I have never been a big fan of April Fools Day. If anything I find it annoying. Though I have a close friend who claims that "April Fools Day is my favorite Holiday!" I won't name who it is. Wait, yes I will, it's Kim Grondin. And I have been the victim of some of her wildest April Fools Jokes. Like the year in the 90's when she put a life size statue of a deer in my yard. That night was a rainy, windy, typical Nor'easter kind of night. The deer was a buck. A huge buck.

And I fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker.

If I was paying attention, I would of known, that bucks drop their antlers every winter. They don't grow them back until the summer. So there I was staring at what I thought to be a massive buck standing along the trees in my back yard. Of course she loved it. I was OK with it. But I thought about the stats of April Fools Jokes gone bad. I'll bet anything the amount of murders and injuries go up on that day. Some people can't take a joke.



And some people can. As you can all plainly see. I cut half of my beard off on April Fools day and duped so many people it almost wasn't funny. My wife didn't notice for a good 5 minutes, Curt Hanig didn't see it at Flatbread that night for over 10 minutes of me being there. But the best was I got Kim. I was face to face with her, and she couldn't see that I was walking and talking with half a beard. So, I guess I became a fan of April Fools that day. |

Here are some other pics from the joke.



Lars Jacobsen and I at Flatbread. Lars picked right up on it.



There's Kim and Cory behind me. I swear so many people did not see it.



Noelle was the hostess that night. She actually jumped when she saw me.



I got them all. Every single one of them. Including my prize catch Kim Grondin.


There was surf, so I had to shoot. And pose for some Ralphie Selfies.



Poor Dave "Crop" Cropper spent a good 5-7 minutes talking to me face to face before I finally had to say "Crop, take a good hard look at me. " And even then he didn't see it, until his brain and memory kicked in. So for not being a
fan of April Fools Day, I am a BIG fan of the band The FOOLS.



The FOOLS played their annual April Fools Day show at the Blue Ocean on Saturday night and they were great. I mean they were F**KING GREAT!
There's no one like the Fools anywhere. And there's certainly nobody like Mike Girard. Mike is one of the best comics in the business, and one of the best male vocalists you will ever hear. I know it's hard to tell, but that's Mike above with the white wig and white robe, pushing a walker on stage. This is how they started the night.

It was all uphill from that point on. They rocked and cracked up the house.



Mike was spot on the whole night. And the band was as tight as a monkey's fist. Richie Bartlett has always been one of my favorite guitar players. And he didn't let me down this night. He's a master of the six string. He and Mike are a great duo. Richie is Mike's straight guy. And his crutch is that Stratocaster.

I had not seen them in a few years. And I will tell you with 100% conviction. They are still...STILL one of the tightest and fresh sounding bands around. Hell, they are as tight as any band anywhere. And to mix in hilarious comedy bits throughout the night is priceless. When you go to see the FOOLS, you get your money's worth. They are in a word ENTERTAINING.



And nobody plays a toilet seat better than Mike.

I brought my wife along with Tony and Shelly and we all had a great time. The Blue Ocean on the water at Salisbury is a great venue to see live music. They will be back there in July. So check their facebook page and website. Just google The Fools and they will come up. Meanwhile Mike, Richie, and Joe Holady are playing in their other band MIKE GIRARD'S BIG SWINGING THING
on May 14th, 2016 a the Palace Theater in Manchester, NH. We're going.

"Surfing and Fools Heals All Wounds"

I know I have run the follow up to this pic of Mike Stanek. But in that one you can't really see who is in the barrel. On this pic we can all tell who this is. It's Mike Stanek clear as day.
Just click on this pic to see a larger version.

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.

This is what we all awoke to this morning here in Hampton, NH
And NO this is not an April Fools Day Joke.



"Say It Ain't Snow...."

There's lots of cool stuff coming up this month at Cinnamon Rainbows. On Tuesday April 26th, 2016 there's going to be a bevy of talent coming to town. Mark it down on your calendars.



The name is legendary. Donald Takayama was Guy's uncle.



It's a triple header at Cinnamon Rainbows

.

Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances

I have to take a break on Slamming Trump this week. So I'll jump across the aisle and well, take a shot at these two.



Oh lighten up. This shit is funny. Scary yes, but funny.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
Here's our boy this week picking up on the half shaved look.
This was his April Fools Joke at Gitmo. He said the hardest part was shaving his carpet like hair on his neck, back, and chest. Not sure if this is allowed in Al Qeada. I'll have to get back to you all.



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 KSM (Khalid Sheikh Mohammed).

*Note to self must pick up a case of Nair at Home Depot
this week.

HAPPY April Fools Day April, 1st, 2016! 27th

REST IN PEACE Steve Tolan local Seacoast drummer
REST IN PEACE Gary Shandling age 66.
Gary was a brilliant comic who died way too early.

REST IN PEACE Dorothy Bocko age 96.
Dorothy Bocko mother of local surfer Stan Bocko suffered a major stroke, and passed away two weeks ago. She was 96 years old. A WWII Vet Dorothy served in the British Naval Intelligence in London, Washington DC, and Norfolk VA. Please keep the Bocko family in your prayers.

Please Pray for a NH Icon from the Seacoast. North Beach Matriarch Jane McCarthy is needing some love and prayers. Jane is the mother of Duffy McCarthy and the whole McCarthy clan. She's been a fixture on the Wall forever.
You all have seen her, you might not know her, but trust me, she has seen you all. And please continue to pray for local Hampton surfers Terry Morrison and Rick Fiorentini and
their families. 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

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SINGLE WEEK FROM THE LAST 11 YEARS!

(Above) And a poop free zone too. James doing his dooty. Picking up
after the pup. April 2nd, 2016 Photo by RALPH
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(Above) Unknown in full glide mode. April 2nd, 2016 Photo by RALPH
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(Above) Michelle was getting her fair share out there. April 2nd, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery