# 346 - February 13th, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… And what better place to get things rolling along than to wish the following Valley folks ‘Many Happy Returns!’ in the month of February: Frank Wyant, Cecilia Pardini, Linda Vandervort, Jane Morse, Vicky Czapky, and Robin Lindsey… To these and my other 50,000 plus readers, may I wish you all a ‘Very Special Valentine’s Day’ for tomorrow, Feb 14… 

       And so inevitably we must have some Quotes of the Week on the topic of love… First it’s this from Billie Holiday, “Don’t threaten me with love, baby. Let’s just go walking in the rain”… And an even more blunt opinion from Woody Allen who observes, “Sex alleviates tension. Love causes it”… How about a more positive view from part-time Valley dweller and renowned author Alice Walker – “I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all of my heart”… Then there is this from Marlene Dietrich who wisely commented, “How do you know love is gone? If you said you’d be there at seven and you get there by nine and he or she has not called the police yet – it is gone”… And finally this wise conclusion from W. Somerset Maughan – “The great tragedy of life is not that we ultimately perish, but that we cease to love”…

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready… #214 – there will be the monthly Grange meeting next Tuesday, Feb 19 at 7pm, held, where else, at The Grange… #215 - The Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will return to the Farm Supply in the Valley twice this month – on Thursdays, Feb 21 and 28. If you are a previous client you can call them 48 hours in advance (462-8833) to ensure that your pet’s charts are brought ‘over the hill’ and also order any medications your pet might need. New customers and their pets are always welcome… #216 – This year’s Guest Chef Dinner series that benefits the Senior Center gets underway on Fri, Feb 22 when Chef K.C. McClure will prepare a meal featuring anti pasta, lasagna, salad, garlic bread and tiramisu for dessert. Happy Hour starts at 5.30pm and dinner will be served at 6.30pm. Tickets are available at the Senior Center (895-3609), and also at the two sponsors of this event - Laughing Dog Books and Philo Ridge Vineyards tasting room in Boonville. Those of you who have enjoyed these special gatherings in the past may wish to purchase a discounted $100 ‘season pass’ for all four Guest Chef Dinners planned for this year (this one and those in April, June, and August). Meanwhile, the evenings are still a great deal at $30 each for your meal and one complimentary glass of wine or beer – hope to see you there… #217 - A Fiesta Celebration sponsored by the Anderson Valley Adult School on February 23rd at The Apple Hall from 5 to 10pm. Celebrate our adult school and all those who, because of it, have become citizens. The Big Band, actually a class of the Adult School, will play, as well as a Latin Band for live swing and cumbia dancing, along with Salsa lessons by Kevin. There will be a fresh taco dinner from 5:30 to 7:00, a salsa competition, and children's activities! Tickets are $10 per person, or $25 a family, and can be purchased at All That Good Stuff, Boont Berry, and AV Market in Boonville and Lemons’ Market in Philo… 

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for a $5 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches… On Thursday, Feb 14, the lunch, always served at 12.15pm, will be Spaghetti with Meat Balls, Sourdough Bread, Vegetable Mornay, Ferro & Dried Fruit Salad, and Lemon Pineapple Pie for dessert… Then next Tuesday, Feb 19, Marti Titus and her crew will be serving Salisbury Steak, Peas, Potluck Potatoes, Rolls, Bulgur & Gorgonzola Salad, and some delicious Banana Split Cake… Hope to see you there…

       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…

… Christina Jones, owner/chef of Aquarelle Restaurant and Wine Bar, stopped in at The Three-Dot to inform us that while they normally open from Friday thru’ Monday, this week she is also going to open on Thursday, Valentine’s Day, for a special dining experience. To make a reservation call 895-2767…

… Many folks have told me what a great afternoon they had at the A.V. Historical Society’s annual gathering last Sunday at The Grange. Once again, the event featured a roundtable discussion on life in the Valley – this time focusing on the 50’s and 60’s – by those who lived here during those years. DVDs of this event will soon be available of this event and orders for this and last year’s discussion – on the 30’s and 40’s – are available by calling 895-3207…

… From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’… Buzzard reports, “I flew into Turkey Vulture’s number No. 1 Fan, ‘Confused of Comptche, California’ last week and he expressed his wish to share some of his vast wealth of experiences with readers in the form of a number of ‘tips on life’… There were quite a few, but one stood out and here it is… ‘Perhaps some of your readers will be interested to know that if they wish to conduct a life of celibacy and emotional solitude, without joining a monastery, they can do so by simply living with my wife. It's more comfortable than a monastery and you'd be able to watch TV and use the Internet’… So, if anyone is interested in escaping the inevitable Apocalypse that approaches, let me know and I will promptly forward your information to Confused’s wife…

       Well now I think it’s time to take my leave… So, 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. Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!

p.p.p.s. On the sheep, Grace…