# 382 - November 27th, 2013

Greetings one and all…Are you sitting comfortably - then I shall begin….And a Happy “Turkey and Football Day” to all! What a great day – “well done!” to whoever thought of it...Family, friends, food, drink, and football –it doesn’t get much better than that! This Mother-of-All national holidays is still called “Thanksgiving” by some of us but the new title has far greater relevance in this day and age, or so I am led to believe…

       With this in mind, here’s an appropriate Valley Quiz... Answers follow Old Buzzard’s remarks near the end of the column…

1. Which two teams in the N.F.L. traditionally play at home on every Thanksgiving?

2. How many degrees can a Turkey see with its eyes?

       a) 360    b) 270    c) 180    d) 90

3. One year after the 102 pilgrims had arrived at Plymouth Rock half of them had died. So, as they sat down to the first Thanksgiving, what would you say was the ration of men to women at that historical event?           a) 2:1     b) 5:1     c) 9:1

4. At the first Thanksgiving which of the following was approved table manners?   A) To eat with your hands     b) To spit on the floor

              c) To throw bones into the fire when done.     d) All of these.

5. Who pushed for the Turkey to be the nation’s national symbol?

              a) Benjamin Franklin   b) Abraham Lincoln

                      c) F.D.R.                             d) George W. Bush

       Staying with the Thanksgiving theme for the Quote of the Week, I have a few words from Matt Groening, creator of ‘The Simpsons’, to perhaps remember when all of the family is assembled on the big day – “Family gatherings are all about love overcoming emotional torture”… And here’s that jolly clown Joseph Stalin’s comment about gratitude, which is a feeling we should all perhaps have on this special day. He said, “gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs” – what a miserable bastard; I shall not be inviting him over tomorrow!... O.K., let’s have a positive thought to finish with – and with the Thanksgiving Day Dinner the focal point for most of us, what better sentiments than those uttered by English novelist and essayist, Virginia Woolf, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well” – I can’t argue with that!...

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #144 - The Boonville Winter Market is now on its winter schedule and at the new venue. It can be enjoyed on Saturday mornings at The Boonville General Store from 11am-1pm… #145 - The Independent Career Women (ICW) have their Christmas Party on Friday, December 6 - to which their Dependent Jobless Men are invited… #146 - The Annual Holiday Bazaar organized by The A.V. Unity Club to benefit Student Scholarships and the A.V. Library is on Saturday, December 7 from 10am-4pm at The Apple Hall and will feature Xmas Gifts, homemade baked goods, and an auction… #147 - The Community Holiday Dinner is on Sunday, December 8 at The Grange… #148 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will next be in town on Thursday, December 12… #149 - The A.V. Historical Society’s always-enjoyable Christmas Gathering is on Sunday, December 15 at the Little Red School House…

       Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are on Wednesdays this year and in between them is, of course, the annual New Year’s Eve Party at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville… And of course the Valley will have the two extremely popular annual crab feeds in the first few weeks of the New Year... The Crab Feed to benefit the A.V. Senior Center will be held in the Apple Hall on Saturday, January 18... And then there is the Original Crab Feed scheduled for Saturday, February 5, also at The Apple Hall in Boonville. I’m giving you plenty of notice on these two major Valley events because some of you may wish to give Xmas gifts to loved ones in the form of tickets. If so please contact organizers Gina Pardini at 895-3609 for the big night out on January 18, or Gloria Ross at 895-3017 for the Feb 5th extravaganza. Remember - both events sell out every year…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community gatherings over the next week for the Senior Center at the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for a $6 donation from Seniors for both lunches and dinners and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches and $8 for the dinners… Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so the Senior Center will be closed, but next Tuesday, December 3, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Roasted Cauliflower, Rolls, Barley Salad, with Birthday Cup Cakes for dessert … Then next Thursday, December 5, the lunch menu will feature Chicken & Dumplings, Brussels Sprouts, Rolls, Farro Salad, and Lemon Pudding Cake... Remember, all ages are welcome!... Hope to see you there…

           

      From our regular correspondent, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘Signs that the Apocalypse is Approaching’… Buzzard reports, “Readers may have been wondering about my whereabouts in recent weeks, or maybe not. Well, the Apocalypse has not happened and I am alive and well and able to inform you that I have been south of the border. Now that I have returned, I have some observations and a few sweeping generalizations about our ‘next door neighbors’ that I wish to share - nothing earth-shattering but just a reminder of a few things that some of you may not have heard in a while. These are offered ‘in my humble opinion’ - so don’t get your knickers in a twist if you disagree…

      “Do not believe a Mexican bartender if he tells you the chili pepper is’ just a little hot’ - what was I thinking?… Freshly made corn tortillas are a beautiful thing… Most Mexican beers pair well with the food and suit the climate, but Pacifico and Bohemia do it the best… The treatment of animals and pets seems to be an act of extremes - either overly pandering or downright cruel… High-school kids and college students seem to be texting as often as ours do; the college students dress in a similar way too, while the high school kids wear very smart school uniforms and it might well add a few points to their IQ and test scores - something to think about… Attending Sunday mass down there is a wonderful experience, even for pagans like myself, and based on the packed ‘house’ that I was part of, the Catholic Church is alive and well in Mexico… Lots of things seem to work at about 75% capacity - coffee machines, washing machines, computers, phones - you just accept and move on… Lots of people work very hard - lots of whom seem to be cleaning. As a result, many places are spotless, if a little ramshackle and broken down… Some folks appear to be very rich indeed, with ostentatious displays of fine jewelry and fancy cars; most are not… Everyone is late… Not many Americans are down there these days compared to visits in the 80s, 90s, and early 00s - a shame, as they are very welcome and safe virtually everywhere… In restaurants and bars, nothing is too much trouble for the staff or unavailable… Lying on a sun-drenched beach in late November, reading a riveting book about the JFK assassination, while sipping a cold beer and devouring some fresh fish tacos, is the best way to spend a Friday afternoon - if you have a better alternative then let me know, but I don’t think you possibly could… (p.s. The San Diego airport already has its Christmas tree in place and decorated on the concourse - this was November 19).

      Thanksgiving Day Quiz - Answers…

1. The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys play at home on this day every year, which for the hapless fans of the Lions, in recent years anyway, has generally meant a miserable Thanksgiving…

2. A Turkey can see for 270 degrees around it. This would explain why you’ve had little luck when trying to creep up and capture one for dinner. I suggest you just buy a fresh one from Lemons’ Market!

3. With only fifty-one survivors, the ration of men to women was 9:1 – there were just five women remaining. I couldn’t possibly comment further…

4. d) All were acceptable – rather like Thanksgiving at The Nest where guests are encouraged to partake in each of these ‘manners.’ 

5. Benjamin Franklin – a great man and a true visionary clearly.

      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. Skylark – read any good books lately?

p.p.p.s. Keep on humming, Hummingbird…

p.p.p.p.s. Everything cool with you, O.J.? Of course it is…

# 381 - November 20th, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… Fifty years ago, on November 22nd, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, Cuban dissidents, the KGB, the CIA, and several other shady characters and ne’er-do-wells. This commemoration will be covered in great depth throughout the various media outlets over the next few days, as it should, and there are numerous new books being published on the events of that time.

      Every year, the media predictably circles back to the theory that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin, picking off the president with a sharpshooter’s skill while using a poorly-designed rifle and a still-pristine bullet. And yet, Americans are polled annually and they reliably disagree with the mainstream media. Poll numbers put the majority squarely in the conspiracy camp and in agreement with the House Select Committee on Assassinations that actually investigated the assassination and concluded in 1979 that JFK was murdered by a conspiracy. But that fact rarely breaks through the mainstream’s “Lone Assassin” orthodoxy, or its promotion of crackpot conspiracy theories.

      A highlight in the coverage will be CBSNews.com’s streaming of CBS News' historic broadcast coverage of the assassination. The extensive online offering will feature the minute-by-minute news broadcasts in real time as they were delivered during the four-day period following the assassination. This special online stream will begin at 1:40pm ET on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 with the first breaking network television news bulletin alerting viewers shots had been fired in Dallas and continuing with the actual CBS News coverage, including the first report from legendary anchor Walter Cronkite and the extraordinary broadcasts from New York, Dallas, Washington and around the world as it unfolded over four days, culminating with the president's funeral. For many it will be a fascinating few days of retrospection, I’m sure…

         This leads us very appropriately into the Quote of the Week…This one comes from President Kennedy and I may have used it before but given the timing and having just seen H.B.O.’s “Section 60 – Arlington National Cemetery” about a quadrant at the cemetery in Washington D.C. that is set aside specifically for those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, perhaps his words are as relevant as ever. Back in September 1961 he warned, “Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind”…With the horrors of war and its aftermath still going on in both Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention the awful situation in Syria, the Congo, etc, etc, etc, and with numerous terrorist groups/governments striving to secure nuclear weapons, one cannot help but think that at some point in the not too distant future he may well be proven correct…Of note: the Section 60 part of the cemetery has been called “the saddest acre in America” by some. As a grieving mother says, “it is also one of the most honorable”…

       Onward… Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #144 - The Boonville Winter Market is now on both its winter schedule and venue. It can be enjoyed on Saturday mornings at The Boonville General Store from 11am-1pm… #145 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will not be in town until Thursday, December 12… #146 - This Friday, November 22, from 12-3pm at The Grange, sees the Apple Sauce and Apple Chutney preserving class take place. Call 895-2999 for details… And here for your calendar are some of the Valley events over the upcoming holiday period… The Independent Career Women (ICW) have their Christmas Party on Friday, December 6 - to which their Dependent Jobless Men are invited… The Unity Club’s Holiday Bazaar takes place on Saturday, December 7… The Community Holiday Dinner is on Sunday, December 8 at The Grange… The A.V. Historical Society’s always-enjoyable Christmas Gathering is on Sunday, December 15 at the Little Red School House… Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are on Wednesdays this year and in between them is, of course, the annual New Year’s Eve party at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville…

       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 $6 donation from Seniors for both lunches and dinners and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches and $8 for the dinners… Tomorrow, Thursday, November 21, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Roasted Beef, Potatoes Gravy, Rolls, Sautéed Collards, Barley Salad, Lemon Pineapple dessert … Then next Tuesday, November 26, the menu will feature Ham, twice Baked Potatoes, Roasted Root Vegetables, rolls, Cherry Gelatin, Tabouleh... The Center will be closed on Thursday, November 28 for Thanksgiving… Remember, all ages are welcome!... Hope to see you there…

       From our ace roving reporter, The Old Buzzard, comes this story about an ‘apocalyptic event’ that was narrowly avoided. Buzzard reports, “Pat Hulbert informed me of what happened last week when her nephew Vince Young found dynamite on the Hulbert Ranch, across the road from Gowan’s Oak Tree… ‘Vincent, my late sister Marietta's son, was getting ready for a dump run last week. He was cleaning out the garage where he found two boxes and was packing these onto his pickup when he read the printing on the box - it said "Dynamite"... He sat it down on his tailgate. He then came and told me. I told him to leave it alone. He said, "it must not be his time or it would already gone off”. He then proceeded to get the second box out of the garage and carried them both out in the field, where the old orchard used to be.

       Daddy used to use dynamite to take the old stumps out before planting a new apple tree so it had been there for many, many years. The one box was made by a company that stopped making it in 1946. Daddy was working on the orchard from 1946 to the 70's so it was probably put there around the late 40's. Who knows?

       I called Donald Gowan, a friend and neighbor, who is also a member of the local fire fighters. He came by and he called the Sheriff and fire fighters. They in turn called a bomb squad. They made us all leave the property for the night, just in case it might explode. Everyone had to be at least 50 yards from it, so we all had to find some other place to sleep for the night. I stayed overnight with Shirley Tompkins...

       I came back to the ranch the next day at 8:30am as I wanted to see how it was going. I parked where the helicopter lands at the end of our lane and Vincent and his family showed up about half an hour later. The barnyard and field were full of fire trucks, and our local Sheriffs Deputy Walker and a bomb squad had also arrived. Tons of men in their yellow suits from our local volunteer firefighters were also there, led by the new chief Andres Avila.

       Everything went as planned. A backhoe dug a trench and a hole for the dynamite to be put into. Then they scraped away some grass around the hole and doused the dynamite with diesel. They then sprayed the whole area outside the hole with water. By 11:30 they were ready to burn the dynamite... It burned for nearly 1/2 hour... If it had not worked the barn would be only kindling and my nearby house wouldn't have any windows left, so I am glad they knew what they were doing...

       At 12:15 I was able to come back up the lane. Lucky was waiting on the porch for her breakfast, wondering what was happening, but guarding her house - what a good cat!...

       There will be no cost to us and they finished it in four hours. That is why they asked for the Red Bluff Bomb Squad. If it had been the guys from SF it would have cost us. I am so glad they knew that...

       God is Good. If Vincent finds any more dynamite he has promised he will not move it. It just might be his time, the next time!’

       Good story, Pat. And congratulations on avoiding your own little Apocalypse!...”

      

      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. On the sheep, Grace…

p.p.p.s. Hi, George – hope you and Sheila are well…

p.p.p.p.s. Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!

     

# 380 - November 13th, 2103

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… But only to tell you that I am sort of taking the week off and this week’s column will just be providing the Public Service Announcements… It’s nothing personal; there is nobody else. I just need a little ‘alone time’, and I will speak to you next week…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #141 - High school sports play-offs this week - Boys’ Soccer today, Nov 13 at 2.30pm at home, and if they win they will host the Championship Final on Saturday, November 16 at 2pm; and Girls’ Volleyball, who have a first round bye today and then play on Saturday, November 16 at 7pm at the high school gym… #142 – The Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital are down to one visit a month to the Valley at this point. The next two such occasions are tomorrow, November 14 and then next month on Thursday, December 12. This wonderful service takes place at the Anderson Valley Farm Supply from 2pm – 3.30pm and new customers are very welcome… #143 - A new ‘Open Mic Night’ has been introduced to the Valley. This will be the second such evening, held at Lauren’s Restaurant, and hosted by Kayla Sorensen and Dennis Hudson, on the 3rd Saturday of each month – in this case, at 9pm on Saturday, November 16. It is hoped that all the Valley’s talented musicians/poets/writers/performers, etc will move out of their living rooms and share their talents with the outside world while also supporting other such artists. “Come on, down!” - you know you want to… #144 - The Boonville Winter Market is now on both its winter schedule and venue. It can be enjoyed on Saturday mornings at The Boonville General Store from 11am-1pm… #145 - For those so inclined, the monthly Community Drum Session is this evening Wednesday, November 13 at The Grange – contact Rob 3897 or Andy 3020 for further details…

       As a bonus P.S.A., here is the menu for the Community Lunches at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville over the next week… The Center asks for a $6 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors… Tomorrow, Thursday, November 14, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Vegetable Beef Soup, Garlic Bread, Arugula Salad, Bulgur Salad, and Bread Pudding for dessert … Then next Tuesday, November 19, the menu will feature Chicken Enchiladas, Corn, Black Beans, Carrot Salad, with Better Cake for dessert... Remember, all ages are welcome!... Hope to see you there…

      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. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred…

p.p.p.s. Is that ‘lafter’ I hear, Carroll?...

p.p.p.p.s. Keep up the good work, Round-eyed Robin

# 379 - November 6th, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… The special Veterans Day event held annually at Evergreen Cemetery on A.V. Way will take place this coming Sunday, November 10 at 10.30am. In terms of taking a deep breath and thinking about what really matters, in my humble opinion, this is one of the more important community gatherings of the year so please think seriously about attending. It should be stressed that this special occasion is not an overtly political, militaristic, 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. 

       With showers possibly in the forecast, the organizers inform me that inclement weather will not postpone this ceremony; after all, those who are being remembered went through far worse I’m sure. However, in the event of significant rain, signs will be posted at the cemetery informing you that the event has been moved to the Veterans Hall / Senior Center in Boonville. Different place, same time – 10.30am, Sunday, November 10....

         With this in mind, I am going to forego our ‘Quote of the Week’ and instead present a poem. These very moving words are by World War One poet, Wilfred Owen, probably the finest war poet of all, and the poem is entitled “Disabled” (1917). It expresses the tormented thoughts and recollections of a teenaged soldier in the Great War who has lost his limbs in battle and is now confined, utterly helpless, to a wheelchair. The subject contrasts the living death he is now facing with the youthful pleasures he had enjoyed "before he threw away his knees"; he goes on to recall the impetuous and frivolous circumstances in which he had joined up to fight in the war. He also notes how the crowds that greeted his return were smaller and less enthusiastic than those who cheered his departure, and how women no longer look at him but instead at "the strong men who were whole". In the opinion of many, myself included, it is one of the finest anti-war poems ever written and its appearance in this column for a third time (last time 2011) is something I hope is appreciated…

       “He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark,

       And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey,

       Legless, sewn short at elbow. Through the park

       Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn,

       Voices of play and pleasure after day,

       Till gathering sleep had mothered them from him.

       About this time Town used to swing so gay

       When glow-lamps budded in the light blue trees,

       And girl glanced lovelier as the air grew dim---

       In the old times, before he threw away his knees.

       Now he will never feel again how slim

       Girl's waists are, or how warm their subtle hands.

       All of them touch him like some queer disease.

       One time he liked a blood-smear down his leg,

       After the matches, carried shoulder-high.

       It was after football, when he'd drunk a peg,

       He thought he'd better join. He wonders why.

       Someone had said he'd look a god in kilts,

       That's why; and maybe, too, to please his Meg,

       Aye, that was it, to please the giddy jilts

       He asked to join. He didn't have to beg;

       Smiling they wrote his lie: aged nineteen years.

       Germans he scarcely thought of; all their guilt,

       And Austria's, did not move him. And no fears

       Of fear came yet. He thought of jewelled hilts

       For daggers in plaid socks; of smart salutes;

       And care of arms; and leave; and pay arrears;

       Esprit de corps; and hints for young recruits.

       And soon, he was drafted out with drums and cheers.

              

       Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal.

       Only a solemn man who brought him fruits

       Thanked him; and then enquired about his soul.

       Now, he will spend a few sick years in institutes,

       And do what things the rules consider wise,

       And take whatever pity they may dole.

       Tonight he noticed how the women's eyes

       Passed from him to the strong men that were whole.

       How cold and late it is! Why don't they come

       And put him into bed? Why don't they come?”

p.s. The poet Wilfred Owen was killed in action at the age of twenty-five, on Nov 4th, 1918, just one week before the war ended. Ironically, the telegram from the War Office announcing his death was delivered to his mother's home as her town's church bells were ringing in celebration of the Armistice signalling the end of the War.

       Onward…… Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #101 - Why not get a healthy breakfast first and then head down to the Cemetery to pay your respects at the Veterans Day service? Now that’s a constructive, and meaningful Sunday morning if I’ve ever heard of one! Such a feast can be found at the monthly A.V. Grange Pancake and Egg Breakfast from 8.30am-11am. In my humble opinion I think you’ll find yourself feeling better in so many ways - mentally, spiritually, gastronomically - if you attend both of these unique Valley gatherings… #102 - The Boonville Winter Market starts up this weekend, on Saturday, November 9 at Boonville General Store from 11am-1pm… #103 - The annual Fair Board Elections take place at 7pm on Monday, November 11. If you are an energetic person with lots of realistic new ideas on how to make the Fair more profitable then they need your help! Call 895-3111 for more details. (Hippies need not apply)…#104 - The Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will make their monthly visit to the Valley on Thursday, November 14 from 2-3.30pm at the A.V. Farm Supply…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community Lunches and Dinners next week at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center suggests a $6 donation from Seniors for both the lunches and dinners and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches and $8 for the dinners… Tomorrow, Thursday, November 7, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Sesame Noodles with Chicken, Asparagus, Asian Slaw, Tabouleh Salad, and Wendy’s Oatmeal cookies. Then next Tuesday, November 12, for the 6pm dinner, the menu will feature Pineapple Pepper Chicken, Rice, Peas, Broccoli Salad, Strawberry Gelatin, Wheat Berry Salad, and Carmel Apple Cake... As this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month, this feast will be followed by Bingo at 7pm. Hopefully you will be able to attend, and remember – ALL ages are welcome! 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 (and often Reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V.…

… Excellent news! The valuable liquor license that allows folks around these parts to enjoy a martini, a single malt scotch, a Tanqueray and tonic, or even a Trainwreck, looks like it will be staying in town. I am not at liberty to discuss when and where but trust me on this - you can thank me later!…

… While reflecting at the Three-Dot, a number of regulars and I decided that the comments we made about menacing and curmudgeonly CalTran workers were unfair. Some of these guys are pleasant and they do smile and wave; certainly a few of the guys on our Boonville Crew do - Derek Wyant, Tyler Neal, and Eric Bloyd to mention just three. They even tell you how long the wait will be - now that is some good public relations that other crews could learn from. Keep it up, guys - it makes waiting in line just a little bit more pleasant...

… High School sports play-offs are coming up for both the soccer boys and volleyball girls as these two programs seek to add another Championship to each of their already distinguished collection. The soccer team, the #1 seeds, will host a match on Saturday, November 9 with a 2pm kick-off at Tom Smith Field alongside the school, while the girls volleyball season has a further week of the regular season before postseason play begins on Nov 13 with a home game at the high school gym… Come out and give your support to these two excellent groups of high school student athletes - it would be much appreciated…

      Well now I think it’s time to take my leave… Be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; and may your god go with you… Hope to see you at the Veterans Day gathering…

Very 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. On the sheep, Grace…

p.p.p.s. Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!

p.p.p.p.s. Bobwhite Quail - keep up the knitting!