Laurel Black - Balanced by Design

          Imagination, style, and humor are three words that come to mind when I hear the name Laurel Black. Whether creating branding for an international firm or letterhead for a local non-profit, she brings qualities of imagination and practicality to her work.

          Then there’s Laurel’s sense of humor. In meetings, her professional demeanor is one of attentive listening and appropriate questions, and yet, one can almost see the twinkle in her eye and know that a touch of levity is about to shared.

          Like all artists, she usually lets her work speak for her, except when Taking the Plunge!

  

Laurel Black

If I had to limit myself to one word to describe what I’m about, it would be hard because most who know me know that I seldom limit myself when it comes to words. They might choose words like verbose or smartass. But let’s pretend there’s a gun to my head: I choose –   balance. When I am in the process of evaluating/analyzing/making choices, the questions that comes up regularly for me is “Where is the balance?” This to me is at the core of meaningful communication.

I have become sensitized to false dichotomies. We are too often presented with opposed choices that aren’t really opposed, such as art vs. science, or jobs vs. the environment, or healthy food vs. delicious food. I think this contributes in part to the current dysfunction in our government. Framing choices as mutually hostile allows partisanship to turn into power tripping.

So, the other word for me is independent. I reject simplistic ideologies that boil things down to manipulative sound bites however seductive they may seem. I try to maintain an objective distance that allows for clear understanding. It’s not easy, and sometimes I’m unsuccessful, but like everyone else, I’m a work in progress.

       

1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!

Definitely “curious” is number one. The rest are:

Aspirational – Compassionate – Intuitive – Creative – Intelligent  

(I’m working on them.)

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

    Birthed my daughter and my business. They’re my proudest efforts so far,

    and both still in development. As am I.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I would have started working on fitness and health earlier. If allowed more         than one thing, I would edit some early poor relationship choices. And I would   have trained myself to be better at learning new things. Actually, I suppose I   could do that now.

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Crazy: People who don’t understand that responsibility is the other side of the   rights coin. These are the ones who complain about poor government services AND their taxes. They also leave their shopping carts in the middle of the parking lot.

Joy: The opportunity to help others express their value to the world (in other words, my work). Supporting people and organizations of worth is when I feel most powerful.

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

Travel widely, deeply understand what makes people tick, and learn new computer programs with total ease and zero frustration.

It would also be cool to be able to get by on four hours of sleep a night so I would have more time to do stuff.

  

To learn more about Laurel, go to:

www.laurelblack.com.

Laurel’s LinkedIn profile is here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurelblack .

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurelBlackDesign

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Stacy Lawson - A Woman with a Different View of the World

Ever meet someone and just know either 1. you’ve met them in a past life or 2. you’re going to be good friends? One reason I enjoy not only writing but reading my blog, “Taking the Plunge”, is learning more about people – people I thought I knew and people I’d like to know even better.

Stacy Lawson and I met a few weeks ago in the Artist Trust EDGE Grant Program for Literary Artists. I rarely thrust my work upon strangers (or for that matter, friends) and yet before the end of the first weekend I handed Stacy four pages and asked her to read them.

The jury’s still out for me in regards to “past lives”, but I’m pretty certain Stacy and I are going to be good friends. 

I hope you enjoy getting to know this interesting, smart, funny woman as much I do.

Stacy Lawson

I am a writer, yoga instructor/owner of Red Square Yoga, and a public school advocate. 

My work has appeared in Under the Sun, Drash Northwest Mosaic, r.kv.r.y quarterly literary journal, Raven Chronicles, and Sunday Ink: Works by the Uptown Writers. I live in Seattle with my husband, two sons, and my ill-mannered dog, Jasper.

I write to find meaning, to question myself, to question others, to question beliefs held too firmly. I write to question fears and to unravel insecurities that can compress into rock-solid absolutes.

I write to add breath and humor to suffocating arguments. I write to organize my thoughts, to formulate credible arguments and to find the right words to express myself.

I write to have a long sustained dialogue with the Self, an uninterrupted one-on-one, a spiritual moment not dependent on any God, a synagogue, a guru, a virgin birth, or other convention.

One View

1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!

Curious – Electric – Eclectic – Pragmatic – Funny

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I am most proud of my relationships with my husband, kids, parents, sibs, and friends.  

First my relationship with my husband (who is really too good for me in many many ways) has been the major work in this life.  We have been together for 27 years and have had our ups and downs, but we've really negotiated the big waves.  We've had hard days, months, and years, but we've kept at it.  Through working on this relationship, I have learned a lot about all relationships and how to move more graciously in the world.  

I am proud of my relationship with my two sons.  Daniel is 15, William is 11 (names altered to protect the innocent). I've worked hard to figure out how to negotiate the role of parent. I think deeply about parenting.  What is it that I/we want for the boys? How can I prepare them for the world to come?  How much should I protect them from the world out there?  How can I help them to own their lives now and in the future, own their choices, and live with the consequences. I try to carefully consider when I need to step in and when I need to stand aside. 

Finally, I am proud of my relationships with my family and friends. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj which means to unite, to meet, to commune, to consummate. My relationships are part of my yoga practice.

Disclaimer:  Not all of my relationships are perfect or near perfect. (Just ask around.) But, for the most part, I'm comfortable with where things stand.  I don't believe that family members are required to get along by virtue of sharing blood or legal arrangements. To some degree, we are all broken, and we look for relationships with people who don't hurt us more or challenge us in unhelpful ways.

This makes sense to me.  

 3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?  

I would have given more money to Janey when she came to me after her husband died. She subsequently died shortly after. She was in need. But, I was afraid of getting tied into supporting her and I wasn't ready to negotiate that. 

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Entitlement drives me crazy (my own included).

I think there are some basic misunderstandings that lead to bad behavior. There really is no such thing as innate equality except as an idea. After conception, we have a placement in the world that scripts us.

Not all people are born with the same health, looks, opportunities, resources, and access. Many poor people work very hard, and it never amounts to anything. Many wealthy people work very hard, but once you have money, it's easier to make more money. Many wealthy people and many poor people don't work hard at all. Fair doesn't really exist in the bigger universe.

So, I believe we need a safety net that guarantees all a basic level of support that comes from taxation. I'm not afraid of taxes. Let's get rid of the loopholes. I don't believe that people aim to go on welfare.  I believe that people lack opportunities, exposure, role models, money, etc. 

I find joy in music, dancing, knitting, reading, writing, sleeping, walking, chocolate, hiking, kayaking, etc...

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?      

Mostly I want to travel, and I do travel quite a bit. I'd love to live somewhere else for even 3 months before my kids leave home. I want to navigate the unknown together and to explore.

I want to be out of my element.  

Lots of wonderful views!

To learn even more about Stacy:

stacylawson.com

Stacy Lawson Writer on FB

And from R2: 

Thanks for reading and by all means share this site with friends. Email me if you know of someone you find fascinating that would like to be profiled! 

Elizabeth Kelly - Life is an Adventure

          Making new friends at any age is such a joy. Sitting across the room from Elizabeth Kelly in a singing group I realized we shared a birthday. We decided to celebrate over tea and toast. Since that first cup (and many subsequent cups of tea over the years), we found we shared life experiences – love of music, hospice volunteering, reading and writing, and best of all, a love of travel.

          Her calm demeanor is augmented by an inquisitive mind, a zeal for the stage, and a spirit of adventure that’s unmatched.

          We should all live as long and enjoy life as much as Elizabeth Kelly.

                   

Elizabeth Kelly

          I believe I’m in this world to learn who I am. It’s a life-long process and although I’m 80+ years into it, I still have a lot to learn.

I have been singing since I was six (maybe earlier) and love to sing, especially with others. I am also a writer and have written three books, one of which, a memoir, I self-published (sort of). The other two haven’t been published. I write poetry in my head all the time and try to write one poem a week.

My love of the movies has been with me as long as I can remember. I still go to the movies a lot, but also watch them on TV and DVD.       

My children and grandchildren are my greatest joy. I delight in them all and will champion them as long as I live.

I have traveled to all seven continents and been to 49 states (I still haven’t made it to Rhode Island).

Elizabeth Kelly

1.     Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!

Contentment – Curiosity – Love – Wanderlust – Minimalist

2.     What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I am mother to five beautiful souls.

3.     If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I wish I had used the four-year music scholarship to Portland University I received when I graduated from high school in Kelso, Washington.

4.     On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Nothing drives me crazy. I’m pretty tolerant.

I get joy from music especially classical, but I love most all music. Nature gives me joy, in all its abundance. I also love good writing, good filmmaking, good painting, good photography, architecture, and of course, good food.

I get joy from hearing others laugh and from laughing at myself.

5.     Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

My first thought is to say, “Put an end to war,” but I think it’s all a part of our evolution, and perhaps we as a people have to go through it.

My second thought was, “Get rid of all guns, here and abroad.” Of course, that’s just wishful fantasizing.

I’ve always wanted to visit Cape Town, RSA and Kruger National Park.

I really mean it when I say I’m content.

Hawaii 2014

100 Degrees in Cambodia

Cooling off with a vanilla shake in Vietnam

Lisa Koch - a "MAWLS" or "WALMS" or "SWALM"- Huh?

             If there’s one thing I think we can all agree on is that there’s not enough laughter in the world. Oh, sure, sometimes it seems like nothing’s funny and watching the news – any news – only reinforces the dreariness of mankind. 

          That’s why it’s so important to share joy.

          I’ve seen “Ham for the Holidays” twice in the last few years and it’s pure (?), unadulterated silliness! I also had the chance to attend a concert by Lisa Koch who sang and played the guitar and reincarnated herself as Sister Mary Agnes Labia. Tears brought on by laughter are the best.

          So, if you’re overwhelmed with the upcoming holiday madness or the political mishegas that’s never ending, get thee to “Ham for the Holidays” (if you’re in the Seattle area) or go to Lisa’s website for an irreverent, but apropos, musical CD. Enjoy!

Lisa Koch

I was born in Ashland, Oregon and moved to Seattle in 1989. I started as a musician at 15, came out at 19, played in bands for years, then wandered into comedy, acting, writing and producing.

Currently, I travel as a solo music/comedy act, and I am a member of sketch comedy duo, Dos Fallopia. We’re gearing up for our upcoming holiday show, “Ham for the Holidays: Close Encounters of the Pork Rind” at ACT Theatre, December 4-22 (www.acttheatre.org).

And…I got legally married to my partner this year, huzzah!

         

  Sister Mary Agnes Labia a.k.a. Lisa Koch

1.      Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!

Musician – Actor – Writer – Lesbian – Sketch-comic

      (Acronym: MAWLS or WALMS or SWALM)

2.      What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I got clean and sober at age 30.  Big turning point in my life.

3.      If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

  That I could say goodbye to my grandfather.

4.      On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Top Crazy maker: People talking loudly and incessantly on their cell phones in public.    

Close 2^nd: Six people sitting at a table together, all checking their phones or texting with no personal interaction. (Hey, I’m guilty, too.)

Joy Machine:  Playing music with my pals.

5.      Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?       

1.      Save the planet.

2.      Scuba dive in tropical water daily.

3.      Play bass in a kick ass band.

  

 

Peggy Platt and Lisa Koch as the Spudds in "Ham for the Holidays"

  Lisa and Barbara Higbie in concert

Lisa as Compost Morningdew

For more information about Lisa - her schedule of events, recordings, where to order tickets, etc.

click:  Lisa Koch 

www.heylisa.com

 

Tom Nobili - Excited for the Future

Americans move – a lot. I’m a perfect example of this transient pattern of life; born in Pittsburgh, moved to Los Angeles, back to Pittsburgh, then to Palm Springs, and currently in Port Angeles, northwest of Seattle. In spite of all the packing and unpacking and enjoying each new environment, Pittsburgh is, and always will be, “home.”

So, I understand Tom’s affection for the one time steel city, draped in Black & Gold.

One of the joys of this time of life – Internet/Facebook/Skype – is that no matter how far away we are from one another in miles, we can keep in touch and re-kindle old friendships and initiate new ones.

Tom worked for me at WRS Motion Picture Laboratory in Pittsburgh a long time ago. I remember him as a fresh out of college student who had a strong work ethic and bright mind. As I read his responses to Taking the Plunge, I know he still maintains those qualities and is so much more. Meet Tom Nobili.

Thomas Nobili

          I was born in Donora, PA, a very small town in Southwestern PA. (population: 3000) 25 miles south of Pittsburgh. I am the oldest of three children, with a younger brother and sister.  Several famous people are from Donora, including baseball greats Ken Griffey and Hall of Famer Stan “The Man” Musial.  I am very proud of my roots there, and residing in such a humble town for the first 29 years of my life helped shape my personality and character into the person that I am today. I currently reside in Castaic, CA. with my wife, five year old son and 90 lb. “lap dog.”  I hope to teach many of the small town values to my son like my father did with me. 

          I graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the early 90’s, majoring in Music and Video Business.  Soon after graduating, I accepted a position at WRS Motion Picture Lab in Pittsburgh, starting out doing film prep, advancing to film color timing, and eventually being promoted to senior color timer. In 1999, I accepted a position at Cinetech Lab in California, where I became a lead timer, restoring many A-title films from major studios with several legendary cinematographers and directors.

          A couple of years ago, Cinetech was bought by Deluxe. In October 2012, Deluxe consolidated our lab with their Hollywood lab. I was one of three Cinetech production employees chosen to relocate to Hollywood, where I set up their restoration department (it has pretty much shut down already since I left).  My color timing career ended in February, just short of twenty years in the business.  Because technology has changed so much going from film to digital, my expertise is rarely needed. The entire film business is now doing more with less people, so instead of finding another job in the industry that would most likely be temporary, I decided to go back to college, brush up on my skills, and reinvent myself.

I will complete my courses by the end of the spring, majoring in Graphic Design, Web Design, and E-Commerce. I am excited about what opportunities my new career will offer me, and I hope to freelance or start my own business so I can work from anywhere. Despite my recent setbacks, I am very excited about what the future holds for me and my family.

                                  

 

Q&A

         

1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!

Father – Husband – Friend – Student – Steeler Fan

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

Even though I have accomplished many things professionally, I have never felt as proud as I did when I became a father. My son means everything to me and he makes me proud every day.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

This is a difficult question. I always look at everything that has happened in my life (good and bad) as a learning experience and try not to have any regrets – except one thing. Six and a half years ago, my wife and I gave birth to a baby girl that died two hours after being born. She was very premature and she didn’t make it. (My wife had complications and they had to deliver quickly). Obviously, if I could change the past, it would be for that not to have happened. Other than this one tragedy, I wouldn’t change a thing.

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Intolerant people drive me crazy! We are all human beings who are all unique and special in some way. Those who don’t respect or accept that have no place in my life. Also Cleveland Brown fans drive me crazy! 

My family and friends give me joy.

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

I would love to travel the world in as much time as needed to see it all. I would also like to visit every NFL stadium for a game (except Cleveland).

Happy Family

 

Michael and "lap dog"

Tough year to be a Steeler fan - except for the faithful.

Luke Yankee: Multi-Talented Man

        My best memory of Luke was working with him shortly after we were introduced by cinematographer Brianne Murphy. She had read my novella/play, “Dear Jennifer”, and thought he would he the perfect director for a reading in Los Angeles.

          Luke assembled a brilliant cast and we had a run through on Sunday afternoon for a Monday evening performance. The realization that cuts were needed because it was too long and too wordy became apparent that afternoon, but the reading was Monday evening and we were attending the ASC dinner at the Beverly Hills that night.

          Well, after the awards ceremony, we went back to my hotel, kicked off our shoes, and went through the script slashing and cutting into the wee hours. Luke dropped the changes off at Kinko’s for the casts’ revised scripts and I picked them up after my business meeting Monday afternoon.   

          With Luke’s calm, brilliant approach to direction and my best instinct as the author to trust my director, the performance was marvelous and we got a standing ovation from the invited audience.

          We’ve been through a lot over the years, but I’ll always remember the fun of working together that night.

Luke Yankee

I have worked in many different aspects of the entertainment industry. I’ve run two regional theatres, assistant directed six Broadway shows, toured internationally with my one-man show, written a memoir about growing up as a showbiz kid (my mother was the Oscar/Emmy/Tony winning actress, Eileen Heckart)…lots of other stuff.

Currently, I am focusing my energies on television writing and I am determined to become a staff writer on a hit TV show. I am also in negotiations with PBS for an interview show called CONVERSATIONS ON CRAFT, where I chat with actors, writers, directors and producers about how they got where they are today.

My new play, THE LAST LIFEBOAT, is about to be published b Dramatists Play Service. It’s the untold story of the owner of the White Star Line at the time of the sinking The Titanic and the subsequent hearings and aftermath of the disaster. It’s a big, epic tale told on a bare stage with an ensemble cast and I am beyond thrilled it is getting published. 

    

 

1. Who are you? List five nouns that define you.

Caring – Flamboyant – Funny – Passionate – Great Storyteller!

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

There are lots of things that I am proud of, but the top two (okay, I cheated) would have to be my marriage to my amazing husband of 18 years, Don Hill, and writing my book, JUST OUTSIDE THE SPOTLIGHT.  I’d talked about writing a book about my mom since I was 14 and when I finally held it in my hands, it was – and remains - an incredible feeling. It has great stories about Ethel Merman teaching me how to make a martini at age 10, Paul Newman giving me acting lessons in the living room, and Marilyn Monroe babysitting my brothers.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I wish I had been kinder and gentler with my father. He was an extraordinary man and I never realized just HOW incredible he was until I lost him. He had a quiet, gentle strength and because he wasn’t boisterous and noisy like the rest of the family, I didn’t appreciate him on his own terms. He’s been gone nearly 14 years and I regret this every day.

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

What drives me crazy is not feeling like I am being treated with respect.

What gives me joy is entertaining people – especially making them laugh.

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?    

So many things! I love traveling with my husband. I’d love to rent a villa in Tuscany for awhile, then move on to a pied-a-terre in Nice, then a flat in one of the posh, London suburbs like Richmond and keep going all over the world.

Mom Eileen and Luke

Polishing Mom's star!

 For more about Luke go to:  http://www.lukeyankee.com/

                                          

 

Elaine Gardner-Morales = Music? Oh, Yeah!

          Ever hear a melody on the radio and instantly be transported to a special moment when you first heard it? Lullaby? Special dance? First kiss? Hymn? 

          Music, more than any other form of communication, is not only universal, but magical. So when you meet someone that literally plays to a different drummer or sings a different tune and you immediately “get them”, you know it’s all about the music.

          Elaine Gardner-Morales is funny and witty and knowledgeable, but seems to transform when she has a guitar in her hand or is coaching her vocal ensemble.

          Her answer to question #4 below comes as no surprise. Hearing, listening, and feeling the music is what her life is all about. If we all took the time to open our hearts (the original rhythm machine) to music like Elaine does, maybe peace would be a possibility.

 

 Elaine Gardner-Morales

I was born and raised in Denton, Texas to a University of North Texas music professor and a high school foreign language instructor from Esmaraca, Bolivia. I had three sibs, all musically talented, and from the time I can remember, the “Gardner Band” was always making music from blues to classical and voice to cello.

After receiving my degrees in music composition and theory, I spent 25 years as a professor and Chair of Music at Brookhaven College School of the Arts in Dallas, Texas. I retired in 2009 after building a successful department and moved to Port Angeles, Washington with Helen Carrick to a beautiful, mountain view home with lots of critters.

Although I am “rich” with the many experiences of my musical career, I am most proud of the vocal jazz ensemble I built at the Brookhaven College. After twenty years, I looked back at fifteen national and international tours, multiple awards at Vocal Jazz festivals through out the United States, a ton of fabulous performances and lots of wonderful people and musicians that I have known.

So naturally when I moved to Port Angeles and I had the opportunity to repeat this experience and teach music part time, at Peninsula College, I jumped at it! Currently, I am teaching a vocal jazz ensemble and I’ll probably be 75 when I get tired of it!

I also have to give a nod of pride to my children Charles and Mary whom have seen me through thick and thin. Although they still live in Dallas, both have gone through life changes with me, and I with them. We still find the time to talk and say “I love you” on a regular basis.

That bring me to the present: playing jazz guitar in the Olympic Express Big Band, teaching Vocal Jazz Ensemble and guitar at Peninsula College, doing a little music composition on the side, taking care of four cats and one loud sheepdog, mowing a seven acre yard, taking care of the yard and house with Helen and doing my best to love those that come my way.

1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that best describe you.

      Educator – Musician – Composer – Lover – Humorist

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I am proud of a lot of things and after thinking about it, I can’t site one particular thing that I am most proud of. I am proud of: my career, my kids, my accomplishments as a musician, my house, my friends and loved ones, my love for diversity, my professionalism, my generosity, my pen collection and my guitar collection. …I think that is enough pride for one paragraph.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

Of course, there are a couple of people I would like to have erased from my experience and a couple of major decisions that I made that were stupid, but I have changed my answer several times since I began thinking about this question…. One thing?! 

Since I only get one thing, I think it needs to be something we can all enjoy, even those that I do not know. The one thing I would change is that every human being on this earth could experience and live in peace. …I would really like that. 

     4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Crazy Question? Lots of times when people are being overlooked or I am overlooked - it does drive me crazy.

Joy Question? Music, people, animals, smiles and laughter - oh yeah! (I couldn’t choose just one.)

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

I would like to be in two places at once so I could travel the world and climb Mt. Everest. 

Six year old cowgirl!

Helen cooking up something delicious.

Elaine

Texas Family: :Scott - Mary - Elaine - Charlie

Port Angeles Family