#11 - February 9th, 2005

The lovely weather continued and so it was an opportunity for a casual flight up and down the coast - what a pleasure it proved to be. On the way to Gualala I passed the usual "Road Work Ahead" signs and was very pleased to see the guys hard at work and perhaps more interestingly the two fellas holding the "Stop/Slow" signs each gave a slight wave and a smile. Whoever said these guys tended to be miserable and surly should re-examine the facts and think twice before opening their beaks !…
It was while in Gualala that I stopped for some refreshments and on leaving the Surf Supermarket with a sandwich and bottle of water I was regaled by a gentleman who had clearly been drinking and was insistent on sharing his thoughts with anyone who was passing by. With a six-pack at his side he caught my eye and questioned whether I could spare any change. Having spent a fair bit of time in San Francisco I have become immune to this but for some reason, perhaps based on nostalgia as I now reside in a virtual pan-handle free Anderson Valley, I did slow down and search my packet for lose change. "What ya got to eat there, man ?" he inquired, noticing the sandwich bag under my arm. "A tuna sandwich." I replied…..He hesitated for a few seconds before thoughtfully saying, "You know, I do like tuna but it's not as good as tiger meat."….I smiled and offered him some change, saying, " Who'd have thought , eh ? - I'll have to remember that."…He knowingly replied, "Oh yeah, you should try some tiger - it tastes just like monkey."…..I thanked him for the recommendation and headed out of town…..
Helpful Hint # 23 : It's still the time of year for burn days so may I offer a little advice. It is not wise to completely soak a burn pile with gasoline and then add another couple of gallons before throwing a lighted match on to the sodden mixture of combustible materials as you stand nearby to watch the result. You might find yourself blown back off your feet a few yards and burning your eyebrows in the process……For a confused resident from the north end of Boonville this announcement has come a little too late…..
Well it was a couple of wild and wonderful days in downtown Boonville this past weekend with three, once-a-year events taking place and I was fortunate to be able to attend all three…..First, on Saturday night, it was the Crab Feed at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds - arguably the year's largest gathering attended almost exclusively by Valley dwellers. The older Valley families, the wine crowd, the Brewery crew, the Hispanic community, the 'Airport' Gang, etc, they all show up at this fantastic event which raises money for St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church and has become one of the hottest tickets in town. Now this is a crab "Feed", not a dinner, and thus it really is a sight to behold with eating bibs provided to protect clothing - certainly necessary for the serious guzzlers like myself….Very well organized and efficient, the High School kids and other volunteer waiters and waitresses managed to get the vast amounts of crab (800 pounds I was informed !), salad, hot bread, and splendid wines to all three hundred assembled guests without a hitch. Everyone was completely stuffed, as befitting of any real "Feed", and even us Vultures were incapable of devouring another morsel. Furthermore, being an event almost exclusively supported by locals, it is a great opportunity to meet, greet, and actually socialize with those you normally are only able to wave to or speak briefly with. The raffle was a big success with a wide array of prizes on hand and when the last person was finally 'ejected' (and that would be me !) one hoped that the Church had greatly benefited and viewed the evening as much of a success as those in attendance surely did….
After such a night I was very hard-pressed to be present at the first annual Boonville Bowl on Sunday morning at the High School practice field. However, three cups of very strong Costa Rican blend and a couple of Mimosas (80% sparkling wine; 20% orange juice) seemed to work their magic and I flew down to the event just in time for kick-off. Unlike the "Other Bowl Game" to be played later that day, this was all about the football and not the glamour and glitz. The sides were led by captains, Jason Schrider and Jason Page (two of the High School Football coaches) and were comprised of various guys who talk about sports as they drink in the local beer-drinking establishments, many of whom claim to be former sports' "stars" of some standing. After all the 'talking the talk' it was now time to 'walk the walk' …..….. Appropriately some former cheerleaders were on the sidelines although their 'routines' seemed to consist mainly of sipping Bloody Mary's and talking, paying little attention to the sporting events unfolding in front of them. It didn't seem to matter as the two teams battled both for supremacy on the field and bragging rights in the bar afterwards, oblivious to the partying in the 'crowd'. After a close first half, the team led by Player/Coach Page pulled away in the second half as Player/Coach Schrider's players clearly began to think more about their first beer in the bar rather than their defensive responsibilities on the field! The final score was a convincing eight touchdowns to four with the m.v.p. award going to Todd Capuzelo of the A.V. Brewery Tasting Room, and honorable mentions to Tino Martinez, also of the brewery, and Tom ' Tight End' Towey, sometimes of the Boonville Hotel. On the losing side, special mention should go to Olie 'The Catch' Erikson and Neil 'Safe Hands' Atkins, both reviving memories of their former glories on the field of play…..
Naturally, at the final whistle, the weary players immediately headed off for post game refreshments and assembled initially at the Brewery Tasting Room. A few ales were enjoyed at this venue before the core group headed down to the Buckhorn Saloon for the' 'Other Bowl Game' of the day, featuring the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, and of course, the tasty bar snacks, complimentary hors d'ouevres, and fine beers……The game featured the usual over-the-top festivities beforehand although at half time, despite the obligatory firework display, I thought it was a refreshing performance by Paul McCartney and his fellow musicians who were showcased as just that - musicians, and very professional ones too…Justin and Janet who ?? … Everything becomes a little vague as the game headed for it's almost inevitable conclusion - the Patriots always seemed to have an extra gear to go to if they had to, although the Eagles did provide a better opposition than had been expected by many and, although underdogs by seven points, only lost by three. I arrived home at the Nest just in time to watch The Simpsons but after some early laughs it too seemed to become somewhat formulaic and I fell into a deep sleep…..
I've since made a full recovery. Now it's a cold Monday evening but the wood fire is crackling and the Nest is cozy and warm….and you know what… it's time to prey……Turkey Vulture…