A Storm Dream [Hopefully] Finally Comes True

OK raise your hand if you have ever had a Tropical Storm or Hurricane with your namesake. Anyone? My hand is down.

But not for long...there is a TS Raphael in the Caribbean and it looks like it's headed this way. "Now wait a minute" you are thinking. Raphael? Who the hell is Raphael? Look, Raphael is Spanish for Ralph. At least I think it is...

This is as close as I am ever going to come to having a damn tropical storm named after me. Please don't deny me this moment. Please. Come on man. My name is on the bottom of the freaking alphabet. And my nickname? It's even further down that list. "Vince". Can you see what I'm talking about here my brothers and sisters?

Each year when the new names come out, I look and realize that once again I will never have a chance. Another Tropical Storm season will come and go, and I am left off the list. The curse of Ralph and Vince. And I know I am not alone.

[First photo] But alas my friends...here comes Raphael (can we just call it Ralph?) And it's headed this way.

The irony of this storm? Well, our son Max left for Puerto Rico on Wednesday October 10th...he will be there until Christmas. How funny is it that a storm named after his father, is now bearing down on them? Too funny. You can't make this stuff up.

[Second photo] We took a family portrait at the Chapel where Cory and I were married 25 years to the day. October 10th, 1987. This was a half hour before Max left for Puerto Rico.

At the time we had no idea that my namesake was going
to be following his Goofyfoot ass to PR! Again...you have to
love this stuff. I just hope he has enough of my photographic genes to take photos and send them to me. Otherwise that
will be a waste.

[Third photo] That thing is supposed to track up the coast and give us good
surf in the later part of the week.

I hope Mackey and his buddies get some great surf from TS Ralph. And I hope we all score some as well..... So I wouldn't be putting those 3/2's away just yet. The water temps could rise again one last time before the real drops hit. TS Ralph is coming! Ha! I love writing that! Never thought I'd live to see the day...

Tropical Storm Ralph....Ha!

[Fourth Photo] I hope you all got to see the New ESM magazine with our own New Hampshire as the feature article. Editor Nick McGregor came up for a few days in early September and lucked into a decent Tropical ground swell from Leslie. He stayed with Brian Nevins here in town and got a chance to sample some of the 13.5 miles of pristine coastline that many of us call home.

Writing a story on any surf community anywhere on this planet is a daunting task to say the least. But I think Nick did a great job. In fact, the whole mag has been getting better and better each year. The monthly ESM is the ONLY mag of it's kind that features the entire East Coast. If you have not seen one in a while, might I suggest you grab a copy at one of the local surf shops, or read it on line. Or better yet subscribe to ESM. I do. And I look forward to each issue.

They are the BEST East Coast Magazine on planet Earth!

Click here to see the whole article in all it's New Hampshire Glory. Thanks Nick!

Now for Some Of My Weekly Global Observances:

Not sure what your take was on the VP debate this week. But I do know this. Joe Biden is one creepy dude. That smile? Dang. And look, I know this is only the VP debate but remember how a lot of you thought about Sarah Palin. You were petrified. Well? If you feel comfortable with Crazy Uncle Joe Biden being one step away from pushing any red buttons.... well I am very uncomfortable. He should be in a home somewhere. Or getting that smile fixed. Creepy.