CURRENT MISSION

To become more worldly and meet people from everywhere on this beautiful blue earth

ABOUT ME

I like to think I'm a fun, outgoing, kind, compassionate, geeky, musical, mostly-hard-working-but-sometimes-extremely-lazy person :) I like discussing politics with people who don't agree with me, playing violin and guitar, cycling, playing baseball/softball, reading fiction, learning about anything new, taking photos, watching good movies, listening to unique and original music, drinking good wine, beer, whiskey, and any well-mixed gin and tonic, and eating great food in the company of warm, friendly people.

I am also a huge science nerd. My current PhD research focus is developing self-assembling, protein-like gel materials to encourage tissue regeneration, but I'm also fascinated by big science, like evolution and cosmology.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm big on logic and reason. I believe if people considered the logical consequences of their actions before acting, this world would be a much better place.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far, it has been great!

Interests

Evolution, biology, the vastness of the Universe, the truth and beauty of math, chemistry, music, snowy mountains, the Nevada desert, problem-solving, politics, zymurgy, enology

• acting
• beauty
• concerts
• dining
• wine
• beer
• drinking
• politics
• movies
• reading
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• violin
• cycling
• baseball
• softball
• biology
• chemistry
• logic
• mathematics
• science
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: The Great Gatsby, The Stranger, anything by Vonnegut, Dracula by Bram Stoker, others to come

Music: Wow, so much to list. I guess the way to sum up the kind of music I like is stuff that is tonally original-- stuff that really jumps out at me because it breaks with conventions for chord progressions and rhythm. Some good examples are Animal Collective, Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, Mock Orange, Radiohead, Ryan Adams, the Shins, Spoon, and many others. But in addition to that stuff, I am a huge fan of good jazz, classical, and even some opera.

Movies: Recently: The King's Speech, Being John Malkovich, Adventureland, Inglourious Basterds, Kill Bill, Deathproof, too many to list, really

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was present for the 20th anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall! That was pretty cool.

Also, saw Rage Against the Machine live in San Francisco a few years ago, and it was the craziest concert I had ever been to.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States