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July 29th, 2012- The RUN is 16 out of 18 Weeks. Waist high or better, at least once a week. There were no waist
high waves this week. NEW RUN starts after two weeks of less than waist high.
*Waiting for the next swell.
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There I was standing in the exact spot, at the exact time, as I was exactly one year ago. Only this time, things were clearly different. Gone were the crowds of friends and family. And the hundreds of surfers that lined the opening at 10th Street,
were nowhere to be found. It was just me. Standing there taking it all in, it was easy to see the vast contrast in a
year's time.

But standing there alone on the beach, I felt oddly at peace.



Above. July 26, 2012 at 10th Street on North Beach, I was alone.



Above. One year earlier, July 26, 2011. I was not alone.

As most of you know, on this day I completed a year long surf campaign where I surfed every single day for one year here in New Hampshire. I called it "Catch A Wave For Molly." Another contrast in this year, is the simple fact, that I have not surfed more than a couple of dozen times.

That in itself was strange. How was that possible?

Well for starters, I hurt my knee on December 1st, 2011 and spent the next 3 months out of the water. That I did not see coming. It just seems so odd that I would spend less than a quarter of an entire year out of the water. I took plenty of
photos this past year, but clearly have not been out in the
water as much as i would of liked to.

And the truth is, I miss it. I miss the ocean and just being surrounded by it on a day to day basis. Last year I had the hardest time letting go. In fact, if you read the month to month calendars that I have posted you will see that I actually surfed for 369 consecutive days. Why? Well for starters, there were waves. I was not quitting surfing. Just the campaign.

I'm a surfer. I surf when there's surf. There were waves the days following my "Catch a Wave For Molly" surf campaign. So I kept surfing. In fact, I could of kept going because there were still little waves to ride the next day. But I knew I had to stop.
I had to let it go. Once I stopped and went a full 24 hours without surfing, I knew I was going to be OK. And I was.

I guess I just didn't realize that I would spend less time in the water this past year than I have in past years. Like I said. It was a major contrast from last year.



Above. Molly's dad Buck and I after we all surfed that last day.



Above. Molly's mom Meighan and I embrace after my last wave.

Another big story in the last year is the Rowlees have a new member to the family. TJ was born on April 1st, 2012 and he looks so much like Molly and Big Brother Kieran that it just
warms my heart to see them. And talk about happy. That TJ is one happy smiling kid. He's so damn cute.

I guess of all the changes that have happened in the last year, that is the most special. Seeing the Rowlees with baby TJ is one of the most precious moments I have had in the last six months.

While there is no replacing Lil Miss Molly. There is happiness and love in that home. And Molly's presence is still a very big part of their day to day lives. I think I said it all last year when I said. "This is about three things. Surfing. Community. And Love. We are standing here in a sea of love."

The spirit of Molly Rowlee is still strong today. This year will mark the 3rd annual MOLLY contest on August 25th and 26th. See poster in column below. And on Molly's birthday August 22nd, I plan on releasing the documentary of my year long campaign "SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS"

Seems like the most fitting day to share that amazing year with you all. August 22, 2012.



 

 

 

 

 



Last year, I never saw this graphic that local longboarder Mike Sidebottom had painted on the opening at 10th Street on that day. It's not surprising, there were so many people on the beach that night that it got lost in the crowds. But here it is, one year later. The Molly heart, with Molly and myself riding a wave in May of 2011. This part of the new documentary is covered in clear detail. As it should be.

Suffice it to say, it was a significant part of my year.

The other difference was the surf. While the weather was eerily similar, the lack of surf was evident. Though when I turned to take a photo of the empty ocean this last Thursday, this wave appeared.



One empty wave. I smiled when I saw it. I could of easily have paddled into that mushy wave and rode it during my year of surfing everyday.
That wave would of been a welcome sight for me many times during that long cold winter, and even longer flat spells.

But you surfers can look at this wave and acknowledge it. You know I could of caught this and rode it. Easily. A one and done. As I was fond
of calling them throughout that year. "One and Done."
As I mentioned earlier, I have the entire "Catch a Wave For Molly" blog in chronological order. I reread most of my postings and was smiling and feeling wistful and melancholy along the way through them all. It was a therapy of sorts for me to go back and relive it all again.

The movie SHAW is the same. My hand held video taping is shaky at best, but it is raw, and it is very real. It is by far the most significant surf movie I have ever done. You won't see any BIG airs. Or 360 attempts. You won't see any deep barrel rides. Heck, you won't see much in the way of any contemporary surfing. Hardly. I'm just not that good of a surfer. But unlike most of my prior movies, this one actually tells a story.

And a lot of you were part of that story. Look for it August 22, 2012.

"Surfing Heals All Wounds..."

Now for Some Of My Weekly Global Observances:

Let The Games Begin. The 2012 OLYMPICS have started. I missed Sir Paul singing Hey Jude, though I have seen him do it live a few times. But it is all very exciting. We all need something we can cheer for.
Yes I am cheering for the USA. I like it when America wins. Call me old fashion but it's something we all have have deeply embedded in our souls. It's called pride.

I know ole KSM below won't be cheering for us. Why's he gotta be so hurtful? It's not like Al Qeada has a sports team. Unless the Terrorists has a new sport that I am not aware of. Like car Bombing. Or Lighting your shoes on fire...or IED making. No, they will be left out again.

Sitting in their caves in Afghanistan, or in their cells in GITMO trying to get a good reception on their Black and white Cave TVs. Cursing America every time we win! Ha! See there's something worth cheering about right there. Remember...Every time an American team wins, a Terrorist kills himself.

GO USA! Make Khalid Sheik Mohammed twist and turn in his cell tonight as America continues to thrive.



Note to self: Must get my son Max to draw some wacky surf cartoons
for my upcoming surf art column.

Can't wait until Fall...Football, Nor'easters, and upland magic.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Amber Brent July 30th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bill Stecchi August 1st!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Patrick Rafferty August 2nd!
HAAPY BIRTHDAY John Carden August 3rd!
GET WELL SOON Matt Denis WHS student!

REST IN PEACE George Jefferson...From The JEFFERSONS.
*ANY GROM LOOKING FOR A FREE SURFBOARD
Contact me via email.

*August 22nd, 2012 is the NEW RELEASE DATE for the New Surf Free Or Die Movie "SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS"

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to Ralph's Pic
Of The Week
every
week for the last 9 years. **Think about BUYING a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW. Keep in mind the photos you steal from this site are low RES. You can't blow them up. Order HIGH RES photos that are suitable for framing. It's a GREAT Gift Idea. A nice framed photo of your favorite Surfer or Surf Break!

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


Ralph

 

 

 

 

 




August 22nd 2012 NEW PROJECTED RELEASE DATE!

Don't forget to go back and read the whole DAILY BLOG on My
CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY
. (Click On the Banner below on this page.)
Started on July 26, 2010 ENDED July 26, 2011. A Wave a day for 365
consecutive days. Just click on the banner ads on this page.


To contact the advertisers below, simply click on the Ad space. Anyone wishing to find out info about advertising
here can do so by emailing me directly. Ralph's Email I'll
send you a template and other info on how you can
become a paid sponsor

We highly recommend the various businesses and artists
listed below. Why? Well simply put, each and every one of them is a Surfer, who lives the Surfing Lifestyle, and their business is a reflection of that lifestyle that we all love.






Yesterday- 1960's circa "Stan Chew" USO show on Kinmen
(Below) Stan Chew (second from left) rocking out with his band during a USO show on Kinmen in Taiwan in the 60's. Stan is a local NH surfer whop has played music as long as he has been surfing. Check out that funky ELK amplifier. Stan is still rocking and surfing today! Photo courtesy of Stan Chew.



Click on the photo above to see the larger version.



TODAY ... all the photos below were taken this week, unless otherwise noted.

Today- Thursday July 26th, 2012 Photos by RALPH




(Above) Wild flowers as far as the eye could see. I spent the entire day devoid of all, Computers, TV's, radios, and Cellphones. I can't recommend that enough to you all.
Thursday July 26, 2012.
Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.





(Above) This Green Bullfrog never heard of a smart phone. Thursday July 26, 2012.
Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.



(Above) Like I've said before. It's not just about surfing. Thursday July 26, 2012.
Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.





(Above) My young GSP Patch pointing a Timberdoodle . Thursday July 26, 2012.
Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.



Today- Wednesday July 25th, 2012 Photos by RALPH




(Above) Small empty wave. Nobody saw this wave. I looked around and saw that I
was the only one looking at these tiny waves. Wednesday July 25, 2012.
Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.




(Above) I have grown to love all waves. The older I get, the more I appreciate each
and every wave. July 25th, 2012.
Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.




(Above) Even this. I get a kick out of this scene. July 25th, 2012. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.




(Above) Been a longtime since I've done this. It was nice to drop by and say hello.
July 25th, 2012.
Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.




Today- The BEACHCOMBOVERS at SURFSIDE 5 in Salisbury
Beach. Wednesday July 25th,
2012 Photos by RALPH




(Above) This is a GREAT Instrumental Surf Band. Plus you have to love that name.
the BEACHCOMBOVERS! Classic. Tommy White and company rocking the beach.
Wednesday July 25, 2012.
Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.


(Above) Then the frosting on the cake. The Al-Jawary Al Hessan Belly Dancers came
out and danced to the cool reverb sounds of the BEACHCOMBOVERS! Too funny.
Wednesday July 25, 2012.
Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.





Today- The CURSE OF THE NEW CAMERA (Damn you O'Connell!)
Tuesday July 24th, 2012 Photos by Ed O'Connell



(Above) Ever since Ed got his new camera the surf went flat. Ok so it's not entirely flat
but it's been pretty weak and pathetic. For most of us. We call it the CURSE of the New
Camera...and yes we are blaming Ed for this current drought.
Tuesday July 24, 2012.
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.


(Above) I think this is Perry Reynolds. Tuesday July 24, 2012.
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.


(Above) Ok there's no curse of the camera Ed. That NIKON takes great photos.
We must all be patient and wait for waves.
Tuesday July 24, 2012.
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
Today- Natural Light on North Beach. Tuesday July 24th, 2012
Photos by Brian Nevins




(Above) Meanwhile earlier in the day another photog was having to deal with his own curses. Brian Nevins shot some of the best natural lighting conditions ever to only find
out he was out of memory on his card. DOH!
Still he managed to capture these
amazing
photos. Tuesday July 24, 2012.
Photo By Brian Nevins
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.





(Above) Not sure if Nevins is capable of taking a bad photograph.
Tuesday July 24, 2012.
Photo By Brian Nevins
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.




(Above) To answer the question above. Case closed. Tuesday July 24, 2012.
Photo B
y Brian Nevins * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.



Today- The last BHD show. North Beach Bar & Grille Hampton. Saturday July 22nd, 2012 Photos by Ed O'Connell



(Above) If you like the sounds of that raw Texas blues guitar sound ala Stevie Ray and
Jimi Hendrix then you would of liked this. Mindless guitar fun.
Saturday July 22, 2012.
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.


Today- The USS Michael Murphy Tour Bath, Maine.
Sunday July 23, 2012 Photos by RALPH




* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.







 









Today- ONE YEAR LATER. Follow the Entire Year of "Catch A Wave For Molly" in the Calendar Journals I kept.
July 26-2010 to July 26-2011 Calendars by RALPH

*Click on each thumbnail to see larger Calendar.


JULY 2010 AUGUST 2010 SEPTEMBER 2010



OCTOBER 2010 NOVEMBER 2010 DECEMBER 2010






NEW QWILL Single JUST RELEASED on fathers Day June 17, 2012 GREAT SONG


JANUARY 2011 FEBRUARY 2011 MARCH 2011


APRIL 2011 MAY 2011 JUNE 2011

   
JULY 2011    












SURF ART Exhibit Reception at The Provident Bank in Hampton, NH on Thursday August 2nd, 2012 from 5:30PM to 7:00PM



Now through Aug 31 as part of the Provident Bank Lobby for
the Arts Program exhibit of surf art and photography by Ralph
Fatello, Ed O’Connell, John Carden, Ryan Denning, of Alpine
Live, and Ryan Scura and Dylan Ladds of The Granite Stoke.

The bank is located at 321 Lafayette Road Hampton NH and
the lobby is open Mon-Friday 8am-7pm, Sat 9-1 Sun 10-2.









We welcome all Surf Related pics from our Readers. Just make sure they are at
least 900 pixels wide. If you have any OLD photos of local surfers and surfing we would love to see them and share them with our readers. We can scan them for you. And we get them back to you undamaged.

If you have prints/slides we can scan them.

And we don't care if you shoot pics with with your cellphones. I mean it. Most of the images you see on the news and on the Internet were shot with Smart Phones.

Just shoot them and send them along.

 








(Above) Young Stan Chew playing a Uke in Hawaii. Circa 1960's.
Photo courtesy of Stan Chew
*Click on the photo above to see the
Whole gallery.



(Above) Our vote for the coolest Billboard on the East Coast. Our good friends at IJEEP.COm sent in this photo of their new Billboard in PA. Check out I JEEP for
the best deals on JEEPS on the Entire East Coast.
Photo courtesy of Geoff Haenn *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.







CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON on each clip to view videos


Natural Cut TV - Teahupoo, Tahiti
from Natural Cut TV on Vimeo
A good friend and fellow videographer shot this insane footage of Chopes a couple of weeks ago. It's really cool and heart pounding
and I'm so stoked he got to experience that.




Recorded in 1978. Click on VINNY CD
art to see a larger version and how to order this CD and others for sale at
GAF Music. www.gafmusic.com
A Division of Adlantic


CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY 2 from Joe Carter on Vimeo.

One year later and still the best video clip of that day.
Thank you Joey for an amazing documentation of the
most special of days.




 

Meet the Superhumans from Stitch Editing on Vimeo.

With the Olympics on everyone's mind, and with this year being our 5th Annual HIT THE BEACH event, I thought I'd share this with you.
Our good friend Michael Taylor sent this to me.



Recorded in 1983. Click on VINNY CD art
to see a larger version and how to order this CD and others for sale at GAF Music.
www.gafmusic.com
A Division of Adlantic






Crackie's back. He's over in London England watching the Olympics. Meanwhile, if you have a question no matter how stupid, or absurd, please send it here...crackie@adlantic.com

Crackie has his own Facebook Page. You should Friend Him...though there are no guarantees that he'll be nice to you.





 


(Above) All Rise: 10th Street District Court of Surf Justice is now in session, the
Honorable Judge RALPH presiding. CASE 172 BLATANT DROP IN OF THE WEEK-
Shot May 17, 2012. Click the photo to see the outcome of this Surf crime and the
verdict. Photo by RALPH.



CLICK ABOVE to read the WHOLE DAILY"Catch A Wave For Molly" BLOG. I started the campaign on July 26, 2010 and Ended July 26, 2011. I kept a daily digital blog, of each and every day. There's tons of photos too! It was an amazing adventure. And yes you can still donate to the MOLLY ROWLEE Fundraiser. Click it.





IN THE SHOPS AUGUST 22nd, 2012
 



NEW Phantom July 2011...COMING NEXT WEEK!



NEW Phantom July 2011...COMING NEXT WEEK!



NEW Phantom July 2011...COMING NEXT WEEK!



Click above to read the entire MOLLY BLOG in Chronological order






 



(Above) Put the cursor over the images above to see happens when you DROP in
on someone. You become Invisible.
Simply put the mouse over the photo to see the
original photo and then marvel at the results of what happens when the criminal
becomes
invisible.*Put the cursor over the photo to see the Real image.
Photo by RALPH



 

Today 2012 "Meet me back under the Blue and white umbrella!"



(Above) Imagine what it must be like being a Lifeguard on this
beach? Somewhere in the Far East.
Photo via the Internet.








Click above to find out how you can help my friend Tim.



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