November 29th 2009 40 out of 41 weeks of surfable waves.

"Ralph you're killing us!" This was from ESM Editor Nick McGregor late last Summer. It was at that point, 25 weeks worth of surfable waves. I'd hate to think what Nick thinks about the latest tally. 40 out of 41 weeks. It's almost hard to say it out loud. Let alone write it down. I left New England
on Tuesday, November 24th, to travel to Virginia for Thanksgiving. Before I left, I shot a few waves. And what I saw before I left was, head high and better surf. I met up with Ed O'Connell before my trip, and he was getting ready to shoot. Those photos appear below. Then Ed shot again on Thanksgiving morning. Judging by what I saw from Ed, the swell continued well after we left.

My family, along with a few others, who left the area for Thanksgiving , were the sacrificial lambs
for this latest swell. You're welcome.

I was able to check email on the slow as molasses dial-up at "Grammy's" and I knew you guys
were getting a little bit of swell. And honestly, I was cool with not being there. Just the thought that some of you were scoring waves, was enough satisfaction for me. Besides, I had already made the trailer to my new Movie the RUN and was claiming the 40 out of 41 weeks. I took a gamble and it paid off. The big question is...will there be a 41 out of 42 weeks? I have not looked at the forecasts just yet. It has almost gotten to the point, where I am so certain that there will be something, that I just halfway expect for the surf to show up sometime between Sunday to Sunday of each week.

How crazy is that? We are pretty damn lucky to be able to say that.

This Thanksgiving has been pretty special. I don't know how many of you actually give Thanks to things like consistent waves, but you should have. I guess it would sound odd at a Thanksgiving Grace before family and friends..."And Lord, I especially want to Give Thanks for the incredible run
of surf we've had as of late..." I can just see the eyes of family members looking over at you.
What did he just say?

If you're like me, your family already knows about your obsession with surf. So they wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear you throw that little line in. Besides, it's worthy of saying Thank you.
"Thank You for the Incredible Run of Surf Lord. And not to sound too greedy Lord, but could you
keep it going...you know...just a swell every week...? Thank you Lord. Amen."

Speaking of driving to Virginia. It's a long 11 hour drive. In that time, you can think about a lot of stuff. And you can listen to a lot of music. It's sort of a semi intense drive. Rte 81 can be pretty scary. Those 18 wheelers own the road. And they make no qualms about letting you know it. They switch lanes at a moments notice. My wife always grabs the handles on our vehicle when we approach the rumbling massive Tractor Trailers. Not that holding a handle would save her or us. The only way to drive Rte 81 is to be cautiously aggressive. If such a thing exists.

I've seen some hairball accidents on Rte 81 over the years. And I am driving a precious cargo. Our children. Granted they are all older now, and they typically "go under" with their headphones/I-pods the second we hit the Highway, but they are still my responsibility. My late father-in-law used to get so worried about us driving down. I made a promise to him that I would get them there and back without any problems. And I did for years.

But the long drive is fodder for my active imagination.

While my wife stays awake for the most part, every now and then, she drifts off and I am left alone.
I'm fine with that. I can focus more on the issue at hand. Being safe yet quick. As I was driving back from VA yesterday, I was thinking about how the future will be in Satellite Radio. I bet anything, that in the future, you will be able to say whatever song or artist you want to hear, and they will play a library of those songs from that particular artist.

I mean think about it.

For instance, as you fly along on a newly paved highway, in a sleek new solar vehicle, you simply
say "Jimi Hendrix" and a station that has ALL Hendrix starts to play all Jimi. Or whatever artist you choose. 50cent to Cold Play, to QWILL. Just say the artist, and it starts playing. You know damn well that it's coming. Voice Control Radio. VCR. Hey I wonder if I should market this now? What do you think? Any investors want in? VCR Inc. Voice Controlled Radio. You know it sounds cool. And you know that someday it will happen. And you heard it here first folks. Right here on Ralph's Pic Of The Week.

As I was driving back on Rte 81 yesterday, something caught my eye .

A surfboard on top of a vehicle. Now why is that a big deal you ask? It's not really. Lord knows we see enough boards on vehicles. It's just that being that far from the coast and seeing a vehicle with boards on the roof made me look to see if I knew them. Or maybe it triggered something deep in my soul. Back in the days of old (the 60's-70's), we actually would get excited if you saw a vehicle go by with Surfboards on the roof. We were a new tribe back then. And any new Tribesman or Tribeswoman, who went by with a surfboard on top of their car, was reason enough to honk, hoot,
or give some kind of hand gesture, or all of the above.

These days, we tend to look away at strangers with boards. We don't want to see anymore surfers. Most of you have had it with the overpopulation of surfing. I know the feeling. But for one fleeting moment yesterday when that vehicle went by with boards on top, I strained to see who was driving.
It was some guy with glasses. He was more intent on driving his vehicle thru the hell run of Rte 81
and did not notice me. Just as well. I had no symbols, or boards on my vehicle, to show that we
are part of the this large tribe of North American Surfers.

He never looked up. And I did not recognize him.

Although I tried to imagine who he was, and where he was going, or where he was coming from. My imagination was running amuck. Maybe he was a Jersey guy. Or a New York guy. Or maybe, he was from New England. We were both driving too fast when we passed each other to see each other's plates. Maybe he was heading home to a late Thanksgiving, having missed the main
dinner, due to the new swell.

I smiled at that thought.

How many times over the years had I missed big Holidays at my family gatherings due to surf? Too many to count. My late parents would both give me that look, when I'd show up late for some important holiday or family function. Hair still wet. Water in my sinuses, dripping out of my nose when I bent over. Someone always saw that. Those days are long gone now. My parents have both since passed on. The old house was recently sold. Besides, I have my own family now and a bunch of teenage surfers who do the same to me. And I love it.

Still, it's easy to get melancholy on a long drive.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to get The RUN in the shops at the end of this week. The RUN. 40 out of 41 weeks of Surf. (Sorry Nick).

Now for some of my weekly Global observances:
I had to laugh at the absurd breach of security this week, as Obama's Secret Service crew allowed a Real HouseWife Of DC wanna-be get within handshaking distance of our President. Michaele and Tareq Salachi were NOT on the guest list, and yet they somehow got into the dinner party,
and actually shook hands with President Obama.

Look, this is unacceptable. You can't let Bonehead Reality TV Housewives get near our President. Damn. Look it's no secret that I am not a big Obama fan, but I certainly don't want to see anything happen to him. Besides, Joe Biden is next in line. Good Lord-We MUST protect Obama at all
costs. Shoot them damn Reality Housewives Secret Service agents!

Take 'em out. Tazer their ass.

Speaking of our President. He picks up his Nobel Peace Prize this week. Maybe he should "hock it at some pawn shop" and give the money to someone who's unemployed. Seems like a nice presidential gesture to me, especially at the Holidays.

So what's up with Tiger Woods? Huh? He wrecked his vehicle at 2:30 in the morning after hitting a Fire Hydrant and his neighbor's tree? And his wife had to use her Golf Club to bust out a window to pull Tiger out of his wrecked Caddy? Say what? I actually like Tiger. His dad was a Special Forces Veteran who served many tours in Vietnam. Tiger is the real deal. This sounds like a domestic case. And hopefully it get's cleared up quick enough.

So last week's Patriots vs Jets game was fun to watch. I like it when we beat teams bad. Don't get me wrong I like a close game as much as the next person, but some teams I enjoy seeing getting beat up. The Jets are one of those teams. . And this week our boys take on the Undefeated SAINTS on Monday Night. It's being billed as the Brady Vs Brees shoot-out. I know I am not alone (especially with Dolphin fans) that I don't want the Colts or the Saints to go undefeated much longer. Better that we beat them first. Go Patriots.

The 2010 Chris Shipley Local Surf Calendars are now in the shops.
A BIG GET WELL shout out to Linda Paugh!
And a Speedy Recovery to our dear Surf Mom Super Saint Kim Grondin.
Rest in Peace Phil Haynen lead singer from the band The DAWGS.

PLEASE HELP THE NH SURFRIDER FOUNDATION.

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

Ralph