Beltane was an ancient Gaelic festival that marked the beginning of May and marks the suns progress halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. Beltane and Samhain are the leading terminal dates of the ancient Gaelic calendar. The astronomical date for this midpoint is nearer to 5 May or 7 May, but this can vary from year to year. Beltane marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season, when herds of livestock were driven out to the summer pastures and mountain grazing lands. The celebration of Beltane centered around a bonfire on a hill of some significance. According to Nora Chadwick, it was “a spring-time festival of optimism. Fertility ritual … was important, in part perhaps connecting with the waxing power of the sun, symbolized by the lighting of fires through which livestock were driven, and around which the people danced in a sunwise direction”. There was more than one fire, and people would parade themselves and their livestock between the fires to cleanse themselves and bring luck. Celebrating fertility was also a focus; Maypole Dancing being one of the prominent activities – and whatever went on in the forest afterword. In old Celtic traditions, it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken. Like Samhian, Beltane was seen as a time when the Otherworld was near at hand – fairies and other folk mingled with earthly folk. May morning is a magickal time for wild water (dew, flowing streams, and springs), which is collected and used to bathe in for beauty, or to drink for health.

Beltane for surfers marks the beginning of the southern hemisphere groundswell season. And sure enough, the first week of May brought a nice south swell mixed with northwest wind swell. I surfed the Cave Bowl on the SB for three days and took the LB out to close the swell. I stayed to the hours around low tide, but had to listen to the crew tell me how good it was when there was more water over the reef – NBD – I got some fun ones. Congratulation to Anthony for becoming a new father – Titus – I do hope he becomes a defender of everything Anthony brings to the water.

Pictures range from a Beltane image to Rick’s Ranch Favorites – and they are favorites of mine.

I am not a fan of Nike – and what the heck do they bring to surfing – but the Lowers contest is on in some good surf – check it where you can. Speaking of contests, the Log Jam came and went at the top of the Point. On the Friday before the contest, it was fun to check all the LB rippers pose out at the Steps. Killing it for sure, but I am glad they were only invading and not occupying.

Speaking of the Point, what about the makeover? To revitalize the Point comes with a cost – in the eyes of some of us. The makeover is bringing in hordes to enjoy the Point – which is cool, but for those of us that had the low-population version; it’s a little harsh. Change is good, but as a pile of shit brings change with the attraction of flies, revitalization is increasing the attraction of all sectors – in mass.

Its Easter weekend – the weather was beautiful on Saturday, but the surf was nearly not. Even still, I got inspired and decided to watch the moonrise while out on the LB. A couple of other local crew members were also there with the same idea. It was nearly dark when I reached the lot and I parked my board on the fence – top rail spanning a corner spot. Took a quick rinse and was walking back to the van when a couple of kids on bikes pulled up and asked me if they had reached 26^th Avenue. I let them know they had another mile and a half to go. Back to the van, and as I got ready to change, the kids started to heckle me. The kids proclaimed I was a faggot-kook riding an LB. No worries. I started to rinse with my back to the hecklers when I heard my board hitting the landscape rocks located below my board. I turned to see one of the kids pushing my board off its resting place onto the rocks. I blasted off – first stop – the kid molesting my board. I pushed him off his bike and he landed on the ground. I had my board in my hands, and while I was lifting it off the rocks, I let the kid know in no uncertain terms that no one abuses my equipment – full stop. Next thing I know, the kid was reaching into his pant’s pocket – he pulled a knife on me. I was stunned – I said: “are you kidding me?” Without thinking, I positioned the tail of my board in direct alignment with his head and told him: “put that thing away and get the fuck out of here!” Luckily, another one of the local crew, Zeke, was sitting in his car nearby, saw what was going on, and came to my aid. He yelled at the kids: “what the hell are you guys doing!” With the odd stacked against them, the kids took off on their bikes. Afterwards, with adrenalin pumping through my veins – I thanked my hero for coming to help and assessed the damage to my board. The tail got scratched up, but no holes. It’s Easter Break!

Rant: “So it is that the crisis was orchestrated by so many who should have, instead, been sounding the alarm – not only bankers but also regulators, rating firms, government agencies, private enterprises and investors. That a former U.S. Senator, Governor and CEO of a big six financial institution was at the helm of MF Global on the eve of its demise due to trading losses, or that the largest-ever Ponzi scheme was run by the former chairman of a major stock exchange will long be remembered by the public. The repercussions have stretched beyond banking, creating an atmosphere of fear affecting and inhibiting those who should be leading us toward a better post-crisis economy.” M&T Bank CEO Robert Wilmers, 2012.

The global economy will have trouble with oil prices above $125 per barrel, Hansen said.  At the other end, the cost of production establishes a floor for oil prices.  That cost ranges from around $80-$90 per barrel for Saudi Arabia to $100 for Russia.  Those are the prices necessary to guarantee domestic stability, since both countries use oil revenue for political purposes; the variable cost of production is much lower.

Each day is a chance to look at our situation in a fresh new way. Before we become dissatisfied, and look outside of our current situation, we should ask: what are our opportunities now? Take stock. What can we make of our current situation? Go to your job like it’s the first day of a new opportunity to build a business. What should we do to become sustainable and grow? Enthusiasm for the future –

“All those moments in time, like tears lost in the rain” – Roy in Blade Runner