CURRENT MISSION

To write like Marilynne Robinson

ABOUT ME

Apparently I look like everyone's cousin or old boss—one of those familiar faces (with Molly Ringwald's bone structure).

I'm an affable writer from Texas and Oregon, now studying theology at a grad school in New York. I feel at home in all three states, so it's hard to say where I'm from.

Faith is important to me, but not the way it's usually expressed. I pursue a moral life more than a strict moral code. Every Sunday I attend a Presbyterian church full of little old ladies; every morning I meditate with a mantra; every time I'm outdoors I pray. Other perspectives are lovely. I was raised Christian and try to make the most of it.

I'd like to call myself curious and earnest, and some of the time I can. I'm great at listening and can offer a good conversation in exchange for a night's sleep.

PHILOSOPHY

I hope I could better the life of every individual I encounter.

This Marilynne Robinson quote sums my ultimate philosophy up better than I could:

"I want to overhear passionate arguments about what we are and what we are doing and what we ought to do. I want to feel that art is an utterance made in good faith by one human being to another. I want to believe there are geniuses scheming to astonish the rest of us, just for the pleasure of it. I miss civilization, and I want it back."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

If I had a couch I'd offer it, but right now I can only surf.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None! I've done the Airbnb thing a handful of times, which is sorta close.

Interests

Fiction, music, cycling, film, good television, ecology, vegetarian food, non-fiction, poetry, ethics, theology, and occasionally politics.

• arts
• writing
• poetry
• ethics
• dining
• vegetarian
• meditation
• politics
• coding
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• scuba diving
• communications
• divinity
• ecology

Music, Movies, and Books

Authors: Marilynne Robinson, Joan Didion, George Saunders, Christian Wiman, Robert Hass, Harper Lee, Dan Savage, Anne Lamott, Jonathan Franzen, Flannery O'Conner, J. R. R. Tolkien, Susan Orlean, and Junot Diaz.

Movies: Moonrise Kingdom, Adaptation, Annie Hall, The Big Lebowski, Jurassic Park, The Man from Snowy River, Bringing Up Baby, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Young Frankenstein, Unforgiven, and The Departed.

Music: Joanna Newsom, St. Vincent, The Magnetic Fields, Patty Griffin, Anais Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Cat Power, Kurt Vile, Drive-By Truckers, Wilco, Blake Mills, Beach House, Fleetwood Mac, Lucinda Williams, Abigail Washburn, Robyn, Steve Earle, Radiohead, Imogen Heap, Asa, M. Ward, The Weepies, and Sufjan Stevens.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went SCUBA diving with manta rays in Hawaii.

Teach, Learn, Share

Social media marketing

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, China, Kosovo, Peru

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States