CURRENT MISSION

Surround myself with interesting people and create stories to share later on.

ABOUT ME

Please read the following (its your homework for tonight:):

1) Im doing this to meet people from all over the world. I love having interesting conversations and finding out new things or learning that preconcieved notions were incorect. That said i do not like to host for less then 2 nights and do not like requests where people tell me that they will be good guests that I will never see (arrive late and leave early). Lets hang out! I love to show my city to those who have never been here!
2) Dont request to stay with me because hotels are too expensive.. I know they are but that should not be your reason to use couchsurfing.
3) Keep me posted on your travel plans.. I know they can change but please let me know. And if you decide not to visit, it goes without saying that you should inform your host.

OK now for the fun stuff....

I've been a dreamer for sometime. I have proof. My first thru 5th grade report cards all say something along the line of "Stephen has a difficult time settling down to do his work." Its true, I have a tendency to wonder in mind and on foot/car/train. That said I did have had a good plan since I was young to build large beautiful buildings. I enjoyed figuring out higher math and that led to engineering in college and some time as an engineer in the Navy (get paid to travel) and then I built a commercial structure in downtown Washington DC. It is a wonderful looking building with an exterior skin of pre-cast concrete from Canada with stone inlaid from Alabama. The interior walls are from Italy and the floors from France. I have posted some photos.. what do you think?

Now Im working as a consultant on a new medical center project in Bethesda MD.. Its great to participate in a structure that is geared to healing people.

That aside I have come to learn that it may not be for me. 2 weeks vacation a year leaves little time for seeing the world. So now I have turned to hosting others from all over to gain "travel" experience. Feel free to ask to stay as I am quite open.

PHILOSOPHY

Do your own thing and good will follow. I was born in New Hampshire so I take to heart the state motto of, "Live Free or Die" I could never be a subject to a state and I feel for those who live in countries where they can not read what they want or go where they like and can not believe that today there are people who are still trying to ESCAPE where they live. This is not right.

OK, so in that light I would say that I am driven to see everything that I can. I know someday international travel will not be an easy thing to do. So while still young I am trying to get to the far reaches of the earth. People can not believe that I have been to China, Iraq, Turkey, Brazil, all over Europe and have never been to Mexico (I lived in Florida!) and Canada (I lived in New Hampshire!). I know that I will get there someday no problem... as well as the rest of the states (I'm looking forward to Montana).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host 90 percent of the time when compared to surfing. I want this to change!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I started on the site as a way to communicate with like-minded people. Whenever I would go on a vacation I would contact several people from the various locations and just ask about what I should do there..things to see and such. The next step was to meet with the locals. This was a leap for me but it has proved invaluable. About a year ago I started hosting. My new job affords me little chance to surf as I get only 10 days of vacation a year and have to use most of it to see my extended family in Florida. So with that my international travel involves having people stay in my apartment from all over the world. I love to open google earth and let my surfers show me where they live even down to their house.. I also enjoy trying food from your country.. so don't be shy. You can cook if you like...hint hint :)

Interests

I'm interested in lots of forms of music. For now I'm still into indie, drum'n'bass, some house, nu breaks, and even country as a break. I saw a symphony last week and came away quite impressed.. as I thought I would. i can not imagine dictating every note for 60 instruments to play for one hour.. wow..

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies:
Trainspotting
Berlin Calling (cool to see the creative process..and Berlin!)
Stanly Kubric films
David Lynch
Blade Runner
Akira
Chinatown
City of God
Dark Days
DJ Shadow:In Tune and On Time
Downfall
Euro Trip (mmme'scuuse)
Fargo
Gamorrah
Irreversable (difficult to watch at times)
The Kid Stays in the Picture
The Limy
Magnolia
Murderball

too many!

Music:
types - Indie, drum'n'bass, dub step, breaks, hip hop

hmmmm, lets see who is on the ipod now:
Grand National
Cut Copy
Midnight Juggernauts (love them!)
Starfucker
Caspa (great dubstep)
Skream (better dub step)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Bear in Heaven
Santigold
Band of Horses
Fever Ray
Cocteau Twins (great 90s music)
Fleet Foxes
DM
Interpol

many more!

Books:
Irvine Welsh is the best author ever..
I dont read many novels and would love suggestions

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I shared a drink with a couple friends at Sadams Al Faw Palace in Baghdad one night out by one of his lakes with red tracer fire going over head. You could not hear the fire but only see the red rounds cascading overhead. We were in no danger. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

Hmm well I'm an engineer and in construction so perhaps I can offer some thoughts:
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a new system that allows different sub-contractors (plumbing, electrical, structural) to upload their 3D designs onto one template and run what is called, "collision detection". Collisions can not always be seen with AutoCAD as it is 2D based. This can save thousands of dollars on projects that typically find out about conflicts after the system work has started..

I'm interested in geothermal power and in power generation in general. There are great forces that we should be able to harness.. waves, currents, and tides I believe can produce significat power.. OK, turning nerd mode off.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Iraq, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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