CURRENT MISSION

We honestly believe hugs can save the world.

ABOUT ME

Ame: My name is actually Amelia, a fact I didn't become aware of until I was eight years of age. My parents always just called me Ame. Now I go by both. I currently have a full-time job (9-5 grind) at a local newspaper. I've barely been there since August, but love it all the same. I love bright colors, especially orange and lime green . . . I can't remember the last time I matched my socks because it probably never happened. I love to laugh, and laugh loudly, and consider happiness to be paramount in life. I pretend to be able to draw sometimes, and find that inspiration comes better that way.
I grew up in the country not far from Santa Cruz, and after 4 years of living in the city still find it more than a little disconcerting to be able to hear your neighbor sneeze.
Whenever anyone brings up politics I inevitably find my mind wandering in some far-off place; I think I'm allergic . . . and yet I live with a Politics-major roommate. Oh, the irony.

I love languages (hence the major) and find it absolutely fascinating that so many exist on this little earth.

Brynn: I enjoy cooking, but vehemently hate the washing dishes part. I'm taking this year to get my act together before my next adventure, which will entail teaching English abroad. (Japan or Hungary, still deciding) In the meantime I keep busy with teaching (mallet) percussion to high school and college-aged musicians in drum corps, working at Starbucks, and attending two classes at the local JC because I simply can't get enough of school.

I love connecting with new friends and old.

PHILOSOPHY

Ame: Be happy, whatever it takes.

Brynn: Cats make better boyfriends.

Interests

Ame: I love sailing and rowing, but haven't been out on the water for months, which makes my heart ache.
Words are one of my first loves, as is reading.
I love speaking Spanish, and making and eating good food (food could probably be listed as one of my vices).
I love tea! And fuzzy pillows.
I really can't stand sand, but don't think I'll ever be able to live away from the ocean.
I'm rather obsessed with orchids and I sing to them to help them grow.

Brynn: She really does sing to them to make them grow. My involvement is purely listening. I'm interested in making music, visiting new places, and swing/salsa dancing. I like good food, good music, good people.

• cats
• singing
• dancing
• salsa dancing
• dining
• cooking
• politics
• reading
• drawing
• music
• sailing
• rowing
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Ame:
Books: The Blue Sword, The Rum Diary, Shogun, anything by HST.
Film: Jaws, Y Tu Mama Tambien, films by Charlie Kaufman, Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert Rodriguez.
Music: dredg, Interpol, Led Zeppelin, CCR, Port O'Brien, Bright Eyes, The Album Leaf, Brand New, Appleseed Cast, Simon & Garfunkel, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, Minus the Bear.

Brynn:
books - Ender's Game, lots of Marquez (but not so much his short stories), lonely planet phrasebooks!
music - the police, the postal service, simon and garfunkel, cat stevens, disco, 80s, classical, and currently I'm on an Ingrid Michaelson kick.
movies - juno, pride and prejudice, clue, zoolander, the three amigos, waiting for guffman/best in show/this is spinal tap, the royal tenenbaums

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Brynn: One of my most memorable trips was a solo excursion from Budapest to Sarajevo. It was a 12-hour DAY train that swept me past the tragically beautiful landscape of Bosnia. My time there was short but rich, and on the return trip I met a most peculiar Scotsman who bequeathed to me a pocket hand-warmer and lavender soap made by Benedictine monks.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Hungary, United States

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