Even The Hearst Castle — a poem in 55 words
Flash Fiction 55 | Posted by Jannie on 16 June 2011 @ 6:55 PM 48 Comments
Even the Hearst Castle has
its junk piles way waaaaay back
behind the farthest potting shed.
I saw some with my own blue eyes as
I slipped along the purple petunia path,
away from the guided flock a while.
We all have junk, some in the trunk.
Some hidden behind grape leaves.
It’s our clean-up attitude that counts.
55 words for The G-Man, Prince Of Petunias.
Wait, did that have a plot?! A main character!??
xoxoxoxoxoxo
On 16 June 2011 at 7:06 pm Monkey Man said,
Maintenance people just don’t do a very good job of hiding “leftovers”. Great 55, Jannie. Love the flower child, too.
On 16 June 2011 at 7:09 pm Steve Isaak said,
Fun piece.
On 16 June 2011 at 7:12 pm Teresa said,
Wonderful 55! I need to get better at hiding my junk. Maybe I need to find a gardener to help with that. Love the petunia hairstyle!
On 16 June 2011 at 7:14 pm brian miller said,
um, isnt gman looking sweet tonight…
yep, we all got junk…mine aint hit my trunk yet though…
On 16 June 2011 at 7:16 pm hedgewitch said,
So hard to get good help these days–you have to clean up your own junk–and not accept any sent to you on twitter. Seriously, nice one, Jannie–perceptive and real, and what a gorgeous palace that looks like. Gorgeous pic of the old man, as well–he’s so pretty in pink.
On 16 June 2011 at 7:26 pm Polly (5th Sister) said,
hee hee hee! perfection!
hey…want some of my junk? been working really hard ridding myself of useless clutter. (metaphor intended)
On 16 June 2011 at 7:40 pm G-Man said,
Jannie….?
I look like Gay Bacchus!!!
Hiiiii….I’ll have a Chardonnay and Asti please!
Loved your 55…
It was more than acceptable.
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End…G
On 16 June 2011 at 8:18 pm Fireblossom said,
LOL! G Man is a flower child!
On 16 June 2011 at 8:35 pm Jannie said,
Well, it’s so super-sweet to see y’all flood in, whooohooo. A welcome rain of comments from some of my fave peeps ever!!
Monkey Man, I am wondering if we could travel from castle to castle and see little piles of detritus behind the way way back?? Most likely so.
Teresa, I’m great at hiding junk — ought to think about putting the same amount of energy into getting rid or organizing it!!
Hey, Brian, glad to hear your junk is right where it needs to be.
Oh, geez, now I’m all blushing and such. 
Onward!
Hedgewitch, I am not much of a Twitter person. I tried to be for a while, but it never took very well. Just exhausted and confused me. I’ve only spent those 3 hours or so at Hearst, but I’ll never forget it. The dining room table is FABULOUS! And yes, I think G-Man looks great, like a Greek god!
But seriously, he does.
Polly who took me to NY today… um, I’m really trying to cut back on my junk. And actually now fit into my old jeans because of it!!
G-Man, no, not gay to me, just hunky, as usual. And yes, a bit like out of a Mel Brooks movie, but I LOVE his movies! Chardonnay & Asti — great combo! And I’ll have the gorgeous harem girls over to fan your brow and feed you grapes.
FireBlossom! Yes, I always thought so. He does speak often of his Haight-Ashbury Woodstock days.
xoxooxoxxo
xoxooxxoox
On 16 June 2011 at 8:37 pm Elaine said,
I have junk everywhere. Any surface is a catch all. G Man looks kinda cute!
Fun 55
On 16 June 2011 at 8:40 pm Daisy said,
Well your Prince of Petunias picture gave me a good giggle tonight, Jannie. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
On 16 June 2011 at 8:41 pm Mama Zen said,
I bet I could stash a lot of junk in Hearst Castle!
On 16 June 2011 at 9:00 pm Margaret said,
Nice to know they are one of us after all! We are all more similar than we are different (although I don’t think I ever had a hairstyle like the one you gave the G-man! LOL. Can you just see him riding his motorcycle with that on his head!
On 16 June 2011 at 9:28 pm aimee said,
It’s refreshing to hear that even castle’s have junk piles. Thanks for enlightening us Jannie. Have a great weekend
On 16 June 2011 at 9:46 pm Talon said,
If only I could get the right attitude about cleaning up!
Loved it, Jannie. You’re right – we all have our junk piles, just some are better hidden than others. xxx
On 16 June 2011 at 9:57 pm Rachel said,
What fun! I never thought of that – I wonder what’s up in that attic?
On 16 June 2011 at 10:08 pm Katherine said,
That character is you Jannie Dear! And the plot has been one that has been lingering around these parts for a while – cleanup in aisle 55!
(BTW – You always get the best shots of the G-Man! Nice that you guys are so tight for him to post like that for you. You look great in petunias G!)
On 16 June 2011 at 11:10 pm brenda w said,
The attitude sets the game. Flowery. I’m glad I found you guys out here in blogland.
On 16 June 2011 at 11:44 pm Alice Audrey said,
My mother had a room that would fill with junk when company was coming. I have an entire storage unit. That’s what happens when you marry a pack rat.
On 16 June 2011 at 11:51 pm Moondustwriter said,
gosh I need to take another trip back to Hearts Castle to see their piles
poor Galen – always the bridesmaid never the bride…
Love ya Jannie the sweetest petunia in the bunch
On 17 June 2011 at 12:26 am Patricia said,
Wow…yep lots of junk going into the trunk for the Charity Store….
and we moved the dirt pile before the Dane’s arrive – and hopefully some sun will shine and make the flowers bloomin pretty some day – hopefully by Saturday and also sunshine and warmth for the sailboat ride around the Sound on Monday – hope hope..
On 17 June 2011 at 3:10 am Joanny said,
I had a sister in law like you — if anything was hidden — she found it – like a moth to a flame…. my poor brother– could not get away with anything,,,
agree g-man is hunky…
joanny
unzipped-change-my-day.html
On 17 June 2011 at 4:03 am MorningAJ (Jobbing Writer) said,
You snuck away for a quick peep while they weren’t looking? Naughty! But I like your style……
Good to know that everyone sweeps things into hidden corners sometimes.
On 17 June 2011 at 5:11 am Belinda said,
A lovely nuanced 55, dear Jannie. It resonates deeply with me because we’re in the process of purging all sorts of junk. It’s amazing how the need for an orderly environment can make one merciless about getting rid of perfectly good things. Hope you’re well. Have a fantastic weekend! xxoo
On 17 June 2011 at 5:44 am Jannie said,
Elaine, it can be very hard to keep up with junk, so I try to contain it to hidden areas.
Daisy — I do abuse our G-Man a bit, or shall I say, have lots of fun with him. I do hope he forgives me my wicked ways.
Mama Zen, I saw a couple of the bedrooms, I KNOW I could stash some good junk there. And if they had Internet, I’d move in.
Margaret, yes, I kinda liked the juxtaposition of Galen’s harley vest with all those purple petunias. And yes, we ARE all more alike than different, I so agree!
Aimee, I bet even Neuschwannstein (or however you spell that castle in Germany) has it’s little junk piles too.
Talon — how DO we get that cleaning-up good mood going on? I tend to be a grumbler and avoider. Very astute your last bit there. Well, BEFORE the xxx you left.
Rachel — I’d love to find out what’s in the attic!!! But they kept a pretty tight rein on us for the indoor part of the tour.
Katherine — CLEAN-UP ON AISLE 55!!! I am realizing what a HOOT you are! Yes, G is an ideal model when he comes here to be photographed. Most don’t realize just how demanding it can be for the model to be ever photogenic and on target with his looks!!
Hi Brenda W, the last time my writing was called flowery it was technical stuff and I did not last long on that job. TG I finally found my niche of poetry and weirdness. LOVE blogging!!!
Alice Audrey — I loved when we had one of those junk rooms here, but with the extensive remodeling and removal of walls, no such dice anymore. Ahhh, seems we both married pack rats!
Dearest Moonie, yes I hear the piles are getting quite atrocious at Hearst now! But they are actually charging extra admission now to see them.
Patricia — you have a Dane! Does he or she treat you to Danish?? Gee, it’s almost breakfast here, but I’m planning on sausage quiche for the fam. No danish, boo hoo. Wishing you much sunshine for that sailboat excursion.
Joanny! You are 55-ing this week, yay!! I do like poking around inot things when I can — guess it’s my curious nature to find things I can use to write about.
Hey Morning AJ! Yes, on the outside tour they did let us wander a bit, so I tripped down the alley, or should I say sallied down the back alley?
It was early April and low season, not too many on the tour that day.
Dear Belinda! Yes, I am all about purging. And not allowing junk to come into the house in the first place. Now the hubby… he is a junk welcomer, or should I say — not averse to seeing the “potential” in stuff.
You do have to be merciless, but it’s better for one’s sanity. So feng shui.
You guys ROCK!!!
xoxoxoxooxox
xoxooxoxoxox
On 17 June 2011 at 6:25 am ChefKar said,
Love the Hearst Castle…visited there back in 1985 after getting married in Cambria just “over the hill”. I didn’t see any junk ~ though I’ve carried plenty in the trunk since birth
Spunky 55 and I just love G-Man’s petunia bonnet! Pretty in Pink is he.
Here’s mine: Friday Flash 55 ~ Daytime Mask
On 17 June 2011 at 7:37 am ayala said,
Always hard to let go of junk….treasures I mean:)
On 17 June 2011 at 8:40 am Raven said,
Profound. Simply well said.
On 17 June 2011 at 9:23 am Liara Covert said,
Your creative energy is amazing. Love what happens as you allow those spontaneous juices to flow freely from deep within your soul. Happiness and joy reside in the heart. Unleash them and you only ever feel uplifted. Love your humour and vibrations!
On 17 June 2011 at 11:55 am Lynn said,
I’ve been to that Hearst Castle – my niece wanted to see what would happen if she put her foot on the rug and an alarm went off!
Yikes. And all that hoity toityness – who knew there was secret junk.
On 17 June 2011 at 12:46 pm LL Cool Joe said,
At the moment I’m selling all my junk on Ebay, just so I can replace it with new junk.
We had a cat called Petunia, until we renamed her Pixie, because Petunia sounded too posh.
On 17 June 2011 at 1:52 pm Glenn Buttkus said,
What a whimsical little 55,
rife with meanings between
the lines. Your gallery of G Man
images is growing weekly.
Nostalgia can be a harsh task master,
and sometimes there is a fine line
between saving junk and guarding
treasures; pack rat, hoarder, those
can be the extremes. Basements,
attics, garages, rental spaces,
all are stuffed with those things
that have value for us, and second
hand and antique stores wait
impatiently for us to clean out
the clutter.
On 17 June 2011 at 2:48 pm Carmen Henesy, Carmen's Chronicles said,
I have so much junk and I’m supposed to be getting ready to move..have no money for first and last month’s rent, though…this job loss did me in. I’ve just finished up a five day hospital stay – massive doses of IV antibiotics for cellulitis, slowly able to walk on my left foot. Yucky to be a patient.
You know, I have NEVER been to Hearst Castle though I’ve been in the neighborhood dozens of times – my youngest graduated from Cal Poly.
My 55 is at:
http://rnsane.blogspot.com/2011/06/friday-flash-55-he-love-me-he-loves-me.html
On 17 June 2011 at 2:55 pm Other Mary said,
Heheh – Oh yea…I got junk! And love the pic of the flower child!
On 17 June 2011 at 3:30 pm Dr. J said,
I went to the Hearst Castle in the early 90’s also! That guy had a pretty nice chunk of coastal California!
Liked the movie, Citizen Kane also.
My cousins were friends with Patty when they lived in Hillsborough.
On 17 June 2011 at 3:50 pm Eric 'Bubba' Alder said,
Some of us seem to have more junk than anything else.
On 17 June 2011 at 4:03 pm Jannie said,
Hi Chefkar — great to see you again. Yes, I rather like G-man’s lovely bonnet. I wonder if I’ve been to Cambria, did the Route 1 San Fran to San Diego in 1994. SO PRETTY!!
Hey Ayala, when treasures become junk it is hard to part with them, but I do try to let go.
Raven — thanks big bunches!! I have not made it to the library yet today. I hope to at 5:10, and take a little jug of wine with me.
Hi Dear Liara, I for sure thought of you as I wrote this. Learned half of what I know from your teachings! I am loving the petunia in my hair!
Lynn! no WAY, an alarm went off. That’s a hoot! Kalyani and I got 3 separate eyebrow liftings and one verbal warning when we went to The Blanton last year. No alarm tho.
Joey,
at your comment. I agree with you on the Petunia / Pixie cat name assessment, no offense to any Petunia felines.
Whoops, I gotta slip out guys — I’ll be back.
xoxoxoo
On 17 June 2011 at 5:57 pm PaigeVonLiber said,
lalala, I suddenly feel like tip toeing through the tulips…errr petunias.
one has just gotta love the fun poems…lalala
On 18 June 2011 at 3:15 am Olivia said,
It’s our clean-up attitude that counts.. That’s so right!
We all have spaces filled up with junk..
I find it insightful.. loved the image!
Weekend hugs xoxox
On 18 June 2011 at 12:45 pm Jannie said,
Hey, Peeps!
Going to do my dishes. While singing my voice-strengthening exercises.
See you all later!
xoxoooxoxoxo
oxoxoxoxoxo
On 18 June 2011 at 1:36 pm Jo Miffo said,
Hello baby cakes
You are a genius
You are so damn pretty in your pic, the statue thinks so too, he’s trying to drop one of the grapes from his bunch on ya head
Bye gorgeous, just gona clean some of that junk outa my trunk……..
xoxoxox
On 18 June 2011 at 6:31 pm secret agent woman said,
We went to see the Hearst Castle when I was a kid. But I’m totally distracted by the juxtaposition of you and that statue.
On 19 June 2011 at 1:14 pm Chris Edgar said,
Hi Jannie — aren’t you quite the playful dolphin in this shot! Your ability to assume that posture, as we all know, comes from your competitive diving career and your much-admired (and feared) double gainer.
On 19 June 2011 at 1:38 pm Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. gosh that Hearst castle must be worth looking at in pure shocked amazement … love your pose. Their junk would be worth looking at or through .. some worthwhile stuff originally no doubt, before time had passed …
Love G-man .. and his petunia laurel wreath ..
Cheers have a great week .. xoxoxo Hilree
On 20 June 2011 at 4:51 pm Linda said,
Plenty of junk in my trunk. Great 55! Enjoy some fun in the sun!
On 20 June 2011 at 8:19 pm Jannie said,
I WILL be back here!!!!
xoxoxooxoxoxox
On 22 June 2011 at 4:22 am SnaggleTooth said,
these pics are hilarious!
The problem of sifting stuff has more to do with time I need. Also I want a shredder for the old papers. I only have 2 backrooms n a storage space to sort- But so much is old art, art supplies, photos, files, or my parents/ grandparents stuff n things I won’t get rid of like musical instrus n notebooks. Alot of movies n books I keep using too.
Good luck with your pile! cute poem
On 22 June 2011 at 7:54 am Jannie said,
Hey, “the rest of you” who commented…..
I DID read all your words! THANK YOU!!
With sweet Kelly home this week I have not quite as much time to dive into blogging as I would dearly love.
Please forgive my temporary absence.
See you all soon.
xoxoxoxo