CURRENT MISSION

Expand my horizons

ABOUT ME

Hey there - I just joined Couchsurfing and the more I learn, the more curious I am about how this works. I grew up in Iowa, so I grew up in a friendly, midwestern culture where people say hi on the street and talk to strangers, "visit" with their neighbors on their porches on lazy summer evenings, and in general, take pride in hosting and entertaining. Not much to do in Iowa, I guess. Now that I live in the big city, everyone is so busy and I guess I kind of miss the randomness of new friends, new adventures, new stories.

I'm 36, work full time (10-7 usually during the week), enjoy movies, music, festivals, great restaurants, or staying home and cooking.

My place is pretty fantastic - a 2 BR condo in a high rise with a pool and gym and doorman, located right downtown on the north branch of the Chicago river with a huge park next door. I'm lucky I guess.

That said, I am somewhat newly single after about 6 years in a couple very committed, very serious relationships. So, I'm somewhat newly released "into the wild." Being a bit older now, I'm not huge into staying out late and clubbing - but every now and then, I throw down when inspired. :)

I've got a couple very comfy couches - including one in the second bedroom, with its own private bath. If you're a couple, and you're cool, I could even compromise and let you take the master with the bed.

PHILOSOPHY

Light will defeat the darkness. Every time.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting mostly. Interested in some of the groups.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've definitely spent many weekends hosting or being hosted by my friends, crashing in their couches/futons... but like I said, this is my first experience with CouchSurfing.com. Still, I love the idea!

Interests

Art that inspires emotion. Being independent and uninhibited. My Iowa Hawkeyes. Chicago Cubs, Bulls, and Bears. Eurocup soccer. Cycling. Making smartass comments on Facebook.

• arts
• culture
• festivals
• cooking
• clubbing
• movies
• billiards
• music
• cycling
• soccer
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies:
* Intolerable Cruelty (Coen brothers, starring George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones - really funny!)
* Bladerunner / Aliens / Pan's Labyrinth / LOTR - I have a nerdy sci-fi bent
* Dazed & Confused / Waking Life - love Richard Linklater
* Rushmore / Royal Tennenbaums - Wes Anderson yes.
* Lone Star / Men With Guns / Eight Men Out - John Sayles, auteur.
* Reservoir Dogs / Pulp Fiction / Kill Bill 1 & 2 - Tarantino, yes.

Music:
Arcade Fire
Radiohead
Tupac
Will Oldham
Shelby Lynne
Menomena
Swervedriver
Archers of Loaf - Vee Vee
Amy Winehouse
Esthero

Books:
An Instance of the Fingerpost - Iain Pears
The Postmortal
Skinny Legs and All
A History of God

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Arcade Fire live.
Bicycled through the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain.
Had a Hollywood Director throw a benefit in honor of a nonprofit I started and name-check me in front of a crowd of thousands in LA.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Germany, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States