Best Buddies 2009

From the Best Buddies website:

“Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,000 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally.”

So what does it all mean? A kickin' event and some genuine fun all for a great cause.

What Amazed me was all the cool folks coming over the finish line and supporting the race. This ain’t no charity walk. It’s a 5 star event – open bars staffed enough – no lines, lobster, barbeque, you name it. Misses MA, VT, ME, CT, and RI were all in attendance. I’m spoiled.

Hats off to Tom Brady and Carl Lewis who are totally dedicated and were so gracious with the folks.

The Bangles played at this event. They did their crowd pleasers while staying true to their jangle pop roots. Think about it, Susanna Hoffs on her Rickenbacher covering Magic Bus. If that weren't enough, as an encore they played a Seeds classic, and garage-psych anthem, Pushing Too Hard! And they nailed it. Talk about a cool surprise! We were spoiled in the 80’s.

The only good waves to be had I got on Friday at the hotel side. Just 4 loggers in 3" glass, and an après-surf hot tub treat. So no "no-surf for you" blues. Now a twitter (I'll never do it) moment - the finale rainbow out the front:

Great cycling saves surf-less long weekend

The usual ride is a lap of Cape Ann; 24 miles. After 5 years of the same, a loop of Ipswich was the best way to change things up. The road was like silk and at the end of 15 miles of a winding woods/wide open grassland mix was Crane's Beach, a cool spot. I'll be back.

Life aint so bad at all if you live it off the wall

This is turning out to be a great Spring - perfect weather, and a fun background swell that hung around longer than planned. And I've finally been able to shed the Winter rubber. Now for the Winter pounds. And Spring means more cool cars and bikes on the round.

1984 was my high school graduation year, 25years flies. The 25th reunion was a thoroughly good time.

Leroy "GRANNY" Grannis (from the Legendary Surfers Site)

It's sad when a living legend falls an hard times, especially when it's because of our BS healthcare system. Especially when it's Granny.

This is taken from the Lenegdary Surfers website:

Leroy "GRANNY" Grannis - Of Hermosa Beach & Carlsbad California - Famous For His Surfing Photos - has fallen on harder times, following the death of his wife of many years and his shrinking estate.

Smooth and Casual

It has been like the Springs I used to know as a kid. As for surf, nothing epic, but fun logging waves and so glassy. We all can get used to this. I guess I should be thankful for the especially cold water, it's thinning the lineups for this time of year.

So no pics from the Red Sox game, folks, (my first time in Fewnay in 31 years), that woudda been great.

But look at the little glassy waves, I'd be all over that. A Rhode trip rocked, the locals down there, I love them, they are the real deal, but they are so spoiled! Solid waist high point break and they're all "this is crap". Well, good, all the more for me! Always a good time, they don't now how good they got it down there.


Also - this is something very cool, and you should all check his out, these local filmmakers are competing internationally:
http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/2009-finalist-audience-voting/

Rockport Boat Fire

Never a dull moment in the 'hood. No one hurt when a 42' pleasure boat burned to her waterline this evening. Check out that left in the background! Usually a good indicator, but just junk at the local breaks.