a lot of academic conferences, go to Fringe Festivals, exhibits, open mic readings, etc., but I almost always have to travel on the cheap, which I have always been very good at. I would especially like to stay with artists, writers, and performers and/or academics.

I am not verified because right now even $20 extra dollars is a lot of money that could go toward something else. =8-) But I do have 3 positive references.

Interests

• arts
• writing
• literature
• poetry
• performing arts
• avant-garde art
• board games
• teaching
• feminism
• surrealism
• composition
• teaching english
• feminist
• zines

Music, Movies, and Books

Anything Dada or Surrealist, any kind of avant-garde literature, poetry, or art, but I also like all kinds of literature, espeically 20th century. I like 80s and 90s music: U2, Peter Gabriel, REM. Love Paul McCartney and the Beatles, Sheryl Crow, the Clash, the Sex Pistos. I have pretty eclectic taste in pop/rock music. I tend to like indie films, although I also have an embarassing love of romantic comedies, as well.

I love to play board games, especially Scrabble and Monopoly.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I graduated from high school when I was 16. That was fairly cool, although now a long time ago.

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach all kinds of writing and I know some pretty cool acting techniques. I have usually stayed with artistically minded people with whom I have much in common and so I learn from them all the time. I have often remained friends with people that I have stayed with. I can teach you how to travel on the cheap as well, although if you are signed up on here, you may already know how to do that! I would be happy to share some poetry and writing techniques, do an exquisite corpse or a piece of performance art with you.

I also have postcards that I have made of my art and poetry, a poetry magazine that I have published and some chapbooks of my poetry that I would gladly give you! Let me know before I come to see you so I remember to pack them!

I say that I am learning French and Spanish because I studied both languages a long time ago, but never use them, so my skills and vocabulary are very rusty. I often say that I know how to ask where the bathroom or the library is, but I couldn't necessarily understand the answer!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Conversation. We can go to events together if the things I am in town for sound interesting. I am actually pretty low maintenance, so you may not see very much of me! I usually can make a pretty good omelet and make yummy things with crescent rolls or with chicken, so if I am there long enough and you are not a vegetarian, I can cook a decent meal. (Not that I don't like vegetarians. But I am not facile with vegetables and don't know how to cook many vegetarian dishes! In that, I would need you to take the lead!)

And of course, things in the teach, learn, share category.

Countries I’ve Visited

Mexico, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States