Intro: Eleanor

Name: Eleanor, a.k.a. EclecticElegance

Location: Colorado Springs, CO.

Hiya! :)

Right now I'm a senior in college, concurrently majoring both in English and Chemistry with an emphasis in pre-dentistry, but I also love to write.

When I joined CleanPlace almost three years ago as a freshman in college, I had not written any fiction in five years and almost no poetry for a year. Once I started sharing my writing on there and receiving feedback from the other members and the mentors, I rediscovered my muse. Now I've written more in those two years than all my other years of writing in middle school and high school combined, and my poetry and prose are both much more vivid than they ever used to be. There are things I continue to learn to balance in my writing as I discover my voice, but CleanPlace reawakened my longing to capture life in the lyricisms found in the written word. Since I've been on CleanPlace, I've been published in my college's literary arts journal twice and have read my poetry at an open mic and a poetry slam at school, and now I am focusing on submitting work to contests and online magazines.

Though I'm typically a cautious person, I do have an adventurous streak that longs to set out on epic quests. :) I'll attempt any sort of challenge you'd like to throw at me, provided it falls within the rules laid out here. Like sing songs in a crowded hallway between classes with a friend. Anything that makes others smile. So dare me!

I'm usually roaming about eastern Colorado--going to school, hanging out with my family, tutoring Chemistry, or hiking with one of our three doggies. I also love playing my antique violin from the late 1800s, even though I can't do the vibrato just yet. I've also been known to wear random costumes on campus--a rose-colored Victorian outfit, complete with a white parasol, to my 19th Century British Literature class, or my red cloak, speckled with Scarlet Pimpernel flowers, to Biology one Wednesday last spring.

I await your dares with much anticipation! :)

(Bio page updated 5/13/2012)

Intro: Leah

Name: Leah, also known as Frost

Location: Near Estes Park CO, though not really there.

I don't travel a whole lot and make the most of exploring the places where I am at. I will be braving a trip to Seattle later this summer however.

Hello all!

I've been in Cleanplace for about 2 and a 1/2 years now. It pretty much rocks. Not only am I inspired to write, but recently a few magazines expressed interest in my writing. Never would I have been able to get anyone interested in reading what I wrote, beyond family and friends, without Cleanplace.

I decided to aid David's project because I am one of the people who can't go to Moot and want to help people who can't financially make it to go and enjoy themselves and help their writing improve. I also love a good dare. Most of my friends would tell you I'm fairly adventurous. Mom would say I'm reckless. I would love to take your challenges.

Around my home, I'm exploring every nook and cranny. Beyond that is a hokey cowtown, a urban hippie university area, a mountainous tourist hot spot, and a roadside music-festival, white-water kayaking flypaper. Estes Park in particular attracts people with its large elk herds, majestic mountains and hiking areas if any of those things interest you in challenges. I'm working on homework this summer to remedy lost time over the winter. In my free time, I'm tutoring through "I Have A Dream Foundation," painting, playing my cello, and hiking around with my two huge black dogs.

Intro: Mercy

Name: Mercy Burklin

Location: Tokyo, Japan (more specifically Higashi Kurume-shi)

Greetings, one and all.

I have been a member of CleanPlace for five years now. My entire teenage life has been happily spent adventuring and writing with the friends I met there and from whom I have learned so much. I am a high school student, but primarily I am an artist seeking to develop my skills and experiences in this crazy but beautiful world we live in.

One of my passions is for travel and new experiences, so I am looking forward to performing any dares that anyone should like to give me. However, it is preferable that the dares do not require a lot of money or travel, and if one can keep in mind that I don't speak the language here, that would be nice. Otherwise, I am quite open to any dare, especially if it involves something artistic or something that requires walking and exploring. I am very excited to be able to help others go on adventures through this project!

In this concrete jungle that is Tokyo, there are plenty of adventures awaiting me--and adventures that will begin with your help through this project. I anticipate your dares with pleasure.

Intro: Jordan

Name: Jordan Nikkel (a.k.a. Rivus)

Location: Stirling, Scotland

For the first time in years, I will not be sweating the hot Tennessee summer, because I am going to be studying abroad at the University of Stirling in Scotland, where I hear the average high in July is 67 degrees Fahrenheit! I have been a member of Cleanplace for five years now, and have gone to 3 of the 4 moots. Each one has always been one of the best weeks of every year—a time of comradery among old and new friends, fellowship among young Christians, and of course writing workshops. As such, I have joined Dare Us to Move because I want to help provide the financial opportunity for members of Cleanplace to experience that same joy and total immersion in God's love and wonder.

In that light, may I point out that I have a lovely black cloak (made by many of the members of Cleanplace in Texas) which I will be bringing with me tomorrow to Scotland. Feel free to include that in any photo challenges of your choice, and I'm sure the scenery will be lovely too. You should also probably know that even though I do enjoy writing, especially poetry and fantasy, writing is more of an outlet than a livelihood for me. Math and computer science are my majors at Vanderbilt University, where I am currently attending and will be entering as a Junior in the fall. I am also the coming year's director of Victory A Cappella, the Christian A Cappella group on campus. Music, like writing, is a very dear outlet for me, and I especially love music composition, theory, piano, and singing harmonies. So feel free to include music—perhaps even composing a little something in my notebook—in the challenges in any way, shape, or form.

So think up some challenges, and dare me to live a little while in Scotland this summer. The cause is noble, the rewards high, and I can't wait to see how God works through everything and everyone this summer.

Intro: Joy

Name: Joy Clark

Location: Rural South-East Texas

Greetings from a particularly warm state.

I have been a member of CleanPlace for two and a half years now, and from the onset it has been an adventure worth taking. I'm a college student studying music and word-crafts, and traveling whichever roads give me an inviting nod or smile. I am within easy driving range of Lousiana--so if you want a dare in a parish setting, I'm open!

I live and move among young, growing stories. It would be a lie to say I'm not excited about doing out-of-the-ordinary dares for the sheer story-potential-factor. But, having been to the CleanPlace conference, I know that this project could potentially grow so many stories besides mine! And imagining all the sapling stories out there, waiting to be grown--that gives me three times the reason to back this project.

I am open to all dares, and looking forward to three specific kinds: whimsical, inspiring, and exigent. Whimsical, because there can never be enough playing Mario Themes on grand pianos or serving of unbirthday cupcakes with 100 candles. Inspiring, because the whole point of this is bringing joy to others. And exigent because, quite frankly, I always need shoves out of my little wagon-trail ruts. Send me to volunteer at a museum, learn how to dance, or to talk to people I may pass every day without noticing.

The choosing is yours. I dare you to make it exuberant. And thanks for joining me in a journey.

Intro: Sarah C

Name: Sarah C (Miruial)

Location: Tyler, Texas

Hi ladies and gents!

My name is Sarah and I'm a 20 year old full-time college student who's been double majoring in photography and international business for the past three years. I'm also minoring in vocal performance and sing 1st soprano in one of my college's vocal groups.

I joined Cleanplace in January of 2008 after hearing about it for two years prior (I have friends who are some of the first members). Cleanplace has been a wonderful impact to me. Seeing how I--and other--members have grown into amazing young adults with some killer writing skills (hats off to our beloved and patient mentors) has been such a wonderful journey!

I posses a adventuresome spirit. I like any type of challenge, really. My mantra is that you can't have a true opinion of something till you try it. I'll eat what you want me to and do what you'd want me to . . . minus bungee jumping off of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil--I'm saving that for when I'm terminally ill!

I live in Tyler, Texas in a lakehouse. I love water!

Intro: Kurt

Name: Kurt von Laven

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

I have been a vicarious member of CleanPlace through my roommate, David, since September '09. I'm not a writer, but I'm jealous of those who are.

I am a wanna-be traceur-singer-mathematician studying computer science (specifically, artificial intelligence). With less charitable motivation, I've pulled a few crazy stunts during my recent stay in Madrid, including the one in the picture above, scaling the ramparts of a castle ruin in Sos del Rey Católico, earning €3.40 singing in the infamous Sol metro station, and hiking the final 110 km of the Camino de Santiago without purchasing any beverages (including water). I did not manage to tilt at any windmills. I've always wanted to search for a precise latitude, longitude, and elevation of a stranger's choosing if that strikes anyone's fancy.

Intro: Sarah

Name: Sarah

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Yo.

I've been a mentor on CleanPlace since September '07, and it's changed my life. I love all the teen writers, and the summer conference every year is really our time to connect face-to-face and dig deeper into writing.

I've lived in Colorado Springs my entire life, and I also happen to be a third generation native, which is pretty crazy. I know the city and the surrounding areas well, since my favorite thing to do besides writing and reading is taking rides all over Colorado Springs and into the mountains. I'm very familiar with my surroundings, but I'm always discovering new things and going to places I've driven by for years but never experienced.

I'd like to say I'm up for anything, but that's not totally true. I do consider myself semi-adventurous, and I'm ready to be challenged!

Intro: Sara

Name: Sara (also known as NarniaPrincess, or Nia)
Location: Colorado Springs, CO, USA

I'm the current admin for CleanPlace, and when David pitched this idea, I thought it was a great way to expand how we share our stories! I've been on CP since April of 2007, and the reins have been in my hands since the fall of 2008. I'm always awed and humbled by the amazing writers we have.

While I'm staying at home this summer, there are lots of fun things around the Springs that would make for great dares (like kissing a giraffe...I'm serious, I'll do it!). And I do get around this fair state (at least up to Denver and Woodland Park) so anything in the mountains or around the Springs is up for grabs.

I look forward to seeing how far this project goes--come along for the ride!

Intro: David

STATUS: ON HIATUS (5/8/12)

Name: David
Location: Beijing, China

Hey, guys!

I get the prestigious spot at the bottom of the blog for my intro. My name's David, and at the moment, I am studying in Beijing!

The DUtM project was actually inspired by my crazy travel plans this summer--in fact, I'm only going to be in China for another week, and then I'll be spending half a month in Mongolia before heading back to the U.S. to work at the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon. That is a crazy lot of crazy places, full of crazy people and crazy things to do--so I thought, what if I could bend that craziness toward something more? And here we are!

So hey. Go crazy!

Unfortunately the muse struck late--I would have loved to take some challenges with me to the various places in China I've visited over the last few months. But now, this is all I've got, so China challenges will have to be limited to the Beijing area. Fortunately, this city is chock-full of awesomeness. What's something you've always wanted to see here? Let me show it to you.

I've been a contributing member to the Cleanplace guild for about five years now. It is a fantastic organization full of fantastic enough people to pull me away from my Warm Springs internship for a week. I have watched the guild, and the conference in general, turn lives around--I'm so excited to do everything I can to give that experience to more people!

Thank you for your support, and for traveling with me down this crazy road!