ABOUT ME

I'm bubbly and bright-spirited. One of the first things people notice about me is my laugh. It's loud and infectious, and most people love it. And in the words of Dr. Seuss (indulge me), "those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." I'm a joyful person, and I try not to be apologetic about it.

I love to be creative, give hugs, sing, cook almost anything, read in the sunshine, volunteer, play dress up, and travel. I don't like meat loaf, anchovies, or eat-'em-like-apples tomatoes.

A month after my college graduation, I left the Seattle area and moved to New York City. I work as a nanny to pay the bills, but my real passion is in musical theatre. I audition every chance I can get. I'm also very passionate about humanitarian issues, politics, international justice, Africa, children, family, my faith in God, and living life to the fullest.

Someday, I want to do work that benefits kids and women in Africa, whether directly, there on the ground, or from here at home. For now, I'm fundraising and training for the New York 13.1 half-marathon in support of World Vision. Let's build some wells!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Bright green and new to it all!

Interests

Writing, photography, swimming, cooking, outdoor adventuring, traveling, organizing, giving hugs, compassion, volunteering, and keeping in touch with my amazing family.

• writing
• singing
• photography
• cooking
• marathon
• politics
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• swimming
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies:
A Beautiful Mind, Beyond Borders, Black Hawk Down, Blood Diamond, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, Braveheart, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Brick, Cast Away, City of Angels, Cold Mountain, Dear Frankie, Dirty Dancing, Elizabethtown, Forest Gump, Emma, Empire Falls, The End of the Spear, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Evelyn, The Family Man, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Finding Nemo, Fly Away Home, Forever Young, Forrest Gump, Garden State, Glory Road, Good Morning Vietnam, Grumpy Old Men, Grumpier Old Men, Hook, Hope Floats, Hotel Rwanda, Ice age 1, Ice Age 2, It Could Happen to You, Legends of the Fall, Life as a House, A Little Princess, Little Women, Love Story, Meet Joe Black, Message in a Bottle, Monsters, Inc., Mozart and the Whale, Mr. Holland's Opus, My Fair Lady, The Notebook, Nowhere in Africa, One True Thing, Paradise Road, The Passion of the Christ, Patch Adams, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pride & Prejudice, The Prince of Egypt, The Princess Bride, Radio, Remember the Titans, Rigoletto, Save the Last Dance, Serendipity, Shall We Dance?, The Shawshank Redemption, SIGNS, Sister Act 2, Sleepless in Seattle, The Sound Of Music, The Spitfire Grill, Step Up, The Story of Us, A Streetcar Named Desire, Sweet Home Alabama, Sweet November, Take the Lead, Toy Story, Turtles Can Fly, Waking Ned Devine, A Walk to Remember, White Oleander, Eat Pray Love, Chocolat, I Am Sam

Music:
Musicals, Singer-songwriters, Jazz, Indie Folk Rock Pop, Contemporary Christian, Acoustic, Swing music, Alternative rock, Folk music, Easy listening, Ambient pop, Classical, Opera, Louis Armstrong, Iron & Wine, Classic rock, Bluegrass music, Big band, Snow Patrol, Sufjan Stevens, Sarah Bareilles, Dmitry Shostakovich, U2, Coldplay, Imogen Heap, A Fine Frenzy, Damien Rice, Rocky Votolato, Igor Stravinsky, Norah Jones, Benjamin Britten, Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, Nichole Nordeman, Diana Krall, Schuyler Fisk, Rosi Golan, Ben Harper, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, The Andrews Sisters, John Williams, James Newton Howard, Ella Fitzgerald, Colin Hay, Peter Gabriel, Etta James, Sinéad O'Connor, Jewel, Josh Groban, Missy Higgins, Brandi Carlile, Kelly Clarkson, Switchfoot, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Joshua Radin, Mark Isham, Rachel Yamagata, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Sara Groves, Ginny Owens, Martina McBride, Lincoln Brewster, Savage Garden, MercyMe, Third Day, Shaun Groves, delirious, Goo Goo Dolls, Charlotte Martin, Casting Crowns, Nickel Creek, Mat Kearney, Allison Krauss, Gustav Mahler, Sigur Ros, Sara Jackson-Holman, Stockholm, St. Vincent, Hella Fitzgerald, The Whitworth Choir, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Patty Griffin, Mindy Smith, Shawn McDonald, Regina Spektor, Charice, Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

Books:
The Bible and a zillion others. But here are a few recent highlights:
"Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones into Schools," both by Greg Mortenson who builds schools for girls--among other things--in Pakistan and Afghanistan. I am captivated by his strength, dedication, and love for children. Women's education has since become something very much at the forefront of my thoughts these days.

Another book, "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide," delves into many of the same issues as Greg discusses, only in a broader, more fact-based form as opposed to Greg's narrative/anecdotal style.

"The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini also hit the top of my list.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've been kissed by an elephant at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It's like a retirement home/rescue center for abused and overworked elephants, old and young. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Ireland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States