Saying Goodbye to a TRUE American Hero, Holiday Traditions, and the annual ARMY NAVY game.

John Glenn passed away. Where does one begin with this man's story? I guess we can start at the Second World War. John Glenn was a fighter pilot in WWII while serving in the Marine Corps. A fighter pilot locking horns with Japanese pilots over the South Pacific. That takes a whole lot of courage and nerves of steel. But Glenn did this without batting an eyelash.



He rose to the rank of Colonel. After WWII, he served in KOREA. He went from flying airplanes in WWII, to flying Jets in Korea, this time engaging in dog fights with Communist pilots manning the feared MIGs. But once again, Glenn proved his mettle by keep his plane aloft, while sending his adversaries plunging back to earth. He had flown over 150 combat missions in both wars. In his last nine days of combat in Korea, Glenn shot down 3 MIGS over the Yalu River in North Korea.

*And an interesting side note: Glenn's wingman on several of his combat missions, was the famous baseball player Ted Williams, who played for the Boston Red Sox. That's pretty fricken cool.

In 1959 he was selected to become of the nation's elite NASA Mercury Astronauts. On February 20, 1962 aboard the Friendship 7, John Glenn spoke his now famous line "Godspeed John Glenn" as he shot into space, and became the first astronaut to orbit the earth.



Take a look at that craft. It looks like something your dad would make in the back yard. Can you imagine what it must of been like in that tight fitting capsule? I don't know about you guys, but I'd be pretty nervous orbiting the earth (for the first time) in what looks like an oversized trash barrel.



Here's president Kennedy looking over the famed spacecraft with Glenn and Johnson in the background. Those were certainly historical times.



In an eerie photograph, Glenn and Kennedy in the open air motorcade after Glenn's famous launch and orbit. A year later Kennedy would be killed sitting in that same position in Dallas Texas on November 22, 1963.

Glenn retired from NASA in 1964, and went on to serve four terms as a US Senator. He served on a number of committees in Washington, and then in 1988 at the age of 77, he once again ventured into space on board the DISCOVERY, and spent 9 days in Space. Wow.



John Glenn was a real hero. He lived to be 95 years old. That's incredible.

The youth of today would be better off for having read this man's full story. They don't make them like Glenn anymore. Godspeed John Glenn, and may you rest in eternal peace.

Those of you who know me well, know that I am a stickler for traditions. And the Christmas Holiday is one of our (my) biggest traditions. The first of December the lights go on the house NO MATTER what the weather or my health. This year was no different.



Here's the Blue Spruce all lit up in blue. Apparently this is a community favorite. My friends love driving by and seeing the Blue Spruce. It has become a beacon in our town. This year I had help, my little 3yr old granddaughter was my little helper. Though it was mostly me trying to keep her from stepping on the bulbs. She was very concerned about me being on the ladder. "Don't fall Gamps (she calls me Gamps instead Gramps)." Giving my record of falling the last two years it was well heeded advice. Good news, I did not fall, and she did not step on a single bulb.



After the lights on the house and trees we head off for our tree. And by we I mean the whole family. It's tradition. We all go. This year we had all seven of the immediate family and were joined by Noelle's boyfriend Pete. We quickly put him to work. Pete and Max did all the grunt work.



Here's the finished tree, after the decorating (or trimming). Why do they call it trimming? We never actually trim the tree. I mean we cut it down. But after that we just decorate it.



And finally the 30 year tradition. The Surfer ornaments, given to Cory and I by the lead guitarist of the band the CARS. These are classic. *They were also on our wedding cake. Now that was equally as classic.


"Surfing, Holiday Traditions, Remembering Our Heroes, Heals All Wounds"

This is Dan Lahey. I remember this afternoon session. I surfed it and shot it. And I remember when Ed showed me this pic for the first time. The color, the light, the board slotted and in perfect trim, the stance, it was all there and made for one great photograph. I'm pretty sure I used this photo on the back of my longboarding DVD "GROOVEMASTERS". In any case, it still stands as one of the best photos ever of New Hampshire.

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 constant news on TRUMP is getting tired. I can't keep up with the daily Trump headlines. It's stressing at best. So I'm taking a break from the Tangerine haired TV show. Besides, it changes so much it's worse than New England weather. Speaking of which, it looks like the white stuff is coming. Ugh. And my snowblower is on the blink. Lucky I bought a big ole snow shovel last year. Fits Max perfectly.

I'm not really a big College sports fan. But for some reason I know so many people and neighbors who have so much invested in the ARMY & NAVY game. So I decided to watch this year. Turns out the NAVY has won the last 14 years in a row. Well, all my Doggy friends should be happy. ARMY won, and they won convincingly. So good for them.



This kid could throw the ball and run with it ARMY's QB Bradshaw.



Same with NAVY's QB. This kid is a 4th string QB making his FIRST ever start. Talk about pressure. He had a terrible first half but came roaring back in the 2nd half and they actually went ahead 17-14 after being down 14-0. It was a great game.



Some happy ARMY fans. They all wore WWII insignia on their uniforms and the players did the same.


KSM Photoshop of the Week
This is another shocker of a story. I had no idea that KSM was an Al Qeada suicide cosmonaut. Apparently the program never got off the ground due to some discontent among the other cosmonauts. Some of them wanted to bring their goats aboard the crafts and the Al Qeada scientists ruled against that idea. Interesting to see KSM in his spacecraft suit though. You'd think he'd wipe that frown off his face.



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 TANG at Home Depot this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Donna Baldasarri December 13, 2016!
Prayers and positive thoughts to Erica Nardone's recovery.
CONGRATS TO GARY SMITH after serving in the USAF for 31 Years. I can't tell you how proud we are of Gary. A local surfer who really did something with his life. Look for a full story in upcoming weeks.
Prayers and positive thoughts to Martha Lardent's mother.



ESA-NNE with Surfs Up of Nasuha had the contest at their wave pool Dec. 10th, 2016.  Billabong prizes,  Rob Kelly and Sam Hammer judging . Braeden Logue and Rob Kelly above.



Check this out below. It's an interesting study on water quality.



Click on this image to read the whole report.



Click and Look

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) With the water drawing off the sand and the shorebreak
catching up to you. There's only one thing to do. RUN!
December 1st, 2016 Video frame grabs by RALPH
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(Above) This is a cool looking bottom turn. Mikey Evans was in the zone.
December 1st, 2016 Video frame grabs by RALPH
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(Above) And this is an equally as cool cutback. Mikey Evans.
December 1st, 2016 Video frame grabs by RALPH
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(Above) Kody Grondin setting up for full coverage.
December 1st, 2016 Video frame grabs by RALPH
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(Above) Becca Speak looking for a shoulder. December 1st, 2016
Video frame grabs by RALPH
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(Above) Kody Grondin below sea level.
December 1st, 2016 Video frame grabs by RALPH
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(Above) Julie Jakoboski leaning into this turn (she made it).
December 1st, 2016 Video frame grabs by RALPH
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(Above) Hand dragging, knee dropping, and watching the lip. Vince.
Video frame grabs from super 8mm movies by RALPH
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(Above) Billy Ritchie turning into the future. October, 1982
Video frame grabs from super 8mm movies by RALPH
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(Above)Frontside or backside he could handle it all with style,
grace, and power. Robin Rowell. October, 1982
Video frame grabs from super 8mm movies by RALPH
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(Above) If I miss these days, Robin must really miss them. October, 1982
Video frame grabs from super 8mm movies by RALPH
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(Above) We were all young once. Robin Rowell back in his youthful days. October, 1982 Video frame grabs from super 8mm movies by RALPH
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(Above) Zappy in a familiar pose. October, 1982
Video frame grabs from super 8mm movies by RALPH
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(Above) On a borrowed board and wetsuit (I hated those colorful suits)
I manage to snag a few that came my way. October, 1982
Video frame grabs from super 8mm movies by RALPH
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(Above) Kevin "Doc" Grondin. October, 1982
Video frame grabs from super 8mm movies by RALPH
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Today- The India Pics from Kathy Hileman
(Ed O'Connell's widow). This past Fall 2016.
Photos by Kathy Hileman



(Above) Kathy was describing this scene to Cory and I the other night over dinner. From what I can gather everything is brighter and bigger in India. November, 2016 Photo by Kathy Hileman
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Can you imagine being able to see a wild Bengal Tiger in the wild? Oh what I would give to be able to see that, and to get video and stills. Oh man. November, 2016 Photo by Kathy Hileman
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery