# 159 - May 20th, 2009

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin...Well, that was a couple of uncomfortably hot days over this past weekend wasn’t it? I can’t complain other than to say that everyone talks about this but nobody does anything about it!...One thing it does mean is that the females of the species certainly look very ‘healthy’ in their skimpy summer outfits and that is surely a good thing for the observant male. It also leads me to offer you the first Quote of the Week from another observer of the human condition, incomparable English novelist Jane Austen, who commented, “What dreadfully hot weather we’ve had. It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.” Wallowing around naked at The Nest, I couldn’t have put it better myself...
In light of the upcoming Memorial Day (Monday, May 25th), we should most certainly have a pertinent Quote of the Week to honor those who have given their lives for the benefit of others and the world in which we live. I can think of few better to provide some wise words on this than American philosopher, mythologist, and commentator on the human experience, Joseph Campbell, who said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”...Sincere appreciation to them all – we shall remember...
On to the topics under discussion this week at The Five-Dot Lounge..... (5-Dots – geddit?)..... Yes, it’s time for “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite bar/restaurant in the Valley..... The continuing ‘significant’ C.H.P. presence in the Valley is certainly on people’s minds with further tickets being given out to locals for not wearing their seat belts. This is certainly very odd and unfortunate. For every good deed that new sheriff Craig Walker is credited with, I hear about a negative one committed by the Chippies. I remember when the cops were there to ‘protect and serve’, give out directions, and help old ladies cross the road - or was that in a past life?..... It’s 4pm on Saturday and with The Pinot Festival going on as I write, one can only hope that not everyone in attendance is as drunk as the BMW Convertible driver and his disheveled blonde companion who staggered out of Golden Eye Winery to their car parked on Hwy 128 an hour or so ago. They were nearly run over as I drove past and then gave the finger to the person who used his horn to warn them away from the road. Obviously some Pinot sippers are as capable of getting as obnoxiously drunk as some of the beer guzzlers at the previous week’s Beer Fest. As regular readers will attest, I like a beer and a glass of wine as much as anyone, but if it affected me like it does some of these bozos then I would most certainly stay at home and stagger around the pastures abusing the sheep – verbally only, of course..... Some people here at The 5-Dot are concerned that the Saturday Night Live Music series at The Navarro Store attracts some ‘undesirables’ – not true I can assure them. Sure, some people get a little inebriated but it doesn’t really affect anyone else, and if it ever does, you can be sure that host Dave Evans and his ‘security staff’ will see to it that these miscreants are dealt with ‘in the usual way’.....
Hummingbird and I were very pleased to attend the surprise birthday party organized by Diana, Holly, and Suzie Charles for their mother JoAnne, held at Mom’s lovely home just north of Philo last Saturday afternoon. The party was, miraculously for this Valley, kept a secret from JoAnne until she arrived home to find so many friends and family gathered to celebrate with her. Wonderful food and wine added to this special occasion and with The Boonville Lodge’s Tom Towey providing the late night fun with the bar’s Karaoke machine it was a party to remember. My personal highlight, apart from the delicious chicken provided by Corey Morse, was the sight of Bill Teague’s twin daughters, Chelsea and Heather, singing an Avril Levigne song which left their proud father with a tear in his eye – great stuff...
On Sunday afternoon, it was the turn of Alan ‘Meat’ Thomas to celebrate his birthday with a party at his Bay Creek Farm on Ornbaun Road in Boonville. Obviously at such an event, the meat on the bbq was going to be of the highest quality and Alan and his lovely wife Torrey Douglass didn’t disappoint...The lamb ribs and pork roast were the highlights along with Hummingbird’s potato/egg salad (perhaps I am biased?) and Wes Drumheller’s delicious strawberry-based dessert...The homemade porter beer by Dan Houck went down well too on what was a lovely, albeit very hot, afternoon in the Valley...
Now, as is customary in this space, here are a few Public Service Announcements for the upcoming week...Tomorrow, Thursday 21st, at 2pm will see the Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital making their monthly visit to the Valley. You can sign up earlier and the vets are here until 3.30pm. It’s a very convenient service to all Valley pet owners and I urge you to support this if your pet has any needs at this time. (Their next visit will be June 25th)...As mentioned above, this coming Monday is Memorial Day and the annual Senior Center Flea Market will be taking place from Friday thru’ Monday...Also this weekend is the Open Studio Tour in which local artists welcome guests to visit their studios – call Nancy or Bill at 895-3134 for details...Finally, on Sunday 24th, it’s The Lions Club’s tri-tip bbq to benefit the Elder Home. It is at the Fairgrounds from 4pm – 7.30pm and I’d rather kiss a wild hog’s snout than miss this one – you’d be wise to do the same...
I should go now – I’ve got to see a man about a sheep...Be careful out there; think good thoughts; stay out of the ditches; and, with the hot weather now with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle...May your god go with you...Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net
p.p.s. How are you Silver Swan and Ducklips? It’s been too long...