CURRENT MISSION

Live well, give back, laugh much, enjoy the moment

ABOUT ME

Lois: been a journalist-- worked for a small newspaper and The Associated Press, and freelanced--press secretary in the U.S. Senate, public relations director for Prison Fellowship, community relations director for a corporation, foster mother to 21 teenagers (not all at once--over a period of 12 years), mother of three and grandmother of three. Joe: Physician, rheumatologist; two cats, Esme and Zillah (down from six at one time), three grandchildren

Both of us now freed from the workplace to explore the world. Lois working on a couple of books, Joe hobby and serious gardening. Building a new "not-so-big" house in Afton, MN. Also have a small 2 BR patio house in Phoenix where we might at times, be able to welcome couchsurfers.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We welcome people to our "couch" when we can.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

We joined when our 21-year grandson went on a CS trip to West Africa--We appreciate the concept and the opportunity it offers to meet citizens of the world. We have only hosted one couchsurfer so far, and we really enjoyed him!

Interests

Stories--yours, ours, written, oral; cooking, trying new ethnic dishes,entertaining friends and family and cooking for them; traveling, good conversation, hiking, gardening. Joe is on the board of Commonweal Theater in Lansboro, MN; Lois is on the board of the Rochester Art Center and The Loft for Writers in Mpls. So, of course, we are interested in the arts, theater, and writing.

• cats
• arts
• writing
• books
• theater
• cooking
• baking
• gardening
• traveling
• hiking
• journalism
• medicine

Music, Movies, and Books

Recently finished reading "The Global Soul" by Pico Ayer, which every couch surfer would enjoy! Reading taste is eclectic: Literary fiction, biography, memoir, history, poetry (Mary Oliver and Wistawa Szyborska are favorites); Recent books enjoyed: Ishmael Beah's "Long Way Gone- Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, The Known World by Edward Jones; recommending The Book Thief by Markus Zuak to anyone who will listen. Recent movie's we found interesting were The Last King of Scotland, Amazing Grace, Frida.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Went bunge jumping in New Zealand. Kids thought we were crazy, grandkids thought we were awesome.

Worked on a community service project in Nepal and paid the dowry for a young woman to get married (500 rupee).

Teach, Learn, Share

Could teach cooking, baking, help with a resume or interviewing skills, local Minnesota art scene.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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