Last weekend, I got out and did LA things again. After some researching into cemetaries, I decided to go to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. I feel very weird going to a cemetery as a tourist, but I just started thinking about it as a very large park. Saturday was a beautiful day. I found it easily. I think I'd been by it once or twice before. I talked to a security guard right when I went through the gate. About half the cemetery was closed and I could have bought a map, but decided just to adventure. I found the pond that many celebreties are buried around. I saw Douglas Fairbanks shrine. Don Adams and the Ramones had cool markers. I saw Hattie McDaniel's cenotaph. She's not actually buried there because, at the time of her death, the cemetery did not allow black people to be buried there, even though that was her wish. There's a memorial to Toto as well.
I've realized I'm not a fan of mausoleums. I was looking for Rudolph Valentino's spot and it took me twice to go into the building. The first time, I went down one hallway and almost had a panic attack. I was completely alone in the building and did not like my chances when all the zombies came out of their filing cabinets. After awhile, I decided to be brave and tried again. I wasn't the only person in there and decided that two was better than one versus the file cabinet zombies. Because of course it is. Valentino's grave (drawer) was in the very far back corner from where I started and I was just about to give up when I found it. I had seen a security walk through just before I found it and I am so glad I saw him. As I was walking back to the exit, I heard this noise that sounded like someone banging on the door, trying to get in (or out). When I had walked in, they were starting to set up for a funeral outside, so I knew they were trying to shut it down and get ready for that. The guard was opening up the back door for me and the other guy that was in there. If I hadn't seen him walk through a few minutes before, I'm pretty sure I would have died.
There were a few more graves that I wanted to see, but I was tired so decided to drive and see if I could find them. Nope, but I made it back to the entrance and just decided to leave. As I left, I saw an NBC and ABC news truck outside. Aha. Half the cemetery was closed for Mickey Rooney's funeral. At least I'm assuming that. I would be shocked if it was the one outside the mausoleum.
It was a very cool, actually relaxing day. Swans are stupid. I think I'm going to venture out to Westwood this weekend to try to find Marilyn Monroe's grave.
On Sunday, I met Bob and Minnie at the Renaissance Faire in Irwindale. It took me F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to get there. I went a half mile in an hour and it would have taken me much longer if I hadn't gone around people (like I hate doing). Oh my God. FOREVER. It was hot and dusty, but there was some good food. The best part was the jousting "play" and turtle racing. The turtle racing was hilarious, because, well, it's TURTLES RACING. Whichever one was first to make it to the edge of the circle was the winner. Out of 20, I think 3 of them moved. It was a nice day. I got super sunburned. Sunscreen, Kirsten. Sunscreen.
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