Friday, April 20, 2012
THE SERIAL KILLER DOWN THE STREET
Not long ago, David Alan Gore was finally executed! He and his kin, Fred Waterfield were dubbed "The Killing Cousins." Both confessed to raping, torturing, and murdering 6 women. But I've always suspected it was even more.
July of 1983 Gore chased naked and bound teenager Lynn Elliot down his parent's driveway. He murdered her with 2 shots to the head in front of a passerby. Police arrived shortly after.
Recently, I was startled to discover this house had been only 2 blocks from mine! And the garage he owned and operated was only 1 block away! Often, I saw its remnants behind the shrubbery. I thought it just an eyesore.
How many times have I driven past the spot where that house used to be, probably hundreds! My close friend Irene lives in a subdivision mid-way down that road. The thought now chills me.
1983 I was living in Stuart. I had no idea I would ever come to reside in Vero Beach. I didn't move until 1999.
How well I remember our other infamous serial killer Gerard Schaefer! Like Gore he once worked in law enforcement. His murders were closer to my Stuart home. They occurred in the early 1970's. I was 20 in 1971 and attending what used to be Indian River Junior College in Ft. Pierce. This area is where Schaefer was searching for victims, targeting women around my age.
While in jail, Schaefer's wife divorced him and married his attorney. -- The man was an old friend of my father.
Schaefer was murdered in prison. I hope he suffered! A fate I hope befalls Gore's cousin, Fred Waterfield. Since he managed to escape the death penalty! To my mind, he is equally guilty!
I read in the news that Gore became a born-again Christian before his death. According to my Pentecostal cousin, the serial murderer is now in Heaven! This is only "1" reason religion leaves a bad taste in my mouth. There are plenty of kind-hearted heathens doomed to eternal hellfire while Gore gets to enjoy Heaven! What's wrong with this picture!!!
David Alan Gore got off easy. He enjoyed inflicting pain. He deserved an excruciating and prolonged dose of it before he died.
Gore's attorneys spent 28 years fighting his death sentence. That just seems incredulous! Especially since there is no doubt as to his guilt and the magnitude of his crimes. Twenty years ago, I went through my own harrowing ordeal in court. I wish my attorneys had fought that passionately for me!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
EMPRESS OF THE EVENING
I see the Riverside Theatre is running the live musical A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM again. I recall the 1st time it played in 1999. My father and I had just moved to Vero Beach only months before.
We were in the habit of going to 1 movie a year and 1 live musical. After we moved, my father intended to give up both. I couldn't understand. He had recovered well from his triple-bypass. But Vero Beach was slightly more expense than Stuart.
I almost needed a blowtorch to his butt to get him to go out! It was as if he just wanted to settle-in and wait to die. Well, the universe paying attention. Two years later, the shadowy angel of death came to take him.
But this was nearly spring of 1999 and the above musical was being performed. I really wanted to see it! I was a fledgling driver still dealing with severe anxiety attacks behind the wheel. -- To this day I refuse to drive after dark! If there was a matinee, the theatre seemed as far away as Mars. Taxi cabs are too expensive. I had zero income.
I read in the newspaper that on the evening of the 1st day of spring anyone wearing a toga would be admitted free!!! I showed my father the article and declared I would come up with togas for us both. He refused.
Determined, I told him that just I would wear a toga and he would only need to buy 1 ticket. Still, he refused! I cajoled, pleaded and nagged relentlessly until he capitulated.
Excitedly, I improvised an outfit. It wouldn't be just a simple toga. That goes against my nature. Anyone who knows me, knows that! I set out to create an elaborate costume.
I started with a long, plum-colored, Grecian-style gown I'd purchased from a second hand store. I pulled a gossamer curtain from the rag pile, draped it over one shoulder and pinned it together over my hip with a large golden shield pin.
In fact, I got out all of my gold tone jewelry. I had a metallic headband from the 80's. Big hoop earrings & bracelets, strands of chains, too and of course my elegant gold sandals. I wore my hair up, Roman style. By the time I finished, I had a costume better than most onstage! Heck! I looked authentic enough to be on SPARTACUS!
As we stepped inside the theatre, only a handful of people were sporting togas, mostly just bed-sheets wrapped around street clothes. My outfit kicked theirs out of the ball park! I felt regal.
My entire life, I had waited to dress like that in public!
We were in the habit of going to 1 movie a year and 1 live musical. After we moved, my father intended to give up both. I couldn't understand. He had recovered well from his triple-bypass. But Vero Beach was slightly more expense than Stuart.
I almost needed a blowtorch to his butt to get him to go out! It was as if he just wanted to settle-in and wait to die. Well, the universe paying attention. Two years later, the shadowy angel of death came to take him.
But this was nearly spring of 1999 and the above musical was being performed. I really wanted to see it! I was a fledgling driver still dealing with severe anxiety attacks behind the wheel. -- To this day I refuse to drive after dark! If there was a matinee, the theatre seemed as far away as Mars. Taxi cabs are too expensive. I had zero income.
I read in the newspaper that on the evening of the 1st day of spring anyone wearing a toga would be admitted free!!! I showed my father the article and declared I would come up with togas for us both. He refused.
Determined, I told him that just I would wear a toga and he would only need to buy 1 ticket. Still, he refused! I cajoled, pleaded and nagged relentlessly until he capitulated.
Excitedly, I improvised an outfit. It wouldn't be just a simple toga. That goes against my nature. Anyone who knows me, knows that! I set out to create an elaborate costume.
I started with a long, plum-colored, Grecian-style gown I'd purchased from a second hand store. I pulled a gossamer curtain from the rag pile, draped it over one shoulder and pinned it together over my hip with a large golden shield pin.
In fact, I got out all of my gold tone jewelry. I had a metallic headband from the 80's. Big hoop earrings & bracelets, strands of chains, too and of course my elegant gold sandals. I wore my hair up, Roman style. By the time I finished, I had a costume better than most onstage! Heck! I looked authentic enough to be on SPARTACUS!
As we stepped inside the theatre, only a handful of people were sporting togas, mostly just bed-sheets wrapped around street clothes. My outfit kicked theirs out of the ball park! I felt regal.
My entire life, I had waited to dress like that in public!
Friday, April 13, 2012
THE CRAPPY CRUISE BLUES
Vacation season is almost here. I would rather bungee-jump with my hair on fire than take another cruise!
I've a friend in the cruise business who cannot fathom why I dislike them.
I've endured only 1 cruise, but the memory will last a lifetime! I was 17 yrs old. It was a 3 day excursion to the Bahamas with my dad. A trip to which I had long looked forward.
Well, it was the second 3 most miserable days of my life! The first being when I was dropped off at my aunt & uncle's farm at age 9. The whole inside of their home smelled like cow manure.
A small, but vicious Pekingese dog was tied to their covered front porch where it lived. -- They didn't allow dogs inside their house. I don't understand why, the place couldn't have stunk any worse!
Theirs was the 1st house I'd ever seen that didn't have a back door. Because of that damn dog, I was prisoner in that smelly house for my entire visit! The dog did not want to make friends. It wanted to taste my flesh!
All I had to amuse myself was TV. Their set had a huge dark spot that covered a quarter of the screen because the picture tube was almost shot.
In retrospect, they should have put the dog in the barn during my stay. They were aware of the problem, but just dismissed it. I never returned!
Back to the Bahamas cruise, it was a Norwegian ship. (The same country that decades later would produce the film DEAD SNOW.) The Captain and crew were all Norwegian. Plus only Norwegian items were sold in the gift shop.
My father must have booked the cheapest room available. Because I've seen walk-in closets with more space. It had narrow bunk beds. I was on top and worried all night I'd turn in my sleep and end up on the floor. The toilet was inside the shower. There was only 1 small, round window. It was up so high we couldn't see out. The place had a dungeon feel.
A constant vibrating throughout the ship gave me a dull headache.
Passengers were required to eat at designated hours, at an assigned table. We were seated with 4 Midwestern college kids, 2 girls & 2 boys who arrived separately. They were friendly and polite, as were we. But outside of that we had nothing in common. They told us they had saved a long time for this trip. I felt sorry for them.
Since my father and I didn't gamble, we spent our evenings at the ship's theatre. It ran movies I'd already seen on TV multiple times. One was from the 1940's and was in black & white.
The swimming pool was tiny, and so crammed with people they could barely maneuver.
The closest thing to live entertainment was orientation with the Captain the 1st evening. Afterward, a black comedian told jokes at the ship's expense. Such as, "Our movies are so old they hobble on a cane and creak!" and "My bathtub at home is larger than the swimming pool!" -- He wasn't funny, just honest!
There wasn't a lot to see and do in the Bahamas. It seemed rather third- worldish back then. Yes, the beaches were beautiful. But we have those right here in Florida.
Later, during my 20's I took numerous escorted tours around Europe by motor coach. Now those were actually fun!!! If I could afford it, I'd still be doing it today. The scenery was far more interesting than just staring at the ocean. Plus European cuisine is worth a trip in itself!
And my father stayed behind! When I wanted to splurge a week's salary on a night at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, I did it! I will always have that memory.
The only unpleasant part was catching connecting flights. Airlines are notoriously bad about not adhering to schedules. The personnel were rude even back then. But the wonderful sights and experiences abroad made it all worth the frustration and stress.
If I ever win the lottery I'm off to see the world again! And I will be traveling by airplane and motor coach.
I've a friend in the cruise business who cannot fathom why I dislike them.
I've endured only 1 cruise, but the memory will last a lifetime! I was 17 yrs old. It was a 3 day excursion to the Bahamas with my dad. A trip to which I had long looked forward.
Well, it was the second 3 most miserable days of my life! The first being when I was dropped off at my aunt & uncle's farm at age 9. The whole inside of their home smelled like cow manure.
A small, but vicious Pekingese dog was tied to their covered front porch where it lived. -- They didn't allow dogs inside their house. I don't understand why, the place couldn't have stunk any worse!
Theirs was the 1st house I'd ever seen that didn't have a back door. Because of that damn dog, I was prisoner in that smelly house for my entire visit! The dog did not want to make friends. It wanted to taste my flesh!
All I had to amuse myself was TV. Their set had a huge dark spot that covered a quarter of the screen because the picture tube was almost shot.
In retrospect, they should have put the dog in the barn during my stay. They were aware of the problem, but just dismissed it. I never returned!
Back to the Bahamas cruise, it was a Norwegian ship. (The same country that decades later would produce the film DEAD SNOW.) The Captain and crew were all Norwegian. Plus only Norwegian items were sold in the gift shop.
My father must have booked the cheapest room available. Because I've seen walk-in closets with more space. It had narrow bunk beds. I was on top and worried all night I'd turn in my sleep and end up on the floor. The toilet was inside the shower. There was only 1 small, round window. It was up so high we couldn't see out. The place had a dungeon feel.
A constant vibrating throughout the ship gave me a dull headache.
Passengers were required to eat at designated hours, at an assigned table. We were seated with 4 Midwestern college kids, 2 girls & 2 boys who arrived separately. They were friendly and polite, as were we. But outside of that we had nothing in common. They told us they had saved a long time for this trip. I felt sorry for them.
Since my father and I didn't gamble, we spent our evenings at the ship's theatre. It ran movies I'd already seen on TV multiple times. One was from the 1940's and was in black & white.
The swimming pool was tiny, and so crammed with people they could barely maneuver.
The closest thing to live entertainment was orientation with the Captain the 1st evening. Afterward, a black comedian told jokes at the ship's expense. Such as, "Our movies are so old they hobble on a cane and creak!" and "My bathtub at home is larger than the swimming pool!" -- He wasn't funny, just honest!
There wasn't a lot to see and do in the Bahamas. It seemed rather third- worldish back then. Yes, the beaches were beautiful. But we have those right here in Florida.
Later, during my 20's I took numerous escorted tours around Europe by motor coach. Now those were actually fun!!! If I could afford it, I'd still be doing it today. The scenery was far more interesting than just staring at the ocean. Plus European cuisine is worth a trip in itself!
And my father stayed behind! When I wanted to splurge a week's salary on a night at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, I did it! I will always have that memory.
The only unpleasant part was catching connecting flights. Airlines are notoriously bad about not adhering to schedules. The personnel were rude even back then. But the wonderful sights and experiences abroad made it all worth the frustration and stress.
If I ever win the lottery I'm off to see the world again! And I will be traveling by airplane and motor coach.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
MY TICKET TO THE TITANIC
Recently, I bought myself a front row seat for TITANIC the musical at our local community theatre. I found it more poignant than the 1997 movie, which I saw on the big screen for maximum effect.
I know I'm in the minority, but I found the film disappointing. I thought the cheesy romance cheapened the whole tragedy. Back then, there was a standard of decency that does not exist today.
To my eyes, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio made an incongruous couple. She looked 25 and he looked 15. It was lousy casting.
I didn't have a high opinion of the Rose character. If I remember correctly, she was marrying that swarthy, smarmy rich guy to pay off debts incurred by her deceased father. Once she pulled her disappearing act at the end, these debts fell directly onto the back of her widowed mom. Who probably had no skills beyond being a wife and mother. Remember this was shortly after the turn of the century. -- Nice kid!
Now they are releasing this film in 3D. Personally, I think they should leave bad enough alone.
A far superior movie version was made for TV way back in 1981. I believe it was a two-parter called S.O.S. TITANIC. They focused on several stories, not just one. All of them were actually interesting.
When I first heard about a live musical based on the Titanic, I thought it seemed inappropriate. We all know it didn't have a happy ending! However, it was masterfully written and performed. It started out light-hearted and hopeful with lots of humor which made the tragedy all the greater.
Also I was curious to see how the final scene would be staged. It was done verbally, just as action scenes in the ancient Greek plays. The actors were as good, if not better than most paid professionals. They all possessed star quality!
Three years ago, I saw the live play, SCOTLAND ROAD, a supernatural tale involving the Titanic. It was an expensive show with professional actors, too. I had a prominent and generous (albeit suffocating) boyfriend back then. I enjoyed the performance, but the end left the audience scratching their heads trying to come up with an explanation. -- Twilight Zone territory!
Believe if I'd been stuck aboard the sinking ship, I would have been shoving furniture overboard. Watching to see what floats, then jumping on top of it.
So many lives were lost all because of the greed and arrogance of a few. Sound familiar? A thousand years from now, the Titanic tragedy will remain a source of fascination. -- If the human race is still around, then.
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