tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47113662008169094092024-03-08T15:51:30.202-08:00Surfing the Waves of LifeDr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-20694734902550641932022-08-30T08:55:00.003-07:002022-08-30T08:55:39.359-07:00Patiently waiting<p> Something struck me the other morning as I sat</p><p>in the lineup, staring out into the rising sun, appreciating</p><p>the colors, looking for an oncoming wave to ride.</p><p>We spend an inordinate amount of our lives watching and</p><p>waiting, doing nothing but looking seaward hoping for the next </p><p>set or wave. We wait more than we actually ride waves. We</p><p>wait and watch for minutes, we ride waves for seconds.</p><p><br /></p><p>Our habit, or some might call it our addiction, has us staring at</p><p>the ocean regularly. Checking the surf, watching, taking it</p><p>all in for. In a surfers lifetime if you totaled up the time it's</p><p>clearly days maybe even months worth of time.</p><p><br /></p><p>We are simultaneously looking for something and simply</p><p>taking in and appreciating all we see. </p><p>Waves, birds, wind, swell size, swell direction, fish, boats</p><p>are all within our view. We ponder, meditate, breathe, and relax.</p><p><br /></p><p>Not a bad lesson about living our lives. Watch, enjoy, take it</p><p>all in, appreciate the beauty of what we see. Sure sometimes we</p><p>are disappointed, wishing we'd see something different, hoping for</p><p>better surf, less wind, a different swell. The lesson is clear. Today</p><p>these conditions, this ocean, the present is what we have.</p><p>Enjoy and make the best of it. A few days ago I saw whales, dolphins</p><p>and even waves.</p>Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-1127486625576856062022-08-11T11:42:00.003-07:002022-08-11T11:42:37.442-07:00Community and support<p> Nat Young once said surfers are like a tribe.</p><p>Kelly Slater was quoted saying that" surfing</p><p>is like the mafia, once you are in you can never get</p><p>out" </p><p><br /></p><p>At this very moment a friend and surfboard shaper</p><p>from Florida, who I met in Puerto Rico, is staying at</p><p>my house . He's taking a trip up the coast staying</p><p>with folks he's met through surfing. He just</p><p>told me to give a friend of his, who lives in</p><p>El Salvador, a call to set me up when I go.</p><p> He also owns a place in Nicarauga where I can </p><p>stay.</p><p><br /></p><p> I'm part of a daily text surf and life report with </p><p>friends, one lives in South Carolina the other, who</p><p> is fromCalifornia, living in Delaware. Next month </p><p>friends from Maine, Puerto Rico, Florida, New York,</p><p>Barbados, and North Carolina will visit. In October </p><p>I'll probably go to California and stay with friends. </p><p>I have friends in Hawaii and Australia, A young</p><p>surfer once said "you seem to know people everywhere". </p><p>I smiled a smile of gratitude.</p><p><br /></p><p>One of the joys and benefits of</p><p>being a surfer is that you become part of a</p><p>worldwide community.</p><p>Folks everywhere are happy to set you up, give you a place</p><p>to crash, introduce you to locals. In times of need many are</p><p>there to help you out.</p><p><br /></p><p>Having a community and good social support system is</p><p>vital to our mental well being. Coping with stress is helped</p><p>when we have friends to talk to, people who are willing</p><p>to help. We are all social beings...even in the lineup.</p><p>Most of us would prefer to surf with a few people then surf </p><p>alone. Embrace the unique nature of that gift. Embrace</p><p>being part of a worldwide community.</p>Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-77026687149382469032022-07-28T09:37:00.004-07:002022-07-28T09:37:51.429-07:00Blue Mind Therapy<p> How often do you think or say to yourself</p><p>" I need to get in the water...I need to surf"?</p><p>As surfers we are so lucky to know the release and relief that</p><p>being in the ocean and surf can provide.</p><p><br /></p><p>Interestingly enough there is a mounting body of</p><p>scientific evidence to help explain why that happens.</p><p>If you aren't aware of it I'd suggest you get a hold of a copy </p><p>Wallace J. Nichols book " BLUE MIND". The surprising</p><p>science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water </p><p>can make you happier, healthier, more connected and </p><p>better at what you do.</p><p><br /></p><p>I trust or hope you have volunteered to work with those</p><p>not as fortunate as we are. There are any number of </p><p>groups who take people surfing. I've been lucky enough </p><p>to have worked with Veterans with PTSD, TBI and who</p><p>have lost limbs. I've volunteered to help children with autism</p><p>and other disabilities. I've even helped out in a program that</p><p>takes folks with visual impairments.</p><p><br /></p><p>Did you know there is an International Adaptive Surfing </p><p>competition as part of the ISA, Perhaps you can find</p><p>out who in your area is involved.</p><p><br /></p><p>We are so lucky to be surfers and to know the wonderful</p><p>mental and emotional results of surfing. Please share the stoke</p><p>if you can. Find a group near you, volunteer. It will be therapy</p><p>for the participants and for you.</p>Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-51096432415623352532022-07-18T13:26:00.000-07:002022-07-18T13:26:22.708-07:00Waves of change<p> Been 4 years since my last post. I know I'm</p><p>not unique when I say "a lot has happened in 4 years".</p><p>I recently attended a school graduation ceremony and the student </p><p>speaker basically said the same thing. Where do we begin</p><p>chronicling the changes? </p><p><br /></p><p>For me it's included the diagnosis, treatment and ultimate death</p><p> of my wife; moving; retiring from my full time practice and </p><p>closing my office, splitting my time between New Jersey and </p><p>Puerto Rico, and having one of my kids, his spouse, and 3 of</p><p> my grandchildren move 800 or so miles away.</p><p><br /></p><p>For all of us it's been dealing with a worldwide pandemic,</p><p> maybe getting sick with covid or watching others get sick</p><p> or die; dealing with all the uncertainty that has been associated</p><p> with the "new normal"; working or taking classes remotely , not</p><p> being able to see friends, hug people.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yep, we've been through a crazy election, unprecedented </p><p>division amongst people, an insurrection, a threat to our </p><p>liberties, rights and even our democracy. I'm sure many</p><p> of you have dealt with more.</p><p><br /></p><p>How have you ridden these waves of change? Has it felt like facing one </p><p>set after another making it difficult to get to the lineup? Have you quit or</p><p>given up or did you breathe and relax? Were you able to adapt</p><p> to the conditions add to your quiver or</p><p>did you insist on riding the same board in everything? Did you get hostile</p><p>and angry at the new crowds in the lineups, the kooks, and other</p><p>soft tops or did you accept it as part of the new normal?</p><p><br /></p><p>I hope you've been able to ride these waves with success adapting to the</p><p>conditions, altering the way you've looked at boards and people. For me</p><p>surfing and the wonderful friends I have because of surfing has, and will</p><p>continue to allow me to ride the waves of change. Waves don't stop. As</p><p>surfers we know and understand that. They won't always be perfect but we</p><p>will keep checking them and going out whenever we can.</p>Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-43846942238842759582018-03-23T08:58:00.003-07:002018-03-23T08:58:59.627-07:00The ocean's not always calmSounds rather obvious, but, all surfers know that<br />
the ocean is not always calm. There are days<br />
when there is no wind at all, when there is quiet<br />
calm and the surface of the ocean is like a mirror.<br />
There are other days when the wind blows gently<br />
offshore caressing the waves, and then there are<br />
those days when the wind howls side shore or<br />
onshore and everything gets confused.<br />
<br />
The ocean changes and sometimes those changes can<br />
occur in an instant. We've all been in the water enjoying<br />
a session when all of a sudden the wind switches or the<br />
swell begins to come up.<br />
<br />
What do we do when we encounter changes due to<br />
wind, swell, tide? Some get angry. The pleasant or<br />
epic session they were having gets ruined. Others realize<br />
that the ocean changes. It's all part of surfing...we know<br />
we can't control the wind, the swell, the tide.<br />
<br />
Life and the events of our lives are like the ocean, forever<br />
changing. Some changes seem wonderful others terrible.<br />
Some days the ocean is playful and joyous, other days it<br />
is angry, frightening and mean. At times the ocean is<br />
spectacular and awe inspiring. Such is life. How do you<br />
cope with the changes?<br />
<br />
Surfing teaches up to stay as calm as we can...to breathe...<br />
to keep paddling...to understand our feelings and limits.<br />
It's not always easy.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-47860778699721444492016-12-29T19:00:00.000-08:002016-12-29T19:00:11.358-08:00it's really kind of oddI've been surfing for over 50 years.<br />
The other morning as I walked my dog<br />
on the beach and was watching and checking<br />
the surf, a stange thought struck me. Surfers<br />
are really an odd group. As I watched the<br />
tiny swell coming out of the south being<br />
groomed by the wind it struck me…<br />
We fashion and live our lives around wind<br />
born energy moving through the ocean so<br />
we can use planks to ride the wave.<br />
<br />
We has strong feelings about slabs of<br />
wood, foam, or some other manmade<br />
material. We have intimate feelings for<br />
various shapes and designs…is it long or<br />
short?... round or pointed?…thick or<br />
thin?... what shape do it's edges have?<br />
it's bottom, what curves and contours does<br />
it use? All designed to ride a wind born<br />
wave…<br />
<br />
We have tried to organize our lives in a<br />
manner that provides us with as many<br />
opportunities to ride these energy waves as<br />
we can.Many of our friendships have been<br />
formed with others who share this odd passion,<br />
almost all-consuming pursuit. Many of<br />
our relationships influenced by it.<br />
<br />
We have traveled worldwide in efforts to<br />
simply ride the wave energy in that particular<br />
place. We've dubbed many of these places<br />
as holy places…we've committed to memory<br />
what shape the energy moving through the<br />
ocean takes.<br />
<br />
Come on..when you think of surfing in<br />
that manner, it is really kind of odd. Wind<br />
born energy moving through the ocean has<br />
been a major influence in my life.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-58740961718316992142016-12-09T06:02:00.001-08:002016-12-09T06:02:34.463-08:00Happiness is an inside jobWhat makes you happy? Do you need the surf to<br />
head high? overhead? Must the wind be offshore<br />
and the water warm? Would you need to surf alone<br />
or with a select few? Think about it for a bit…<br />
happiness is something we all seek.<br />
<br />
I'm sure you know a surfer who seems to be<br />
perpetually stoked…who enjoys being in the<br />
water no matter what the conditions, no matter<br />
what board they are riding. They seem "high on<br />
life" as they say. Grateful just to be alive, healthy,<br />
able to enjoy the ocean and the friendships surfing<br />
has provided.<br />
<br />
We all know the other kind of surfer…the one<br />
who's rarely happy. The conditions are never<br />
what they want, the line-up always too crowded.<br />
They are quick to criticize and make judgements<br />
rarely grateful and always looking for something<br />
or someone to blame for their unhappiness.<br />
<br />
Don't look outside yourself at others, things,<br />
or situations to make you happy. Don't get stuck<br />
in a blaming mode. It's not the size of the surf, the<br />
board, the crowd, or the conditions that are<br />
responsible for your happiness it's all in how you<br />
choose look at things…how you look at others…at life.<br />
<br />
Happiness in surfing and in life is an inside job.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-7444205480356084442016-11-25T11:45:00.000-08:002016-11-25T11:45:06.684-08:00Ride the waves you get We've all spent hours dreaming about<br />
great waves. We've read about some of the<br />
worlds best places to surf, stared at photos and<br />
movies of those epic waves. You know<br />
the names, Sunset, Pipe, Cloudbreak, J-Bay,<br />
Malibu, Honolua Bay, Uluwatu, etc etc, the list<br />
goes on and on. If you've been lucky enough you<br />
may have even surfed a few of these places,<br />
scored once or twice. Admit it though, most of<br />
the time you surf your local breaks. Most of the<br />
time we all surf lesser waves.<br />
<br />
I'm not putting down your or my own local<br />
break. Each has its day. Each can be pretty damn<br />
good…sometimes…under the ideal conditions…<br />
with the right angle, the right wind…with the right<br />
tide. But most of the time, most of the waves we<br />
all surf are the waves we get, not exactly the waves<br />
we want. Not the ones we dream of.<br />
It's rarely perfect but we all make the best<br />
of what we've got. We all figure out how to enjoy<br />
and even become grateful for whatever we get. <br />
How many times have you heard someone say<br />
"at least it's surfable" It was better then it looked.<br />
I had fun anyway…at least I got wet."?<br />
<br />
In life we'd all do well to take that attitude more often.<br />
Sure, there are some dealing with jobs they don't<br />
like, in relationships that aren't perfect. Pleanty of<br />
folks look at the results of the last election and are<br />
unhappy. We'd all be well served to ride the waves<br />
we get rather then be pissed off that we didn't get<br />
what we dreamed of, that it wasn't perfect. We all<br />
know that there are only a few things we can do. We<br />
may not be able to control the surf but we can make the best<br />
of it. Learn how to deal with the conditions we have, adapt.<br />
We don't give up being who we are. We don't stop doing<br />
what we can to make things improve, Learn to ride<br />
slop if that's what you get, try to be a better tube rider if<br />
you are in a place that's barrel filled, deal with the fear of big<br />
waves if that's the norm. Control what you can, take<br />
action to make things better. That's all you can do.<br />
<br />
Learn to ride the waves you've been given because<br />
we often don't get the waves we want. Not getting<br />
what you want is no reason to give up surfing, to<br />
loose your stoke, to stop checking, to be filled<br />
with negative energy. Who wants to be around the<br />
surfer who checks it daily only to say "it sucks" and<br />
who never gets wet? Not me for sure.<br />
<br />
<br />Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-52296683087948622092016-09-29T16:17:00.000-07:002016-09-29T16:17:11.456-07:00Accepting change and adapting over timeI spent some time the other day talking with<br />
a guy who has surfed with me at my "home<br />
break" for decades. He hasn't surfed in a few<br />
years now and is really sad about it. "You<br />
know how much I loved surfing that old<br />
longboard" he said. Loved (past tense) being<br />
the key word. What had changed for him I<br />
wondered?<br />
<br />
He'd stopped surfing a few years ago. A knee<br />
injury impacted his ability to surf the way he'd<br />
like. He's now in his 50's a bit older and has<br />
slowed a bit with age. More importantly, he said,<br />
the crowds that had populated his beloved<br />
line-up had taken the fun away. changed the vibe.<br />
"You know when I started surfing there I could be one<br />
of the only people out…you remember" he said.<br />
"Now the place is mobbed…you have to fight for a<br />
wave… people are yelling at each other, angry, dropping<br />
in, hasseling each other. I can't take it" he said. "It's not as<br />
much fun anymore! Someone yelled at me for not wearing<br />
a leash. I hate wearing a leash" he angrily said.<br />
<br />
Surfing has grown in popularity over the past decades.<br />
Every line-up in the world is more crowded then it was.<br />
Surf schools are everywhere. Novices and<br />
kooks who grew up with a sense of entitlement have<br />
invaded popular breaks worldwide. My buddy is right.<br />
But is there a way you can retain your stoke and continue<br />
to have fun?<br />
<br />
He was reluctant to seek out another spot or even move to<br />
a different peak. He refused to do the right and safe<br />
thing and wear a leash. He refused to accept and adapt.<br />
<br />
Accepting and adapting…key ingredients to happiness<br />
not just in surfing but in our lives. How do you do accepting<br />
the things you cannot change? How well do you adapt?Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-19544474131318952092016-08-18T17:21:00.001-07:002016-08-18T17:21:29.751-07:00Different PerspectivesThe wife of a friend of mine recently decided to<br />
get a stand up paddle board and try it out. This couple<br />
lives in a place where, during the summer, the ocean<br />
is flat and waveless. It's a place where the crystal clear<br />
water offers wonderful opportunities for paddling over a<br />
vibrant living reef. I like to call it stand up snorkeling.<br />
That same reef, during the winter surf season, enables<br />
massive waves to break in an inspiring fashion. My<br />
friends wife has watched those waves in awe often<br />
wondering what it must be like to be "out there".<br />
<br />
Being "out there" is something we, as surfers, take for<br />
granted. You can't catch a wave unless you are 'out there".<br />
Ah, but once you are "out there"it's special. Seeing the<br />
world from the line-up is quite different from seeing the<br />
line-up from the land.<br />
<br />
My friend's wife brought home to me what we as surfer's<br />
often take for granted. We see the land from "out there",<br />
that's a perspective we're used to. She was quite taken<br />
by being able to attain our perspective, seeing the land<br />
from "out there".<br />
<br />
Seeing things from a different perspective can be eye<br />
openning. All too often we get locked in to seeing things<br />
from one point of view and not understanding that there<br />
is another way to look at things. What problems or challanges<br />
in your life could benefit from seeing them from a<br />
different perspective? Adopting a different point of view?Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-4899047523896028912016-05-23T22:19:00.000-07:002016-05-23T22:19:05.033-07:00MistakesWe've all made them... mistakes I mean. Come on<br />
admit it, there have been sessions when you really<br />
screwed up. Some screw ups are relatively minor<br />
like picking the wrong wave in a set, grabbing the<br />
wrong board from your quiver, waiting for the wind<br />
to shift or tide to change. We've all dropped in on<br />
someone without having looked or thought about<br />
what we were doing.<br />
<br />
Some mistakes have more serious consequences.<br />
Ask anyone who has surfed over a shallow reef,<br />
fallen ackwardly and suffered cuts and scrapes<br />
that might have ruined a session or trip for that<br />
matter. Have you ever found youself washed into<br />
a rock jetty or groin? I'm sure you've broken a<br />
board! Remember seeing the jet ski barely miss<br />
landing on a surfer's head in Tahiti?<br />
<br />
There are some mistakes that have larger and<br />
seemingly more catastrophic consequences. We<br />
all have heard about someone drowning or becoming<br />
paralyzed. We've seen photos of surfer's being carried<br />
off the beach. We might even know someone who<br />
has become too enamored with drugs or alcohol and<br />
destroyed their lives and the lives of loved ones.<br />
<br />
In life we all make mistakes. Sometimes, like<br />
in surfing, the mistakes are minor, the result of not<br />
thinking, other times they might be caused by<br />
making bad decisions. All we can hope for is<br />
to learn from the minor ones, think long and<br />
hard before acting without listening, and pray that<br />
no real catastrophe happens.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-77147890327469625132016-05-05T07:26:00.000-07:002016-05-05T07:26:30.285-07:00Retire, retool, restartKelly Slater is off to a terrible competitive start this season.<br />
There is little doubt that he is perhaps the greatest surfer in<br />
history, however, this year something is out of sync.<br />
His performance and luck have been inconcistent to<br />
say the least. Who knows what the rest of the season will<br />
bring?<br />
<br />
Recently Kelly posted more video from his wave pool.<br />
CarissaMoore, Wingnut, and Kanoa Igarashi were having<br />
the time of their lives riding perfect manmade waves.<br />
Long barrel sections, not a drop of water out of place.<br />
Kelly, the proud papa (so to speak) was smiling and taking<br />
video. Enjoying watching his friends have<br />
fun.<br />
<br />
The Kelly Slater surfboard label is now being marketed as are<br />
Purps and Outerknown. Lots going on in the life of a 44 year<br />
old professional surfer Interesting new endeavors.<br />
What does this mean? Is Kelly retired from competition?<br />
Are his interests expanding and is he spending<br />
more time on projects he enjoys other then competing? Perhaps<br />
it's simply the next stage of life, all part of aging and development.<br />
<br />
We all will reach a time when we must consider retiring, retooling,<br />
and making a change. We all age, we all experience some decline.<br />
We all reach a piont where our motivation to engage in certain activities<br />
wanes a bit. That's not a bad thing it's natural. Perhaps Kelly is showing<br />
us how our own futures can be. Embrace change, follow passion,<br />
dive in to something new. He's still an amzing surfer. I'm sure he<br />
will win a few this year but it just doesn't seem that important to him.<br />
<br />Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-45077267635867220182016-03-29T06:54:00.002-07:002016-03-29T06:54:40.735-07:00Just keep paddlingWe've all been there…watching the surf pump,<br />
searching for a channel or easy way to get to<br />
out. We watch and wait only to realize<br />
that there will be no easy path to pleasure today.<br />
If we want to get the sheer joy of those perfect<br />
overhead waves there is little we can do but to<br />
jump in paddle.<br />
<br />
Sometime the paddle out is easy, we get a break.<br />
Other times it's unrelenting, almost a strange torture.<br />
Wave after wave march towards us as we make our<br />
way. If you are on a short board it's duck dive after<br />
duck dive. Those on longboards seem to have an even<br />
harder time. The paddle seems endless. It feels like<br />
the ocean doesn't want to let you get there. Will you<br />
ever make it out to the lineup?<br />
<br />
A break is coming...<br />
<br />
You paddle and paddle, mustering every ounce of<br />
strength and energy you've got. This time you'll<br />
make it out. Your determination builds as you watch<br />
those who have been lucky enough to<br />
make it beyond the never ending line of white water<br />
feel the joy of riding waves. You imagine the feeling.<br />
<br />
Sometimes life feels like a long difficult paddle. The<br />
struggle seems almost too hard but you persevere and<br />
just keep paddling. You know exactly<br />
the sheer joy of the wave… the sheer joy of the ride,<br />
the joy of life.<br />
<br />
Sometimes it's not easy, we just have to hang in there<br />
and keep paddling.<br />
<br />
<br />Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-55237386917356151172016-02-15T15:53:00.000-08:002016-02-15T15:53:24.741-08:00Surfing and MoodIt's been a few days of record breaking cold in NJ.<br />
There is still snow on the ground and, in fact, it's<br />
snowing right now. I haven't been in the water, thanks<br />
to limited daylight, my work schedule, and uncooperative<br />
tides in a few weeks. I'm finding myself getting a bit<br />
antsy and moody, agitated, and in a funk. Seems I'm<br />
more motivated to eat things I shouldn't, sleep, and fritter<br />
away my time. Sound familiar?<br />
<br />
Every surfer I know seems to get down when he or she<br />
can't get in the water enough. Add in a dose of low<br />
temperatures, (making outside activity difficult - hey who<br />
wants to jog, walk or bike ride when the weatherman is<br />
warning about frostbite), and a diet of facebook photos<br />
from friends who have fled for the tropics and you get<br />
the recepie for Surfer's Seasonal Depressive Disorder.<br />
<br />
We are better able to endure flat spells when the weather<br />
is nice enough to be outside. Hey, you can paddle, run,<br />
bike, or walk. In the summer you can swim, snorkel, fish,<br />
row, or take out the SUP for a flat water downwinder.<br />
But when it's cold, grey, and snow covered the options are<br />
limited. <br />
<br />
I know it sounds like I'm whining. I know, I'm really spoiled<br />
and lucky - hey I'm outta here again in less then 2 weeks!<br />
But, I've binge watched a bunch of stuff on Netflix, watched<br />
my favorite surf related dvd's, finished reading a bunch of<br />
books, gone through the current Surfer's Journal in record<br />
time, and spent entirely too much time on facebook. I'd better<br />
get back to eating right, exercising, being mindful and grateful<br />
for all I have. That for sure will help my mood.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-31502989034800318852016-01-24T18:54:00.000-08:002016-01-24T18:54:11.435-08:00rekindling relationshipsI've had lots of house guests and friends in town this<br />
past few weeks. Being that I have a pretty big and<br />
diverse quiver visiting friends often ask to borrow a board.<br />
In to the board closet they go sorting and looking for a board<br />
that tickles their fancy. When the board locker is a bit more<br />
cleared out then usual I get to see the boards in the back,<br />
the boards tht I've not ridden in a while.<br />
<br />
My normal quiver was easy to find but I also found a board<br />
I haven't ridden in quite a long time. The board is Paul Baymore's<br />
(the Fly) take on a Dave Parmenter Stubb Vector. There is a<br />
long and wonderful tale about getting the dimensions for that<br />
board, but I'll save that for another time.<br />
<br />
I pulled out the board, put in some new fins, waxed it up<br />
and decided to ride it. Hey, what can be bad about a first<br />
light session with offshore winds and waves in the chest<br />
high range? On the first wave I easily glided in, made a<br />
nice bottom turn and the board flew down the line. Ah, I<br />
remember this board I happily thought. Wonder why I<br />
stopped riding it? Guess everything old is bew again. It's<br />
been my go to board for a week or so now, can't seem<br />
to let it go back into the locker.<br />
<br />
Finding an old love, an old board, or old friend can create<br />
many emotions. Sometimes it's really good to go back, to<br />
rekindle relationships. You never know what you'll get.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-49348053909807467572015-12-15T12:08:00.001-08:002015-12-15T12:08:47.085-08:00Do something nice…make someone's dayThe surf was really fun this morning. Wind was offshore<br />
and the swell in the 3-4 foot range making for steep, hollow<br />
takeoff's and a barrel here and there. Given that it's mid<br />
December having the air temperatures in the low 60's here in<br />
NJ was an extra bonus. Oh did I mention a deep blue cloudless<br />
sky with bright sun? Pretty special, pretty rare.<br />
<br />
After surfing a few hours and feeling really happy I casually<br />
stood by my car taking off my gloves and boots. Given the beauty<br />
of the day a friend, Brian, and I began to talk. Neither of us were<br />
in a hurry. Brian was beaming, stoked about all the fun he'd had.<br />
He went on to tell me that the fun was, in part, the result of a random<br />
act of kindness from a stranger. <br />
<br />
Knowing that the surf was good, Brian had rushed to pack his car in<br />
order to take advantage of his window, between taking kids to<br />
school and going to work. He got to the beach and suited up only<br />
to realize he'd forgotten to bring a leash. I guess he voiced his<br />
displeasure in a loud voice filled with a few explitives. So loud<br />
that a guy who'd just gotten out of the water heard him. "What's<br />
up" the stranger asked. When Brian told him he'd forgotten his leash<br />
the stranger said "no worries, take mine, here's my address just drop<br />
it off when you're done". Brian was stoked! <br />
<br />
Pretty simple thing to do! How easy was it to make someone's day<br />
by doing a random act of kindness. Something we all should<br />
think about. When was the last time you made someone's day by<br />
doing something nice?Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-26937882176383346652015-11-22T19:10:00.000-08:002015-11-22T19:10:28.178-08:00Much needed sessions - Blue MindBeen a tough weekend for me and thankfully I've been able to surf.<br />
The waves were fun, the water and air not that cold yet. I'm<br />
so grateful for the ocean, waves, and what it does to and for me.<br />
<br />
I hope you have had a chance to read Wallace J. Nichols great book<br />
The Blue Mind. It's a book about what water, (the ocean for me), does<br />
to our brains, to our psyche's. Pretty interesting to read about the science<br />
that altered my brain as I arced across a decent section of a chest high wave,<br />
riding the twinzer that has become my newest favorite board. I felt non<br />
of the stress, sadness, and sorrow that has made the past few days tough<br />
for me. My mind and soul were happy for the time I spent in the ocean,<br />
waiting, checking the horizon, watching and judging the waves as they<br />
approached, and my spirit was joyous as I put my board through it's<br />
paces.<br />
<br />
Last night I needed to clear my head. At 11pm I walked to the ocean.<br />
It was dark, the wind was blowing, the surf was pounding and a few<br />
fisherman were oiut on the jetty hoping for some stripers. They too<br />
seemed to be pleased enough just being there. Being in, on, and near<br />
the ocean. Hearing the sounds, smelling the smells, feeling the spray,<br />
appreciating the wonderous healing, calming nature of the ocean.<br />
<br />
Some sessions we need more then others. Give thanks for the ocean and<br />
what it can do for you.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-28430126371876535932015-10-19T09:30:00.003-07:002015-10-19T09:30:59.478-07:00Reunions - Old boards, old friends, old memoriesBeen a very interesting month or so for me. First came the annual<br />
Manasquan Classic Longboard Contest. This is one of the only<br />
2 contests I generally enter a year, and it's one that always brings a<br />
smile to my face. We started the contest a few decades ago just for fun.<br />
You have to ride a pre-1968 classic longboard and there are only 2 rules<br />
1) no rules and 2) no complaints. The event is a chance to reunite with<br />
old friends and people who you don't see or surf with that often. It is also<br />
a trip down memory lane. The classic old boards are wonderful to look<br />
at, albeit not always easy to ride. When was the last time you got a<br />
chance to see over 100 classics lined up on the beach? When did you<br />
actually get a chance to ride a board you might have had in the 60's?<br />
There is a great photo of me trying with all my might to crank a bottom<br />
turn on an old Weber Performer with a hatchet fin. Guess I forgot that<br />
you can't actually do that, you have to ride those<br />
boards differently. As you'd imagine with a gathering like that talking<br />
story, reliving the "old days" is part of the fun.<br />
<br />
The next event was an actual reunion of the fabled Kiernan Surfing<br />
Association. Kiernan was the name of the street leading to one of Long<br />
Branch NJ's best surf break. The street is long gone as are the<br />
bungalows on it. The great jetty and shoreline lined with poles are<br />
gone as well. The bottom and structure that groomed swells buried<br />
under tons of sand. Waves barely break at that once hallowed spot.<br />
As I looked at the area from the beach it was unrecognizable. The guys<br />
who were members of the Kiernan Surfing Association were amongst<br />
the best in NJ. Surfer's like Vince Troniec, Charley Kunes who were<br />
on the Dewey Weber Surf Team, "Old Guys" like Big Mike and Duke<br />
Fratten, both in their 90's, men we looked up to were all there.<br />
Memories, stories, laughs, and photos were shared.<br />
<br />
<br />
The final event of this "hat-trick" was my 50th high school reunion.<br />
50 yearsis a really long time. I saw people I've known for over 60<br />
years! People from elementary school. My first girlfriend, team mates<br />
from football and baseball, people I sat in classes with, people I<br />
partied with,( in a 1950's and early 1960's kind of way) were all there.<br />
Some were easy to pick out, they'd looked similar to how they<br />
looked 50 years ago with some grey and a few wrinkles, others<br />
were unrecognizable, while others sadly had passed away or been<br />
killed in war. Questions about those who weren't there, updates on<br />
peoples lives created endless waves memories.<br />
<br />
Each of these events were chances to reflect and look at how my life<br />
has unfolded. Each event prompted me to be grateful for howit's all<br />
has turned out. How often do you take the time to look back and learn?<br />
<br />
Every surfer has certain waves locked in our memories. We can recall<br />
the smallest details, the break, the size, the shape all burned into our<br />
brains. Life is full of little events, full of people, full of posibilities.<br />
As someone at the high school reunion said…"hey we're still here"!<br />
As someone commented to me…"keep surfing!" Good advice for us all.<br />
Cherish your memories but enjoy your life. Remember those waves but<br />
keep surfing and looking forward to the next swell you never know<br />
what's to come.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-8251619450332516282015-09-29T14:55:00.000-07:002015-09-29T14:55:08.051-07:00Pleasure from diversityToday was a really fun day. The surf was between chest to <div>
head high and even though thewind wasn't offshore it was</div>
<div>
not a factor at all. The swell direction wasn't perfect but that too</div>
<div>
<div>
wasn't a big deal. I was lucky enough to surf twice before having</div>
<div>
to go to my office. What a joy! I rode 2 entirely different boards </div>
<div>
today each with it's own spirit, it's own mood and flow. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My dawn patrol pick was a 5'9" Larry Mabile twin fin with</div>
<div>
beautiful wooden keels. That board is really quick and riding</div>
<div>
it has a curious influence on how I surf. I seem to make arcing</div>
<div>
swooping turns, I coil at the bottom of waves and glide smoothly</div>
<div>
off the top. It's kind of a speedy "go with the flow"gliding type</div>
<div>
of mindset.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For my second session I decided to ride my 6'8" Malwitz</div>
<div>
widowmaker. It has two sidebites and a 6 inch Skip Frye </div>
<div>
center fin. The shape, as a friend who saw me waking from</div>
<div>
car commented, was 70's style with updates. Totally different from</div>
<div>
my early morning fish. Obviously I had to alter my mindset and style.</div>
<div>
My turns were different as was the speed. No coiling on the</div>
<div>
widowmaker.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Great diversity provided me with great pleasure. Perhaps the </div>
<div>
same can be said for our life experiences and friendships. How</div>
<div>
often do you step out of your comfort zone? How frequently</div>
<div>
do you push yourself to try something totally different? Do</div>
<div>
you surround yourself with people who look, think, or act the same?</div>
<div>
Might not be a strategy that provides you with the greatest fulfillment.</div>
<div>
There is great pleasure from diversity.</div>
Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-39915637352694781402014-06-10T23:46:00.000-07:002014-06-10T23:46:16.877-07:00Accepting our place in the lineupSadly we all reach a time where we must accept our place<br />
in the lineup. We each must come to confronting our realities.<br />
<br />
I recently watched the ASP Fiji contest. Like many, I continue to<br />
be an avid Kelly Slater fan. I so much want him to win another title<br />
and then retire with grace dignity and honor. Tavarua, a place where<br />
Slater has been the undisputed master for decades, looked to be the contest<br />
that would help move him to the #1 ranking. As we know - it wasn't<br />
to be. Kelly looked like a mortal surfing in his quarter final heat. He made<br />
errors, couldn't quite get into a groove, even tried to switch boards in an<br />
effort to find what he once had. I'm not saying that the greatest contest<br />
surfer of all time is done. What I am saying is that at some point we all<br />
face the reality that things have changed.<br />
<br />
Look at your local lineup. Those who once were the hottest groms<br />
have aged a bit. They still surf really well but there is a new crop<br />
catching everyone's eye. The older masters still are out, still have<br />
their flashes of brilliance, but it's clear that their skills are slipping a<br />
bit, that they are no longer the surfer's that everyone is watching.<br />
<br />
In each of our lives there comes a point where we must face certain realities.<br />
We must accept that things are not what they once were. For many it's<br />
heartbreaking, difficult to accept an end of an era, difficult to accept a new<br />
place in the lineup. So what can we do about accepting the changes in<br />
our lives? What can we do when dreams fade? Probably not much…sure<br />
we can despair a bit, but ultimately we have to move on, accept what<br />
we can't change, accept our new position, our new status. <br />
<br />
I really want to see Kelly win #12. I really want to see him get his chance.<br />
Guess that's true for us all. Do we keep struggling for that chance or do we<br />
strive to accept what we find difficult or near impossible to change?Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-59648353588208311282013-12-02T23:38:00.000-08:002013-12-02T23:38:20.809-08:00Rubber quiverI often joke with people about being a surfer in the mid-atlantic <div>
northeast. Those are places that, with the exception of the summer,</div>
<div>
most folks don't associate with surfing. The average non-surfer</div>
<div>
generally thinks about surfers and surfing in tropical places. They</div>
<div>
imagine guys in board shorts and , thanks to popular media and</div>
<div>
fashion, girls in bikinis. They rarely think about surfing and wetsuits.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Surfers in places like New York and New Jersey, not generally</div>
<div>
thought of as surf meccas, have learned that they must be prepared</div>
<div>
to adapt to changing water temperatures and adjust for each season.</div>
<div>
Sure dressing to surf in July through September, when the water is</div>
<div>
in the high 70's and the air summer like, is easy. Throw on your </div>
<div>
board shorts or bikini and maybe a light 1 mil vest/top or spring suit</div>
<div>
for the slight dawn patrol chill and you are good to go. If the air</div>
<div>
has that morning chill maybe you need a springer or top with long</div>
<div>
sleeves.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As summer winds into fall the water temperature drops a bit as does</div>
<div>
the air. Fall usually means it's time for the 3 mil and late fall (November</div>
<div>
and early December) when the ocean is warmer then the air usually</div>
<div>
requires a hood and even a step up to a 4 mil and grab the boots and</div>
<div>
gloves. Then it's winter. When the combination of water and air temps</div>
<div>
are usually a total of 70- 80 (30 to 40 degree air plus water barely 40),</div>
<div>
it is time for the heavy suit, the 5 or 6 mil with a hood, 7 mil boots, and</div>
<div>
gloves. Not at all the bikini or boardshort look.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, what does all this wet suit talk have to do with life? Pretty easy</div>
<div>
to see that to enjoy surfing, and to enjoy life, you've got to be prepared,</div>
<div>
capable of adapting to change, and have a pretty good set of coping tools.</div>
<div>
Sure, in some places like the tropics life and climate are easy. The tools</div>
<div>
for surfing and enjoyment are relatively easier. But, even in the topics</div>
<div>
surfers deal with other issues - reefs, urchins, searing sun. Their coping</div>
<div>
tools for those things must be different. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Research on happiness tells us that to be happy we need to be able to adapt</div>
<div>
to change and have a range of coping behaviors. Just like surfing - a rubber</div>
<div>
quiver with many alternatives is vital to being happy. After all, in life</div>
<div>
we surely can count on change and those of us who are able to adapt</div>
<div>
enjoy the ride a lot more than those who's quiver is limited.</div>
Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-53174299456910257782013-10-03T15:28:00.001-07:002013-10-03T15:28:24.346-07:00Lessons learned from inconsistencyIt has been a long inconsistent and generally pretty<br />
flat few months for us here on the east coast. Usually<br />
late August, September, and October provide some of<br />
the best conditions we get. The water is warm, the air temperatures<br />
are pretty mild, the kids are back in school, the summer crowds<br />
gone, and the beaches are free. This year has been quite the<br />
exception. Sure, the kids and tourists are gone, the water and air are<br />
perfect, but there's been no surf to speak of.<br />
<br />
What can we learn from this? I often ask clients that very<br />
question. Well, the gang who run the Belmar Pro were really<br />
grateful for the smallish swell that Gabrielle brought. For the weeks<br />
before the contest organizers and sponsors were freaking. The forecast<br />
was ominous...flat, flat and more flat. Guess they learned to be<br />
grateful for even little things.<br />
<br />
The Manasquan Classic Longboard contest, one of the most enjoyayable<br />
events on the east coast now in it's 20somethingth year arrived just as a<br />
little swell did. Seems the Inlet was about the only place breaking that day.<br />
The tribe at the beach laughed, played, and had fun as the classic has<br />
always intended as it's goal.<br />
<br />
The Board Swap at Beach House, another stellar tribal gathering saw<br />
great weather, but no waves. Maybe that made it more special.<br />
<br />
Finally this week we had a 1 day wonder swell. Yeah, it was more of<br />
an east swell closing out many spots but...there were waves. Seems<br />
nobody went to work.<br />
<br />
So, what have we learned? We've learned to make the best of what we've<br />
got. We've learned to enjoy hanging with our friends and laughing. We've<br />
learned that an 80 degree day in October is beautiful and we can actually<br />
enjoy just taking it in. Guess even the lack of surf has lessons. OK- I've learned<br />
them now let's get some real waves!Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-75931760259320375372013-08-08T02:20:00.000-07:002013-08-08T02:20:05.709-07:00Setbacks, frustrations, and lessonsI've been out of the warm summer water for about<br />
6 weeks now. No it's not really by choice but rather<br />
necessity. I picked up a pretty gnarly staph infection<br />
that had to be lanced and required 2 courses of antibiotic<br />
medication. I'm out of the ocean until the wound is<br />
completely healed and the scab is gone. Bummer!<br />
<br />
To add to my frustration the month of July has been<br />
a pretty consistent month. There was rideable surf probably<br />
25 of the 31 days and about 7 or 8 really good days.<br />
Warm water and consistent surf...isn't that what we all<br />
dream about?<br />
<br />
So how do you deal with setbacks and frustrations in<br />
your life? As setbacks go this one was, in fact, rather<br />
minor and insignificant but it got me thinking.<br />
<br />
During the past month I was at the beach just about every<br />
morning, as usual. Hey, a highlight of my day and my dogs<br />
day are our sunrise walks. Couldn't stop those. Sure I could<br />
have tried to sleep in but that would have deprived both of us<br />
of one of my favorite parts of the day.<br />
<br />
I watched the waves and learned to study breaks a bit<br />
more than I usually do. I visited other spots and became<br />
more mindful of the little intricacies of the ocean and,<br />
beach, the sounds, the birds, the fish, the little things.<br />
I learned to enjoy watching others ride waves and became a<br />
student of style. I rode my bike more than usual, ran and<br />
worked out more. My yoga took on a new importance. After<br />
all I needed to stay in shape ready for the day I can surf again.<br />
Oh yea...I probably did a few more chores around the house<br />
and did get that fence painted in a more contented manner.<br />
<br />
All and all I had to learn to be patient, to try to be more<br />
mindful of things I'd taken for granted. I learned to be grateful<br />
for my connection to people, the ocean, the beaches, and waves.<br />
I'm excited to get back and surf, paddle, swim and be embraced<br />
by the ocean but I think I've learned a few things from this minor<br />
setback, learned how to cope with frustrations (however minor) a<br />
bit better. How do you cope with setbacks? How do you cope<br />
frustration?<br />
<br />Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-6356001224472323372013-07-03T16:09:00.000-07:002013-07-03T16:09:16.405-07:00Understanding your place in the "local crew"Each day I see or speak to many of the same people. Whether it's at my<br />
home in NJ or my house in Puerto Rico. We generally find ourselves<br />
at the same places, checking to waves, letting our dogs run on the<br />
beach, or simply hanging out and talking for a bit. I know I'm not unique.<br />
I have my crew you have yours.<br />
<br />
Having some good friends is an important part of our surfing culture<br />
and lifestyle. It is an essential ingredient for a happy life as well.<br />
Sure we have our close friends or mates, you know the ones around<br />
the same age or stages of life, the ones you share the ups and downs of<br />
your life with . Yet we also have another group- those who<br />
regularly surf at the same break, the "local crew". There is no particular<br />
age to determine who is part of that local crew and each has a unique role<br />
yet, we all are an integral part of each and every break. All part of the surf<br />
culture.<br />
<br />
Every break has a group of "old guys". They have long surf histories,<br />
have travelled, and are still pretty competent wave riders. They might<br />
not be riding latest equipment or busting airs, often preferring retro or<br />
longboards but their love of, and commitment to surfing is clearly there.<br />
When it is big they are charging! They see surfing as a lifestyle, a way of<br />
being. Surprisingly they are often connected to luminaries<br />
in the world of surf.<br />
<br />
Next there are the more "middle aged" folks. They have to split there<br />
time between and amongst families with young kids, budding and<br />
maturing careers, and responsibilities around the houses they own.<br />
They might not get in the water as much as they once did but they<br />
still make he most of the sessions they get.<br />
<br />
The "20 something rippers" are there as well. They ride the latest<br />
equipment, generally surf really well, often aren't on career tracks yet.<br />
They are the ones heading off for an extended trip to Indo or Bali.<br />
Time and adventure are major foci in their surfing lives.<br />
<br />
The groms also are there at every local break and are part of the crew<br />
as well. They are the surf stoked early to late teens, They are the ones<br />
wearing the latest hats, the boards with lots of colorful art. They only<br />
ride short boards and all seem to weigh right around 100 lbs. This group<br />
hangs together in a tight knot band. Once one of them gets a car or<br />
license they are off to explore new breaks, new possibilities They are the<br />
ones competing in the contests and learning about things like upwelling,<br />
surf forecasting, and board dynamics.<br />
Their smart phones are filled with the latest surfing related apps, their fashion<br />
is the latest.<br />
<br />
Surfing culture has a place for everyone young or old, male or female.<br />
The lesson each of us should learn is where do we fit in to a bigger<br />
demographic. Where do we fit in to the world as a whole. Like life,<br />
spending too much time in a society made up exclusively of peers<br />
distorts our vision and our world view. Don't prejudge, discover your place,<br />
respect and learn from others, and leave your ego out of it. You'll enjoy<br />
things more.<br />
<br />
<br />Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711366200816909409.post-7305201898676734972013-04-28T17:26:00.000-07:002013-04-28T17:26:42.198-07:00Spring might be hereThe calendar tells me that April is almost over and that May<br />
is but a few days away. We keep getting teased with the<br />
weather. One day it is sunny and almost warm enough to<br />
wear flip flops and shorts, the next day it's back to fleece and socks.<br />
The ocean is very slowly warming. It might actually make it to 50<br />
in the next few days! <br />
<br />
I actually was able to surf without a hood today! Small pleasures<br />
abound. I could hear the sounds without the neoprene filter. I could<br />
have a conversation without speaking in a loud voice. I could feel<br />
the sun warming my face. As wonderful as these little things are I still<br />
find myself impatient, I want more. Guess that's not uncommon for us<br />
all. We often want more quicker and forget that as the old saying goes<br />
"all good things come to those who wait". Waiting can be really hard.<br />
<br />
I've been lucky enough to surf a lot this winter in the warm waters of<br />
Rincon PR. My trips there help me stay out of the cold water and the<br />
dreaded (for me) 5 mil wetsuit, boots, gloves, and hood. Every spring<br />
upon my return I have to put the suit on if I want to surf. I have to<br />
endure the extra weight, the slowness that a 5 mil forces on us all.<br />
Someone today was thrilled. They had on a 4 mil without a hood.<br />
"feels almost like board shorts" he said. So great.<br />
<br />
Being patient looking for the little victories and enduring some of the<br />
difficulties just might be a great way to look at life. Certainly is a way<br />
to look at spring. Guess I have to enjoy it and not wish my spring away,<br />
not jones for summer, and appreciate the little things.Dr.Bill Rosenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15246811323179593232noreply@blogger.com0