When the hype started on HERMINE I did what I have been doing since the last 10 years or so, I waited until I saw her first hand. The days of me watching and praying when tropical storms and Hurricanes start to form are in my past. That's not true with a lot of you. Oh I remember it all, the excitement, the anticipation. The dreams and hopes of this being some epic swell. The kind of swell you will remember for the rest of your life. That's part of being a young surfer. It's like Christmas as a kid. That waiting and anticipating all of the wonderful gifts that you will soon have.

And like Christmas, sometimes you don't get what you were hoping for.

It's the same with Hurricanes. More times than not, we get skunked. Perhaps I've become jaded, or, maybe I've become wiser. I am no longer the "Little Grasshopper" jumping out of my skin. I'm more like an old praying mantis these days. I take my time and wait for the gifts to show up. Of course there are thousands of you who are the complete opposite. You go to meet the swell head on. Been there done that. And honestly? I had a blast doing it. The swells were always bigger in our memories. The rides deeper, and the conditions more perfect. Truth is, "Imagination Is More Important than Knowledge."

Either way, I hope you scored with TS Hermine.




She was so ugly up here, nobody wanted to miss it. So they paddled out.
The photogs were out shooting, and the rest as they say, is history.



At least she ended that big day with some color. And can you imagine what
this photo might have looked like if the conditions were clean?

My wife, Tony and i drove to Rhode Island yesterday to attend the Memorial Surfer's Paddle for our dear friend Patrick Murray. Patrick as most of you know, was a WBCN and WZLX alumni. He worked extensively with Charles Laquidara. I knew Patrick back in the late 80's and early 90's. I did the old Beach/Surf reports on BCN and Patrick was from time to time on the air when I did them. Patrick was hilarious. And it was hard to get the short window of beach reporting when he was on the air. I spent too much time laughing and not enough time giving the beach and surf report.

During that time, Patrick wanted to try surfing. I would talk to him forever about what surfing was like, and how it helped me. Turns out, Patrick would also go into Tony's office to chew his ear off about surfing too. Like anything he ever did in life, Patrick jumped in with both feet. Before you knew it, he was buying a wetsuit and surfboard and coming up here.

Like I said, he got into it heavily.

I had to tell him that there was surf in Rhode Island where he lived. You know, it's a shorter drive to the beach in Rhoady than driving all the way up here. He then started to surf in RI. He quickly made friends there and surfed 2nd Beach most of the time. He even had a little section of that beach named after him. "Murray's Beach." Patrick took his surfing to nirvana when he moved to Maui. He married his longtime girlfriend Jeannie and together they made a beautiful life together in Maui.

He and Jeannie lived there for 10 years, and then moved back to Rhoady.

He of course kept surfing. And things were going according to plan when he passed away. Too young, too bright, and too god dam funny to leave this world. Jeannie and family had a service in Boston. But we talked about the "Surfer's Paddle". I have unfortunately attended and directed dozens of surfer paddles. And seeing how I turned Patrick onto surfing, I wanted to be there when we parted ways in the same ocean he started surfing in.



This was the group who paddled out for Patrick. It was a beautiful service and Jeannie and company felt good about it after all was said and done. We all had a chance to speak, and we all carried flowers out to perform the ritual.



This was Patrick's board. For those of you who have been to a paddle, you know how touching and sincere it can be. And Patrick's was all of that and more. I posted a gallery for anyone who wants to see it.

Keep paddling Patrick. Keep paddling. I'll see again some day brother.

Last night was the third annual fundraiser for my late nephew Michael Colby.
My sister Gale lost her only child in 2014. Michael Colby was in my honest opinion, one of the most talented digital artists on the planet. I'm not sure if his portfolio is still up, but if you can, try and google his name and work. You will be impressed by the creativity and the passion.

His close cousin Jesse played a solo set and it was filled with emotional original tunes with a selective number of covers that he put his own spin on them. Jesse and Michael had plans to create together.

But those plans were cut short by opioids.



Michael passed as a result of an overdose. Our family was and still is having a hard time grasping the reality of it all. My sister Gale, like my late sister Evamarie is a pillar of strength. She shares her grief with all of us. And she also shared the love and humor that was Michael. And honestly, that is what he would want. The fundraiser has raised enough money in the past to award some talented student at Newburyport HS each year with a art scholarship.

His step dad Brian and his band Alter Ego played after QWILL (Jesse) to rock the night away. Michael loved music as much as he loved the graphic arts world. But more importantly, he loved his extended family.



And that's what we were last night. A family.
RIP Michael we all love and miss you.

"Surfing and Music Heals All Wounds"

This is from 2014. Jared Veltsos before his injury. Jared is back on the horse, and getting caught up for all the sessions he's missed. It all came together for Ed on this one.

To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. Be sure and pick up a copy of the COLD COAST and check out Ed's own gallery.
Each week I will feature one of Ed's great pics from this blog. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.




The 15th anniversary of 9-11 is today Sunday. Please join us at the American Legion Hall in Hampton for our annual
rededication of our GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM Monument. Sunday. September 11th, 2016 at 6:00PM



I have not not seen or heard of a paid purse for a surfing contest in these waters for as long as I can remember. But Sid and the crew at Water Brothers are doing just that.
See above and get that $100 entry fee in.

Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances
The sad reality of this day has not been lost on this handful of local NH surfers. We were all taking part in the perfect waves of Hurricane Erin when the first plane hit the first tower.

That day is still etched in our souls. The horror was unthinkable. And yet, there it was, unfolding before our very eyes. Images that stayed with us for days and weeks on end. Just the most horrific thing that ever happened to us all.

And so the very next year we all showed up at this very spot. And we did it, without telling each other we were going to do this. You can imagine our surprise when we all just showed up on September 11th, 2002. We made a pact right then and there, that we would continue this ritual. It's a small sacrifice in the big picture, but it's our way of remembering those who died that day, and to those who died since that day fighting the evil that brought this terror to our shores.



Left to right; Ralph, Johnny, Tony and Jacko. Each year we meet to reflect and remember. Our thoughts and prayers are
for the families who lost loved ones.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
I have nothing funny this week to put this piece of shit in.

This photo is a reminder to all, that this evil son of a bitch was the idea man behind 9-11. It was this asswipe who came up with the crashing packed airplanes into buildings. The horror
of that day is still with us. And as I have said in the past, I will keep humiliating KSM until I am no longer here, or no longer doing this blog. It is a personal mission for me and my family.

So get used to seeing this buffoon of a human being in the most absurd photo shop images.

It is a labor of love and hate for me.



As always... 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 Hair Removal at
Home Depot this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Max Fatello September 14th, 2016
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Michael Colby September 14th, 2016

Please Pray for local Hampton surfer Terry Morrison and his family. Also please pray for Marine SSGT George Masten.
A combat Marine who served in Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the purple heart for wounds received in Vietnam in 1967. George is battling cancer.
PLEASE say a prayer for him.

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 11 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) And just like that, Hermine went from ugly to beautiful.
September 5th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) And she left us with this amazing sunset. Oh Hermine was the ugly duckling of storms. September 5th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- Hurricane Hermine September 5th, 2016.
Photos by Martha Lardent



(Above) Becca Speak was the subject matter for Martha's shoot on this day. September 5th, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) And I say, why the hell not? She's getting better and better with each passing swell. September 5th, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) FYI these are not all the same wave. Becca Speak.
September 5th, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Hermine why couldn't you be clean? September 5th, 2016
Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- More of HURRICANE Hermine
September 5th, 2016. Photos by David Manzi, David Schultz,
and Larry Fitzgerald



(Above) There were bright shining moments like this.
September 5th, 2016 Photo by David Manzi
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Jared Veltsos carving a deep and long cutback.
September 5th, 2016 Photo by David Manzi
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Richard Donahue with facial hair? Man do I feel old.
September 5th, 2016 Photo by Jerry Fitzgerald
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Mikey Evans is as smooth on a short board as he is on his long boards September 5th, 2016 Photo by Jerry Fitzgerald
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Ryan McGill walking the plank. September 9th, 2016
Photo by Martha Lardent *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

The Patrick Murray Memorial Paddle. 9-10-16
Video frame grabs by Cory Fatello



(Above) Patrick Murray was one of a kind. September 10th, 2016
Video frame grab by Cory Fatello
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Check out the glaring reflection coming from Patrick's photo. September 10th, 2016 Video frame grab by Cory Fatello
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Most of Patrick's friends spoke. September 10th, 2016
Video frame grab by Cory Fatello
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- The Michael Colby 3rd annual Fundraiser.
September 10th, 2016. Photos by RALPH



(Above) There was sadness and laughter. September 10th, 2016
Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) My other super talented nephew Jesse QWILL.
Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery