CURRENT MISSION

To make it out of this world alive.

ABOUT ME

Indecisive with a tendency to change jobs and locations frequently, I'll take advantage of the opportunity to learn from anyone who is offering. I always stop at roadside lemonade stands and I love to dance while cooking breakfast. I'm a former graduate student, probably going to take a year (several years) off before I start up again. Right now I'm writing for a state politics website and loving the freedom it gives me.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a part of my heart will always be there. I've studied Spanish, Political Science, and Public Administration formally but much prefer learning from people who don't realize how much they have to teach.

I am an avid tree climber.

PHILOSOPHY

I have nothing to say of my working life, only that a tie is a noose, and inverted though it is, it will hang a man nonetheless if he's not careful. - Life of Pi

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My wife and I have hosted a few people (on a futon, not a couch) but I have yet to surf myself.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My 10-year-old dog, simultaneously enthusiastic and indifferent about new people, helped put our most recent couch surfer well along on her path to overcoming a childhood fear of dogs.

Oh! And how could I forget the delivious home-made lavender mashed potatoes, courtesy of our most recent couch surfer.

Interests

My family, reading for pleasure, dancing, hosting breakfast parties, getting good use of my french press, climbing trees, intelligent conversation, people who are passionate about something about which I know nothing or very little (most things), grocery shopping, getting off an airplane at my final destination, the balance of math problems, proper grammar, sled tracks in the snow, reading in the grass, moleskine notebooks, sharing and learning more about music.

• dogs
• writing
• dancing
• cooking
• breakfast
• partying
• shopping
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• rock climbing
• mathematics
• political science
• public administration
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite book, and the one to which I turn every few years to remind me of how good life can be, is "The Power of One." Currently I'm reading "You Shall Know Our Velocity," "The Corrections," and "The History of Mount Desert Island, Maine." All riveting reads.

It seems trite to say this without playing an instrument myself, but music is an important part of my life. What I listen to is usually mood-dependent. I love sharing music with the people I meet and learning their favorites. Some of my standards: any old Rock 'n Roll that involves the pounding of piano keys by a musician whose fingers are too wide to hit just one note at a time, The Avett Brothers, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, The Arcade Fire, Sam Cooke, Woodwork Roadshow, The Badless, The Clarks, Rusted Root, and anything else with a heavy dose of Americana.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The Nu River gorge in China. We spent 3 full days traveling by train, bus, and foot through rural China to get there, and it was the most beautiful piece of nature I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to climb a 300 foot tree whose lowest branch stretches out 80 feet over your head. I'm good at helping people brush up on or practice Spanish but admittedly I'm terrible if you're looking to start from scratch. I can teach you how to tie a half (but not a full) Windsor knot on a necktie. My most recent skill is wiki-editing - great fun.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Indonesia, Spain, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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