CURRENT MISSION

To find the black butterflies in the tangerine skies, see the prophet's stare in the winter mountain air, hear the lullaby of the ghost's paper cry ...

ABOUT ME

I first started traveling when I was eighteen, having worked up an uncontainable restlessness while stuck in a very small town for five years, and I embarked across country with far too many belongings. These days, I like to travel light, my most important possession being the little journal in my pocket and a pen with which to mark its pages. I love to write. In addition to writing, I have two other addictions: the first is to peanut butter (which is easily sated), and the second is to music. I sometimes suffer symptoms of withdrawal if I can't find something to strum, pick, drum, or in some other way use to make noise which may or may not be pleasant to listeners. I'm usually bearded. I smile because the world makes me happy.

PHILOSOPHY

Find something that makes your heart flutter, because hearts get bigger and better when they have exercise. Eat your fruits and vegetables, because they're wonderfully healthy and taste good, too. Remember your dreams, because they're weird and make you wonder, and there is little as important as wonder. And there is a pattern in the chaos, even if you're only imagining it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

'Twas a bitter winter's night in an old, drafty house in eastern Canada. My room (which I shared with four other chaps) was in the basement, and my bed was a hard thing, a steel frame with a mattress covered in some material as cold and unsympathetic as death. I dreaded that inevitable moment when I would have to crawl into its cruel, uncaring embrace for the night, an embrace that had filled my nights there with nightmares and restless anxiety. I put off this dreaded encounter as long as I could, pretending to be busy upstairs in the living room. It was as I was reading on the couch, attempting to appear studious, that I inadvertently drifted off to sleep, lulled by the plush cushions of the couch, the armrest gently cradling my weary head. I did not wake until the next morning (at which point I was reprimanded for sleeping on the couch, which was, for some reason unknown to science and philosophy, forbidden in that house). However, I had slept more soundly than I had in ages, and it was at this point that I realized that couches are meant for surfing, and I knew that the Way of the CouchSurfer was for me.

Interests

I am interested in anything that ignites my imagination, challenges my perspective, makes my world a bigger place. I am absolutely mad about honest art of any sort, and have dabbled in lots of it. I love sunlight, and I love rain, and I love being in the elements. I love plants and I love animals (including human beings). I love seeing places strange and familiar. I'm pretty much happy to try anything.

• animals
• arts
• writing
• dining
• vegetarian
• exercise
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• surfing
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

The world would be a bleaker place without movies, music, and books. Among the many films that have impacted me the most are the works of Wes Anderson, Terry Gilliam, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Tim Burton, Jim Jarmusch, David O. Russell, George Romero, Richard Linklater, M. Night Shyamalan, Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron, George Lucas, and Jason Reitman. Conor Oberst, M. Ward, Bob Dylan, Elliott Smith, Death Cab For Cutie, Nirvana, The Decemberists, The Beatles, Jenny Lewis, Broken Social Scene, The Shins, and Xavier Rudd are a few of the many, many musicians who are key contributors to the soundtrack of my life. And my world has been made a far more rich and exciting and fantastic place by the writings of Ray Bradbury, Jack Kerouac, Michael Chabon, Tom Robbins, Philip Pullman, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Matthew Stover, Robertson Davies, and far too many others to name.

Teach, Learn, Share

I never took lessons myself and so am devoid of traditional terms and theory, but I have been playing the guitar for many a moon, and am happy to impart some random knowledge of chords and picking patterns. I'd love to meet someone who can teach me some more random musical knowledge. I'm always happy to share walks, vegetarian food, peanut butter, perspectives, experiences, and candied ginger.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada

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