CURRENT MISSION

to get out of my head and into the world

ABOUT ME

I am a literate and overcaffeinated lady who grew up in a nice Catholic family on the North Side of Chicago and lived to tell the tale. I have a deranged and fuzzy cat named Stella. I live with my boyfriend, and here he is: http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/open-waters/

After a three and a half-year hiatus, I recently returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to finish my Bachelor's Degree in English. My time out of school gave me the opportunity to get some priorities in order, both through my exploration of Madison's colorful restaurant scene as a server and bartender, as well as many different adventures across America. These experiences, and the people I have met through them, have inspired a worldview and life goals that leave me unbelievably excited for the opportunities ahead.

I want to mix you a cocktail. I want to make you breakfast. These things may or may not happen at the same meal.

PHILOSOPHY

There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says "Morning, boys. How's the water?" And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes "What the hell is water?"

This is water.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

hosting and surfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

As far as surfing goes, I have had nothing but excellent experiences. From futons in Flagstaff to a historical mansion in Cleveland, I have met amazing people who have given me unique insights to places I would have otherwise only seen through the superficial eyes of a tourist. Hosting has been great, too. It has been an honor to show off this city to so many people on so many different missions.

Interests

running (2 half marathons so far), yoga, AcroYoga, rock climbing, hiking, camping, baking muffins, wearing the odd mustache, cutting the odd rug, local beers enjoyed on a good porch, strong coffee, reading (just took a class on James Joyce that totally ate my life), eating all my vegetables, music (currently real into Sam Cooke and Chuck Berry), other peoples' children

• cats
• fish
• breakfast
• beer
• cocktails
• coffee
• baking
• yoga
• running
• reading
• music
• fishing
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• rock climbing
• swimming

Music, Movies, and Books

Annie Hall, The Godfather, My Neighbor Totoro

Neal Stephenson, Charles Simic, Salman Rushdie, David Foster Wallace, Salvador Plascencia, Ian McEwan, Isabel Allende

My taste in music changes far more frequently than my CS profile page!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The first time I saw the Milky Way (Colorado).
Driving through Monument Valley at sunset (Northern Arizona).
Standing on top of a natural arch (Utah).
The view across Lake Monona of the Capitol and skyline from John Nolen Drive after a long road trip (Madison, WI).

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States