Friday, July 01, 2005
Like Rats to the Piper
No sooner than the south swell hit on June 20th, rumors began about the south swell predicted for Sunday, June 26th. In between sets last Tuesday, the rumor gained momentum. Within the sphere of surfing Santa Cruz (greater metropolitan Bay Area), Sunday June 26th, was becoming fabled - "it's gonna be better than this swell". Well, Sunday rolled around and the masses turned out in droves. Swelling at the edge of the Point, they were undaunted by the fact that the swell had not materialized as rumored. While the buoys showed a strong south in the water, 3.9 feet from 180/190 at 17 seconds, the steep angle kept the size and consistency down. The masses leapt from the cliff, following the piper all the way. I managed to get fun waves between long waits on Saturday evening, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - I sat out Thursday. The best part was being with my youngest son as he began to fire the surf stoke within. He's got a funky wet suit and a great boogie board by way of goose, and all the stoke you can have. And in between surf sessions, he's playing soccer and hanging with the sharks brotherhood. Thanks guys for looking after him. It's been quiet out in the sharks lineup - who's missing? Penguin? What about Graphic Mike? Saw you out there Skinny - also Ranger Roy, "the kid" (collin), terry, the Mayor, Rachel (nicknames for girls?), Robin, MJ, Chili, and - I guess I got out about then. I've been riding my new fish from Progression (Seacliff76) - soooo bosssss! Back to border history. Once the US had control over California, New Mexico, and Texas, it was ready to negotiate. At first the Congress didn't want to negotiate because of the stipulation by Polk that slavery would not be allowed in the new land. Finally, the US Army seized Mexico City and negotiations were not necessary. In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed. Mexico was to give up about half of its territory - modern-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. In return, the US paid $15 million in compensation for war-related damage to Mexican land. Then the fun started. The Senate ratified parts of the treaty, but erased the part that guaranteed protection of land grants and watered-down a part that dealt with citizen rights. In Texas, Mexicans couldn't vote and in California laws were passed against them - Greaser Laws. By the end of the 19th century, most Mexicans had lost their land by force or fraud. The land grab became complete - piece by piece. Please investigate before making your own mind up. I've heard some say "they're taking away our culture" - but history suggests they are our culture. Look around California for example. Los Angeles, El Camino Real, San Francisco - on and on. You can't go anywhere in the southwestern US and not see the Mexican aspect of our culture. Get real Bay! Next time I will talk about $numbers$. In the meantime, get wet.
No sooner than the south swell hit on June 20th, rumors began about the south swell predicted for Sunday, June 26th. In between sets last Tuesday, the rumor gained momentum. Within the sphere of surfing Santa Cruz (greater metropolitan Bay Area), Sunday June 26th, was becoming fabled - "it's gonna be better than this swell". Well, Sunday rolled around and the masses turned out in droves. Swelling at the edge of the Point, they were undaunted by the fact that the swell had not materialized as rumored. While the buoys showed a strong south in the water, 3.9 feet from 180/190 at 17 seconds, the steep angle kept the size and consistency down. The masses leapt from the cliff, following the piper all the way. I managed to get fun waves between long waits on Saturday evening, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - I sat out Thursday. The best part was being with my youngest son as he began to fire the surf stoke within. He's got a funky wet suit and a great boogie board by way of goose, and all the stoke you can have. And in between surf sessions, he's playing soccer and hanging with the sharks brotherhood. Thanks guys for looking after him. It's been quiet out in the sharks lineup - who's missing? Penguin? What about Graphic Mike? Saw you out there Skinny - also Ranger Roy, "the kid" (collin), terry, the Mayor, Rachel (nicknames for girls?), Robin, MJ, Chili, and - I guess I got out about then. I've been riding my new fish from Progression (Seacliff76) - soooo bosssss! Back to border history. Once the US had control over California, New Mexico, and Texas, it was ready to negotiate. At first the Congress didn't want to negotiate because of the stipulation by Polk that slavery would not be allowed in the new land. Finally, the US Army seized Mexico City and negotiations were not necessary. In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed. Mexico was to give up about half of its territory - modern-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. In return, the US paid $15 million in compensation for war-related damage to Mexican land. Then the fun started. The Senate ratified parts of the treaty, but erased the part that guaranteed protection of land grants and watered-down a part that dealt with citizen rights. In Texas, Mexicans couldn't vote and in California laws were passed against them - Greaser Laws. By the end of the 19th century, most Mexicans had lost their land by force or fraud. The land grab became complete - piece by piece. Please investigate before making your own mind up. I've heard some say "they're taking away our culture" - but history suggests they are our culture. Look around California for example. Los Angeles, El Camino Real, San Francisco - on and on. You can't go anywhere in the southwestern US and not see the Mexican aspect of our culture. Get real Bay! Next time I will talk about $numbers$. In the meantime, get wet.