Stories from the Couch: October, November, December '09

After receiving a small portion of harassment from other Laramie CouchSurfing hosts, the Harrington's placed a disclaimer on their CouchSurfing profile requesting guests to check into other hosts, as by hosting, CouchSurfers become more involved in the spirit of CouchSurfing and better serve the CS community at large. After a couple of months, the Harrington's could not handle the lack of surfing occuring on their own couch and therefore, removed the disclaimer. They have since had a few opportunities to host some friends as well as CouchSurfers (most of whom did not date their guest book entries). The following is a small taste of CouchSurfing experiences through the fall of 2009.

Andrew Prior - good friend: en route to Salt Lake City, UT

The last time I saw you I introduced you to CouchSurfing and now look how far you have run with it. I am quite impressed.

Mike and Melissa:

• Very little in life is as valuable as a healthy and beautiful relationship.


• May we all recognize the importance of people and relationship over careers and finances.


• California is not for everybody (not that we ever would have thought so).
  

Abby and Andrea: en route to Michigan for the Holidays

Even though people may be bitter, I am so very glad we got to stay with you!...It was so cold outside but the company and warmth inside was fantastic.

-Abby

you both are living up to the idea of hospitality and it's so nice to see a couple that really strives to support each other and exemplify their values...Good tea and good people is one of simplest, nicest things in life and thank you for reminding me of that!

-Andrea

Mike and Melissa:

• It's a small world: only a few months ago we hosted Abby's room-mate from Idaho!


• Re-connecting with friends and more importantly maintaining connections with friends is one of life's greates joys.


• Everyone loves tea parties!

December 3, 2009: Biz en route to Portland, OR

Last night I had a dream that more and more guests kept showing up at your house (which was kind of like a giant Frank Lloyd Wright house 'cus it was a dream). My friends, your friends, moms and kids and so many people! There was a talent show and an 8 foot tall man was singing in a shimmering pink costume. Basically it just turned into a circus but thru it all you two were great hosts and made sure everyone felt welcome - which makes me smile because it's true! (Unfortunately, in the dream the talent show went on so long that you missed part of work. oops. Sorry.)

Anyhow, thanks a mil! My first night ever in Wyoming and it felt very nice and familiar just drinking tea and eating fancy food out of the dumpster.

December 3, 2009: Mike and Melissa

• Everyone should have a guest book just in case someone has an awesome dream while sleeping at your house.


• Book Recommendations are what keep our minds going: Blue Highways and The Atlas.
  

Jon (California Wine Intern Heading back home to Wisconsin):

Thank you for welcoming me into your cozy house! It was great talking with you two about your past adventures. Best wishes for an incredible journey around the world next summer! I wish I could join you for the World Cup!

Mike and Melissa:

• Holiday leftovers make hosting CouchSurfers a breeze!


• Guatemala has many reasons to make our list of World Travel destinations.

On the Road Again: Navajo Hits the 200,000 mile mark

As the Harrington's returned from celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday in Worland, WY their beloved Navajo Durango Subaru hit an important milestone (in a most literal sense), for 200,000 miles Navajo has been running strong and exploring the great and large United States of America. In celebration, Mike and Melissa clapped two hundred times and took a few snapshots, commemorating this important and remarkable moment in Navajo's history.

A Christmas Letter from 519 Clark

2009.

This year comes to an end and a new year beckons us forth. The 300-some days that have passed have offered such great memories and adventures. The approaching 300-some days offer the same. We can't help but echo Dave Ramsey and say "Today, this year, we are doing better than we deserve." We cannot, however look back, look forward or be in the present without fully acknowledging that God, the same God who came to earth as a babe, deserves all the glory and all the credit for the beauty of the life we are living. It is in recognizing this, we go forward in recounting our 2009 and wishing you all the best for your approaching year.

2009.


This year is highlighted by a 40+ day road trip throughout the west. We experienced the kindness of strangers, the majesty of creation, the love of family and friends and opportunities to serve our "neighbors" in love. The trip was possible because of our careers as paraprofessionals/teacher's assistants allowing for 3 months off to explore 16 National Parks, 9 states, a few Islands, and put over 10,000 miles our newly named Subaru: Navajo Durango.

2009.

This year has taught us the value of meaningful, authentic community as we have been privileged to live with a beautiful family that challenges us to love deeper, serve passionately and give generously. We have the honor of living in close proximity to a friend who gives more of himself in his relationships than could ever be asked or expected. We meet weekly with a handful of friends from church who serve as a constant source of encouragement, entertainment and even nourishment! We continue to welcome strangers into our home via CouchSurfing.org and have made some valuable relationships within that community, seeing some previous guests take up residence in Laramie and meeting some foreign friends who had previously contacted us with questions about Laramie. The University has given us the opportunity to meet with two International students, showing them American life and Wyoming life at it's finest (we hope). We are able to share meals with numerous friends, co-workers and family whom we adore and love. When considering our relationships, we know that we have been given much, and can only hope to return that blessing.

2009.

We hope this year has brought great happiness to your own households and leaves you feeling confident in the days to come. We wish you peace, love, and the blessing of great friendships that can carry you through whatever hardship or joy may come your way in 2010.

Grace and Peace,
M&M

Making Plans

As the Harrington's welcomed in November, they also got serious about making some decisions. The Harrington's are set on travelling to South Africa this coming summer in order to enjoy the 3rd/4th match of the World Cup. However, where the plan remained undefined was every moment after the World Cup. As July 2010 looms in a not so distant future, the Harrington's have begun to make a few more decisions regarding their "new year."

As of today, November 25, the Harrington's plan on attending an exhilarating match of football (aka: soccer) in July of 2010 at Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Following the game, the Harrington's hope to have a few weeks for pleasure and a few weeks for volunteer work somewhere on the majestic continent of Africa. Beginning in one of two fine months, August or September, the Harrington's plan to land in one of four "top-choice" Asian countries with a contract to teach sweet children or awesome adults the intricacies of speaking the English language. With a primary goal of continuing to save money, the Harrington's have narrowed thier Asian country choices down to the following four: South Korea, Thailand, China and Taiwan.

Melissa is currently certified and practicing the art of teaching English as a Foregin Language while Mike begins his coursework to receive certification in time to submit applications for the upcoming school year.

We at The Harrington Times hope you continue to check in for further decisions made by the Harrington's as the research and discuss the possibilities that lie ahead. Also, be sure to share your opinion with The Harrington's on the Times poll, posted in the upper right hand corner of this periodical.

The Harrington's Welcome in H1N1

What if pigs could fly?
What if a swine flu?

Happy Flu Season from the Harrington's

Red Desert

Attention All Podcast Listeners

Due to a recent flat tire, Mike Harrington has rediscovered the joy that comes from simply walking his roughly 4-mile round trip commute to and from work. Add to that the joy of finding a working Zune in a dumpster and you have the following: A request from friends and families to provide him with recommended downloadable podcasts. These can be music, stories, meaningful news, truth or just random thoughts of random people. He would prefer some thought provoking listening to gear him up for his "exciting" day at school. Any thoughts?