CURRENT MISSION

To live before I die and not hurt anyone in the process. Maybe even spread some goodness along the way.

ABOUT ME

I'm too old to know where to begin with a brief summary of who I am and for what it is that I stand, but I'll try. I'm an an introvert 80% of the time and a lover of human contact for the rest of the time. I live on a hillside with 45 steps to my front door, so I think it's fair to say I do what I can to live in nature. I like waking up to the sounds of birds, but most of my days start well before sunrise. I love film. I have two dogs. I have been married, divorced, and widowed. I've travelled a fair amount (for an American!) I speak no other languages despite the fact that my mother if from El Salvador. My lack of Spanish is a thorn in my side. I love good literature, but fall asleep when I try to read when I'm not on vacation. I don't like television. I am skinny despite my love of ice cream and cupcakes. I am a daughter, an aunt, a friend, sometimes a lover. What else, eh?

PHILOSOPHY

After many years struggling with the "what's the point?" philosophical approach to life, I have decided that, for me, it's pretty simple. Live a good life. Hurt no one. Generate good juju when you can. Overcome challenges. Make things. Die gracefully when your time comes.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am both excited at the thought of hosting and surfing and scared shitless that I'm opening myself up to all kinds of horrors. Be good to me.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None yet.

Interests

Flora, fauna, film, books, gardening, dancing, dogs, travel, love

• dogs
• birds
• books
• literature
• dancing
• gardening
• traveling
• surfing
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite directors: Almodovar, Billy Wilder, Coen Brothers, Elia Kazan, Fellini, Kurasawa, Lars Von Trier, Woody Allen. Warming up to Wong Kar-wai.

Films that I consider pretty damn perfect: Sixteen Candles, The Graduate, An Education, Il Postino, Central Station, Enchanted April, Lars and the Real Girl, Lost in Translation, Being John Malkovich, In the Bedroom, Babette's Feast, Like Water for Chocolate, Transamerica, Billy Elliot, The Lives of Others, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Philadelphia Story, Moonstruck, Double Suicide, Leaving Las Vegas, The Squid and the Whale, The Wrestler, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?, Streetcare Named Desire, Shortcuts, Being There, Apu Trilogy, Blue, To Kill a Mockingbird, Live Flesh, Lenny, Sick, Crumb, Ray...god, make me stop

Now I'm too tired to write about books and music. Eh, I like them. Books more than music.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Seen mountain gorillas. Played with a baby chimp. Swam alone with a Galapagos shark. Have had to duct tape my feet to keep working in the jungles of Belize. Reflected on my husband's death in the crisp air of Texel, Netherlands. Explored many forms of dance, both as a participant and a viewer. Maintained my professional integrity during great times and bad times (there are no knives in any backs with my fingerprints on them.) Love(d) a lot of good people.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Netherlands, Uganda, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States