I donate in the name of wolves (and look for wolf alerts) at: Defenders of Wildlife
Another good place to go, a good sister site to take action - savewolves.org
My cats, Bella and Luna (Bella is the black and white one, Luna is the gray)
And here are some new pics of my girls today as I was learning and messing with my new camera!
Improv - BATS Improv, Celebrating 20 Years! Woo hoo! Horseback riding (eventually again, taking a break after losing my Pickles), wolves, reading good books (light entertainment lately), pirates, naval sea life in general, Dungeons and Dragons (ha ha), making movies, composing music, being with my friends, the ocean, acting, love.
Music
I love lots of stuff - dance music, techno, ambient, trip hop, punk, soundtracks, broadway musicals, classical, 80's music, everything except for reggae and country, and it all depends on my mood.
Movies
Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Master and Commander, The Man From Snowy River, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Speed, Die Hard, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, The Life of Brian, Galaxy Quest, Lady and the Tramp, Amelie, The Sixth Sense, Ever After, Serenity, 40 Year Old Virgin, Star Wars Trilogy pre-Lucas tampering, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Shawshank Redemption, The Princess Bride (and many many others).
Television
I don't watch television, but I do have Netflix. I enjoy Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Angel. Firefly. Sex and the City. Six Feet Under. Rome. Battlestar Galactica. Dexter. Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Yule Log. Discovery Channel specials on wolves and predators. The Wire.!
Books
J.D. Robb "Death" series. "Master and Commander" series. Books about the Titanic and shipwrecks and sea worthy stuff. Books about wolves, both ones talking about their history and the future and the political ramifications and living with humans; plus pretty picture books to sigh over and admire. Impro by Keith Johnstone, Improv for the Theatre by Viola Spolin, the Dictionary. He's Just Not That Into You has been a valuable book for me to read, too. I'm also just starting The Artist's Way after many years of hearing wonderful things about it.
Heroes
I admire artists who make a living in this crazy world, or do what they love to do. To my teachers and fellow coaches, for inspiring me and setting an wonderful example. Keith Johnstone, Stanisvlasky, Meisner for acting and improv and life. Wolves, for being on the planet with me and also teaching me how to live fully. Pickles, my horse, for her carpe diem philosophy, which has inspired me to do the same and enrich my life. Bella and Luna, for taking care of me and making sure I relax and be the best reclining double cat couch that I can be. To my friends, for loving me and being with me through this crazy adventure called life. People who care about our environment, and help save animals and places like Defenders of Wildlife. Lady, the dog who saved my life when I was 2 years old, Thank you, Lady. I promise to keep working to save your wild progenitors. Some Wolves I know or have known - Redbud Granite Orca, one of my favorite Alpha Males, woof (with a bison friend) Kiana, the wolf I adopted and got to meet in Minnesota, and who passed suddenly in 1998 And many many more wolfies across the country and in the world - Arwooooo thank you to all the wolf ambassadors I have ever met.
My Mom - I love you Mom. I miss you very much.
PS Dad, miss you too, I like to think that you are happy singing Karaoke somewhere with Frank Sinatra, or whatever the heck it is we do after this life if we do anything. I love you.
"Time helps, but it may not cure. We're told that time heals all wounds. That's not entirely true, of course. Time does have the ability to make that acute, searing pain of loss less intense, to make your red-hot emotions less painful. But your feelings of loss and emptiness may never completely go away. If you question this, ask any parent whose child has died, even if that death occurred 60 years ago.
You may never return to your previous baseline. The death of a loved one changes us forever. Instead, you may find yourself at a new 'normal.' Accepting and embracing that can help you reconcile losses.
A final thought -
In one way or another, we are all in the same canoe of life. You can bob and weave, but you can't forever dodge the pain of grief and mourning.
But someday again, the sun will shine. The day will seem brighter, and your life will go on, even if it'll never be quite the same."
Edward Creagan, M.D.
Oncologist
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
About me: My name is Laura Derry, and I'm an improviser, actor, musician, coach, director, trainer, consultant, and party gigger. I love animals, and so there are wolves scattered across this fine country that I have met and hung out with and howled with and fight for. I'm part of an improv company I love called BATS Improv, I've been there 16 years, and I feel very fortunate and happy to be there. Improv is the best, I love it, woo hoo!
My horse Pickles passed away on August 7, 2008. She was an amazing gift I got in this life. I made a video celebrating and remembering her.
Who I'd like to meet: I love animals - here is a slideshow of my girls, Pickles Bella and Luna
Being a Wolf Woman, I can't help but have these cute little wolf pairs on my page. Wolfies! Arwoooooooo!
This is currently my little quote corner or something -
"You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost." - Martha Graham
"Ah well, love isn't something you feel, it's something you do. And if the person you are with doesn't want it, you know, do yourself a favor and save it for someone who does." - Nate, Six Feet Under
"You know what I think about . . . life? I think it's all about timing. I think timing is everything." - Brenda, Six Feet Under
"To transform the emptiness of loneliness, to the fullness of aloneness. Ah, that is the secret of life." - Sunita Khosla
"If the wolf is to survive, the wolf haters must be outnumbered. They must be outshouted, out financed, and out voted. Their narrow and biased attitude must be outweighed by an attitude based on an understanding of natural processes." - L. David Mech
"After a while, you just want to be with the one that makes you laugh." - Mr. Big, Sex and the City
'A career is wonderful, but you can't curl up with it on a cold night.' - Marilyn Monroe
'Loving can cost a lot but not loving always costs more, and those who fear to love often find that want of love is an emptiness that robs the joy from life.' - Merle Shain
'Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear' - Mark Twain
'Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.' - Teddy Roosevelt
'But who am I kidding? Dates are things normal girls have. Girls who have time to think about nail polish and facials. You know what I think about? Ambush tactics. Beheading. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of.' -Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
'When you ride a horse, balance comes, not from freezing your legs to the saddle, but from learning to float with the movement of the horse as you ride. Each step is a dance, the rider's dance as well as the dance of the horse.' - Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
good to hear. I think I'm coming to a BATS show on saturday, are you in it? I remeber you telling us at camp this year. what were you guys called? and thanks for befriending me.
No fear Laura. I will always remember the little people and how they were little when I was not as big as I'm sure to be. Have yourself a merry little whatever it is that entertains you wee folk. Expansively, Dave
Thank you for being a friend to Unchained Productions . –And being a part of the Global Creative Collective . Stop by our page and browse through our Friends List and see what else is being done creatively around the globe.
Be on the lookout for an upcoming monthly Blog Feature --“BackStage Banter” -- featuring a different artist/creative talent each month with interviews and calendar plugs. Maybe that could be you!
And do keep in touch and leave a note to share you latest creative projects/passions/obsessions so we can support you. We are: Shouting in the Wilderness Theatre; The Scriptorium Publications; Sound Stage Audio Drama; Moving Images Digital Drama; *Shadow Step* Dance Troupe; Gideon’s Sword! Fight Choreography; Footlights Apprentice Theatrical & Literary Instruction and Education.
David Ian Artistic Director & Coordinator Unchained Productions Portland, OR
Thanks! *grins* I'm sorry you have to miss Craig's show - that's a bummer. The same happened to me last year. But luckily he's coming to Austin this November, and I get to go this time. I'm really excited!
I hope you get to see him soon! Have an awesome Sunday. XO Katrina
Well.....I'm about to turn 45 and finding it a bit scary. Life is pretty weird these days...but a good friend said things will be hard for a time and then get better...so we will see. How are you?
Is Pickles really reading Artist's Way, or is that you? And are you aware that Jen and I were talking about working the book together and wondering if you would get in on the action?
Because I would love to do that with you. Morning pages! Yeah!
hey laura, what's up? How's the class this week? Our class last week is keepin' in touch and stuff, its good. Hope you're not completely losing ur mind haha.
Why didn't you come see me today? I want lots of carrots tomorrow, okay? Lots of carrots. To make up for today. Because I am not seeing you. It's kinda my birthday too. I want love and carrots and scratchies and cantering in the sunshine and I want to walk in the mountains with you, MOM!!! Love, Pickles Muh huh huh huh huh huh huh
Hello from Japan!! I'm doing well! The weather here is muggy/rainy/sunny all mixed together. No good hair days here! Laura and I leave Friday morning for the states and don't want to leave but can't wait to get back home. If that makes sense. I fly into SF so I will get some of that good weather for a few minutes and then I hear I'm returning to hot, hot, hot! We have a wedding to go to in Mendicino Sat..so jet lag, cool weather and love. Does that all go together?? Glad to hear you're doing well!!
I am doing well...thanks for asking. The school year has ended...YEAH, and I only have a few more days of work and I'm off for a few weeks. Working at a school sure has it's perks. It has been great to see Donovan. We sure have some cool nephews!! How are you?
LAURA!!!! I am doing good, busy with school and work. I wanted to also let you know I got a part in a production at my college as a deaf person (type casting?) hehe. But if you are interested I will send you the dates and times! Hope all is well with you and BTW PIRATES FINALLY CAME OUT!!!!
Ahoy matey! Have you seen At World's End yet??? I LOVED the first one, but HATED the 2nd one, so I'm hesitant to see this one...I'll wait for your review ; - )
Arrrrrrrrrrr. Daniel's brother was featured in an Entertainment Weekly article as the nameless Capt Jack Sparrow impersonator who impressed the writer. It even has a picture of Justin, Daniel's bro, in action! Arrrrr matie! It's a good time for pirates!
