ABOUT ME

I am a young 68 year old lady who travels extensively. I have enjoyed one excellent couch-surfing experience in Lakewood, OH where my Norwegian grandfather built a beautiful home in 1925. I am highly educated with several diverse careers including teaching elementary, Financial Planning, Systems Specialist for Aerospace co's, and now teaching the art of knitting and crochet. I have traveled almost every state in the US and many countries in Europe as well as various cities in Canada and Mexico. I love to travel and meet new people of all ages. Conversation is one of my loves--esp if the listener is an interesting person who will join in 50/50. I have been separated from my demented husband for over 14 years. We had a great marriage for over 15 years until (unknown to me at first), his brain started malfunctioning. I am open to new relationships. I have a nice 4 bedroom home in the city of Arlington, TX that will soon be ready for couch surfers. I have family across the country and many back in Norway and Sweden.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've traveled all sorts of ways in these 68 years starting as a child with my dad being in the US Navy. I've camped in tents, visited friends, camped in vans, stayed at motels, hotels, Timeshares, etc. I've traveled extensively in Europe on their wonderful trains. I've taken Greyhound and the other bus services. My foster daughter in Fairbanks, AK had some couch-surfers from Paris, France visiting my 2nd to last trip up there. I found them fascinating and learned all about CSing. So in current years with a tight money situation facing me, I figured why not give it a try. My first experience was awesome. I met people from around the world while staying 1 week in a lovely home in Lakewood, OH--the birthplace of my mom.

Interests

I enjoy learning about other cultures, history, and cities. I am still heavily involved with computers being very active on Facebook. Look me up there. I am also involved in the world of fiber and have been as a hobby all my life since age 8 when grandma taught me to knit. I have a brother with Asperger's and a father who died of Parkinson's Disease. Those conditions have caused me to be very interested in how the brain works--constantly educating myself in new knowledge. Of course I love to travel.

• arts
• crafts
• politics
• traveling
• eating out
• crochet
• knitting
• surfing
• teaching
• history
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

I grew up playing the violin and still love classical music. Being a teenager at the beginning of Rock and Roll, I love the early stuff and artists. On occasion, I enjoy elevator music, jazz, show tunes, and light stuff, Dr. Zhivago is my favorite movie but there are many others I have enjoyed. I used to read all the time, but with the introduction of so much knowledge on the Internet, I enjoy learning about whatever comes into my life and interests me. I love learning about all that science is discovering and have done research into recent family roots as well as deep ancestry through the National Geographic Genome II project.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Not to brag--my family never let me when I was a kid due to my brother's condition of Asperger's--I was class Valedictorian of 525 students back in June 1965 at John Marshall High School in Cleveland, OH. I never thought I was the most bright of all my classmates but I knew how to study and I was great at test taking. Essays were my favorite and I used to tell my friends--"Oh, I'm not that smart--I'm a good guesser and can bullshit my way through almost any essay." I used to be embarrassed about this, but now in my old age I am proud. I beat out the guy closest to me by taking Advanced Placement French in my 6th year of studying the language. It ruined a spring vacation, but it put me over the top. Twice I have been to Paris and I've reviewed the language for a few months before going. It sure helped me to be treated with respect by the French people.

Teach, Learn, Share

In couch-surfing, I will be glad to help anyone with fiber crafts such as knitting and crocheting. I gave my first host a very long and thick red winter scarf that I made. I also will happily listen to the events in your life that have made you who you are today. I will talk religion and politics even if we agree. I have friends of many different persuasions. I will give advice to younger folks who may be experiencing problems with obstacles I have conquered. Once a teacher, always a teacher--my dad said that about me.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'll fill this in later as I have to call India now to get my guys over there to clean up my laptop. Be assured, there is much I can share with you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States