# 130 - October 1st, 2008

Greetings one and all…Are you sitting comfortably?...Then I shall begin…Last Saturday afternoon I attended the memorial for Richard Reitz at the Apple Hall in Boonville where I joined a large crowd of perhaps eighty people who were there to pass on their condolences and show their support for Richard’s wife Amy and his stepchildren Mea and Eric. It was mainly an ‘old Boonville’ gathering with members of long-time Valley families comp
rising the majority of those in attendance. The display of Richard photographs and ‘Richardisms’ was wonderful, the food excellent, and the shared reminiscences both funny and moving – the event was special and Amy told me that Richard would have no doubt approved. A fine tribute to a fine man…
“Well, what have we here?” was the question that flashed through my mind as I floated above Yorkville Ranch Road in the High Roller country between Boonville and Yorkville. There below, before my disbelieving eyes, were twenty cows roaming across the high meadows – healthy looking beasts with a glint of mischievousness in their eyes, I must say…I had heard about these guys from disgruntled local folk and wanted to see for myself if indeed they really were roaming “wild”. Well it seems as if they are and, following a brief chat with the expensive-flower-munching cow at the head of the herd, it turns out they are just cruising the hills, eating whatever goodies they find in unsuspecting yards and gardens, trampling whatever water lines may be underfoot, and, despite various neighbor’s complaints, their owner is doing nothing about it… Rather like a rogue dog that threatens sheep in these parts, based on what I’m hearing these cows are taking quite a risk, if you get my drift. I can only hope their owner saves them in time…
Whilst we are on the topic of respect for ones neighbors, let’s have a relevant Quote of the Week…It’s from a wise fellow you may have heard of, Confucius, who was once heard to say, “Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”…
And whilst I’m ranting about this, what about the certain horse-riding folks on Holmes Ranch Road who do not “pick up/shovel away” the vast mounds of steaming horse turds that are deposited on the road at the end of people’s driveways? Now if this were some sort of ‘message’ being sent to certain neighbors then I can see why it may be done – I would probably even approve. However, if it’s just indiscriminate and unintentional then that’s just not neighborly and wrong and perhaps I should respond on behalf of my disgruntled friends and pay the culprits a visit with my Vulture buddies and make some “deposits” on the splendid redwood decks of these rude horsey-folk…
Moving on…I was unfortunately unable to attend the Johnnie Winter show at The Navarro Store last Friday evening but Hummingbird, who was relaxing on the deck at The Nest, tells me she could hear most of the set quite clearly and she was nearly two miles away – it was a good show and she saved herself $50!...Talking of gigs in The Deep End, at the recent performance by The Smoke Detectors”, along with several other attendants, I was very concerned to see the house very nearly “brought down”, literally, when a very large-breasted Valley woman, with beer in hand, attempted to “move-and-groove” with one of the main poles supporting the huge tent over the stage. The air was not as charged with eroticism as one may have thought – she was far from sober and talking to herself, intimating that her boyfriend was not paying her enough attention. She clearly decided to show him, and those unfortunate to be close by, what he was missing and that he was surplus to requirements. Despite her thrusting gyrations, and being soaked with beer, the pole stood firm, although there was certainly a wobble or two…You’ll be no doubt pleased to know that all was well by the end of the set when the couple could be observed entwined lovingly together on the dance floor, sweating profusely, each with a beer in hand, whilst the wiped down tent pole appeared to be none the worse for its experience…
This just in from my top political reporter, Balding Eagle, on the campaign trail with The Onion Weekly newspaper…’Less than four weeks after introducing to the nation her developmentally disabled newborn and her 19-year-old son preparing for military service in Iraq, Republican vice presidential nominee and conservative Christian woman Sarah Palin recently delivered a speech flanked by three heretofore-unknown relatives, including a naturalized Mexican half brother, a formerly lesbian niece, and a New York City firefighter cousin who saved several lives during the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. "John McCain and I will take on the Washington establishment and give the government back to the people," said Palin, who several times gave the "thumbs-up" sign to her African-American coal-miner uncle seated in the audience. "We envision a better and brighter future for hardworking, selfless Americans like Guillermo, Anne, and Ted here." Palin has a campaign stop scheduled next week in Texas, where she is expected to introduce her stepsister Linda, a $35 barrel of offshore-drilled crude oil wrapped in an American flag.’
And finally this week I have received the very pleasing news from the Independent Career Women’s group here in the Valley that one of the recipients of their scholarships, Yutsel Garcia, did “the right thing” and attended a recent meeting to thank the women for their generous financial donation that will be put towards her college fees. Hopefully many of the other graduates have done the same, or soon will do, and thereby show their gratitude to the respective Valley individuals/groups who contribute towards the cost of their studies…Meanwhile, may I say, “Well done, Yutsel, I believe you will go far”…
Well now I think it’s time to take my leave…Be careful out there, remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle, think good thoughts, and may your god go with you…Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…
P.S. “Good morning, elle gee, how’s the Boonville Hotel garden look today?”
You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net