CURRENT MISSION

To live each day with gratitude ------and discover the unique people, culture, geography, food, wine and adventure on Earth.

ABOUT ME

I am an artist, entrepreneur, teacher, nature-lover and extroverted-people person. I make traditional artisan, Italian-style food in homemade wood-burning ovens---some of them on wheels...

Before I was a pizzaiolo, I was an elementary school teacher, National Park Service ranger and environmental educator. I learned how to cook from my mother and worked in many great kitchens starting in high school.

I love and play music, especially blues. Johnny Winter, Duane Allman, Mike Bloomfield and other blues artists inspire me. My family, music, art, science (ecology), cooking and people form the foundation my life.

PHILOSOPHY

Living each day with reverence, gratitude and love with God. Taking time to cherish the love and goodness around us.....caring, forgiving, particpating, taking risks, helping people less fortunate.....and being appreciative of the beauty, creativity and art everywhere..

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

In April 2009 I visited Verona, Pescantina and Soave, Italy~~I stayed with Rafaello, Paolo, Danielle, and Noemi and their families---also spending a lot of time with their wonderful friends. I am very inspired my friends in Italy; their humor, graciousness, generous hospitality and warmth and deep passion for great food.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Verona, Pescantina, Soave Italy. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Interests

Laughter, music, art, farmer's markets, reading, creamics, cooking, history, creativity, skiing, stories, celebrating, children, biology, pizza, pizza ovens, Italy, Italian cooking, people, farmers markets, slow food, natural, local food, recycling, human rights, justice, peace, connecting with people.....

• arts
• beauty
• human rights
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• reading
• music
• blues
• sailing
• skiing
• biology
• ecology
• teaching
• entrepreneurship
• geography
• history
• medicine
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Milk
Avatar
Clockwork Orange
Troy
Big Night
Kids books by Robert McCloskey
Patton
Funny Girl
Roger Dodger
Secret Life of Dentists

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My friend and I brought medicine and humanitarian assistance to Guatemalan refugees in the remote jungles of Chiapas, Mexico (1983)
Co-Founded HappyLife Productions (1983)
Sailing chef on 148' Tall Ship Shenandoah ('85, '86, '87) in Martha's Vineyard
Sailing chef on 100' Explorer; SE Alaska,; 1988
Founder, CEO; Ocean Fractal Co. (1996)
Founder; CEO; Veraci Pizza, Inc (2004)
Founder: CEO; Butter and Olive Oil, Inc. (2018)

Teach, Learn, Share

sailing
oil painting
ceramics
cooking
gardening
blues guitar
live music scene in Tacoma

What I Can Share with Hosts

Tacoma----City of Destiny

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands

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