CURRENT MISSION

Make New Friends In My New City!

ABOUT ME

I'm exceptionally long winded, I am also a great listener, I'm a friend to all people and animals regardless of any federally protected status, but I don't really like mean people. That isn't to stay I'm not periodically snarky or that I don't have "bitch face" (think whats-her-bitch-face from Parks and Recreations). I do. It's genetic. But it belies my inner sunshine and rainbows and unicorns. Did I mention I love Lisa Frank? Am I allowed to imbed links into this?

Other than my Lisa Frank obsession and my bitch face, there's really nothing to me...

PHILOSOPHY

I believe in the self emancipation of all oppressed groups. I reject the ideals of capitalism because of its exploitative nature (in practice, regardless of its philosophical origin). I believe all people deserve love and that most of the worlds problems stem from fear: fear of differences, fear of scarcity of resources, fear of future harms based on past harms, etc. I do not always live my life fearlessly and with constant compassion and acceptance of myself and others, but, I do strive towards this goal every day. This includes practicing non violent communication, and non judgement. Sometimes people judge me just for that, and that's okay. I don't believe in being "the better person" or having some sort of moral upper hand.

"Character is what you are in the dark." I believe that. I think kindness is when you're nice when there's nothing tangible or immediate in it for you.

The meaning in my life is helping myself and others gain their personal power, not power over others. I love giving joy to people's lives and my jobs have always been very customer-service oriented. Currently, I'm pursuing goals that will either indirectly or directly allow me to positively contribute in more meaningful ways that I am now able. For instance, I try to be frugal with my money because I hope in the next five years to start a foster family, and to develop a non-profit program in the South (where land is much more plentiful in urban areas) that educates low income families on micro-farming in order to meet some of the financial and nutritional needs these families often face.

I am constantly exploring the ways I can contribute, and any ideas are graciously welcomed.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Well, I am new "here" but I've definitely been a student of this beautiful, expansive country, and I've lived in most regions of the continental U.S. except the West Coast (visited, never lived) and Pacific North West (visited very briefly, loved it). And the Dustbowl I guess, but I have traveled there, too. You ever drove from the East Coast on I-40 and seen that Giant Cross that's like 40 miles high in Oklahoma?

I've been too busy moving around to really find a place home enough to let other people stay there, but I'm trying to change that. Step one is to find a place, though, so that is my current mission. Find a place to live in Boston permanently, host while I'm in school, get my degree in floral design, and go where the wind blows me.

I'm having a Bill and Ted moment.
(Dust. Wind. Dude.)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

All of my couch-surfing experience has been informal (not through this website), but I've definitely stayed with friends of friends I didn't know until I stayed with them, and I've gotten live-in jobs with people I didn't know either, so I've definitely couchsurfed before...

As far as formalities go, we gotta start somewhere, and I think sleeping at a stranger's definitely puts me on the disadvantaged end of any power dynamic, but I'm a trustworthy person, which makes me pretty trusting of others, too; so let's give each other the benefit of the doubt and see what kind of cool experiences we can share and lasting friendships we can make!

I'm totally excited about getting more involved in this community! Complete disclosure: part of my "trip" to boston does include me trying to find a permanent home, but CS for me is the beginning of establishing myself as part of this community and a more active member of my civilization. Even if I could afford to stay in a hotel, I wouldn't want to-- this is so much more about exploring a place I've never been before with people who have had life experiences that are different from mine and want to share all the amazing stories I have of things I've done and people I've met on my journey through adult life the past six years and through various parts of America. I have to say that, despite the problems I have with politics and race relations in this country, America is a beautiful place and I'm happy to be here. I also want to leave it better than when I came into the world, and I think getting to know all kinds of people is going to help me do that.

Once I get a place of my own, I'd definitely love to host people, too! It's always in my heart to help somebody out, go exploring, and have an adventure, you know what I mean?

Interests

Vintage items, floristry, horticulture, nutrition, the arts (all of em), how stuff works, animals (favorites: whales, pigs, rats, goats), chemistry, working on developing a yoga practice, horror films.

• animals
• arts
• singing
• architecture
• design
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• baking
• yoga
• crafts
• politics
• movies
• music
• guitar
• piano
• karaoke
• surfing
• swimming
• chemistry
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: non-fiction. Mostly Gardening books right now, but I also like political science, women's studies, crafts, health, sociology, baking, stuff like that.

Movies: Hot Fuzz, Fargo, Sleepless in Seattle, The Shining, Coraline, The Wrestler, Ratatoullie, When Harry Met Sally, Alien, About Schmidt, Cabin in the Woods, Shortbus, Drowning Mona (hahaha "shit salad?"- sorry I had to.) Watching a lot of horror lately.

Shows: Breaking Bad, Project Runway, Wilfred, True Blood, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Survivor Man, How It's Made, X Files, Wife Swap, Star Trek: Next Generation, Bob's Burgers, Martha Bakes, Arrested Development.

Shows for which I have drinking games: Hoarders; Chopped; Wife Swap; Project Runway. These are like (except PR) all shows I just started watching this past year, I've never watched so much T.V. since I was like, nine. Also, I don't actually drink that much now a days because I reached that age a few months ago where I started experiencing hangovers, but I do like to knock back a couple from time to time, no pressure or expectations. If you don't drink or allow people to drink in your house for any reason at all that is Totally fine with me.

Music: Doo Wop, Rockabilly, Motown, Classic Rock. David Bowie. The Beach Boys. Anything pre 1995. After that, mostly just some electronica and some hip hop- but i feel like even that was better back in the day.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I worked on a goat dairy, delivered baby goats and made a lot of artisnal goat cheeses. I went through military bootcamp (NAVY!). And, I've briefly studied under Pam Hunt and Ina May Gaskin. Umm, I've seen a lot of cool things in NY, mostly architecture.

The other day I was swimming in a lake and I saw a tiny (not even the size of a jelly bean) little red mushroom with white dots on it. It was sitting in some moss that looked like miniature blades of grass, and there was a tiny, tiny snail next to it. The whole scene was so much smaller than you'd've thought, it was like one of those miniature dollhouses that people put in their dollhouses so their dolls can play dolls in their...dollhouse. Anyway, that was kind of amazing.

I feel an Xzibit joke coming on.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love cooking and baking and I know a good bit about baking specifically. So we can do that! I also like crafts. I play piano okay (by ear, can't read music, which is why I just play "okay" although, I think I play exceptionally well for someone who can't read music). and guitar badly (short fingers. bar chords are too hard), and I love to sing ...mostly.

I also would love teaching you all about the beautiful world of vintage pyrex. We could make collaborative meals, art, music. We try on hats in antique stores or make little terrariums in old tungsten lightbulbs from various pebbles and mosses we find on river banks, whatever you're down for!

I could teach you how to make foamed milk in a french press! It's so simple, you just put heated milk in the french press and pump the filter up and down to make it frothy. ...I guess I could teach you other things, too, now that you know that one.

But, of course, I'm always down to just go out and grab a beer and some local food or something and I dunno, Karaoke! Maybe? Yeah, you want to.

Countries I’ve Visited

United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States