Vicki Louise Hall Clauson, 1955-2018

There is nothing like the loss of a parent to leave a child overwhelmed with all the responsibilities and duties of taking care of that parent's final arrangements. That's what is happening to three women I've known since they were preschoolers. Elyse, Lauren and Renee are the daughters of my son's God-father, Gene, who passed …

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Las Vegas Shooting: Mike Cronk

From my notes:  "Yes, I've 'scoped' down profiles on survivors and those who helped save others. We need to know, that amid the darkness, a brighter light shined the night of the Vegas shooting." As the shooting began in Las Vegas, Mike Cronk stood his ground. He tried to help his friend who had taken …

Dorothy Lane, 1934-2018

My son, Kyle, lost his last grandparent on October 6, 2018 in Sedalia, Missouri. Dorothy Lane was born August 10, 1934 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Floyd and Grace Whittle. She was raised in Kansas City and later lived in Nevada and California, where she worked as a manager for several doctors’ offices. It was …

Las Vegas Shooting: Addison Short

From my notes:  "Wynn Las Vegas and Encore have begun checking bags with handheld metals detectors." In the middle of the Las Vegas shooting, Addison Short tried to make a run for it. But her knee gave way: "I just got shot, I can't run. You kept hearing gunshots. They just weren't stopping." Then a …

Bad for Business

Dreams can be so real and yet so odd. Real because of how you feel and think after waking up, odd because of the subject of the dream and (at least for me) the 'composite people' that make up the dreamscape. A group of us were at dinner, when I was called away from the …

Las Vegas Shooting: The Beatons

From my notes:  "Marilou Danley came to the U.S. as Marilou Natividad, married Geary Danley in 1990 and took his surname. Danley lives in Arkansas, but he has declined to answer questions. In 1996, Marilou wed Jose Bustos, and became Marilou Bustos. But she did not dissolve her marriage to Danley until 2015, divorce records …

Maria Conteras and Chuck Whitten get Married

It was a very enjoyable day on October 26th, for everyone involved, I do believe. The day I’m speaking of is the wedding of my very good friend, Chuck Whitten and his best friend, Maria Jesus Molina Contreras. They asked me to be their photographer for not only the nuptials, but also for the small …

Las Vegas Shooting: the Queen’s Dragoon Guard

From my notes:  "The murderer in the Las Vegas shooting legally purchased firearms from Nevada, Utah, California, and Texas." They were on leave in Las Vegas during the mass shooting. The ‘they’ are six soldiers from the UK’s Queen’s Dragoon Guards. The half-dozen men had been taking part in a training exercise in the Nevada …

Las Vegas Shooting: Nurse Vanessa

From my notes:  "In the last three years alone, more than 200 reports about the Las Vegas murder's activities -- particularly large transactions at casinos -- have been filed with law enforcement authorities." An off-duty nurse from Orange County, California, who only identified herself as Vanessa, ran back amid the danger to help rescue those …

Las Vegas Shooting: UNLV Assistant Hockey Coach Nick Robone

From my notes:  "When police officers closed in on the gunman at Mandalay Bay, he may have been watching their every move through cameras placed in the hallway." University of Nevada, Las Vegas assistant hockey coach Nick Robone was at the Las Vegas concert with his brother, Anthony, a Henderson, Nevada Fire Department paramedic. Initially, …

Las Vegas Shooting: Lindsay Padgett and Mark Jay

From my notes:  "Jimmy Kimmel, who grew up in Las Vegas, blames Congress for the Vegas shooting, claiming they're in the pocket of the NRA." Lindsay Padgett and her fiancé Mark Jay were at the Las Vegas music festival Sunday night when the shooting started. After dropping to the ground, they made a break for …

Las Vegas Shooting: Amy McAslin and Krystal Goddard

From my notes: "They shut the lights off on the concert field while first responders were assessing shooting victims, claiming everyone laying the field was deceased even though some were breathing and crying for help." Roommates Amy McAslin and Krystal Goddard dived under a table as the gunfire began in Las Vegas on Sunday night. …

Electric Dream Eel

My bedside clock reads 2139 hours and I'm jus' awake from a very bizarre dream. I was running across the desert towards a bluff that overlooks what I believed to be a pond. When I got to the edge, I jumped from the cliff towards the water. As I dropped to the surface, two things …

Las Vegas Shooting: Photographer Brandon O’Neal

From my notes:  "Australia’s Courier-Mail reporters having spoken to Brian Hodge, who was in the room next to the Las Vegas murder. He states: “There were multiple people dead and multiple shooters. I was just hiding waiting for police to come get us. I got outside safely and was hiding in bushes. My floor is …

Las Vegas Shooting: Dr. Heather Melton

From my notes: "The Vegas murderer's 'companion' is documented as Marilou Natividad-Bustos, in California, with a birthday of January 1962 -- making her 55 years old. In Nevada, she's registered as Marilou Lou Danley, with a birthday of December 1954 -- meaning she would be 62. She also has two social security numbers." As an …

Compassion

As a child I was selfish, like most children. I had to be taught compassion. As an adult, I thought I knew all about compassion and had to learn the hard way that I didn’t. In fact, it took me several lessons, via some hard-knock situations to realize that compassion is both an ongoing process …

Las Vegas Shooting: Auburn, Washington Firefighter Dean McAuley

From my notes:  " FBI is suggesting the Vegas murderer’s mental state was deteriorating, that he had significant weight loss, an increasingly slovenly physical appearance and obsession with his girlfriend’s ex-husband." Visiting from Auburn, Washington, off-duty firefighter Dean McAuley was in Las Vegas to see a concert. Instead he ended up saving lives during the Sunday night …

President Trump, MAGA Rally, Elko, Nevada

After attending a 2012 rally in Reno, Nevada for Mitt Romney, I promised myself that I'd never attend or even photograph a political event ever again. That's how disgusted I was with Romney after he'd tossed the last debated to then-President Obama. Well, I broke that promise to myself today. This is my favorite picture …

Las Vegas Shooting: Brian Rogers and EMT Kaitlyn Rogers

From my notes:  "A source has let me know that law enforcement has a video of the Vegas murderer shooting from the hotel room. Apparently he set up a system to tape himself in the act. What a disconnect." It was a few minutes after 10, Sunday night when Brian Rogers’ cellphone went off. It …

Catfished

A friend is complaining that he’s been ‘catfished.’ I’m commiserating the best I can... She pretended to be a she. Had him hooked and on the line. No tuna for him.

Las Vegas Shooting: EMT Glen Simpson

From my notes:  "Investigators are now trying to identify the mystery woman seen with the murderer in the days before the Las Vegas massacre." For Glen Simpson, Sunday night hadn’t been particularly eventful. An emergency medical technician, he was hired to provide medical services at the event. “I got a radio call to go over …

Fiery Frenzy

His head blazes skyward. Loins burn explosive passion. Her kisses quenching.

Las Vegas Shooting: Las Vegas Firefighter Ben Kole and EMT Rachel Kole

From my notes:  "Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Charleston Hartfield was shot and killed during the Las Vegas mass-shooting. Hartfield was a military veteran, a youth football coach and recently published author." Off duty, Las Vegas firefighter Ben Kole was enjoying the Sunday evening concert. He knew his daughter Rachel was working as an EMT …

Las Vegas Shooting: Linda and Donnie Proctor

From my notes:  "Authorities have recovered over 40 firearms from the Las Vegas murders hotel room and his home." Linda and Donnie Proctor went to Las Vegas with their daughter and son-in-law to see country music artist Jake Owen, a family friend perform. He gave them backstage passes. At first she was confused about the …

Las Vegas Shooting: Rick Baughman

From my notes:  "Jason Aldean, who was performing on stage in Las Vegas at the time of the shooting, says he and his band are canceling their upcoming shows this weekend out of respect for the victims and survivors of thw attack." Denver-area resident Rick Baughman will always know how close he came to being …

Itchy

She had an itch needed Reaching, so with gentle touch We found her secret spot.

Las Vegas Shooting: Nevada State Trooper Travis Smaka

From my notes: "Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt has postponed plans to announce his candidacy for governor in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas." Sunday night, Nevada State Trooper Travis Smaka’s life changed forever. Sitting down for his shift briefing, the call came through on the radio saying there was a shooting …

Lingering

Last night I touched you And I’ve no idea who You are in reality. And yet I woke with Your scent on my fingers.

Las Vegas Shooting: Former Pussycat Doll Kaya Jones

From my notes:  "Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw predictably claims, “Well, I think this is time for a national dialogue that we can have in a calm and reasoned way in which the country can figure out how come we have so many mass shootings in this country.”" Former Pussycat Dolls member Kaya …

Palindroming Puppy

dog is i's god

Las Vegas Shooting: Mandalay Security Officer Jesus Campos

From my notes:  "AP News reports the Las Vegas murderer had two “bump-stocks” that could have converted semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic ones. They also had to point out that California Senator Dianne Fienstien has been 'railing against' bump-stocks." Security officer Jesus Campos had been in the building, patrolling the halls and was sent to …

Forty-two Years Later

Every year the date of Her murder comes and goes. Failed her again.

Las Vegas Shooting: Jan Lambourne and Justin Uhart

From my notes:  "Esquire columnist Charles Pierce claims the shooting in Las Vegas is, “The massacre of country music fans is....the 273rd blood sacrifice to that one provision of the Constitution this year.” He also blames the massacre on gun owners, Wayne LaPierre, Donald Trump and Christians." On Sunday night in Las Vegas, Justin Uhart …

Las Vegas Shooting: Anthony Chavez

From my notes:  "Hayley Geftman-Gold is an attorney for CBS. She tweeted that she was “not even sympathetic” to the the Las Vegas shooting victims because “country music fans often are Republican.”" Anthony Chavez was simply known as the "hero in the red hat," He he would have remained unknown if Larry Rorick hadn’t searched him …

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

It’s amazing the odd thought that pops into one’s head in the moment of crisis. That’s what happened to me as I sped west on Interstate 80 at 70-plus miles per hour and my left rear tire came apart. Flicking on my turn signal to change from the right to the left lane, I stepped …

Las Vegas Shooting: Taylor Winston

From my notes: "Someone claims that Marilou Danley is a regular at the Atlantis, in Reno, and works there as hostess. Not since early August she hasn't. Facts are a horrible thing." Taylor Winston, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from San Diego, was among friends in Las Vegas Sunday night when a gunman opened fire …

Koi Pond

Watercolor and ink, 8 x 11 1/2

Las Vegas Shooting: Jonathan Smith

From my notes: "President Trump and the first lady will visit a hospital in Las Vegas to meet with shooting survivors, first responders and other medical professionals." Jonathan Smith saved at least 30 people before being shot in the neck during the Las Vegas mass-shooting. He had driven to Las Vegas from Orange County, California …

1492

Chris discovers 'Merica? ‘Indigenous' indignant? He found only the West Indies.

Off Key

Taylor tweets polity, Hashtagged: ‘shut up and sing.’ This round goes to Kanye!

Las Vegas Shooting: Mikkena Parry

From my notes: "VP Mike Pence donated blood 'to raise awareness for those in need in Las Vegas.' Pence says it was "inspiring to see others donating blood in Arizona to help those hurt" in the shooting." Las Vegan Mikkena Parry is recovering from a gunshot to the left arm that had traveled to her …

Black Hole

Dad of the year, I ain't. Hard when your kid goes away, So lets wish upon a star.

Las Vegas: Sheldon Mack

From my notes:  "The Las Vegas shooter didn’t commit suicide as being reported. He was killed by officer's who breached his room using explosives. They also found Antifa literature in that room." Sheldon Mack, of Victoria, British Columbia, says the mass-shooting in Las Vegas continues to play "like a bad nightmare" he can't wake up from. …

Upon Confirmation

Steak and potatoes, It is what is for dinner. So Snowflake, hold my beer.

Rain in Desert

Soaked through to the skin, Standing in a night time rain. Smell the high desert bloom.

Las Vegas Shooting: Paige Melanson and Don Matthews

From my notes: "LVMPD officers ordered to shut off body cam's while reponding to shooting." Miss Las Vegas 2016 got the chance to thank the retired firefighter who saved her, her mother, her sister and two girlfriends during the Las Vegas shooting Sunday night. She also describes how everthing unfolded for her. "My mother is …

Vowels

Wrote all night in sleep I had no vowels to use Words with friends nightmare.

Las Vegas Shooting: Derek Cecil

From my notes:  "FBI stats show that only three crimes using an automatic weapon have been committed since 1934." A retired Reno police officer is one of the many off-duty and former first responders who immediately sprang into action to help save strangers in Las Vegas Sunday night. The Army National Guard flight medic and …

Whiskey, Coffee, Life

Too much whiskey last night Much too much black coffee tonight I need to get myself a life

Las Vegas Shooting: Renee Cesario and Brendan Kelly

From my notes:  "ISIS is claiming responsibilty for the Las Vegas mass shooting." Twenty-three year old Renee Cesario describes how 21-year-old U.S. Marine Brendan Kelly saved her life in the opening moments of gunfire in Las Vegas, on Sunday night. “Brendan and I met only 2 hours before the Jason Aldean show. I left my …

Sharks

There are sharks in this damn water But I’m the striped tiger, beyond king. Fuck with me and I’ll drown you And your progeny’s coming progeny. Perhaps I’m nothing more than drunk, Ten feet tall, bullet proof, pissed off Don’t know exactly why, but then -- hey I don’t think I need a reason, do …

Las Vegas Shooting: Taylor Benge

From my notes:  "I think the reason Obama's keeping his mouth shut is because of the 'Bump Stock,' police found in the shooters room, a piece of shooting equiptment he approved as president."  When Taylor Benge went to the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas on Sunday, an agnostic. He left a Believer: “I was …

Las Vegas Shooting: Heather Gooze

From my notes: "All but three of the 59 people killed in the mass shooting in the Las Vegas have been identified." Survivor Heather Gooze was working as bartender when the shooting started, but she risked her life to stay at the side of the dying Jordan McIldoon. She describes the situation: "You could hear …

Las Vegas Shooting: Big & Rich’s John Rich

From my notes: "No, the Vegas muderers' real name isn't in my lexicon and I refuse to ever mention it again."  Country music star John Rich, one half of the duo Big & Rich, was at a bar in Las Vegas when a gunman began murdering people at the country music festival. He reveals: “I …