And just like that, Jose Mena had his favorite board back in his arms again. The details of how the board was found, and returned back to the rightful owner, are still a little sketchy. But, the bottom line is, the board is back, and Jose couldn't be happier. Me too. Like most of you know, I was there the night the board was stolen. I met Jose and his wife Kaili under those terrible conditions. What a difference seeing them under happier conditions.

They are a beautiful young family, who love the ocean and our country.

Jose is a SGT in the Marine Corps, and most of you know I'm a Marine.
That brotherhood is deeper than most services, fraternities, or any other
kinds of warrior groups.

You know the saying: "Once a Marine-Always a Marine."

It was so nice to see them smiling instead of frowning and stressed out. Their little daughter was so cute. She was a little fireball crawling all over the place. She joined the ranks of at least a half dozen babies who have crawled across our floors. My son Max was one of those babies, who's now an adult, and was there hanging out chatting it up with Jose.

It was a quick trip, so we just scratched the surface of our lives. I welcomed them into our home and that invitation has no cutoff. Max invited Jose to hook up with him as well.



He's a good man and he's one stoked surfer! And so am I.



Speaking of stoked surfers. Mark Henschke on the left and his son in law Patrick Mulvey on the right during happier times. Mark sent me an email on Saturday saying that Patrick passed away suddenly at the age of 40 at his home. Mark said he was one of the Pirates Cove surfing gang. And that he taught him to surf within the last 10 years, and that he became a rapid NH waterman and was bitten by the surfing bug immediately. Sounds so familiar.

Mark loved him dearly, and his heart is broken for his daughter.

He can hardly believe that they will never be in the water together again. Mark told me that Patrick also has helped numerous surfers with their legal battles as a local lawyer, and dropped everything to come to their aid immediately.

Patrick sounded like a great individual. He leaves behind a wife and three young children. 40 is way too young to leave this earth.



And forty is certainly too young to stop surfing. My heart goes out to Mark and his family. He lost more than just a brother surfer. He lost a son-in-law and the husband to his daughter Lea Anne, and the father to his grandchildren. That's a lot of weight to carry right now. My thoughts and prayers are with the Henschke and Mulvey families.



I know I live by the mantra of "Surfing Healing All Wounds" but this one is going to take some time. This is Patrick (above) in a clearly head high to overhead surf. If Mark decides to have a paddle for Patrick once the weather warms up, I'll let you all know the details.



I took this photo last week. I call it the melting heart. Love and loss. May the pain that Mark and his family share ease with time, and may the love of family and friends comfort them.

This week was a roller coaster ride of emotions. My late sister Evamarie's daughter Janelle gave birth to her second son. Colby Chase Donahue. He was named after my late nephew Michael Colby. And my sister always loved the name Chase.



Big brother Kai and little brother Colby. There are happy times ahead for the Donahue family.



Speaking of Happy Times. We always have fun when we get together. The Fatellos, The Berardinis, and The Grondins. Friends forever.



And my best friend Patch. He's looking at our cat Linus. Patch doesn't trust Linus and for good reason. They play together and Linus usually out runs and out smarts Patch. It's all in good fun.

"Love, Family, Friends, and Surfing Heals All Wounds"

This is Mike Stanek. Mike has a good bottom turn. Not a great bottom turn, but a good one. His bottom turns are designed for hitting the lip at the right speed, or putting himself into position to get barreled. Because let's face it, Mike is a Barrel Hound.
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
The Patriots off season story gets sadder by the day. In my honest opinion, these four players were worth holding onto. Danny Amendola, Malcolm Butler, Deion Lewis, and Nate Solder. All key players to our most recent successes. I am done trying to figure why they do these things. I mean, I get that it's a business. But isn't it good for business to keep these guys around? I'm still not over the letting go of Jimmy G. It's all about the money. And Jimmy G and these four ex-Patriots were worth paying.



Tell this to the 12 yr old kid who has these guys on his bedroom wall. Explain this to the 70yr old season ticket holder.



Like I've been saying. DON'T LET BELICHICK OFF THE HOOK for NOT Playing our second best DB Malcolm Butler. People have said "Butler would not have won that game for us." And I say..."How do you know that?" The truth is, nobody knows. But it was worth a try. It was worth putting aside your big fat ego and try to win the game with what you have. Bademosi over Butler? Are you shitting me Bill? Well, he's gone now. But if I were a sports reporter, I'd stick that mic into his grumpy face and ask him. "Coach, Why didn't you play Butler?" And I'd keep on asking
until I got a legitimate answer that makes sense. Why Coach?



Speaking of gone. Take a look at this list of Ex TRUMPSTERS.
Seriously, have you ever seen anything quite like this? Here, I'll answer for you. No you have not. It's like musical chairs in that administration. Nobody is safe. Nobody.



Jeff Sessions fires McCabe on Friday night when the poor guy has less than 48 hours away until his retirement. He forfeits his Retirement benefits and his legacy. Who does this kind of political injustice?
We all know who. Sessions is literally a puppet. And we know who's pulling those strings.



Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. No PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to that man. He has turned that once dignified place of admiration and dignity, into a three ring circus. I'm sorry if you're a Trump supporter. I have voted for the GOP my entire adult life. I recently changed my status to INDEPENDENT. My wife has done the same. Is it because we want to be Democrats? Hell no. We think both parties suck. The INDEPENDENT status just fits us better.

In other words, don't tell us who to Vote for. From here on in, we make those decisions on our own.

Besides...this STORMY DANIELS case may just be the straw that breaks this overweight camel's back.



This guy has his shit together. And he's not going away. And neither is this story. There are a few credible reports that there are other women like Stormy, who have been paid off to keep quiet on the Big Red Haired Horn Toad. And to think we were all disgusted over Bill Clinton's affairs. How does Bill look now?



KSM Photoshop of the Week
Now how the hell did KSM get his own talk show? And more importantly, how did he get Stormy Daniels on his show? It appears that there's TV studio down in GITMO. The set looks pretty impressive. Though I don't know how this show will do in ratings if Khaliddy never smiles. However it does appear that the Sheik must have said something funny to get Stormy to laugh.

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 "Stormy Daniels DVD's" at Home Depot this week.


HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY! March 17th, 2018!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Colby Chase Donahue March 14th, 2018
Welcome to our world!
GET WELL SOON Jon Gozzo!
GET WELL JoEllen Bunton Sending positive thoughts
and prayers to you!!

FYI Lenny Nichols is looking for someone or someones to take
over the ESA-NNE District. Please contact Lenny Nichols by calling his cell (603) 944-2418


THE NEW GRANITE GIRLS poster! Shooting for a May Day premiere and a Summer DVD release.




Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 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) Another winter surf scene. Wednesday, March 14th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This is one of my favorite angles and perspectives.
Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Thom Hay has this cool lazy like cutback stance.
Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Not known for it's lefts, this wave is one of the rare ones.
Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) This is a good feeling. Knowing that this wave is going to cooperate and allow you an opportunity for a nice round house cutback.
Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Check out Nate ducking from the nasty spray of Tom Hay's lazy
man's cuttie. Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) What if I told you he made this drop? Would you believe me? Well, click and find out. Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Someone was looking for a warm place to hide.
Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) I'll be posting more of her photos in the upcoming months and years.
Photo by Selena Wheels *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery








(Above) That's a cold looking set under a cold looking sky. March 15, 2018.
Photo by Artie Seaman *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery