CURRENT MISSION

Creating happy, healthy, vibrant communities. Conservation of the natural world through preservation of the built environment. Interdisciplinary collaboration. Positive personal growth through sustainable living. Sharing experiences and making new friends along the way.

ABOUT ME

I am a Historic Preservation Specialist and Certified Green Building Professional. I have always loved old buildings, but who knew that saving the architecture I love could also help save the planet? In case you can't tell, I am also an environmentalist. I have been a painter and an activist all of my life. I love to travel, read, make jewelry, cook tasty foreign foods (vegetarian recipes) and listen to all kinds of music. I am also an architecture/history nerd and have a passion for engineering (but alas, not the mad math skills to back it up).

PHILOSOPHY

Meet as many people that are different from you as possible. It takes all kinds and everyone you meet has something amazing to teach you if you are open. We create community by sharing our stories. What's yours?

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am a solar traveler, often following the trail of various conferences for green building and historic preservation. I love to meet fellow travelers and am a great hostess (when I am home).

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I couch surfed with several people on here and everyone I've met is so down to earth. It has been awhile since I couch surfed myself, but I have enjoyed the company of my gracious hosts in the past. I enjoy hosting travelers when they meander my way.

Interests

Architecture, antiques, gardening, engineering, art, poetry, hiking, herbal remedies, camping, renewable energy, good conversation, history, politics and drinking coffee or wine with friends.

• arts
• poetry
• architecture
• cooking
• wine
• coffee
• vegetarian
• running
• drinking
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• engineering
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

I love Victor Hugo, Dumas and other classic French authors. "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis and "The Children's Story" by James Clavell are amazing (if not terrifying). I like most anything by Andrei Codrescu, Kenneth Patchen, Lester Brown and Edward Abbey, Preservation and Backpacker Magazines. Poetry ranges wildly, from Arthur Rimbaud to Jim Carroll, Dante and Saul Williams are some of my favorites though. I especially like books that challenge one's perception of life as we know it, forcing you to think outside the box.

I LOVE music and cannot live without Modest Mouse, OCMS, Wookiefoot, The Shins, Dead Milkmen and Beethoven. I am also partial to Celtic, Zydeco, funk and reggae music. Thanks to working at Borders, I have been exposed to a lot of World Music and various forms of jazz. My favorite of the latter is 1920-1940s. I like just about any kind of music as long as it has soul.

Favorite movies: Godzilla franchise (original ones), Cold Mountain, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, RHPS, Kung Fury, Purple Rain, V for Vendetta, Idiocracy and 9. Favorite TV shows: Modern Marvels, Charmed (original series), Battlebots, Revolution, Monty Python, Criminal Minds, Mythbusters and Salem.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have traveled the entire (continental) United States, from east to west coast, visiting the national parks and witnessing how they have been affected by global warming. I have also presented at the Midwestern Renewable Energy Fair and the International Preservation Trades Workshop on various occasions- one of which was in Scotland.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you 1) how to travel the US on very little money and have a blast doing so. 2) How to restore your house and make it energy efficient. 3) How to cook killer vegetarian meals 4) How to become more self sufficient and even run your car on veggie oil- yes I have that power- the secret- to life- itself.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Travel experiences, knowledge of herbal remedies and medicinal weeds (the ones that grow in your yard), gardening tips and a wide array of good original music that may not be on your radar.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Netherlands, Scotland