#67 - February 10th, 2007

Greetings one and all, and, to those living in these parts, “Wet enough for ya?”…Yes, we’ve finally received the much-needed rain and, as we approach a week’s worth of steady downfalls, it is generally agreed that this has been very necessary…but let’s have a couple of days break now, o.k.?...

Meanwhile, last time we talked I was planning to attend the Crab Feed at The Apple Hall in Boonville. Well this “Mother of All Feeds” took place on Saturday, Feb. 3rd and undoubtedly a splendid evening was had by all. Once again the proceeds went to St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church and I’m sure they were very pleased with the success of this year’s sold-out event. The crab was excellent and plentiful and my concerns that there might not be enough were once again unfounded. Accompanied by a good salad and warm garlic bread, plus a seemingly unlimited supply of the State Gold Medal award-winning Pinot Noir, very generously donated by Esterlina Winery, the resultant Feed was the best yet.
As for the social side of such an occasion, I maintain that this is the best “Valley Gathering” of the year. It sees people from all walks of Valley life in attendance and the sound of people greeting one another, chattering and laughing loudly together, is a wonderful thing. Many thanks to the organizers and all those who worked so hard to put this special evening together…
On a personal note my record-breaking streak of being the last person to leave certain Valley events has finally come to an end. It started last year at the Crab Feed and continued with The St. Patrick’s Day Feast at The Senior Center, The Variety Show Parking Lot Party, and this year’s Cioppino Feed just a few weeks ago. I was certainly in the running to extend the record at around 9pm but a combination of sheer exhaustion from eating so much and designated-driver Hummingbird’s desire to get back to The Nest so that she too could drink some wine brought about my downfall. You win some, you lose some…but I’ll be back and both The Variety Show (March 9th/10th) and St. Paddy’s (March 17th) are fast approaching…

Whine of the Week - ”New girlfriends” (or boyfriends)…Yes, folks, I been have been stricken by the effects this phenomenon has on men, in these cases, but I know women are equally as vulnerable to falling into the abyss. Not that I’ve been directly affected, of course, The Hummingbird and I are very happy in our dotage, and there will be no “new girlfriends” for me, but this has come about as a result of two close friends finding new girlfriends and becoming quite obsessed with them to the negligence of all else. This is a tale or affliction as old as they come and effects women just as much as men, often more so, dare I say…Anyway, for the next six months or so, until the “honeymoon period” is over, I shall have to suffer in silence and realize that I am not necessary or needed for now. It is a very common affliction and yet it never ceases to amaze me how seemingly rational friends lose all sense of reality, as if their previous life was some sort of waste of time…That’s o.k., the guys will be back and the male bonding will resume…As for the “new girlfriend”, if she is still around at that point she will realize her role in this merry dance and will either accept it or not…Still, every time it happens, and it does so very often, the whole episode never ceases to cause me a little head-shaking and deep-sighing…
Wine of the Week…Now regular readers will be well aware that I regard myself as a bit of an expert when it comes to finding good deals at the restaurants in our Valley and beyond. One of the best on offer at this time is the free (yes, free!!) oysters at The Ox in Boonville on Tuesday evenings from 5pm to 7pm. To compliment these excellent Fanny Bay oysters from Washington State, I sipped on a crisp, apple-and-melon fruited Sauvignon Blanc from Husch Vineyards here in the Valley. Perfect – need I say more?...

Talking of ‘good eating” I am very optimistic that the new restaurant soon to open where Lumberjack Pizza wallowed in ineptness for most of the past year or so, will be a fine establishment and a wonderful addition tom the Valley social scene. Owned by Tom Towey, who has worked wonders next door at The Boonville Lodge, the new venture is going to primarily feature premium steaks and classic American fayre – yer gotta like that…

Sign that The Apocalypse Is Approaching - #27…With the influx of tourists and their ilk not too far off, it’s time to once again remind everyone that there are driving laws, which should be adhered to in the Valley, as anywhere else. One in particular is worth mentioning time and again until the bozos who ignore it, or are ignorant of it, do us all a favor and follow the law…There is something very wrong with the high number of drivers on our winding highways who continue to ignore a very basic rule of the road. It's not only courteous but a legal requirement that "Slower vehicles must pull over to permit passing" (California Vehicle Code # 21656). This annoying refusal to pull-over is a pet peeve of many people who live up here, particularly as our roads have plenty of turnouts to allow this to happen. Nevertheless, many drivers moving at a snail's pace simply refuse to let others pass despite been confronted by the law on numerous large white signposts …Why?? What's their problem? …I think we should be told…..

Back by popular demand – Jive Turkey!!...Do you know that we Turkey Vultures are members of the Catharridae Family along with California Condors, which are a federally endangered species? Well, whether you do or not surely this means that you will treat me gently when next we meet…Whilst we are on the topic of my family and our background let me inform you that my actual scientific name is "Cathartes Aura” which is Latin for "cleansing breeze" - somewhat ironic, perhaps, to those who have spent time with me after I've had a delicious super chicken burrito from Moya's Taco stand in downtown Boonville…I couldn't possibly comment..…

So, dear readers, we come to the end of another column of “this, that, and the other”. The rain is supposed to continue for a time yet so be careful out there, stay out of the ditches, and may your god be with you…
Meanwhile, before I go, I do have just one request - I think many of you know what it is – “Let us prey”…
Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…..

P.S. Feel free to contact me anytime about anything at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net… but remember, I know where you live...