My dear friends, we are living in unprecedented times. This whole COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. l know this selfie of me wearing this mask, is just me being silly. And while on the one hand it is in fact silly, on the other hand, it is anything but. The CORONAVIRUS has taken the world by storm. I don't have to tell you about the severity of what's happening around the Globe. Unless you really do depend on me for your world news. If that's the case, we're in bigger trouble than I originally thought.
Truth is, I was wrong about this thing. Dead wrong.
I made fun of it. I joked about it continuously, hell I'm still joking about it. But my joking about stuff like this can only be explained through my gallows humor, or more specifically, my military humor. Most veterans that I know joke about things like this because, well, we've seen worse. And quite frankly, something like this pales in comparison to some of the things we have witnessed. But having said that, I am well aware of the real possibilities of this virus, and what it is capable of doing to our society.
But when my wife comes home from the Super Market,
and tells me that entire shelves of toilet paper have been ravaged from the store, I have to wonder.
What the hell does everyone need with all that toilet paper?
I mean did I miss something? Why all the TP? Is the Coronavirus a gastrointestinal disorder? Are we all going to be shitting ourselves from now until Kingdom Come? Is that what this is? Because I had heard it was all upper respiratory. You know, Flu-like symptoms. Cold, coughing, and pneumonia like. Am I getting fed some misinformation here?
And not for nothing but, shouldn't someone alert the President that he's been in contact with three individuals who have tested positive for the Coronavirus?
I mean shouldn't he be tested? Like now? Can you imagine if the leader of
the Free World actually ended up with the Coronavirus? Hello?
The man with the "MAKE BRAZIL GREAT AGAIN" hat has tested positive.
And shouldn't VP Mike Pence also be tested? Look, I'm no doctor, and I'm certainly not a scientist when it comes to this stuff, but I do know precaution signs when I see them.
And this? This has red flags in your freaking face!
And if that wasn't scary enough, Ivanka Trump is seen standing next to Peter Hutton (pink tie) who also tested positive for COVID-19. And look who else is there, Bill Barr himself. THEY ALL NEED TO GET TESTED so they don't get others infected. I mean Good Lord people, we're talking about the entire administration being at risk here. Not to mention that it's the elderly who are most at risk. And 45 is in his 70's. He's not exactly a prime specimen of being in good health and shape.
Am I wrong about this? I'm not trying to get political here, I'm genuinely concerned about the leaders of our country getting sick or worse. So when 45 comes out spouting the nonsense he does about "Knowing all about the coronavirus" I have to step back and take note. Is he serious? WTF?
Contrary to popular belief, I care about our country. We all should.
If things don't get turned around in a hurry, I think that COVID-19 will be 45's undoing. It could very well end up being his Achilles heel. Next November will be very telling.
And if this wasn't scary enough, how about the fact that Hollywood actor and Oscar winner Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson both tested positive for the coronavirus. They got it in Australia where they are filming a movie
about Elvis Presley.
This is even getting too real for REALITY TV.
And another thing, if Tom Hanks and his wife end up really getting sick, or worse? Then all bets are off. I hope and pray that none of them end up in any of those scenarios. But the writing is on the wall. COVID-19 will be around until further notice. NO CONCERTS. NO SPORTING EVENTS. NO LATE NIGHT TV. NO SCHOOL. NO WORK. NO NOTHING. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, NO TOILET PAPER! DOH!!
It's almost like the END OF THE WORLD kind of stuff.
And if things weren't scary enough, FRIDAY THE 13TH CAME and it was all par for the course. Scary skies and clouds. I kid you not. Look at the Gallery of pics I shot on Friday March 13th, 2020.
Pretty, pretty, pretty scary.
The clouds looked like little devils and witches dancing on the horizon.
But...things did get better throughout the afternoon. This little Casper The Friendly Ghost like cloud showed up when the sun finally popped out.
By the end of the day, the skies were blue, and the clouds had these nice warm tones about them. It was almost as if the "Wicked Witch Of the West" herself had been killed. And Dorothy and her three companions were all going back to Kansas. Always look for the silver lining in the dark clouds.
Or as I am fond of saying, "I look for that Patch of Blue" on those cold gray
and windy days. Don't worry, things will get better.
Speaking of Patch. Here he is "pointing" out the New Blog sponsor.
Welcome SALTY PAWS from Hampton, NH.
CLICK ON THE AD ABOVE to visit their website and find out more about SALTY PAWS. They've got some great ideas for you and your pets, and they have some really cool photos of the dogs that they have done business with.
WELCOME TO Ralph's Pic Of The Week SALTY PAWS!
"Surfing, Salty Paws, and Fighting The Coronavirus Heals All Wounds."
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This is a shot of Bryan Johnson on March 6th, 2010 And it was taken from "Ed's Corner". The REAL Ed's corner. He used to set up in the cove of two of our premier point breaks. I shot from this exact angle the other day (3-13-20) and I did it in his memory. So you see, there really was an Ed's corner before this one. He owned that spot. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.
Now for Some Local, National and International News
So it's real people. It doesn't get any more serious than this. Only time will tell how this all plays out, in the meantime, we all need to play by the rules. This is no BS. Well...you know what I mean. It is and it isn't. But one thing's for sure, Life as we once knew it has changed. Suck it up bunky, it's gonna get bumpy up ahead.
Those were two big words. NATIONAL EMERGENCY.
Hey that's what 45 said. "Two Big Words." You can't make this stuff up. Let's face it, the man is not a wordsmith. Unless he has a telprompter with big fonts in his face, when he strays from the helpful teleprompter, he gets himself in trouble. Ugh.
But scenes like this are not only BIG but scary.
Speaking of big, I really hope the PEACE Treaty with The Taliban lasts longer than it did on HOMELAND. That show is a little too close to reality sometimes. But for the sake of the families of these lost heroes, PLEASE KEEP THE PEACE.
The HEROES of POST 9-11. The REAL NAVY SEALS of the Movie LONE SURVIVOR. May their souls Rest in Peace.
Bummer, I was really looking forward to seeing this with my brother Johnny. We both watched THE BEATLES on the ED SULLIVAN Show on February 9th, 1964 on an old B&W TV in
the family den. That same night I told him that we would be in a band together some day. The next day I made cut-out cardboard guitars. I made a Hofner (violin) bass and Rickenbacher guitar.
I was Paul and he was John.
Those were fond memories.
We ended up playing in bands together since 1971.
Hopefully they will reschedule the show soon.
ESM (Eastern Surf Magazine) using a READY MAG format did the Best of Ralph's Pic. And while they couldn't possibly use everything thing I've ever done, they did manage to put up some 50 pics of mine, plus two videos. And I was truly humbled by their intro. Mez said some nice things about me. CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE WHOLE Spread.
COMING FATHER'S DAY 2020.
And this...
Look "FOR LOVE AND WAVES" sometime in the near future. It will be an all original soundtrack. And this all original concept of couples who surf will be fun. Married couples. Single couples. Gay couples.
Lovers who surf together. From SURF FREE OR DIE and RALPH'S PIC OF THE WEEK.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE TRAILER.
The TRAILER was posted on Valentines Day
February 14th, 2020. Get the significance?
Or RENT or BUY it Online. You have spoken and I have listened. You don't have a DVD player so I made it available Online. Watch it on your Smart TV, your computer, or your cellphone! I can't make this any easier my friends.
GRANITE GIRLS and The RIVER WOMEN from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.
NOW AVAILABLE on VIMEO ON DEMAND.
KSM Photoshop of the Week
This should be no surprise to anyone. KSM flipping 45 the bird at a press conference. What's really surprising is what th hell is KSM doing at a press conference? Damn that Khaliddy! Always causing trouble wherever he goes.
And 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 COVID-19 Test Kits at Home Depot this week.
HAPPY St. Patrick's Day March
17th, 2020!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gale Brunault March 20th, 2020!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Noelle Fatello March 27th, 2020!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gus Fatello March 27th, 2020!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Angelo Fatello March 27th, 2020!
RIP Dorville Finkle USMC WWII-Korea age 92.
RIP Russell Reynolds (father of Johnny, Holly Reynolds
and grandfather of Perry Reynolds and Julia Reynolds)
RIP Bill "Gilly" Gilmore longtime Hampton Lifeguard and
all around waterman.
HEAL QUICKLY Jacko Keefe and Johnny Meehan!
PLEASE Keep longtime NH Surfer Greg Smith in your Prayers.
Lenny Nichols & Colin Madden
Co-Directors, NNE District
Eastern Surfing Association
www.esa-nne.org
@esa.nne.surf
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 16 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
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