CURRENT MISSION

I try to seize each day for what it's worth, albeit there are days when I need some rest and relaxation. I take it all in stride; live and love.

ABOUT ME

I have worn many hats over the years.

I grew up racing motorcycles from the age of five in Northern California; I joined the US Navy after high school, as a Canadian citizen and served our country in the Crash & Salvage (fire) department on board an amphibious assault ship. I then went to community college to learn how to make films.

I've served as an assistant in Hollywood both as an on-set production assistant to Burt Reynolds on the film Raven and an apprentice editor in the post-production department on films, such as Pleasantville. As a digital video editor in a professional newsroom, my work has appeared on CNN, WB, FOX, The Discovery Channel, the History Channel, and various other national affiliate television stations during my 15 years of experience.

About 10 years ago, I decided to make a career change after getting downsized multiple times. I saw how technology was getting faster and cheaper. Many amateurs had more robust equipment, youtube was changing the way visual communication was being delivered, and news was being delivered at real-time via the internet. I had to go back to school and acquire another skill-set.

I have a BSBA, majored in Marketing.

PHILOSOPHY

But it is my passion for food and its transformative power that truly drives me. I believe that changing the way we eat and buy food can help to rebuild communities, improve the nation's health, its economy, protect the environment, and bring pleasure back to eating well. I always seek to support local farms, local food organizations and businesses that share these values.

DO THIS!!!

If you send me a message, mention your favorite drink in your request. Therefore, I know you actually read my profile at least this far. I get numerous requests weekly (sometimes daily during Comic Con) and many of them are beginning to look a lot like spam—You simply changed the name to mine, and even some don't even bother to do that much. :( Humor me; you'll have a statistically better chance of me accepting your request to stay. If this is not done; You've been warned. :P

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I laugh at and disagree with the status quo. I was put here on this earth, to shake it up. I'm just getting started on another chapter. Don't get me wrong, I'm not up to no good. ;) But, I can stir up my share of the best kind of trouble if need be. lol

I'm here to live my life without regret and to live by the golden rule. Namaste

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm getting proficient at hosting couchsurfers. I'm looking to travel and surf other's couches around the world, within the year. soon... very soon...

Interests

In addition to cooking, I enjoy the cinema, photography, music, hiking, snowboarding, bicycling, fishing, camping, traveling, European football (soccer), racing cars (F1) and motorcycles (Motocross, Supercross and MotoGP).

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite book by far is the Master and Margarita by Bulgakov. I knew a young woman a few years ago who was really into the great masters of literature, she turned me on to the likes of Camus and Hamsun. From there, I ventured into some Nabokov and Gogol. But you've got to be in the mood for some of the more depressing scribbles, of these old soviet dudes. At the moment, I find myself reading too many poorly written textbooks on marketing theories.

Cinema: I like films that have been written well, directed well, shot with intent, acted well and edited well. That leaves a large breadth of material. Think of everything from David Lean to David Lynch and I'll swim around with that.

Music...
I grew up on Waylon, Willie, Johnny and any pretty much any other outlaw-music-makers. I've taken college courses on musical theory and Jazz History. I enjoy going to the symphony and to any hole in the wall saloon. BBC1 is my friend.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Surfed the wind rising up off the bow of an US Navy Amphibious Assault ship (way before Leonardo did it in Titanic). It was sunset, I was standing head to toe in an aluminum fire suit at the bow of the flight deck. We were on a break in the helicopter night ops. I was part of the Crash and Salvage team, basically the fire department on the flight deck. Just then we got a call that FOUR CH-46 Helicopters loaded with Marines were in-bound and one of them was reporting they could smell fuel filling the cockpit. Sirens blared, It was time to get to get back to work and try not to get blown up.

Teach, Learn, Share

Food...

I paid to go to culinary school over fifteen years ago as a gift to myself and my friends. I can cook really well, but always willing to learn new tricks and tips. We can go shopping at the market, come back to cook a great meal together and share experiences over a drink.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have hosted many Au Pairs on their holidays, either before they return to their hosts or before they head back home to Europe,

My knowledge of all the uncanny, nefarious, good, bad, ugly and utter beautiful locations in San Diego and Los Angeles that I've uncovered in my 20 years of living and reporting on the news in Southern California. I can also cook really well and I like to share.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada