Posts by Richard

Out of the blue, Janalee proposes marriage to me. She says in a bold manor, “I think we should get married, and I should get rid of my apartment and permanently move in with you.  She tells me, I promise to stop drinking.”  As I think about Janalee’s marriage proposal I’m wondering if I’m becoming…

The longer she talks the better she seems to feel. As I hear her life unfold, I don’t feel that I have the right to judge her. I think, “There is enough culpability and guilt to go around. Besides, I know how it feels to be a victim, like when I was teased, kicked and…

“No family member wanted to take me in. She mumbles on with an overt tone of anger, “When I was thirteen, a pimp gave me some strong drugs that knocked me out. He raped me over and over again. Each time I regained consciousness he would be raping me somewhere else. I was put into…

Janalee looks over at me and blurts, not really a question, but more of a statement, “Who are you? Are you some kind of rescuing angel?” She turns away. I can tell that she has closed her eyes as she continues to mumble. She speaks with a voice that is void of emotion. “My father…

The next day Janalee has, not surprisingly, a wicked hangover. She slowly works her way to the deck at the back of my home, and finds a comfortable place on the deck with the sun shining down where she lays down to convalesce. As she basks in the sun, she begins talking, basically rambling on-and-on,…

Janalee has a few more drinks and watches a few more tricks. Then she shocks me when she boldly says, “Richard, is your place close by?” Wondering what she’s thinking, hesitantly, I reply, “Not too far.” She says, “Ready to get out of here?”  This time, I’m the sucker, “and a big one at that!…

I finished my shows, ate a giant lobster and, I’m sitting in the dimly lit bar dealing seconds to myself, getting ready to call Jim Blowers to come pick me up.  I hear a voice. “What are you doing?” a woman asks with a slight touch of gruffness, “Daydreaming and dealing?” The question startles me…

“Seated around my table are Gaming Regulator Bruce Samboy, and with us again are Steve Forte, Russell Cedarburg, and Jim Blowers. Gents, Richard’s antics for the dangerous and gross stretch the imagination, what do you think Richard fears, if anything?” “Jon, considering his life as a daredevil,” Samboy says, “It seems that Rick fears nothing…

I’m dining with Mr. Neurotic, on the cliff-side of his mountaintop mansion, I tell him, “I had a million-dollar offer from the Middle East to control oil money in private games.”  Mr. Neurotic impulsively says, “Don’t take it!” He says strongly, “In a situation like that you’ll be one hundred percent used.” He leans close…

I’m carefully trying to size up the interplay with the Middle East oil men. In a language I can’t understand, they argue amongst themselves. I can tell that the guy I figure to be the boss-man is mad at the interpreter. After more angry foreign words are exchanged, the interpreter turns back and says irritated,…

I’m finishing getting dressed for my show when the phone rings. I answer it, and a strongly accented voice says, “Mr. Turner, we would like to talk about a private deal.”   My standard reply to such offers is to always send business to my venue so, I reply, “Meet me aboard the Ruben E. Lee.” …

Mr. Neurotic has invited me to his home to meet some of his business associates.  As we drive up and Jim describes the estate it’s clear that he is impressed, “Mister Rick, it’s to cool. The mansion is perched on a high mountainside, with a panoramic view that stretches way down yonder to the Ocean.”…