California Views
The Pat Hathaway Photo Collection
Mr. Pat Hathaway, Photo Archivist
Historic Monterey, California • (831) 373-3811
Historic Monterey, California • (831) 373-3811
The “Harvard-educated” Pat (or so the diploma I printed off a LaserJet in ’98 says) has officially traded the limestone of San Antonio for the emerald canopy of the Osa Peninsula. We touched down in San José, bypassed the crowds like a Caleb Williams sidearm throw, and hopped a puddle-jumper straight into the heart of the jungle.
If the IRS is reading this: I’m currently “researching the biodiversity of fiscal loopholes.” To everyone else: I’m just a guy with a camera and a lot of luck.
People always ask me, “Pat, how did a guy who has a personal chef and chases 19th-century glass plates get this kind of bread?”
Look, some people invent the pet rock; I just happened to be the silent partner in a short-lived but highly profitable endeavor involving ergonomic avocado slicers and a very specific algorithm that predicted the 2014 rise of artisanal toast. Or maybe I just bought a lot of BTC in the best bitcoin sportsbook when people thought it was a type of arcade token.
The point is, I’m rich enough to afford the private jet but still cheap enough to steal the extra Biscoff cookies from the galley.
While Tanya (my “AI Sky”) was busy trying to explain to a sloth why it needs to move faster for the “perfect light,” I was scrolling through the archives at caviews.com, curating the Pat Hathaway Collection and the history of Monterey County.
I get a little misty-eyed looking at our John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts collection. People forget that Steinbeck wasn’t just a writer; he was a witness. That 1963 shot of John we have—the one where he looks like he’s about to tell you the meaning of life or punch you in the jaw—that’s the gold standard.
I’m incredibly proud that we’ve kept those vintage negatives alive.
Capturing the Sea of Cortez vibe here in Costa Rica makes me realize why Steinbeck and Ricketts were so obsessed with tide pools. Everything is connected—the shutter speed, the betting line, and the way the light hits the water.
You can take the boy out of the sportsbook, but you can’t take the +7.5 out of the boy. Not sure where I got that, but I’m sure I pulled the line from TheRx.com.
The Play: Miami +7.5. I’m taking the Fins on Monday.
Do I love them? No. They’re as inconsistent as my Wi-Fi in a rainstorm. But 7.5 points is a lot of cushion for a team that can occasionally remember how to run a slant route.
I’m putting a moderate nibble on this—nothing that’s going to ground the private jet, but enough to pay for a very fancy ceviche dinner.
The Ticker: MSFT under $460.
Microsoft is sitting in that “sweet spot” near $456. It’s like finding a Steinbeck first edition at a garage sale. I’m nibbling here. AI isn’t going anywhere, and Satya Nadella is basically the QB of the tech world right now.
If it stays under $460, I’m backing up the golf cart (not the truck yet).
| Category | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Osa Peninsula, CR | Living in a treehouse that costs more than my first house. |
| Financials | “Nibbling” | MSFT is a snack at $456. BTC is flirting with $93k. |
| Mood | Pura Vida | Tanya is happy, the camera is dry, and the rum is dark. |
| Market Play | MSFT Buy | Buying the dip while everyone else is scared of the jungle. |
| Sports Play | Miami +7.5 | Taking the points. Don’t let me down, Fins. |
| Photography | Macro Mode | Trying to get a close-up of a frog that looks like a young Ed Ricketts. |
Next Stop: A boat tour into the mangroves. I’m looking for a crocodile with a value-investing mindset.