# 331 - October 31st, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... Well, hopefully you are aware that next Tuesday, November 6th is Election Day and are intending to exercise your rights regarding the many issues that will be voted on that day, including the person to lead the country into the future as President…

      With that in mind, there have been some excellent comments made on this topic over the years so here we go with my three favorites for your Quotes of the Week... Let’s start with the classic by Abraham Lincoln who unforgettably said, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet” (although we all know that in some cases the latter may be the better way to go). Up next is drama critic George Jean Nathan’s comment, “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote” – so get off the coach and do it! And finally, one which I think should be followed to the letter here in the Valley, Madonna’s saucy remark, “If you don’t vote, you’re going to get a spankie!” It’s almost worth not voting, eh? I’m (half) kidding...

      However, before all the voting can take place we have to get through another evening of ‘bad ass craziness’ here in the Valley – tonight it’s Halloween! Hopefully, unless you are one of them, you will not get caught up in the annual ‘Battle on the Streets of Boonville’ between The Zombies and The Angry Villagers that will take place after dark tonight. The Villagers, with their burning torches and sharpened pitchforks, will strive to once more save the town from those walking corpses who will no doubt make things very difficult around here if they are victorious – certainly with their plans to ban all speed limits, bring in a Starbucks and a Taco Bell, invite outsiders to plant even more vines, open a medical marijuana dispensary in the school cafeteria, and shockingly install former Brewery Supremo ‘King’ Ken Allen as Mayor of Anderson Valley. It is going to be a worrying evening for us all but I have every confidence in the Villagers coming out on top. If not, order me a Pumpkin Spice Latte – espresso, pumpkin-flavored syrup and steamed milk, topped with sweetened whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices. Ridiculous, eh!? – All I want is a hot cup of Joe…

       Moving swiftly on… Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #100 – The Annual Veterans Day event will be held at Evergreen Cemetery on A.V. Way on Sunday, November 11 at 10.30am. It should be stressed that this special occasion is not a political or religious event. It does, however, offer a chance for us to show support and gratitude for both those who gave their lives or were wounded in wars of the past, and for those who have served or continue to serve so that we may have the freedoms and liberties that we continue to enjoy today... #101 - The Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will return to the Farm Supply in the Valley on three Thursdays next month – Nov 8, 15, 29… #102 - the 31st annual Chestnut Gathering is on Saturday Nov 3 at the Zeni Ranch from 10am-3:30pm, rain or shine. These 100 year-old dry-farmed European seedling chestnut trees are a testament to the sustainability of tree crops. Pick your own fresh chestnuts off the ground for $3.00/lb. Please bring: Potluck dish (re-heating oven available) and your own cup, plate, napkins and utensils. Bring your wine, fruit, nut, or vegetable harvests to show us what works for you. Call Barbara/Rob Goodell 895-3897 for further details…

       Moving quickly on to a few of the topics and Valley events under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge - yes it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people gather and share their thoughts about Valley life...

... I hear from Hummingbird and various 3-Dot regulars that there was a big crowd and good times to be had at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville last Friday night for the appearance of Celtica, a bagpipe rock band from Europe. The numbers in attendance was very encouraging for the faded live music scene in the Valley and the Austro-Scottish ensemble produced what was by all accounts a really, really good show, particularly as they did not wear lederhosen under their kilts…

… Many happy Giants were spotted around the Valley on Monday morning following the team’s sweep of the Detroit Tigers in the World Series that ended on Sunday evening. Around here we do have a number of ‘proper’ fans who have followed the team through thick and thin and it is those folks for whom I am happy - the ones who remember the team arriving in 1958, the very lean years of the 60’s and 70’s (the losing World Series appearance in 1962 excepted), the 100-loss season of 1985 (my first year as a season ticket holder), the up-and-down but ultimately frustrating 90’s, and the heartbreak of the 2002 Series defeat by the Angels in seven games. Having said that, they did win just two years ago and living in Nor Cal provides these folks with a pretty good lifestyle as it is, so perhaps a thought might be given to the Tigers fans (Hummingbird’s clan) whose lives and times in Detroit are not quite the same, and whose team’s victory, relatively speaking, may have provided even more happiness… Naah - too bad – Go Giants!

… High school boys’ soccer play-offs start this week, with girls’ volleyball coming the following week – I humbly suggest that you get down to the school and show the student athletes your support as a couple of successful but long and hard-fought seasons for each program enter their final stages with great promise… 

      Well now I think it’s time to take my leave. Until we talk again - ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; 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. You can contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at <turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net>

p.p.s. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred