Winter Storm NEPTUNE, the 70th anniversary of the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima, and the Oscars.

I'm writing this blog late on a Saturday night and there's snow falling outside my window. That's nothing surprising to any of us experiencing this winter here in New England. What is surprising is, that I honestly don't care. It's true. I have become numb to these relentless snow storms. Or as Pink Floyd so aptly put it, I have become comfortably numb.

We're only supposed to get 5". Funny thing is, I can remember when 5" meant something. Not these days. If it ain't a foot, I ain't raising my eyebrows. Wait did I just write "ain't" twice in the same sentence? I did. And I don't care. Ha. I really have become "Comfortably Numb."

The NEPTUNE storm was wacked.



I have driven all over the country and I have experienced some of the worse driving conditions ever. There was that time in PA where I drove the family into a paralyzing fog on a mountain. White knuckle time. And I took full responsibility for that blunder. I have since learned that if the big tractor trailers are on the side of the road at the bottom of large hills and mountains, waiting for the fog to clear, I will be joining them. That was insane.

I have driven through major snow storms and hurricanes.

But last Sunday on February 15th, 2015 I got caught in a complete white out here on the seacoast. Not once. Not twice. But three different times. And the crazy thing was, the sun was out. It was like 3 in the afternoon. But I am telling you that the wind was howling so bad it was causing the snow to billow and blow across Ocean Blvd and Rte 1-A that it caused the world to disappear.

I tried to take video and stills but it was too hard to do. Not to mention dangerous. After all there were vehicles behind me. Including some close friends. Kevin and Kim Grondin. We were all checking the surf. I ended up shooting the surf and the snow, and it is featured in one of the clips in the video section.

By the time I got back to the house I could see what NEPTUNE had brought us. FYI my son Max had been on the roof the storm before and cleared it all off. Including the awning. But as you can all plainly see, there's another foot and a half piled up. This winter has us all in a death grip. And he's not letting go just yet.



There's a long way to go before this all melts.

Okay, so tonight is the Academy awards and this guy is the host. I would imagine there's a boatload of pressure on Neil Patrick Harris. Some big shoes to fill. Billy Crystal, Ellen, etc etc. But I would imagine he's got his shit together. It's not like they hand that out to anyone. You have got to have something special to be able to stand up there and handle that crowd and the gazillions of people watching at home.
I'll be tuning in (later)....I hope he does well.



And I really hope this movie (below) does well too. AMERICAN SNIPER. Bradley Cooper did an amazing job portraying NAVY SEAL Chris Kyle. The movie was everything you've heard it was. There's nothing glorious about war. Nothing. But there is something to recognizing the individuals who volunteer to go and help other human beings in need. That is noble. That is worthy of praise and respect.



I hope this movie wins just to shut the big fat trap of Michael Moore and the others of the Hollywood elite who have bashed the film and it's content. Good luck to all who had something to do with this film. And let's never forget the warriors and their families who have sacrificed so much.

Speaking of warriors. Last Thursday was the 70th anniversary of this major battle in the South pacific. IWO JIMA. This aerial photo of the beach landing is pretty impressive. The men in those landing crafts had no idea what truly awaited them. The Marines lost 6,281 KIA and over 19,000 wounded. The Japanese lost 21,000 men killed in action. Only 200 surrendered. The rest died fighting.



My uncle Bruno was there, as were two other close friends. One of my friends is still with us and he is a living piece of history. "Uncommon Valor, was a common virtue" Admiral Nimitz



Tomorrow marks the 70th anniversary of the Flag Raising.
This one photo changed my life. I enlisted in the Marines because
of this image. I have no regrets

Today at 2:00PM at WALLY's on Hampton Beach is the fundraiser for Meghan Evans. Meanwhile those wishing to make a donation can walk into any TD Bank and ask for the Karen Evans
(Meghan's mom) Fund raiser.



TODAY February 22nd, 2015 at WALLYS in Hampton Beach.
2PM to 9PM

"Snowboarding and Surfing Heals All Wounds"