California, Silicon Valley

Hearst’s Final Resting Place

Between Hearst Castle and Citizen Kane, William Randolph Hearst has loomed large for me as a historical figure.  I’ve visited Hearst Castle several times and always marveled both at its sheer opulence and outright garishness.  Hearst Castle is famous for its splendid pools but those were more famous architect Julia Morgan’s creation rather than that of Hearst.  For all his money, he didn’t have good taste.  His yellow journalism was both distasteful and a had a major impact on country.

I wondered, where does a man like this end up buried?   Hearst is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in the city of Colma.  Colma, just south of San Francisco, is a city with many more dead people than living ones.  The Hearst Family Crypt is an impressive structure but doesn’t live up to the grandeur of Hearst’s Castle though it’s certainly more tasteful.   For a man who was larger than life, his final resting place is only just typical for a wealthy family’s crypt.

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California

Hangar One

Max Load 3000 lbs

Yesterday, I visited St. George Spirits in Alameda.  St George is located in an old airplane hanger on what used to be Alameda Naval Air Station.    The spirits were excellent.  I particularly liked their Terroir Gin.  All the liquor is made in the hanger and their vodka’s are called Hangar One after the number of the hangar.

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California

After Valentine’s Day Is Forgotten

Valentine's Day Balloons

 

These balloons caught my eye as I looked out from my living room this evening.  It’s six weeks after Valentine’s Day and these balloons are stuck up in a tree and being blown about by the wind.  Everyone has forgotten about V-Day at this point and the balloons have lost their meaning and have become detritus.  I wonder if their recipient even knows they are gone.

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