Bird’s Eye View (Aug 10, 2016)

Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin.

Is it all starting to unravel for The Donald? Following a number of recent gaffes, Republican Meg Whitman, President and CEO of Hewlett-Packard, and a major financial contributor to the GOP, commented on Facebook that to vote Republican out of party loyalty alone “would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia and racial division.” I am sure many Trump supporters responded with, “So what’s your point?” Yes, that response might be funny were it not quite possibly true.

Meanwhile, following Mr. Trump's recent clash with the grieving parents of a US Moslem soldier slain in Iraq, in which, among other blunders, he oddly likened his own “sacrifice” as a casino-builder to that of the soldier’s. His spokeswoman, Katrina Pierson, then later caused a social media storm by blaming both President Obama and Mrs. Clinton for the death of Captain Humayun Khan, citing their policies on Iraq. What utter nonsense. I guess the Trump team believes they can say anything and get away with it. If the facts are checked, Captain Khan died in 2004, when Mrs. Clinton was in the US Senate and five years before Mr. Obama became president. The worrying thing is, they lie and lie, then get exposed, but it does not seem to be a major scandal any more. We have become numbed to the lies, half-truths, and vague innuendos of politicians on both sides, but particularly by those of the Trumpian persuasion, who have taken it to a whole other level.

Onward. Public Service Announcements. #544. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital have one more visit this month to the AV Farm Supply on Highway 128, Thursday, August 18, 2pm-3.30pm. #545. The Boonville Farmers Market continues every Saturday in the parking lot of the Boonville Hotel, 9.30am-Noon. Cindy at 895-2949. #546. The Unity Club AV Lending Library is open at The Fairgrounds on Tuesday 1.30-4.30pm and Saturday 2-4pm. #547. The County Dump is open from 9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember, no dead animals! #548. The Food Bank is open from 8-10am on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. which is next Tuesday, August 16. They will also be open on the Monday evening before from 4-6pm. Gardeners, farmers and produce growers of all kinds, remember to donate your extra produce and drop it off on the Monday behind the Boonville Methodist Church. If you need someone to glean your produce to take to the Food Bank, contact Valerie Kim at valerie.h.kim@gmail.com. Denisse Mattei is the Food Bank director: 895-3763. #549. The AV Grange is having its regular second Sunday Pancake Breakfast on August 14 from 8:30-11am. $5-10, kids through hungry folks, for a delicious, locally-sourced breakfast. Pancakes (gluten free available; gluten extra is not), eggs, and bacon, with a choice of juice, tea or coffee included. Here is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week in the Senior Center at the Veterans Building in Boonville. $6 donation for seniors and $7 for Non-seniors. Tomorrow, Thursday, August 11, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Joe's Chili, and Sopapilla Bars for dessert. Next Tuesday, August 16, the lunch is Chicken in Wine, with Elvis Presley Cake for dessert. Includes vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. Maybe the best value for money all week! This is Second Tuesday, so Bingo/Bunco follows at 7pm. Tai Chi is every Tuesday at 11am; Thursdays at 11am it is Easy-stretch Yoga, part of the Active Life Club, 10am-2pm with features games, crafts, and music. The Senior Center/Community Bus goes to Ukiah on Monday's and also Santa Rosa on the first Wednesday of the month. These trips fill up fast so don't forget to sign up early at 489-1175. Hopefully you will be able to attend some of these events. Remember – ALL ages are welcome! Hope to see you there.

Topics and Valley events under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge – yes it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley.

…A couple of regulars raved about the “hedonistic Sunday” they took delight in recently; hard not to enjoy I’m sure. Lots of options for good food in the Valley on a Sunday (most days for that matter). These two decided to start with the Brunch at The Buckhorn: Huevos Rancheros and the Country Hash and eggs, with Bloody Marys and Mimosas. Then a couple of gin and tonics and a little baseball on tv. Crossing the street, they joined some Valley “glitterati” at the “Paella Sunday” at The Boonville Hotel. The feast included small plates and glasses of “bubbles,” in the lovely garden setting. Why I wasn’t invited to take part in this unashamed pursuit of pleasure?

…Speaking of Valley dining, and to clear up any confusion, “Lauren’s fries” were only off the menu for a day or so when the fryer went down at Lauren’s Restaurant. They are certainly back now and taste as good as ever. The restaurant now has a very efficient high-tech air-conditioning system that makes the dining experience even more enjoyable. And they have added Scrimshaw Pilsner on tap! They stock the well-received Valley history book “Then and Now” written by Wes Smoot and my good friend, Steve Sparks (proceeds to the AV Museum and Historical Society). Is there no end to the good news at Lauren and Natalie’s Place?

…Last Sunday, myself, Hummingbird, and a couple of other 3-Dot regulars attended a very enjoyable afternoon bbq at an event put on by the AV Fire Department so that their volunteers could meet new recruits, and the folks who work on the Volunteer Ambulance Service. Chief Andres Avila hosted the affair at the lovely home and garden of ambulance volunteers Tom Elkjer and Antoinette Von Grone. This group obviously have bonded very well together and rightfully speak of themselves as a “family.” We are lucky to have them. Keep up the good work, one and all!

…More than 50 people enjoyed the excellent live jazz featuring Bob Day, Nathan McMath, Erica Zissa, Laura Maione, and John Huxall at The Buckhorn on Friday. A decent gathering, but many more local folks would have been entertained had they been there. It is a bit of a Valley “disease.” “Oh, no I missed it. I really wanted to see them. I did not know it was last Friday.” I do not know the cure.

…I should also mention that I repeatedly hear positive comments on the other fine eateries in the Valley not mentioned this week, but which also offer delicious dining: Aquarelle in Boonville, Stone and Embers and Libby’s in Philo, and The Bewildered Pig in The Deep End.

I’m outtahere. I’ve got to see a man about a sheep. So “please take me drunk, I’m home.” Be careful out there; if you break a leg don’t come running to me; stay out of the ditches; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; show love to your pets, they will be faithful and true to you to the last beat of their hearts. Keep your windows cracked if you leave them in your vehicle; think good thoughts; Keep the Faith; don’t let life get in the way of living; may your god go with you, and may your dog go with you too. A final request, “Let us prey.” Sometimes poking, often stroking, but almost always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture. PS. Contact me through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture9@gmail.com. PS. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred. Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not! Enjoying your vacation, Round-eyed Robin?