December
19th, 2004
Happy Holidays!
Tis the season to be jolly! And what a jolly season it's been
so far! Man, I don't recall ever attending this many parties in my life! Seriously,
there were back to back parties for so many days in a row! All of them big
and festive! It was great being around so many Surfers who have so
many things in common. With the single most important element being, the true
friendship that we have for each other. So many friends and neighbors, all
with a love and passion for surfing. There we all were, gathering around the
egg nog and other holiday drinks to share a good laugh (sometimes at the expense
of another friend) but, it's all in good fun.
I even got to play my guitar at one event. At the very successful Thank
You Jacko Benefit at the Legion Hall! The band King's Highway
featuring Crop, Paul, Steve, Johnny and Salt let me sit in for a few songs
at the end of the night. That was a treat. It was also a reminder to myself,
of how much I enjoy playing my guitar. I do miss it. Maybe someday The
Nor'easters will get back to together again for a show. Or, maybe one
of my other musical projects will finally come together. Like The Barrels.
We'll see.
Meanwhile,
I know that some of you have been casually mentioning my slacking off the
last couple of weeks in my column,( Adam, Jeff the Westie) and a few others.
My brothers, it's the holiday season and I'm wrapped up in the Holiday madness.
Ya gots ta give a brother a break during this festive time of year.
Besides, all them dang parties we're liking to kill me. I was in the partying
mood.
I finally got around to posting some of the photos from the trip Max and I
took to Central California.They are mostly frame grabs ffrom the video
I shot. But I think you'll pick up on the overall vibe. Those West Coast boys
remind me of what we all have out here. Surfers are surfers. And those guys
are no different than us. They just have warmer water. A lot warmer. But heck!
Who needs warm water? Ha!
.
Yesterday
1976. Joe Collins, Surfing The Lynnway.
Joe Collins recently returned from Iraq and had some spare time on his hands,
he found these old gems of himself surfing at Lynn Beach on the North Shore
of Massachusetts. Now before you start groaning about surfing in Lynn Mass,
let me tell you all something. I surfed there plenty of times in the past.
In fact, I caught my very first wave there. Long before there was that funky
beach stank, there was good surf there. I can recall many a day seeing big
perfectly groomed lines pouring onto those sand bars. Yes I had some fond
memories of that stretch of coastline. These photos don't really capture those
good days. They do however, capture the soul of surfing on the North Shore
in the summer. photos courtesy of Joe Collins
If you
got good surf pics send em off to me directly.
Just make sure they are NOT huge files. In fact if you have any questions
about the size, email me first and I'll write back. Start snapping your buds!!
Ralph Pic Of The Week
Today
2004. Max Fatello and his Sashi 5-Star Smacking one for the Easties Back Home!
Young Max Fatello age 13, samples some of California's best lefts. Representing
New Hampshire, Max held his own in all conditions and at all the different
spots during our short stay. It was a great trip, spending time with some
very good friends and we can't wait to go back! Video
Frame Grabs by Ralph Fatello
Adam was saying to me the other night at Jumping Jack Fleming's awesome
gathering was how much he enjoyed reading what I wrote in this weekly column.
The Red Sox and Patriots...wait did I say Red Sox? Oh
baby. What the hell got inside Pedro's tiny head? I mean....come on!
The Mets? Leaving a World Series Championship team where the fans love
you, for a bunch of lowlife losers whose fans and media will turn on you like
the fool you are? Hello? I guess it's true. It's not about loyalty and team
spirit. It's not about the true hardcore fans who stick by you through thick
and thin. It's about one thing and one thing only. MONEY. It's sad.
(Jack you laughing at that line? Sad?) I'll tell you one thing. I'll make
dam sure my kids see the clear picture in all of this. That overrated sports
figures who couldn't do anything else in life to earn a living, get paid an
extraordinary amount of money for doing something they love to do. And they
don't give a dam about anyone but that big Fat paycheck.
Imagine getting paid $54million for 4 years to surf in contests? How crazy
would that be? Wait, if my kid could get that kind of money surfing, than
you can color my butt long gone! Where do we sign up? I'm kidding.
I wouldn't leave this place for that kind of money. The hell I wouldn't! So
really, who's at fault? The owners? The fans? The players? The agents? Where
and when will this madness stop in organized sports? Lord only knows. Hey
speaking of sports. I lost the Mall Game to Jacko. It was close
and it was riddled with controversy. But like the true sportsman that I am.
I acknowledged my defeat and paid the piper. Jack is a good Mall
Player. He makes all the right moves during the off season. Whereas, I
tend to let things slide until a week or two before the season starts. The
judging was once again handled by the Honorable Judge John Meehan and
although, some would say, that there is a biased intention on his part, I
was in agreement towards the end of regulation time. That Jacko, did
in fact, beat me fair and square at the end. Like they say..."There's
always next year!"
Don't forget at the end of 13POINT5 (after the credits) to watch the
bonus footage of the Red Bull Contest.
Happy Holidays! Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
