CURRENT MISSION

I hope to see as much of this world as possible before moving on to the next one.

ABOUT ME

I'm a very large person. Large body, large spirit, large heart. I crave stimulation and travel is one of the most intense sources I have found. I am a foodie and collect recipes and try to feed people whenever possible. Thus most of my volunteer experience falls to soup kitchens, food banks, homeless shelters etc. It's about nurturing. I am afraid of becoming stiff or creased in places,dry, brittle or stuck. I try to fill my life with new ideas, challenges and the voices of younger generations. In previous lives this time around I've been a musician, worked in the theatre, owned a temp agency, been a secretary, a fortune teller, an artist, a teacher of the Alexander Technique, a chef, a hotel manager, a deck hand/cook, a sales clerk, and a really good friend.

PHILOSOPHY

Why do I live? "because I'm here. My philosphy is pretty much, "do no harm, try to leave it better than you found it - or at least don't leave it any worse." I suspect that mankind is probably not worth saving but I owe it to myself to learn all I can about it before making up my mind. This will require another 30 years of travel, conversations, arguments, movies, books, catastrophes, births, deaths and revolutions, at least. I believe in a higher power and I believe it involves lunch. I have no institutional religious affiliations but I embrace what is offered with an open mind if it is offered with an open heart. I find Budhism particularly appealing and the Wiccans most pro-active. I am related to vegetarians and rock musicians and love them equally. I try not to judge and hope that I will be forgiven when necessary. I believe in the healing power of carbs.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Having just arrived I'm hoping to find out more about the CS2 Project and where I can fit in. So I guess this space will keep transforming.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have stayed with friends of friends around the US and my friend and I had a young Canadian Intern stay with us all summer while she studied Japanese art restoration. It was a great experience and I hope to do a lot more of it when I have my own place. I enjoy spending time with local people where ever I go and this site makes that very accessible. I'm hoping it members traveling to Washington DC or Virginia will contact me.

Interests

I like to make things with my hands - art, bread, clean spots on dirty surfaces. When I am creative I am at my best and most alive. I am interested in people. I founded small art groups in New York City; New Mexico; and Roatan Honduras. I am also interested in languages, literature and film. I try to learn at least a basic vocabularly for each country I travel to, using CDs, books and the BBC website. I can greet people now in about 12 languages.

• arts
• books
• literature
• concerts
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• movies
• traveling
• restoration
• music
• rock music
• teaching
• languages
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

As a fan of mystical thinking Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a favorite Author of mine. Also, Kundera, C.S.Lewis, Paul Bowles, Margaret Atwood, Carl Hiaasen, Foer. I like jazz and lots of rock music, tho I tend to drift nostalgically to The Doors, Stones and the old R&B [4 tops, 4 seasons, etc] when house cleaning or editing romance novels. There is no way to sort out the movies I crave them and watch everything. "lawrence of Arabia", "Waiting for Guffman" to "Cinema Paradise", "Le Hain", "The Professional" "Days of Heaven" "Triplets of Bellville" "Lord of the Rings" "Sexy Beast" "Pulp Fiction" "Lost in Translation" Boris Karloff in "The Mummy" both versions of "The Thing" blahblahblah

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The most amazing always seems to be the last one - I rode an elephant through the jungles of Thailand and saw the sun set the golden CHedis on fire. But before that I stood in the temples of Karnak and Luxor. These great wonders make my life accomplishments seem rather small. I did see Frank Zappa in concert tho - it changed my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a great deal more to learn so that's an easy one. I can share my love of cooking wonderful meals in a spontaneous and often hilarious way. My English is passable and I would happily trade language lessons or just offer up my services. I am a long time student of the esoteric [occult] and can discuss various schools of belief and forms of divination especially Tarot cards. My general life experiences are ridiculous and varied, but I've had a really good time so far. Ask and I'll do my best!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Honduras, United States