#10 - February 2nd, 2005

After my excesses out and about on the town these past few nights, I am currently recovering from my exertions with the help of the best hang-over cure known to vulture/man/woman -kind - a spicy Bloody Mary, naturally. It will result in a slow descent into a gibberish-filled stupor quite soon and I will have to pay the price for my excesses at some point - maybe tomorrow when I visit The County Dump…In the meantime I'd better cracking on with some words of vulture 'wisdom' (?)…..
Speaking of 'gibberish' I could make no rhyme nor reason of the letter which led off last week's "Letters to the Editor" section in this paper. I suspected, but I'm far from sure, that the perpetrator was questioning the use of a pseudonym for this column. It's too bad that the writer failed to make much sense with his/her remarks as I could then have perhaps written a reasonable response. Furthermore, it would now seem I am not alone with an apparent hidden identity as the 'Anonymous Little White Truck Driver', who wrote the letter, is presently shrouded in a mystery of their own making. Is he/she a vertically-challenged Caucasian or is it the truck which is small and white ? …Minds with little else to think about want to know……
Obviously Johnny Carson was not a local figure and his recent passing would not normally be a topic up for discussion in this column. Nevertheless, he was a popular figure up here at The Nest and there is a local link. The late Bob Glover of Gschwend Road in Philo had appeared on The Tonight Show where Chipmunk (as Bob was known) shared with Carson and America his knowledge of, and ability to speak, the local dialect of Boontling. In ways such as this, and with his middle-America persona, Carson seemed to have his own "bird's eye view' of the state of the nation for thirty years. Fred Gardner's piece on the man who defined late-night television in last week's issue was an excellent read and the tributes, whether from George Bush, Bette Midler, or The New York Times, have been consistently generous. It's only my opinion of course but I thought Carson a true master of his craft, never failing to display great style and timing…..Leno, Letterman, and the assortment of mediocre hosts we have been 'entertained' with since Carson's retirement in 1992 couldn't even carry one of the great man's checked sports jackets. As long-time straight man, Ed McMahon, might holler, "Theeeeere goes, Johnny !"... For myself, I wish to simply bid farewell and offer my thanks for the memories……
Now to the Boonville social scene……One evening last week I stopped by Lauren's Restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the display of photographs exhibited by Fred Martin. Taken back in 1957, they feature the Cordillera Blanca mountains and the surrounding areas in Peru and make a wonderful portrait of the region in another time and place. It is worth a visit (as is the food at Lauren's, I may add) and one can only hope that we get a chance to view more recent examples of Fred's work covering the past forty eight years…..
Thanks to the proprietors of Lumberjack Pizza for informing me, via the words of 'SBF' in these pages last week, that they have been open on their usual days and times all through the holiday period. I failed to point this out and I apologize for the sloppy oversight on my behalf - I'll be down for a squirrel and mushroom, with extra cheese, later this week….
So it's taken a few paragraphs but we're finally into this week's food news….The Redwood Drive-In has re-opened it's restaurant part of the operation (the gas station has been open all through the winter) and is open from 6am to 3pm for a couple of weeks before returning to their full, regular hours at that time…..Libby's Mexican Restaurant in Philo will re-open on Friday, February 4th - it’s been too long so watch you don't get trampled in the rush…..Now I've been informed, but have not checked myself, that The Boonville Hotel has also virtually returned to their normal hours. Therefore it seems as if the Valley is just about back to 'full strength' in the restaurant department and that news makes me foam at the beak…..
An old friend from San Francisco visited Hummingbird, myself, and the assorted flock of characters up here at The Nest a few days ago and we headed out to the coast for lunch and a few beers. We ended up at Dick's place in Mendocino and sat at the bar where we could enjoy the wonderful view of the headlands and ocean. Incidentally this view, including the reversal of the name "s'kciD" on the bar window, is emblazoned on the front of the bar's t-shirts and I've always thought this to be one of the better designs produced for any establishment.…..Anyway, our friend poured his heart out to us about the tough time he was having with his girlfriend. He's a good man with a kind heart but he has long suffered from confusion about his sexuality. To all intents and purposes he is bi-sexual but he has always had a very hard time in admitting to his gay tendencies. As the drink flowed he let his guard down a little and talked about these gay leanings and finally at one point he grinned and confessed, "I've personally never slept with a gay man…but I have slept with a man who has"……
As I flew into Boonville on Sunday morning for some breakfast I noticed a number of vehicles were at the High School. I entered the gym and was met with the spectacle of a very intense soccer practice taking place, orchestrated by Coach Steve Sparks. (Coach Tom Smith, with son Olie, is still in Asia, safe and sound after their tsunami experience and currently in Vietnam near to the Chinese border having spent a few days in Hanoi). The kids at practice were a mix of current high schoolers and prospects from the 7th and 8th grade and according to Coach Sparks the progress they are making bodes well for future. He did say a few more bodies out there would really help so if any of the players are reading this - "Get yourselves to practice - there's a championship to be won next season!"…. .Following the soccer practice came the 5th & 6th grade basketball players under the excellent tutelage of Terry Eubanks. Another competitive game ensued and it would appear that these training sessions play a big part in the successes of the High School sports' programs to this point….
After my visit to the High School I flew down into the heart of Boonville for breakfast at The Buckhorn Saloon. I enjoyed a delicious chicken fried steak, with 'hobo' potatoes and eggs, sour dough toast, and coffee - plus the complimentary mimosa - all for less than $10 ! They are going to expand the breakfast hours to 7.30am until Noon on Saturday and Sunday and have also revamped the main menu and offer a number of well-priced meal deals. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the food here has been greatly improved over the past couple of years and the whole menu is now an excellent complement to the ales they pour. They will also be having a Super Bowl Party with free items from the menu and Happy Hour prices on the beer…..Just to pre-empt any cynical readers before they lash out with a comment, I should state that I am not on The Buckhorn's pay-roll... although they do allow me first dibs on any carrion which may fall within their grounds !...Meanwhile, I just observe, analyze, and eat - surely what any self-respecting Vulture is born to do…..
Let us prey, Turkey Vulture…..