Thanksgiving Week of giving with Brian Nevins and his
wonderful Go Fund Me project. Also the passing of Florence Henderson, and Fidel Castro

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I sure did. My family gathered at my sister's house, and we ate until we could not stand any longer. We were all thankful for everything, and everyone. Including those who passed before us.



My late grandmother (Noni), Uncle Angelo, and my father Gus. This was taken in the 1940's at Thanksgiving. People have said that I look like my dad in this pic. I guess I see it. That turkey looks good.

Here's a couple of pics from this Thanksgiving day.



My girls. All five of them. I love them all so much, and I am so very thankful to have them in my life. Here's a selfie of the ONLY surfers present at the feast.



Jesse, Max, and Ralph. The surf connection. We ate like surfers.

Speaking of surfers, the words below are from my friend and fellow surf photographer, Brian Nevins. Please take the time to read this and help out if you can. Trust me, It will be the best spent dollars, you will spend this entire Christmas season.



"Over the last 8 years I've had the honor of being taken into a storyline that has forever changed my life. I was invited to walk with the families of a place then named La Chureca, a massive unregulated trash dump that was home to thousands. It was a place of work and survival in a country hosting over a 70% unemployment rate and the unfortunate stat of being the poorest nation in Central and South America.  Children played barefoot amongst the burning refuge, stepping over needles discarded from medical waste while their parents worked endless hours rummaging through trash.

I met Wendy in front of her family's make shift home.

The walls and roof were made of materials salvaged from the dump, it's contents the same. She was open armed and welcomed me into her world. Through the eyes of a then five year old, Wendy guided me through the flames of La Chureca and the realities of extreme global poverty. She has had a strength I've never never understood but always watched in awe. She has guided my lens, my heart, and my life since that day. For all the efforts to make change for her, I always felt she seemed to do so much more for me.

In a place like Nicaragua, a basic high school education is worth a lifetime of opportunity. For the past few years myself and the hard working on the ground NGO Love Light and Melody have been instilling the value of getting an education into Wendy and her brothers. The best opportunity to break the cycle is to bring the tools for them to pull themselves out and change their own destiny. In a huge win, Wendy and 3 of her brothers have made the decision to go to school, and I couldn't be more excited to help in making that happen.

We have been able to out of our pocket, get them through their first year.

Costs are coming up this New Year, and we need help to make this continue.
I need your help, your heart, and your drive to make a viable change in these kids lives! Some of you have followed their story through my eyes for some time now, some of you are brand new to it. I invite you to dig into their story, we are all one family; learn more at: http://lovelightandmelody.org

Now is the time to be a part of breaking the cycle.

I am in. My life and my lens, have been, and always will, be in pursuit of changing these kids lives, until they are moaning over what to do, on their day off like the rest of us. As part of that pursuit, I'm throwing myself at you in anyway I can to help me get them through another year of school, another year of books, and another year of helping mom get some food in their tummies so they can all concentrate on this major task at hand.

They need your help.

I will be offering all my prints this holiday season to raise money for this. 100% of the profits will be given to these 4 kids pursuit of changing their life. If you can donate to the page, even if it's a dollar; every penny counts. If you are looking for a gift this Christmas that has a profound effect on battling extreme poverty, and looks amazing on your wall; dive in. It's yours, and I couldn't be more grateful to print it for you.





From Alaska to Indonesia, Mount Washington to California, I'm offering any print you want off of my website www.briannevins.com towards this cause. Donations of $200.00 will get you an 11x14 (11x19 for most) of your choice. Donations of $100.00 will get you an 8x10 (8x12) of your choice. 
Other donation sizes include:
16x24 : $300.00
24x36" $500.00
All prints are signed and include shipping within the continental US, outside
of additional charges may apply.

OVERVIEW
Love Light + Melody supports children in the Villa Guadalupe resettlement community (where families from the La Chureca trash dump were relocated to) in Nicaragua through a scholarship program. We believe there is immeasurable power in education to inspire hope, transform lives, and protect vulnerable children. 

The LLM Scholarship Program provides scholarships for kids in Villa Guadalupe to attend a private school, Lighthouse Christian Academy (LCA), where they can receive a Kindergarten through High School education and holistic support from the teachers and staff. 

Love Light + Melody currently provides full scholarships for four students, with hopes of expanding the program to offer more kids opportunities to receive an education. 

FUNDING NEEDS
Monthly Expenses (Per Student) 

Tuition: $50 
Transportation: $40 
Tutoring: $15 
Meals: $25 
School Supplies: $5 
TOTAL: $135 

Yearly (Per Student) 
School Uniforms: $25 
PE Uniforms: $15 
Books: $175 
School Supplies: $70 
TOTAL: $285 

Full Scholarship (Per Student) 
Monthly Expenses for One Year: $1,620 
Yearly Expenses: $285 
Miscellaneous Expenses: $95 
TOTAL: $2,000 

4 child total: $8000.00



Thank you for your help and together let's change these kids lives!"
Brian Nevins


"Surfing and Helping These Children, Heals All Wounds"

This is another semi embarrassing unknown pic. This is from Hurricane Bill in August of 2009. I wonder if he told his friends that he pulled off a "killer air" and some photographer may have gotten a photo of it. Oh yeah. Some photog got it alright.

To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. 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.

Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances
The Brady Bunch fan base was saddened this week when Florence Henderson passed away. I am one of the few out there who has never seen a Brady Bunch episode. The series started in 1969 and I was in the Marines in 1969. So by the time I got back, I was in no mood for the Brady Bunch. I never watched a single show. I only knew about it from being bombarded by the TV commercials. But look, I can certainly understand what it's like to be a fan. So my condolences to all you Brady Brunch freaks. I mean Brady Bunch.



Marsha Marsha Marsha. Perhaps the most popular fake family in TV history. Maybe I'll watch the re-runs and get caught up in the nostalgia.
Or maybe not.



Rest In Peace Mrs Brady. Rest In Peace.

Just days after Flo bought the farm, Fidel Castro finally checked out.



I don't know about you guys, but this death has been a longtime coming. It's one of those passings where you have to stop and think, "Was he still alive?" Of course, the Castro family was upset I'm sure. His little brother Raul was saddened by his big bad ass brother's passing. I guess I'm on the fence about this.



I mean he was a ruthless dictator who sided with the Communists in Russia. We almost went to war with this nutcake in the early sixties.



Here he is with Nikita Khrushchev. Couple of bad apples right here kids.



He was in power for a very long time. There are many Cubans celebrating his demise as I write this. Florida is writhing in his passing. There is joy in the streets. Fidel is dead. He died on Black Friday. And speaking of Black Friday...



Seems reasonable. After the recount, they will be back out on the circuit. Buy now and save.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
This should surprise no one. Of course KSM would be in Fidel's camp. You kidding? Fidel is no dummy, he would want the ear of the most despicable Terrorist on the planet. This photo was more than likely taken back in the 90's. Bastards.



So my friends, please 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 Cuban cigars at Home Depot this week.

Prayers and positive thoughts to Erica Nardone's recovery.
REST IN PEACE Harriet Gould.
REST IN PEACE Florence Henderson.

ESA-NNE with Surfs Up of Nasuha  are having a contest at their wave pool Dec. 10th,  7am sign ups.  Billabong prizes,  Rob Kelly and Sam Hammer judging . Non-Esa members   Please contact Lenny Nichols for entry process   603-944-2418

Look who got added to the ESM Senior photographer's list.

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 photo above to see a larger version

(Above) A nice empty one that got by everyone. November 8th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) There was size out there. MVF dealing with the avalanche.
November 8th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) And there were some hollow ones too. Just ask Weston Rogers. November 8th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Lars Hamilton got one of the best waves in the video.
November 8th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Kai Nichols flying off the bottom. November 8th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Ryan McGill slamming on the brakes at his favorite break.
November 8th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This would of made a nice still, but something tells me he's glad it's on Video. MVF November 8th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Matt Colby was having the time of his life out here. Surfing with just one other guy. November 9th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Jesse Gould sans hood was making it look warmer than it really was. Of course burning turns like this will make anyone feel hot.
November 9th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) James Morse after the shoulder injury.
November 9th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) This particular session had a magic feel to it. Matt Colby feeling the magic. November 9th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- Less Than 10 Miles Inland. There's a whole other world. November, 2016. Photos by RALPH



(Above) These Birch trees caught my eye. November, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) They don't call them "busy" for nothing. November, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- A View From The Land Of Lost Whales
November, 2016. Photos by Maureen McNamara



(Above) Now you see it - now you don't. The always evasive tube.
November, 2016 Photo by Maureen McNamara
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) For that millisecond in time. Once captured you can stare for hours at the different textures. November, 2016 Photo by Maureen McNamara
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- Martha Lardent can take a beautiful surf photo. And she can take an even better nature pic. November, 2016.
Photos by Martha Lardent



(Above) Come on. How fricken cool is this? Martha you need to sell this image. It's amazing. November, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) From Eagles to Pelicans November, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Who cares if there's no surf. I want to be there. .
November, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery