# 418 - August 6th, 2014

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… This week, Sunday August 10 to be precise, is the 85th Birthday of my Mother - the Venerable Vulture. While a little unsteady during flight, mentally she remains as sharp as ever and will not hesitate to point out to folks who assume, because of her advanced years, that she might be a little absent-minded, “I am old, not stupid!”… She and my father, also 85, recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and received a telegram acknowledging this achievement from the Queen of England! Imagine that… I expect the Queen will be inviting them for tea and scones at The Palace for their 70th anniversary. It would be rude of her not to, wouldn’t you say?… Many Happy Returns, Mom!...

         With such a significant anniversary in mind, here are a few comments on marriage for your Quotes of the Week... “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person” – from American journalist and author Mignon McLaughlin... And from relationship psychologist George Levinger – “What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility”... Legendary French movie actress Simone Signoret said, “Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years”... How about this from American journalist and novelist, Anne Taylor Fleming – “A long marriage is two people successfully trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time”... And of course we have to have some comedic and less favorable views of marriage from a couple of infamous divorcées... First Woody Allen, who said, “Basically my wife was very immature. I'd be at home in the bath and she'd just walk in and sink all of my boats”... And finally, from Groucho Marx – “Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?”...

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #560 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be visiting the Valley on just one occasion this month - tomorrow Thursday August 7. They will not be back here until September 18! As always, the venue is the A.V. Farm Supply but their hours have been extended - they will now be there from 2-4pm. New customers are always welcome and for those who have been before you can call 462-8833 and the vets will bring your pet’s charts with them - making this an even better service than it already is!… #561 - It’s that time again – the Annual Airport Day is this Saturday, August 9 from noon onwards, with free plane rides over the Valley in the afternoon and a pot luck dinner at 5pm… #562 - The Pancake and Egg breakfast is at The Grange on Sunday, August 10 from 8.30am-11am. It is always on the 2nd Sunday and costs $10 per head… #563 - The Mendocino Bookmobile next visits the Valley on Tuesday, Aug 12. They are in the Valley on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for 30 minutes); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details… #564 - The next Lions Club Bbq, this one will benefit the A.V. Ambulance, will take place at The Fairgrounds on the late afternoon of Sunday, August 17. More details to follow… #565 - And finally this week an early heads-up that the live music scene is returning to the Navarro Store Amphitheatre, set amongst the giant redwoods, for what will no doubt be two excellent shows in September. On Saturday, September 6th, it will be The Subdudes (original lineup) plus an opening band to be announced. Doors: 6.30pm / Showtime: 7pm. Tickets: $40 - Ticket Outlets: Navarro General Store / Charge By Phone at 895-9445. There will also be the not-to-be-missed ‘Guy’s Grill’ with bbq master, Guy Kephart serving all day long and into the night alongside the store next to the Amphitheatre… And three weeks later, Saturday September 27, same time, place, and price, it’s the eagerly-awaited return to the Valley of the legendary (and I mean legendary – check out his bio) American electric blues harmonica player, Charlie Musselwhite!... It doesn’t get much better than that!...

            As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community Lunches and Dinners over the next week at the Senior Center in 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, August 7, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be General Tso Chicken, Jasmine Rice, Snow Peas, Asian Slaw, Wheat Berry Salad, and Raspberry Yogurt Cake for dessert… Then, next Tuesday evening, August 12 at 6pm, the dinner will feature Roman Style Chicken, Pasta, Sourdough Bread, Cauliflower, Farro Salad, and Cherry Gelatin, with Berried Delight for dessert. As this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the dinner 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 surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V. and where we subscribe to the Winston Churchill philosophy that “A lie will get halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put on its pants”… So I’ll put my pants on and continue…

… The fundraising benefit for ‘community good guys’ Mark Pitner and Charlie Paget-Seekins, both recovering from significant illness/injuries, drew a big crowd to The Grange on Sunday evening. With such an outpouring of support, I am sure that they received a boost in terms of morale, and financially too, and let’s hope they continue on their roads to full recovery… 

… Gina, Director at the Senior Center writes, ‘The summer is winding down and fall will be here soon so join us for an end of summer Aloha Dinner Fundraiser Saturday, August 30th. Details to follow through Turkey Vulture and it should be a great time. Meanwhile, remember our bus service that is available in the Valley through the Center. It is $1.00 for use in the Valley and $5 to Ukiah and back. And if you need a break from the heat and a cool place to hang out, or use the Internet, the Senior Center is open from 10:00 to 4:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays’… Thanks, Gina - keep up the good work…

 ... An annoying member of the public came into The Three-Dot this past week and said he had nearly ended up in a ditch trying to avoid a large number of Turkey Vultures on Hwy 128 who were devouring a dead animal. Needless to say he was physically ejected, but not until I had explained to him the dangers of what we do on the highways and by-ways of the Valley in our brave efforts as nature’s garbage collectors. I went on to add that it’s not all glamour being a Turkey Vulture but that we do indeed get many compliments. I feel I should remind you all, once again, of my favorite one which came from no less an expert than Charles Darwin who said about us Turkey Vultures, “A disgusting bird whose bald scarlet head is formed to wallow in putridity”. Thank you for those kind words, Charles... And that’s another Quote of the Week to share with friends...

       I’m outta here… So, until we talk again – ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; and may your god go with you… Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - pleased in the knowledge that the old hare has returned safely to his burrow.

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… Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!... Bobwhite Quail - keep up the knitting!