Greg’s Happenings by Greg Kristapovich
Occasionally, I’ll see a bumper sticker that says “Question Authority!” Indeed, it might now be time again to “question authority!” The “authority” figures running our state say we need to close 220 state parks, including Columbia State Historic Park, Calaveras Big Trees State Park and Railtown 1897! I will question their judgment. I also question the judgment of California voters who continue to vote these same yokels back into office year after year! I’ll hear, “Oh, I guess he’s been doing a pretty good job as my legislator” Or, I’ll hear, “Oh, I really don’t get too much into politics. Politics really don’t interest me.” With these attitudes, is it any wonder California is now run by a bunch of schmucks who want to close our schools, libraries and state parks! Like Peter Finch, in the hit movie Network (1976) screamed, “I’M AS MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!” Data shows that for EVERY DOLLAR that’s taken out of the state’s general fund for state parks, THOSE SAME STATE PARKS help generate enough revenue to put $2.35 back into the general fund! Even Justin of the Star 92.7 Morning Show is incredulous. He pointed out that docents volunteer their time at Columbia State Historic Park; and that it’s not just a State Park – IT’S A WORKING TOWN!!! And the State wants to close it down! UNBELIEVABLE! Admittedly, the state budget is in bad shape. Meantime, our “public servants” can earn upwards of $400,000 to $500,000 a year in salary, benefits, perks, per-diem, and expense accounts! I say, before they even consider shutting down our schools, libraries and parks, our “public servants” should take a 75 per-cent pay cut! As I delivered the SMT, I’ve asked dozens of people on my routes how THEY felt. There is widespread anger at how the politicians are running our state now. Ya know, it just may be time for some good old-fashioned, 60s-style protests! What do you think?
Maybe I’m just in a sour mood ‘cause my favorite independent record store closed May 30th. Village Tunes served Twain Harte since 1984. It’s very last owner, Robert Peters, ran it since 1990!!! I will dearly miss Village Tunes. Every time I walked in there, Robert would have a joke or a quip. He’d gladly research artists and albums or special order something for you, at no extra cost! He provided the kind of customer service you will never find in a chain store’s music/CD/DVD department. I could always find the latest copy of MOJO there. (MOJO’s an awesome rag that has stories about classic rock, and classic artists – even as they cut new releases!) Anyway, now I’m afraid I’ll have a hard time finding my MOJO. When Village Tunes closed its doors, Twain Harte – and the Mother Lode lost an “institution”, a “landmark.”
On a happier note, the Mother Lode Fair will be ready to rock and roll in just a few short weeks! It’s June 26-28, and will feature entertainment by the incredible Shane Dwight Band, the incomparable Chains Required; and an interesting six-member ensemble called No Taboo – plus a couple more acts called Crash Landing and Uplands Drive! There will be Extreme Canine’s Stunt Dogs, Destruction Derby, The Mother Lode Has Talent Show, Wine Tasting, Li’l Farmer Tractor Races, Diaper Derby, Livestock Auctions, Reptile Exhibit, The Seven Chef’s Cooking Series, Emerald Star Farm, Motocross and 4X4 Truck Pull!!! And check it out: There will be admission price specials, but even at the regular adult price of $15, where are you gonna get all this – plus UNLIMITED rides for just $15?? On a dollar/value basis, this could very well be the BEST fair value in the whole state! I’ll be there! I ? the Mother Lode Fair! For more info about the Fair, log on to www.motherlodefair.org!
I had the opportunity to witness Becky Taylor, a 2nd grade teacher at Mother Lode Christian School get 14 inches of her hair sheared off for Locks of Love (LOL). See photo on page 11. You’ll remember I had 10.5 inches of my ponytail snipped off in mid February for LOL! Now I’m perusing a copy of Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and there’s this chick in China named Dai Yueqin whose hair extends an unbelievable 14 feet, 1 inch!!!!!! It’s true! Anyway, Dai hasn’t cut her hair for 28 years! Ripley says that “a single hair can reach a length of just over 16 feet before it falls out, so Dai’s will keep growing for a while yet.” Unreal, huh?!
“I really would like a little rain, this month, man,” I admitted to my good friend “Moonshadow”. He then revealed to me that my hippy dippy rain dances didn’t have to stop in May. There actually are hippy dippy rain dances for every month of the year! You just have to use the right dance steps. He showed me the sequence of steps, and I did another rain dance. You might expect to see some rain by the time this issue of SMT hits the streets Friday!
Hey, dig this: a license plate frame seen in Angels Camp: Ag mom…Not a soccer mom.
GROOVY HAPPENINGS: Big Daddy’s Smokin’ Barbeque in Sugar Pine recently had a successful Toga Party…Now, they’re gearing up for a Beach Party June 12th! They’ll award prizes for the Best Beach Bum – and Best Beach Babe! Who knows, I might even come in a tie-dyed hippy hair band, and an orange Speedo! When I get enough Red Bull in me, I’m capable of (just about) anything! Actually, you want to go easy on the energy drinks. Most labels say you should limit yourself to one a day, as they can have a very powerful effect on your physiology, including your heart. Hey, check it out: The Outcast Bar at Lake Tulloch Resort is now staging both Karaoke – AND a pool tournament on Thursday nights! Gals! Are you lookin’ for some hot pool action? Get to the Nugget Bar (Murphys) on Monday, June 15th, by 5 p.m., and sign up to play in the 1st Semi-annual Women’s County-wide (Calaveras) Pool Tournament! Then, the top three players at each qualifier will advance to the finals, to be held at the Red Brick Saloon (in San Andreas), on Saturday, June 27!
The new sports bar at 1252 South Main Street in Angels Camp is coming right along! In addition to wine and bottled beer, they’ve also got beer on tap, a spiffy new pool table, two large HD plasma TVs, darts, chess/backgammon, etc. It’s a cozy little sports bar and it’s kinda groovy. You might want to check it out!
Just added to the Ironstone Concert Series: Jason Mraz, and a special guest, on Friday, August 28! Mr. Mraz, performed at Ironstone in July of 2006, and wowed the audience; so, Ironstone thought they should bring him back! Mraz, for those of you who don’t know, is a HOT pop star who has had big hits with “I’m Yours” and “Remedy.”
One of my readers, Jeff, called my hippy dippy hotline (HDH) – (559-8368) wanting to know if that was me in some kind of Big Foot “getup” in last week’s Happenings column. I had printed a photo of Big Foot. He was seen in and around the Strawberry Store on Hwy 108 recently. He was even interacting with people!! No, Jeff, that is NOT me in a Big Foot “getup.” Was the Big Foot real? Hey listen, if he looks like Big Foot and smells like Big Foot, he’s Big Foot. Remember readers, there’s no such thing as a stupid question. So, if you have any questions – or any info on upcoming events, call my HDH! Till then, peace, love and strange phenomena.
