I'm just your average coffee-drinking, dog-owning, video-game-playing, music-loving, bike-riding, vegan-food-eating, beard-growing, reluctant urbanite.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I really love the idea of Couchsurfing and I've used it to do some domestic travel, but I also love hosting - I'm not a great guide to the city (I mostly live in my office these days), but I often cook and try my best to make our guests feel at home - I try to make my home a nice 'resting place' along my guests' long and winding roads. In addition, I think surfing is a great way to not only travel on the cheap, but meet lots of amazing people along the way. I've made some really special friends from other countries through couchsurfing (and I'm sure you will soon [or already have], too!)

Interests

I'm really into video games and all things gaming-related (video games, tabletop games, role playing games - you name it, but I'm also a big social/environmental/animal justice nerd. I try to live my life in a manner which (hopefully) reduces my environmental impact, and consider myself an ally for anti-oppressive struggles of all sorts.

I'm vegan, I ride my bike as much as possible, try my best to manage water use, grow (some) of my food, compost, recycle and can often be found among the rank-and-file of anti-capitalist, -racist, -sexist, (or, conversely) pro-environmental, -gay, -trans, -women's, -queer rights rallies and protests.

I'm a bit of a hippie-geek, if that's a thing - but mostly I just want everyone to have the same opportunities that I - as a straight, white, able-bodied, male - have. I don't think that's radical, but some people do.

I wouldn't say I'm "interested" in DIY and repairing stuff, but I also hate throwing things out or replacing them - I've learned to fix everything from speakers, to headphones, to space heaters and clothes. If you surf with me, you can enjoy the fruits of my labours - a brilliant surround sound system made entirely of salvaged and refurbished Paradigm speakers.

... Did I mention that I'm a nerd?

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• diy
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• coffee
• vegan
• drinking
• clothing
• video games
• board games
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• surfing
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: indie rock, electronic, folk, singer-songwriter, punk and everything in between - favourite artists include: Joel Plaskett, Grizzly Bear, Caribou, Zackary Lucky, Wilco, Conor Oberst and Propagandhi.

Movies: Oh jeez - where do I start? Star Wars (original trilogy only - obviously), Royal Tennenbaums, Darjeeling Limited, Rushmore (okay, you get it - Wes Anderson movies), Fight Club, V for Vendetta, Lord of the Rings (but not The Hobbit, ew) and lots, lots more. Also, I love documentaries. I'm a big auditory learner, so I love any media that communicates important ideas through non-written forms.

TV: Adventure Time, Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Archer, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Ricky Gervais Show (also, podcasts, XFM archives), An Idiot Abroad, The Moaning of Life - look, I'm obsessed with Karl Pilkington and I'm not afraid to say so.

Books: I am mostly into non-fiction and I listen a ton of non-fiction audio books, but I've dabbled in some Stephen King (Dark Tower especially - my dog's name is "Roland") and Chuck Palahniuk is my all-time favourite novelist. Oh! I also love The Walking Dead graphic novels - much more than the show (although the show is good too).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Bah - this is difficult. I'm not a big fan of single, solitary, isolated moments - I think the best things in life are the things you work for.

Honestly, if I had to pick just one thing, I would say that adopting my dog, Roland, has been truly amazing. Living with this incredibly smart, energetic and life-affirming dog has made me more active, more outgoing, more responsive to someone else's needs, and just all-around better as a human being. He's taught me patience, perseverance, how to remain calm and controlled and how to accept flaws (he's by no means a perfect dog, let me assure you!) It would not be a stretch at all that he has taught me how to love and brings me and my partner closer together with each walk, or visit to the dog park, or slobbery kiss.

I know that's not what I'm supposed to write in here, but I don't know what to say: he's defined my life since the day I got him, and will hopefully continue to do so for at least another 6 years longer (but hopefully more!)

Oh also: I drove across Canada, using Couchsurfing! :)

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: I'm pretty good at teaching computer stuff - I don't just get paid for it - I enjoy it too! That said, my students need to be willing to learn and have to be eager to use out their new-found skills - there's nothing worse than being asked to re-teach the same thing over and over and over again (I'm looking at you, dad).

Learn: I really want to learn how to build things! I've made a few things here and there - a "catio" for my incredibly needy cat, Banana, some shelves (also for Banana) and I've made little things here and there (planter boxes, benches, etc.); but never anything of substance. I want to learn how to frame a house. That would be rad. And is probably my only chance of ever owning a house.

Share: Well - all my food and beer, of course - it's better when you're sharing it with friends anyway - and I make some pretty killer food.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Food, a comfy futon couch, beer, wine, laughs, pizza, a cozy place to rest, a really awesome entertainment system and lots of video games - old and new (in case it's raining out there!), a ride to the airport, and, if you really want my shoddy tour of Toronto, I guess I could give you that too :)

Oh! And Board Games! We can play those too.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada