Freezer Burn

What was I thinking?! Well, actually I wasn’t.......thinking that is.

I decided to give the ole knee joint the usual ice pack treatment yesterday; hoping I'd be more agile for surfing today (though as it turned out, in today’s sketchy surf conditions, I was way less than agile anyway)

See, I routinely put my gel ice pack into its sleeve and then surround that onto the knee with an ace bandage. That way the ice pack adheres nicely to the knee and I am free to do whatever. Well, somehow I got sidetracked doing whatever and somehow placed the ice (sans sleeve) directly on my skin.

Long story short, today I seem to have frostbite.

It’s actually not a pretty sight, looking much like a serious sunburn. They probably won’t have to amputate, but I do know I will now be careful to avoid freezer burn.......of myself.

YOU EEDIOT
-Ren Hoek

Dino Miranda

Since my new board is the Surftech Dino Miranda Model, here's the man himself. I can at least aspire to style my surfing this way (OK, OK...smaller waves for me).

Pusher Man

Marty seemed not to recognize me as I walked back from checking the surf this morning. It was the dark shades and black beanie no doubt.

“I thought you wanted to sell me some drugs,” he remarked. (Did I really look so sinister?)

“Sure, man…I got ya covered….I got Advil, Tylenol, Alleve….maybe ya just wanna chill with some ice packs.” These after all, are the drugs of choice nowadays for this middle aged, wannabe athlete!

Cryptic

Something about that movie though, well I just can't get it out of my head
But I can't remember why I was in it or what part I was supposed to play.
All I remember about it was Gregory Peck and the way people moved
And a lot of them seemed to be lookin' my way. –Bob Dylan

Dizz Kid

He may not have always been an academic whiz kid; but now he’s the Dizz Kid! Congrats for all your hard work and perseverance in these rough times. All the best in your new career at Disney!!! Love, Pops

Size Matters

Four out of five women agree that size matters. Alas Dirk Diggler I am not. But no worries now that I ride a 9’4” Surftech. Those extra 3 inches are providing enhanced enjoyment and greater pleasure by far! Fun session yesterday!

Viewer Feedback Time

Seems like the latest YouTube slide show has had a few hits out there in cyberspace. The switchboards are all lit up. So the good folks here at DaBlog (aka. those voices in my head again) just wanted to share the fun in the form of some actual viewer comments about Where To? and related images.

So here ya go:

> From Alec in Petaluma……”D U D E !”

> From Garrett in LA……”Awesome new show! Real creepy mood.”

> From Cathy in Cazadero……”Whoa dude, I wonder what your dreams are like, cause you are adding to my nightmares. Very good wrong turn, very dark,wooooo.”

> From Kevin in Santa Rosa……”One of my favorites. Nice job Matty!” (Note: Though he’s a therapist; Kevin already knows I’m a sick man.)

> From Chris in Santa Rosa……”I liked it. Whose car?”

> From Marty in Marin……”Well, Matt, you've done it again. More spooks than one can safely shake a stick at. Halloween continues beyond the hallowed 31st and who knows, the turkey could become the next carved pumpkin event. Stuffing laid out like waves, drumsticks beating rhythm to a ghoulish symphony and the faint, last cries of the dying bird. Oy vey, such a deal.”

> From H in Santa Rosa……”I tried to watch this on youtube but it was all jerky. You create such cool things.”

> From Paul in Italy……”I could only watch once. I’m almost AFRAID to open it again. Has there been a lack of sun in Sonoma County? It’ll be O.K. Matt.”

> From a friend of Lorenzo (off to Mozambique)…… “taken acid or finally reached an artistic Satori”

Latest Slide Show.......Spooky Vibe

Well, the recent seasonal & Halloween imagery has morphed into a slide show. What began in a whimsical mood has taken a wrong turn. What is this new destination? Find out…. if you dare.

And check out my entire catelogue at: Matt's YouTubes

Dead Man's Party

I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go
Walkin' with a dead man over my shoulder

Waiting for an invitation to arrive
Goin' to a party where no one's still alive –Oingo Boingo

My photography is even scaring me!

Surf Junkies In Junky Surf

I joined Doug on the sea wall to view the havoc the south wind was wreaking upon surf conditions. Not a pretty sight. Since surfers seem to be ever optimistic, we reasoned that conditions couldn’t get much worse…..WRONG. “I’ll go if you go,” we said to one another. Besides I was “feelin’ the camo” of my new camouflage board bag. This would be as close to the battlefield as I ever hope to get.

I realized that I had violated my own rule of not driving this far when the wind was like this. Yet why was I here? It’s just that I longed to try my new longboard. I had even dreamt about riding it last night. Several big projects are looming on the work front and this was my window. Further, buying a new board is inherently a leap of faith, no matter how analytical the decision may have been…….I needed to validate.

Another new board owner with a parallel situation to mine showed up to join the party. Pete had just gotten a new Mystic and seemed down for whatever. Crowds were a non issue as the three intrepid surfers ventured out to the Patch. By then the wind velocity had increased and it was a grim sort of mayhem out there. Waves doubled into one another, making the lineup elusive. Yet somehow, we all scored some rides and we all avoided driving home feeling skunked by not even getting in the water. Know the feeling?

These conditions were not a proving ground for the new board; but I experienced glimmers of what will be. I am excited with a sense that the board will take my surfing to another level. I await revelation; so stay tuned.

EYE CANDY

Well, turns out the new board is so sexy I made love to it with my camera. (sorry Rhio) Only trouble is it's too beautiful to ride.




Enough of that I'm gonna go wax it up for the next session.

The Morning After

Evidently 3000 revelers went to McDonald Ave. last night. Rhio and I waited til this morning's aftermath. Then off to my wacky interior world via Photoshop.