Me and my wife (https://www.couchsurfing.com/users/1180050/profile) just moved to Olympia, and we want to explore more of the Pacific NW!

PLEASE NOTE: I haven't updated the house information for my new digs yet, so ignore all of that! (6/15/15)

We're currently living on a small sheep farm with my family. She is a poet and freelance writer/editor, I am a sculptor and looking for a day job. We hope to move to Tacoma in the next couple of months.

I just moved from Germany, and until December lived in Albuquerque, NM, but have lived in Austin, Houston, Portland, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Chattanooga. I consider Austin my hometown, as I was born there and lived there as a teenager before setting out for the desert.

I'm pretty much a homebody. I like cooking, reading, making art, having long personal conversations, playing with my dog (or any dog), taking long walks and bike rides, and working outside. When I go out, I like to see independent movies, to get a drink with friends, to see live music, to visit a museum, or see an art exhibit. Or just explore a new neighborhood, or look at a weird old graveyard! I can enjoy just about anything with interesting people, but I don't enjoy parties or loud bars or watching most sports (though I got to enjoy watching rollerderby a few years back). I like to do physical things, but I'm not athletic.

I love dogs and artists and musicians and weirdos, I love visiting majestic natural places, and I love thinking deeply about Big Stuff. My favorite place in the world is Tent Rocks, NM. I aspire to live in Berlin and to have seen in person every piece of stained glass by Harry Clarke.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've been a host several times, but not for about 5 years, and never a guest, which I'd like to change. I actually met my wife through this website, nearly 4 years ago!

I really appreciate the social-gifting sensibilities of CS, and the kind of community that creates. I'm hoping to meet new people and share memorable experiences with cool folk.

Interests

Welding and metal sculpture, jewelry making, metal casting, sci-fi and fantasy books, pretentious art films, cartoons, geocaching, biking, cooking, gardening, music, archaeology, anthropology, sustainable technology, 3D modeling

• animals
• dogs
• chickens
• arts
• writing
• books
• architecture
• design
• sketching
• cooking
• vegetarian
• working out
• modeling
• partying
• drinking
• crafts
• gardening
• technology
• cartoons
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• music
• live music
• cycling
• sports
• anthropology
• business
• freelancing
• law

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Land of Talk, Janelle Monae, Adrian Belew, Outkast, The Blow, Regina Spektor

Movies: Survive Style 5+, ANY Batman movie, Frank, Concussion, Scott Pilgrim VS The World, Mirrormask, The Fall, basically anything that's whimsical as fuck.

Books: Nimona, lots of webcomics, The Alchemy by David Mack, anything by CJ Cherryh, The Book of the Dead by Tanith Lee, Anasazi America by David Stuart, any of Tim McCreight's metalworking books or Francis Ching's drawing books, Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I just graduated college, moved across the world, and got married all within a month, which feels pretty amazing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach:
1. Metal sculpture, jewelry of all types, sketching, general crafts, for any age
2. Keeping (and butchering, and cooking) chickens
3. Vegetarian/oral allergy/ketogenic cooking (highly specific, but better than it sounds, promise!)
4. English speaking, writing, academic writing
5. Basic organic gardening principles and planning/building
6. Basic construction

I want to learn:
1. German
2. Spanish
3. Sustainable architecture and design/permaculture
4. 3D modeling (for 3D printing)
5. Intermediate-advanced blacksmithing/coppersmithing/cold forging
6. Advanced/large-scale metal casting
7. German small business law

I can share:
1. My labor for building/gardening projects
2. My time for project planning/language help
3. My skills as an artist and builder of things
4. My love of animals and children for care-taking help

What I Can Share with Hosts

Any of the above, plus (I hope!) some good conversation, advice if desired on traveling in the US, especially the SW, and help carrying heavy things. I can also drive.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States

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