I typically have a smile on my face and a kind word for whomever I meet. I'm in an impossibly good mood most of the time. Yet, even with that, I struggle with trying to meet new people. I can be painfully shy and often wait for someone to make the first introduction. But once I'm comfortable with you, wooo boy are we gonna laugh together.

It's difficult to encompass who I am in a brief "About Me" section, and it also causes a rather hefty amount of anxiety because I don't know if I'll do a good enough job of it for someone to think they'd want to host and hang out with me.

Now this is where I list the quotes that people have said about me, like on the back of a book's dust jacket.

"I've never met anyone like you before." - A handful of unrelated people in different cirumstances

"Oh my god, you're so weird, but in a good way!" - Once in a while someone on Twitter

"MOM, I know that! *eyeroll*" - My daughter, about mostly everything I try to tell her

"Those shoes are fabulous!" - The guy in the bar after the drag show on Friday night

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Now that my children are older, one in college and one a senior in high school, it's time to start traveling more. I have always felt that travel is about the people and the food, and experiences you have along the way. I'm typically not interested in impersonal cookie cutter travel experiences. I want to eat the local food, and drink in the locals' favorite pubs, alongside them. I'm interested to know what they think I should see and do. I want to hear stories about their lives and the area they live. I need to experience the land that they call home.

I didn't know Couchsurfing existed, until a travel related google search brought me to a blog post somewhere and it was mentioned. I was like, this is BRILLIANT! Since I have such a difficult time meeting people when I'm just out and about, maybe getting to stay with someone will lead to the most fantastic conversations and memories.

Interests

• dogs
• arts
• books
• tattoos
• wine
• cocktails
• wine tasting
• traveling
• music
• food
• nature
• laughing
• cosplay
• doctor who
• sushi
• foodie
• scifi
• gin
• tequila
• food lover
• dragoncon

Music, Movies, and Books

I like most music. But especially music that reaches down into my soul and compels me to dance. And the music that makes you weep, that's good stuff too.

I usually prefer a good action movie/super heroes/fantasy/scifi. I might avoid romance, unless there's something that interests me. Gore/horror/terror is right out, no thank you. I'll never be able to turn the lights off again.

Books! I love books. Do I read enough? Not at all. I've been dreadfully remiss in my reading time as of the last few years. I enjoy scifi, fantasy, magic genres.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've recently traveled to Shetland, Scotland, on my own. I attended the Shetland Folk Music Festival. I drove all over the islands and saw as much as I could in my 6 days there. It was amazing. I fell in love with the land. I can't wait to go back.

Countries I’ve Visited

Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Scotland, Switzerland, Taiwan

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States