HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING For myself, I would like to locate colleagues in academia. I need to get to the National Archives in Maryland. (There is a bus running there from Washington's National Archives.) I would like to spend a night in other archival locations. I can put a couch-surfer up here and there. It would be good to meet people who are working on projects on a shoestring as well. Research and interviews take time. Writers and academics have very little money. We also need company and a chance to talk and compare research notes. COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE I have couch surfed since 1991. I stayed with friends in China, Taiwan, Kenya, and Washington to name a few. Nothing beats having someone there when you arrive. Pakistan was my most interesting couch-surfing experience. That's because the place was so dodgy. I bought a local Shalwar and grew my moustache. It was astonishing. I looked somewhat like a Pakistani. We all had fun with that. And it lead to an interesting situation up on the Afghan border. The local tribesmen took me for a Pakistani. When they found out I was an American they were tickled by it. I became the man to meet! Everyone laughed and enjoyed it, an American - not a blonde - looked like them.

Between the Wars music. Music from 1920 to 1950 draws me nowadays. I find some of these classics excellent. I urge everyone to look into them. It isn't all about Louie Armstrong, but he's a good start! I worked at Carnegie Hall for a while. So I listen to classical music at times. Bach impressed me. Like everyone else I was familiar with Mozart and Beethoven. The classical range is so much more. I like a good singer. The voice is important and I like contemporary music but not rap.