How many times have I told all you surfers to wear ear plugs? I'm guessing about a million. Clearly, I told my son and all of his friends for years to wear ear plugs, BEFORE, you have to wear them. But my advice went in one ear and out the other. Yes that pun was intended. Even though I was speaking from experience. I had both ears with EXOSTOSIS (Surfer's Ear). And the procedure to have them fixed is both painful and time consuming. And by time,
I mean the amount of time spent out of the water. Months.

This past Wednesday, I drove my son into MGH in Boston to have surgery on his left ear. This is a detailed account on that day. Buckle up kids, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. (Below Max before surgery)



Long story short...we checked in at 11AM and checked out at midnite.

He was supposed to have surgery at 12 noon. That got moved to 3PM. Then that got moved to 5PM. The surgery was supposed to take 2 hours. His took 5 hours. The poor kid had not eaten since the night before (9PM).  The surgery went GREAT. The Doctor was a true professional. She takes her time and does it right. I was not aware of all the potential things that could go wrong. Suffice it to say, it is a tricky procedure. When Max did finally wake up, he was making all the nurses laugh. He has to go back in a month to see when he can go back in the water. Meanwhile, no heavy lifting, no driving, and he MUST keep his ear dry for a solid week. In other words. NO SURFING.



(Above Max post surgery) So we spent 10 hours at MGH. TEN HOURS.

As we were driving home (I was using Cory's vehicle because mine has no AC), the car just shut down on Rt 95 (Near Topsfield). I was going about 70-75MPH in the passing lane, when the lights suddenly went out, followed by the brakes. I was driving in complete darkness with no brakes. I had to pull over into the breakdown lane that I could not see. Thankfully there were no vehicles coming up behind me. Two semi's did pass me on the left going about 80mph.
But there were no vehicles directly behind me. I finally rolled to a stop. But I was still on the asphalt. Max put on the WARNING HAZZARD lights and we both stepped away from the vehicle.

The semi trucks were flying by us at high rates of speed. I was charging my phone on the way home. I had 8% battery left. I had to use that 8% to call USAA. Meanwhile, this young man 21 yrs old (Matt) pulled over to offer us assistance. Truly a guardian angel. He had a portable cell phone charger (* a must BUY for everyone). The police didn't stop until at least a half hour later. The USAA people had me on hold forever. Terrible. Finally, they picked up and said they would text me back within 20 minutes with the info on who was coming to get us.



This is Matt. He gets my citizen of the year vote. Great kid.

My wife Cory being the trooper she is, was coming down to get Max. The State trooper left us there because we told him the Tow truck would be coming. After a solid hour. No tow truck. No text. Nothing. I called back USAA and had to go through the same BS. This time I had 33% battery life thanks to the charger (*by the time I left there I had 77%) I got in touch with the USAA people, and they said they can't find anyone who will come and get us. They told me to find my own tow truck company, and pay them, and then I could send the receipt to USAA, and they will reimburse us. I was so pissed. "When were you going to tell me this?" I yelled.

By this time Cory showed up. Max needed to get a prescription filled for his pain (* and having had that done, I can tell you it is painful.) Cory didn't want to leave me, but the kid Matt was saying he would not leave me, until the tow truck came. I insisted that he leave, but he was having none of it. Talk about Guardian Angels.

So I called the State Police back and they got a tow company to save my ass. They showed up at 1:30AM. I heard back from Cory and Max, they got lost trying to find an all night pharmacy, and when they did finally locate one in Newburyport, the old woman working there took a half hour trying to figure it all out. Mr impatient himself (Mackey) was pulling his hair out. The tow truck showed up at 2:15AM. I sent Matt on his way and told him to read my blog on Sunday (* I took a photo of him, and wanted to blog about his good heart.)

The tow truck pulled up at our favorite Mercedes dealer (NOT) at 3:15AM. I had to pay cash. The bill was $312 but he charged me $275. I made friends with the driver. Turns out he's 100% Italian and a Boston Police officer (25 years). He only does the tow truck driving for extra cash. He was also a Heavy Metal fan. So we talked about Rock and Roll the whole way up.

He dropped me off downtown Hampton near The Old Salt, and I walked home from there. I walked in the door at 3:30AM and of course, Cory was awake and waiting for me. She had to get up at 6:00AM for work. But she waited until I got home before heading off to bed. God I love her.

And today, things are sort of back to normal. So Ear Plugs. Wear them.

This was sad to see. Tom Brady giving up the fight. Damn you Goodell!



I am going to go out on a limb and say, this is the year the New England Patriots win their 5th Super Bowl. It always seems that when the Patriots have a strange start to their season, they somehow manage to overcome adversity and turn it into something good. This is our year. Go Jimmy G!



This had to be one of the most horrible acts of terror since 9-11.

The asshole who drove this truck through a crowd in Nice, France who were celebrating Bastille Day, killed 84 people. He is currently roasting in hell. Just horrific and insane. The media heads were all saying that this is a new way of the terrorists inflicting high casualty rates. I disagree. On October 23rd, 1983 in Beirut Lebanon, an Iranian terrorist killed 241 Marines by driving his bomb ladened truck full of explosives, into a large building, where the Marines were
all sleeping. This is NOT new. Regardless, it's now something else we need to worry about.

The very next day, Turkey erupted into chaos and violence.



Back to back insanity. The world has gone crazy.

But it's also beautiful and heartwarming. See below for proof.

I had the pleasure along with a huge crowd of surfers and non-surfers of watching the Hokule'a come into our waters. The Wentworth Marina in Portsmouth welcomed the Hokule'a on Saturday afternoon under a blazing
hot and humid sun.



For sure, the privileged and elite members of the Wentworth Marina, have never seen anything quite like this. It was so beautiful. I took a bunch of pics
and they are in one of the galleries below.

Thanks to ESA-NNE, Cinnamon Rainbows, and the Flatbread Company. Arrival early Saturday afternoon, at Wentworth Marina 7/16, all welcome. Canoe tours 1-5PM on 7/17, along with Meet the navigators lecture at Atlantic Grill in Rye 6:30-9...7/18 Portsmouth Flatbread meet and greet with the Hawaiian canoe 5-8PM

*And a BIG MAHALO to Johnny "Sav" Savastano for making this happen.



This is going to be a special few days. Hope you all can get up to
Portsmouth and check it out this historic event.

"Surfing With Ear Plugs Heals All Wounds"

Sam Vokey locked in a timeless move and position.
Summer of 2013. I remember this day and hanging with
Ed on the beach. God I miss him.

To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. Be sure and pick up a copy of the COLD COAST and check out Ed's own gallery.
Each week I will feature one of Ed's great pics from this blog. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.



ATTENTION ALL SURF ARTISTS NEXT WEEK!!



The Dan Healy Foundation is something worth learning about.



The 9th annual HIT THE BEACH has a firm date. August 28th, 2016 at 18th Street in Hampton. As of today, we do NOT need any more volunteers. We have a big roster of volunteers from the last 9 years. If we need more, I will let you know. Thanks.

Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances
I'm thinking that I just leave this image up until November. It really says it all. This is your choice people. Cast your vote.



Click on this graphic below to see a larger version.



It's funny, but true. Let me know if you want one of these.
I'd be happy to show you what I can do. It's not just airs, it's everything. Nose rides, barrels, big waves...you name it, I can do it. In other words, I can do what you can't do.

And finally this week. What the HELL is This all about?



I have to say, I hated Pokemon when it first came out years ago. My kids and their friends went crazy over this shit. But this? Talk about a waste of time (and money). I see kids all over the place playing with this silly game. It's not like they are not already glued to their cellphones. Good lord Japan. Is this payback for Hiroshima? If so...we surrender.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
I knew that somehow, Ole KSM was going to get in on this latest juvenile craze. And sure enough, there he was. What is wrong with the Sheik? Why would he stoop so low? I guess we will never really know the answers to those questions. But I'm sure glad he does get involved week after week.



As always... take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).

*Note to self -must pick up a case of used pokemon cards at Home Depot this week.


Happy Birthday Judith Rastl July 23rd, 2016.
Happy Birthday Tami Heide July 23rd, 2016
Happy Birthday Janelle Donahue July 23rd, 2016
Happy Anniversary Kevin and Kim Grondin
July 23rd, 2016

Please Pray for local Hampton surfer Terry Morrison and his family. Also please pray for Marine SSGT George Masten.
A combat Marine who served in Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the purple heart for wounds received in Vietnam in 1967. George is battling cancer.
PLEASE say a prayer for him.

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 11 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph






CLICK ON THE GRAPHIC ABOVE TO SEE EVERY
SINGLE WEEK FROM THE LAST 11 YEARS!


OK check this out. Seacoastonline did a story on me and the blog. Just click on the pic below and look it over. It's pretty short, so most of you can handle it. Besides, it's just a different perspective of someone you already know. Me.


Click me. click me. click me.

*Click on the photo above to see a larger version

(Above) The ladies of our surfing community presented the crew with
traditional Hawaiian leis. July 16th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) What an incredible journey. The crew of the Hokule'a stopping in Portsmouth, NH at the Wentworth Marina. July 16th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



Today- The Summer Wall Friday July 15th, 2016.
Photos by MAX



(Above) War paint applied, Crowley heads for local glory.
Friday July 15th, 2016 Photo by MAX
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Seems like everyone's into nose riding this summer. Crowley puts
five over for MVF. Friday July 15th, 2016 Photo by MAX
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Jamie Hosker up on the nose getting the stink eye from JD.
Friday July 15th, 2016 Photo by MAX
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Jake Davidson is one unique individual. Friday July 15th, 2016
Photo by MAX *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) You can see the wetsuit starting to come off. Mikey Evans burning up. July 12th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) That's more like it. Mikey Evans Summer sliding. July 12th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) This pic is nothing special but I love the texture of the wave face.
MVF July 10th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Artie Seaman getting in one last session before heading back
out to sea. July 10th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Check out Artie Seaman in the new ESM's "Who Da Guy" feature.
July 10th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Unknown on a shoulder high wave. July 10th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery