I've had the privilege of meeting many wonderful people via the internet. I've met romance authors Virginia Henley and Nora Roberts. I've met Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center. This winter I met Alan Bennett and his partner, true crime author Carol Ann Lee.
Alan Bennett was only 9 years old when his 12 year old brother, Keith, disappeared on June 16, 1964. That evening, Keith and his siblings were supposed to spend the night at their grandmother's house in Longsight, England. Keith walked half-way there with his mother, Winnie Johnson, before she turned and headed toward a bingo game. Keith was expected to walk alone a few short blocks to his grandmother's house. Unfortunately, he never arrived.
More than twenty years after he vanished, the Bennett family learned that Keith was a victim of British serial killers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. Between July 1963 and October 1965, Hindley and Brady abducted, sexually assaulted, tortured and killed five children from the Greater Manchester area. Other victims include Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans. The crimes are known as the Moors murders because Hindley and Brady buried four of their victims on Saddleworth Moor.
Hindley and Brady were arrested after 17 year old David Smith and his wife, Maureen, walked to a phone booth and called the police. Dave reported that he had seen Brady murder 17 year old Edward Evans with Hindley's assistance. Myra Hindley was Ian Brady's girl friend. She was also Maureen Smith's older sister. Hindley and Brady were arrested after David Smith told the police that Evans' body was still located in the house Hindley and Brady shared with her grandmother.
David Smith was the prosecution's star witness in what many considered to be "the trial of the century" at Chester Assizes in 1966. Hindley and Brady were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Hindley died in 2002. Brady is still confined in Ashworth Hospital.
Sadly, Keith Bennett's body has never been found. Winnie Johnson spent 45 years searching for her eldest son because she wanted to give him a Christian burial. Winnie died on August 12, 2012, her wish unfulfilled.
Alan Bennett's partner, Carol Ann Lee, has written two excellent books about the Moors murders. Her first book, "One of Your Own," details the life and death of Britain's most hated woman. Her second book, "Witness," is also entitled "Evil Relations." This book examines the life of David Smith. If you like true crime stories, I highly recommend Carol Ann Lee's books.
Since Winnie Johnson's passing, Alan Bennett and Carol Ann Lee have led the campaign for another search for his brother's body. Their website is www.searchingforkeith.com.
If you are a British citizen interested signing the petition to continue searching for Keith Bennett, you may do so at:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40262
If you are not a British citizen, please write to the British Home Secretary and ask to continue the search for Keith Bennett.
Rt Hon Theresa May MP
Home Secretary
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Thank you for your support!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Different Strokes for Different Folks
There are many different types of families in the United States.
We have the traditional nuclear family with a heterosexual mom married to a heterosexual dad and their kids. There are many, many single parents -- both single moms and single dads who might be divorced, widowed or never married. We have extended and blended (step) families living together. We have grandparents (or other relatives) raising their grandchildren. We have adoptive families and foster families. We have married couples who choose not to have children. We have gay and lesbian couples -- some who are raising children.
Whether you like it or not, there are polygamous and polyamorous families too.
Arguing that one type of family is better than the others is a waste of time. Every family is unique. Love should be the factor that defines what is a family. Love is the glue that holds a family together.
We have the traditional nuclear family with a heterosexual mom married to a heterosexual dad and their kids. There are many, many single parents -- both single moms and single dads who might be divorced, widowed or never married. We have extended and blended (step) families living together. We have grandparents (or other relatives) raising their grandchildren. We have adoptive families and foster families. We have married couples who choose not to have children. We have gay and lesbian couples -- some who are raising children.
Whether you like it or not, there are polygamous and polyamorous families too.
Arguing that one type of family is better than the others is a waste of time. Every family is unique. Love should be the factor that defines what is a family. Love is the glue that holds a family together.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Help Put Utah's Adoption Mills Out of Business
I started this morning by sending an email to Washington's senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray. It went something like this:
Dear Senator:
Please sponsor a federal bill that will guarantee that biological fathers -- whether they are married or not -- have the same parental rights as birth mothers in adoptions.
I have read in the Salt Lake Tribune about several controversial adoptions that took place in Utah. Five of these cases involved unwed fathers and an adoption agency called the Adoption Center of Choice. In all five cases, Utah's Supreme Court and Utah's Court of Appeals refused to stop the adoption because the unwed father had waited too long to protect his parental rights under Utah law. Victor Johnson, Frank Osborne, Buddy Pruitt, Cody O’Dea and Bryn Ayers lost their biological children to Utah adoption.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that the LDS Church teaches that it is better for children to be raised by married parents than by single parents. I know the LDS Church also teaches that it is best for children to sealed in the temple to LDS couples. Many of Utah's judges belong to the LDS Church. I believe that their rulings have been influenced by the LDS Church's teachings.
It is my understanding that an attorney named Larry Jenkins helped write Utah's adoption laws. This was unfair to unwed fathers because Larry Jenkins represented the Adoption Center of Hope in the five aforementioned cases. Mr. Jenkins is currently representing Jared and Kristi Frei in their dispute with Terry Achane.
Many females temporarily move to Utah to give birth and place their babies up for adoption because the Utah courts rarely support fathers' rights. Sometimes a father does not know his child has been placed for adoption until the deadline that protects his parental rights has passed. I believe that this happened to several of the unwed fathers who lost their children to Utah adoption.
Please help put Utah's adoption mills out of business. Sponsor a federal bill that will make it against federal law for a female to deprive a father of his parental rights by moving to another state to give birth or place a baby up for adoption. Make it a federal crime for an adoption agency to assist a birth mother in depriving a father of his parental rights this way too. The state in which the biological father and birth mother normally reside should have jurisdiction over a child's adoption.
Please sponsor a federal bill that will extend the length of time a father has to protect his parental rights in adoption cases. I recommend extending the deadline to six months.
I am especially concerned about Staff Sergeant Terry Achane. Mr. Achane is an Afro-American soldier. He was married when his wife became pregnant with their child. They lived in Texas. He was transferred by the Department of the Army to Fort Jackson during his wife's pregnancy. His wife chose to remain in Texas.
His wife temporarily moved to Utah, gave birth to their child and placed their daughter up for adoption. She falsely claimed that her husband had abandoned her. The Adoption Center of Choice placed Mr. Achane's daughter with Jared and Kristi Frei, a white married couple who belong to the LDS Church. When Mr. Achane learned what his wife had done, he contacted the Adoption Center of Choice and told them he wanted his daughter back. The Freis refused to give his daughter to him. The Adoption Center of Choice permitted the adoption to take place.
My husband retired from the US Army after 21 years of service. We don't believe that our soldiers should have to worry about whether their children will be placed for adoption in Utah when they are being transferred or sent overseas. The adoption of Mr. Achane's child is currently being appealed in Utah. Please speak up for Mr. Achane. Protect our soldiers' parental rights.
Thank you for your support.
Dear Senator:
Please sponsor a federal bill that will guarantee that biological fathers -- whether they are married or not -- have the same parental rights as birth mothers in adoptions.
I have read in the Salt Lake Tribune about several controversial adoptions that took place in Utah. Five of these cases involved unwed fathers and an adoption agency called the Adoption Center of Choice. In all five cases, Utah's Supreme Court and Utah's Court of Appeals refused to stop the adoption because the unwed father had waited too long to protect his parental rights under Utah law. Victor Johnson, Frank Osborne, Buddy Pruitt, Cody O’Dea and Bryn Ayers lost their biological children to Utah adoption.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that the LDS Church teaches that it is better for children to be raised by married parents than by single parents. I know the LDS Church also teaches that it is best for children to sealed in the temple to LDS couples. Many of Utah's judges belong to the LDS Church. I believe that their rulings have been influenced by the LDS Church's teachings.
It is my understanding that an attorney named Larry Jenkins helped write Utah's adoption laws. This was unfair to unwed fathers because Larry Jenkins represented the Adoption Center of Hope in the five aforementioned cases. Mr. Jenkins is currently representing Jared and Kristi Frei in their dispute with Terry Achane.
Many females temporarily move to Utah to give birth and place their babies up for adoption because the Utah courts rarely support fathers' rights. Sometimes a father does not know his child has been placed for adoption until the deadline that protects his parental rights has passed. I believe that this happened to several of the unwed fathers who lost their children to Utah adoption.
Please help put Utah's adoption mills out of business. Sponsor a federal bill that will make it against federal law for a female to deprive a father of his parental rights by moving to another state to give birth or place a baby up for adoption. Make it a federal crime for an adoption agency to assist a birth mother in depriving a father of his parental rights this way too. The state in which the biological father and birth mother normally reside should have jurisdiction over a child's adoption.
Please sponsor a federal bill that will extend the length of time a father has to protect his parental rights in adoption cases. I recommend extending the deadline to six months.
I am especially concerned about Staff Sergeant Terry Achane. Mr. Achane is an Afro-American soldier. He was married when his wife became pregnant with their child. They lived in Texas. He was transferred by the Department of the Army to Fort Jackson during his wife's pregnancy. His wife chose to remain in Texas.
His wife temporarily moved to Utah, gave birth to their child and placed their daughter up for adoption. She falsely claimed that her husband had abandoned her. The Adoption Center of Choice placed Mr. Achane's daughter with Jared and Kristi Frei, a white married couple who belong to the LDS Church. When Mr. Achane learned what his wife had done, he contacted the Adoption Center of Choice and told them he wanted his daughter back. The Freis refused to give his daughter to him. The Adoption Center of Choice permitted the adoption to take place.
My husband retired from the US Army after 21 years of service. We don't believe that our soldiers should have to worry about whether their children will be placed for adoption in Utah when they are being transferred or sent overseas. The adoption of Mr. Achane's child is currently being appealed in Utah. Please speak up for Mr. Achane. Protect our soldiers' parental rights.
Thank you for your support.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Loretta Lynn Comes Home to Washington State
I'd be lying if I said I'm a big fan of country music, but I've always liked the movie called "Coal Miner's Daughter." That's the story of Loretta Lynn's life. I wanted to see Loretta perform at the Snoqualmie Casino last year, but she had to cancel her tour due to a knee injury. I was very pleased when my daughter gave two tickets to Loretta's concert at the Emerald Queen Casino on October 26 to me as a birthday gift.
Born on April 14, 1934, the First Lady of Country Music is now 78 years old. But she looks much younger. She is still touring the country with her twin daughters, Patsy and Peggy Lynn. Loretta's show opened with the twins singing some of their favorite country songs, including "Tulsa Time."
Loretta performed all of her greatest hits. Everything from "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" to "Your Squaw is on the Warpath" to "Don't Come Home a Drinkin with Lovin on Your Mind."
Between songs, Loretta reminded the audience that Washington State is the place where her music career began. She was born and raised in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, but she and her husband, Doolittle Lynn, moved to Washington shortly after they were married. The Lynns lived in Custer, Washington for 14 years. Loretta announced that she received her first recording contract (for "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl) from Zero Records of Vancouver, Washington in 1959. That's why she tries to come home to Washington every year.
I like Loretta Lynn, but I think some of her songs are dated. In "Fist City" and "You Ain't Woman Enough," Loretta addresses women who had affairs with her husband. I felt that she was blaming women for her husband's bad behavior rather than him. To me, the idea of two women fighting over a man who is two-timing them seems rather juvenile. I can't imagine why any woman -- especially a celebrity -- would want to be married to a cheating dog. Good husbands don't stray. Young women should know that they don't have to put up with men who do. Hopefully, a more modern country singer will address cheating with songs with titles like, "Out the Door You Go, You No Good Louse."
For the show's finale, Loretta performed a moving rendition of her song, "Coal Miner's Daughter." I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this song because everyone should be proud of their roots.
Born on April 14, 1934, the First Lady of Country Music is now 78 years old. But she looks much younger. She is still touring the country with her twin daughters, Patsy and Peggy Lynn. Loretta's show opened with the twins singing some of their favorite country songs, including "Tulsa Time."
Loretta performed all of her greatest hits. Everything from "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" to "Your Squaw is on the Warpath" to "Don't Come Home a Drinkin with Lovin on Your Mind."
Between songs, Loretta reminded the audience that Washington State is the place where her music career began. She was born and raised in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, but she and her husband, Doolittle Lynn, moved to Washington shortly after they were married. The Lynns lived in Custer, Washington for 14 years. Loretta announced that she received her first recording contract (for "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl) from Zero Records of Vancouver, Washington in 1959. That's why she tries to come home to Washington every year.
I like Loretta Lynn, but I think some of her songs are dated. In "Fist City" and "You Ain't Woman Enough," Loretta addresses women who had affairs with her husband. I felt that she was blaming women for her husband's bad behavior rather than him. To me, the idea of two women fighting over a man who is two-timing them seems rather juvenile. I can't imagine why any woman -- especially a celebrity -- would want to be married to a cheating dog. Good husbands don't stray. Young women should know that they don't have to put up with men who do. Hopefully, a more modern country singer will address cheating with songs with titles like, "Out the Door You Go, You No Good Louse."
For the show's finale, Loretta performed a moving rendition of her song, "Coal Miner's Daughter." I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this song because everyone should be proud of their roots.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Welcome to Alice Cooper's Nightmare
On November 18, 2012, Alice Cooper performed at the Emerald Queen Casino in Fife, Washington. I bought tickets for this concert as a gift for my husband because Alice Cooper was popular when he and I were in junior high. I knew he would enjoy hearing Alice's tunes again.
As you may have expected, the casino's auditorium was packed to the doors with stoners, bikers, long-haired hippies and other rejects from the 1970's. I kid you not. Almost everyone in the audience wore black, including me.
The show opened with "Hello Hooray." The band played all of their greatest hits, including "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "Be My Lover," "Welcome to My Nightmare," and "Billion Dollar Babies."
Alice Cooper appeared in a variety of fun costumes, including the red and black striped suit and top hat made him famous. Later, he wiggled his way out of a straight jacket. During the performance of "Feed My Frankenstein," Alice transformed himself into a monster. When the smoke dissipated, he turned back into himself again.
Alice was accompanied by a young female guitarist named Orianthi, who is as beautiful as she is talented. When I said that Orianthi's long, blond hair reminded me of our daughter, my husband turned to me and said, "Are you sure she's a girl?" Since it was an Alice Cooper concert, I thought his question was a fair one.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the band's tribute to four artists of the 1960's who helped make rock n roll what it is today. In memory of Jim Morrison, they played the Doors' hit, "L.A. Woman." They honored the late John Lennon by playing the Beatles' song, "Revolution." In memory of Jimmy Hendrix, they played "Foxy Lady." To honor Keith Moon, they played the Who's hit, "My Generation."
For the show's finale, the band played the songs I had been waiting to hear all night -- "I'm Eighteen" and "School's Out." "I'm Eighteen" is a great song about a young man's coming of age. "School's Out" brought back memories of how happy and excited we felt when the bell rang on the last day of school. The confetti and beach balls bouncing over the audience reminded me of summer vacation. What can I say? There is nothing quite like an Alice Cooper concert to make a woman feel like a teenager again.
As you may have expected, the casino's auditorium was packed to the doors with stoners, bikers, long-haired hippies and other rejects from the 1970's. I kid you not. Almost everyone in the audience wore black, including me.
The show opened with "Hello Hooray." The band played all of their greatest hits, including "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "Be My Lover," "Welcome to My Nightmare," and "Billion Dollar Babies."
Alice Cooper appeared in a variety of fun costumes, including the red and black striped suit and top hat made him famous. Later, he wiggled his way out of a straight jacket. During the performance of "Feed My Frankenstein," Alice transformed himself into a monster. When the smoke dissipated, he turned back into himself again.
Alice was accompanied by a young female guitarist named Orianthi, who is as beautiful as she is talented. When I said that Orianthi's long, blond hair reminded me of our daughter, my husband turned to me and said, "Are you sure she's a girl?" Since it was an Alice Cooper concert, I thought his question was a fair one.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the band's tribute to four artists of the 1960's who helped make rock n roll what it is today. In memory of Jim Morrison, they played the Doors' hit, "L.A. Woman." They honored the late John Lennon by playing the Beatles' song, "Revolution." In memory of Jimmy Hendrix, they played "Foxy Lady." To honor Keith Moon, they played the Who's hit, "My Generation."
For the show's finale, the band played the songs I had been waiting to hear all night -- "I'm Eighteen" and "School's Out." "I'm Eighteen" is a great song about a young man's coming of age. "School's Out" brought back memories of how happy and excited we felt when the bell rang on the last day of school. The confetti and beach balls bouncing over the audience reminded me of summer vacation. What can I say? There is nothing quite like an Alice Cooper concert to make a woman feel like a teenager again.
A Dark Journey with Madonna
Since my last post, I've attended three fantastic concerts. Each was very different from the others -- a different type of music, a different type of show, a different type of audience. Yet each and every one of them was very good.
On October 2 and 3, 2012, legendary pop diva Madonna brought her own brand of magic to the Key Arena. Since the Key Arena is located in Seattle and Madonna is gay-friendly, I was not surprised that most of her audience was gay. But gay people are fun to party with.
The Material Girl does not put on an ordinary rock concert -- she puts on a spectacle. In addition to her party music, Madonna's MDNA concert featured hip hop dancers and acrobats on tight ropes, fabulous costumes, sensational video effects and a video clip of Nicki Minaj.
Her October 3 performance started two hours late. We assumed that the concert started late because Madonna wanted to watch the presidential debate. She is, after all, a devout supporter of President Obama and the Democratic Party. While we were waiting for her show to begin, DJ Martin Solveig and Madonna's youngest son, David, warmed up the audience with techno remixing.
The concert opened with "Like a Prayer" and featured male hip hop and acro dancers dressed as monks and gargoyles ringing a lighted bell. The scene brought the Hunchback of Notre Dame to mind. Then the Material Girl made her grand entrance. This number was campy and fun.
Another notable number, "Gang Bang," was set in a seedy hotel room. Madonna sang, "Bang bang! I shot you dead Bang bang! Shot my lover in the head" while she took aim at a male dancer. The song's lyrics were catchy, but this part of the show was rather dark. She and her troupe of dancers waved guns as they danced around the stage. Blood splatter was one of the video effects. This number culminates with her being sent to hell. It's easy to understand why some people were offended by the violence and guns in the show so soon after the Colorado massacre.
My favorite part of her MDNA show was her performance of "Express Yourself." Madonna dressed up in a red and white drum majorette's costume with a baton. The dancers also dressed up as members of a high school marching band. Her show needed something like and uplifting after her performance of "Gang Bang."
Toward the end of her show, Madonna showed her audience that she had "Obama" written or tattooed in black ink on her back. I know that she is outspoken and politically active. I voted for Obama myself. When I go to a concert, I go to listen to music. I don't want to read an entertainer's political views.
I've always like Madonna. She and I are the same age. We also have children who are the same age. My seat was so close to the stage that I got a good look at the pop star. Madonna is still as beautiful (and as thin) as she was in the late 80's. Her figure is so beautiful that my first impression was "That woman looks like she doesn't eat."
On October 2 and 3, 2012, legendary pop diva Madonna brought her own brand of magic to the Key Arena. Since the Key Arena is located in Seattle and Madonna is gay-friendly, I was not surprised that most of her audience was gay. But gay people are fun to party with.
The Material Girl does not put on an ordinary rock concert -- she puts on a spectacle. In addition to her party music, Madonna's MDNA concert featured hip hop dancers and acrobats on tight ropes, fabulous costumes, sensational video effects and a video clip of Nicki Minaj.
Her October 3 performance started two hours late. We assumed that the concert started late because Madonna wanted to watch the presidential debate. She is, after all, a devout supporter of President Obama and the Democratic Party. While we were waiting for her show to begin, DJ Martin Solveig and Madonna's youngest son, David, warmed up the audience with techno remixing.
The concert opened with "Like a Prayer" and featured male hip hop and acro dancers dressed as monks and gargoyles ringing a lighted bell. The scene brought the Hunchback of Notre Dame to mind. Then the Material Girl made her grand entrance. This number was campy and fun.
Another notable number, "Gang Bang," was set in a seedy hotel room. Madonna sang, "Bang bang! I shot you dead Bang bang! Shot my lover in the head" while she took aim at a male dancer. The song's lyrics were catchy, but this part of the show was rather dark. She and her troupe of dancers waved guns as they danced around the stage. Blood splatter was one of the video effects. This number culminates with her being sent to hell. It's easy to understand why some people were offended by the violence and guns in the show so soon after the Colorado massacre.
My favorite part of her MDNA show was her performance of "Express Yourself." Madonna dressed up in a red and white drum majorette's costume with a baton. The dancers also dressed up as members of a high school marching band. Her show needed something like and uplifting after her performance of "Gang Bang."
Toward the end of her show, Madonna showed her audience that she had "Obama" written or tattooed in black ink on her back. I know that she is outspoken and politically active. I voted for Obama myself. When I go to a concert, I go to listen to music. I don't want to read an entertainer's political views.
I've always like Madonna. She and I are the same age. We also have children who are the same age. My seat was so close to the stage that I got a good look at the pop star. Madonna is still as beautiful (and as thin) as she was in the late 80's. Her figure is so beautiful that my first impression was "That woman looks like she doesn't eat."
Monday, August 27, 2012
Joe Walsh Takes a Nose Dive at Little Creek Casino
Michael Starr, CEO
Little Creek Casino Resort
91 West State Route 108
Shelton, WA 98584
My daughter bought two tickets to Joe Walsh's concert for my husband as his Father's Day gift. My husband and I looked forward to the concert, which was held on August 24, 2012 at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Washington.
Before we pulled in the casino's multi-level parking garage, we asked a man whom I thought was a casino employee if the garage was full. He said the lower level was full, but he did not know if the upper levels were. I proceeded to drive into the garage. Many other cars also entered the garage. Unfortunately, all levels were full with the exception of a few spaces reserved for the handicapped.
To exit, we had to go all the way to the top floor, turn our truck around in a narrow open area that was surrounded only by a wire cord and then descend all levels. All the other vehicles had to turn around in a similar manner. I thought turning our truck around on the top floor was dangerous and frightening. I was grateful that my husband turned the truck around for me. I do not believe I would have been able to make the turn by myself.
The event was poorly organized. The casino could have saved its guests a lot of time and aggravation by simply having a garage attendant inform people that the garage was completely full.
My husband parked our truck in the parking lot farthest from the casino. We had to walk a considerable distance to get to the auditorium. Outside the entrance stood a pair of transparent heaters with flames in their centers. I got excited. Pulling out my camera, I asked a security guard if he would take a photo of my husband and me standing beside the flames. Although a security guard agreed to take our photo, a volunteer rudely told me that I could not bring my camera into the auditorium. He demanded that my husband walk back to our truck and lock my camera inside it. It took at least 20 minutes for my husband to do so. I waited for him outside because I didn't want to walk around a dark, crowded auditorium by myself. My husband missed about half of the concert. I felt terrible about it.
Please note that nothing on our tickets indicated that cameras would not be permitted in the auditorium. Other venues, such as the Tacoma Dome, allow guests to bring cameras. If the casino has a no cameras rule, the guests should be told before the concert begins. Not afterward.
After we entered the auditorium, I noticed that a man standing in an aisle about 10 feet away from me was using a large camera to take photos of the concert. Many other guests were using flash photography in the auditorium. The security guards did not do anything to stop them. This infuriated me. When I stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air, I noticed that three young women were taking photos of themselves near the flaming heaters. The volunteers and security guards did not tell those women that they had to lock their camera in their car. I felt that the casino was unfairly discriminating against me because the no cameras rule was not enforced universally.
I've always liked Joe Walsh, but I was so upset that I could not enjoy the concert. I could only recognize three of the songs the band played: (1) Life in the Fast Lane, (2) Rocky Mountain Way and (3) All Night Long. Overall, the Joe Walsh concert was a disappointment.
My husband and I were so angry about the way the volunteer forced us to miss half of the concert that we left immediately after the concert ended. We refused to buy any food or drinks or gamble because we didn't want to give any of our money to the casino.
This was the first time my husband and I have ever attended a concert at the Little Creek Casino. I'm not planning to attend any more concerts there. I don't have anything against Native Americans -- I just don't like the way the Little Creek Casino treats its guests.
Little Creek Casino Resort
91 West State Route 108
Shelton, WA 98584
My daughter bought two tickets to Joe Walsh's concert for my husband as his Father's Day gift. My husband and I looked forward to the concert, which was held on August 24, 2012 at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Washington.
Before we pulled in the casino's multi-level parking garage, we asked a man whom I thought was a casino employee if the garage was full. He said the lower level was full, but he did not know if the upper levels were. I proceeded to drive into the garage. Many other cars also entered the garage. Unfortunately, all levels were full with the exception of a few spaces reserved for the handicapped.
To exit, we had to go all the way to the top floor, turn our truck around in a narrow open area that was surrounded only by a wire cord and then descend all levels. All the other vehicles had to turn around in a similar manner. I thought turning our truck around on the top floor was dangerous and frightening. I was grateful that my husband turned the truck around for me. I do not believe I would have been able to make the turn by myself.
The event was poorly organized. The casino could have saved its guests a lot of time and aggravation by simply having a garage attendant inform people that the garage was completely full.
My husband parked our truck in the parking lot farthest from the casino. We had to walk a considerable distance to get to the auditorium. Outside the entrance stood a pair of transparent heaters with flames in their centers. I got excited. Pulling out my camera, I asked a security guard if he would take a photo of my husband and me standing beside the flames. Although a security guard agreed to take our photo, a volunteer rudely told me that I could not bring my camera into the auditorium. He demanded that my husband walk back to our truck and lock my camera inside it. It took at least 20 minutes for my husband to do so. I waited for him outside because I didn't want to walk around a dark, crowded auditorium by myself. My husband missed about half of the concert. I felt terrible about it.
Please note that nothing on our tickets indicated that cameras would not be permitted in the auditorium. Other venues, such as the Tacoma Dome, allow guests to bring cameras. If the casino has a no cameras rule, the guests should be told before the concert begins. Not afterward.
After we entered the auditorium, I noticed that a man standing in an aisle about 10 feet away from me was using a large camera to take photos of the concert. Many other guests were using flash photography in the auditorium. The security guards did not do anything to stop them. This infuriated me. When I stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air, I noticed that three young women were taking photos of themselves near the flaming heaters. The volunteers and security guards did not tell those women that they had to lock their camera in their car. I felt that the casino was unfairly discriminating against me because the no cameras rule was not enforced universally.
I've always liked Joe Walsh, but I was so upset that I could not enjoy the concert. I could only recognize three of the songs the band played: (1) Life in the Fast Lane, (2) Rocky Mountain Way and (3) All Night Long. Overall, the Joe Walsh concert was a disappointment.
My husband and I were so angry about the way the volunteer forced us to miss half of the concert that we left immediately after the concert ended. We refused to buy any food or drinks or gamble because we didn't want to give any of our money to the casino.
This was the first time my husband and I have ever attended a concert at the Little Creek Casino. I'm not planning to attend any more concerts there. I don't have anything against Native Americans -- I just don't like the way the Little Creek Casino treats its guests.
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