November 22nd, 2009 39 out of 40 weeks of surfable waves. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

In a few days, we will all be sitting around the table at family gatherings all over this country about to feast on the traditional Turkey and fixings as we celebrate Thanksgiving. Clearly, most of us have much to be thankful for. While some do not. And it is those families who are suffering from either financial woes, or more personal deeper losses, that we should all keep in our prayers and thoughts this Thanksgiving. There is no greater gift, than to give someone in need, the gift of warmth and laughter, when they so desperately need it. You don't have to have lots of money to give during the holidays. You just need a heart, filled with love and support.

We need to be thankful for the men and women who are serving overseas in our Military, far from their homes and loved ones. We need to be thankful for those who serve at home to protect us, the police and firefighters. We need to be thankful for those who work in the Health and Medical fields trying to save lives every single day. We need to be Thankful for the many wonderful teachers in our country. We need to be Thankful for those who work as volunteers all across the nation and the Globe. Giving tirelessly of themselves, just to make some one else's life better. There are so many wonderful people, doing so may good things, that we just never ever hear about. Like I said. We have much to be thankful for. So please, say a prayer for them.

Once again, my family and I will be far from the ocean this Thanksgiving. At least 5 hours from the Virginia Coast. This my friends, is my little sacrifice for you to get waves while we are away. And make no mistake about it. You will get waves. Looks like Friday will be the day. When my family is land locked, and the only access we have to the ocean, is a shaky dial-up to the Internet, I would hope you would look South and give a nod, or a wink, or even a dang hand salute (with your right hand) to Lil Ralphie and his family. As we once again take on the role as the sacrificial lambs. And I know that my band of brother photographers will no doubt be on the front lines, shooting and documenting your continued incredible Run of Surf.

And I will moan and sigh, as the ultra slow downloads begin, each image appears in a torturous slow, painful process. I remember last year when Brian Nevins sent images on Thanksgiving. Max and I sat there with our mouths hanging open as each photo came through. The Big, Perfect, Glassy humps, pouring into our coastline, with machine like precision. No doubt Carden, O'Connell, and Nevins will gladly do it again, because that's what surfers do. They love to let you know what you missed. Why do we have to be so hurtful people?

I don't mind. I am just so stoked to think that this RUN is still going.

Speaking of which, can we talk about the RUN? Or more specifically, the last swell. IDA. I guess we have to throw the ole girl into the Tropical Storm/Hurricane pile. So what's that? Three Tropical Storms for the season? Hurricane BILL, TS DANNY and Hurricane/TS IDA. The first reports of IDA were impressive. Hell, I charged all my batteries in anticipation of that storm. I had visions of triple overhead sets pounding the points, reefs, and beaches up and down the New England coast. But, the predictions were sort of over exaggerated. Yes it got big. But 2-3 times overhead? I never saw it. I saw plenty of overhead surf, but nothing that big. I was really looking forward to seeing some big surf. And more importantly, I was looking for all of you local rippers to step up and really lay it on the line. Why?

Look, we've had one of the longest RUNS of surf in my lifetime.

If you younger guys have not been getting better with each swell, well it's time to take up Golf or something. You should all be honing your skills down, to at least to match what each swell brings every week. I'm not saying you should jump on the Pro tour, but hell, you should all be getting better. And if IDA had lived up to the Hype...well, it would of made for some impressive footage and photos. As it was, we all got the goods from this last RUN. Nevins, Wade, Carden, O'Connell and myself all shot the snot out of this 3 Day IDA swell.

As much as I appreciated what IDA had to bring, I still think the best swells were from our own generated Nor'easters. October and November spawned quite a few of those potent storms. In fact, you would have to call IDA a Mutant Nor'easter. If you think back to the storm of 91, you'd have to call that Halloween Storm a Mutant Nor'easter/Hurricane. Hence the name The Perfect Storm. When those two beasts mated, it became this massive, never before seen, Powerful Ocean Storm that produced HUGE surf, and caused all kinds of damage. Not to mention the fact that it claimed many lives. To this day, I have never seen waves that big on this coast.

That day was creepy.

So the 2009 Surf Free Or Die Release The RUN is going to be an all local production. Local New England Surf. Local New England Surfers. Local New England Photographers and Local New England Bands. Music is by QWILL, KingsHighway, Todo Bien, Before The Crash, and of course, Big Handsome Daddy. I think this is going to be a first for me.

I'm hoping to get The RUN in the shops the week following Thanksgiving.

So the local Surf Football team did not win the State Championship. The Winnacunnet Warriors fell short of the Big prize, but they came up as winners in every other aspect of this great team sport. They beat their arch rivals the Exeter Bluehawks, the week before. And they ended up in the State Championships and No one, and I mean NO ONE, predicted they would get there. So from all of us here on the Coast, we tip our hats to you Warriors.

Remember, wherever you go in life. NEVER EVER GIVE UP.

Now for some of my weekly Global observances:
I am still miffed at the ridiculous decision, by our government to having the 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheihk Mohammed and four other scumbag Terrorists stand trial in a Federal Court in Manhattan. Especially in light of the fact, that both President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder bluntly stated that "they will be found GUILTY!" I almost threw up when I heard that. You all know damn well that there is some Johnnie Cochran "Dream Team" Group of Lawyers who would love to represent these Cowards. And they will use that statement to possibly get a mistrial. Think I'm kidding?

Raise your hand if you think OJ Simpson was Guilty of Murdering his ex wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. He butchered two human beings and got off!!! This is what happens in our legal system. Not all of the time. But in these High Profile cases...it's possible that some Hollywood Fame Seeking Attorney could drag this thing on for an eternity. Not to mention all of the damage that could be done to our Intelligence gatherings and informants. Was KSM the victim of water boarding? Hell yes. But that information saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives worldwide. There's a reason why we have not been attacked since 9-11. And it was large part due to the intelligence we gathered from that Evil SOB Khalid Sheihk Mohammed .

I bet if we could ask some of the people who stood on the top floors of the WTC that September morning in 2001 who were facing one of two horrifying choices. To burn a horrible death, or leap to your death from the top floors of the WTC? I bet if we asked them, if they could trade places with someone who was water boarded, or face what they faced, would they? What do you think they would choose? Or, if we could ask the men and women who died at the Pentagon that same day in that fireball from that Jet airliner? Which would they choose? Waterboarding or death by burning? How about the heroes on Flt 93? Think if they could choose between Waterboarding and crashing into a dirt field, they'd choose waterboarding? You know damn well what they'd choose.

Don't even get me started about all the brave young men and women who have died since 9-11, fighting in this Global War on Terrorism.

I have no mercy for those evil cowards who masterminded the events of 9-11. It was an act of War. The killings at Fort Hood Texas are also part of that War. This is the JIHAD that is creeping up all over the world. And I will tell you straight up who suffers the most from this evil movement. The good, honest, practicing Muslims all over the world, are the ones who suffer because of this. I say try those evil sons of bitches in a Military Tribunal. And put them in front of a firing squad and let that be the end of them. I'm a pretty good shot. I'd be happy to be in that firing squad.

OH noooo say it ain't so. Please God no no noooo not this...Oprah is retiring in 2011...wait 2011? Hell anything can happen in that time. Shit, I thought she was retiring next month. Two years from now? Give me a break. Anything can, and more than likely will happen. All you Oprah fans still have the View and Doctor Phil.

So last week's Patriots vs the Colts game. Were you for the call or against it? 4th and 2 on the Colts 28 yard line, and you're winning by 6 points. You have no timeouts left and there is just over 2 minutes to play. Do you go for the first down, or do you punt it away and let Peyton and company work for the win? I would of punted it. But, I understand why Belichick went for it. I respect his decision. He knows more than I do about winning big games. Like today's JETS game. The Pats won handily. We had four picks today. Poor Sanchez. We are 7-3 in the AFC East.

Once again my old personal coaching motto: is free to Mr Bill Belichick.
If you're losing - Don't Give Up. If You're winning -Don't let up!

The 2010 Chris Shipley Local Surf Calendars are now in the shops.
Finally a BIG GET WELL shout out to Linda Paugh.
Rest in Peace JFK. 11-22-63
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Remember my friends...Surfing Heals All Wounds....
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph