6 Decades of History

"Check out all of those filing cabinets!".... something that I hear on a regular basis when visitors walk in my office and see my 6 very tall and large filing cabinets full or 6 decades of history. While I was working on filing today I thought I would share an inside look into some of the many memories that these cabinets hold. In these drawers are family trees, catalogs, photos, contracts, magazines and articles, press hits, awards... the list is endless but why you may ask are they all housed together? They are all a mini pieces of the puzzle of the history of Body Glove and Dive N' Surf.

I have spent many a days sitting on this floor with my trusty label maker :)

The Meistrell Family Historical Archive

The very first folder in the file is from 1924 and is ancestry data of the Meistrell family.

Catalog from when Bill and Bob Meistrell won the DEMA Reaching Out Award in 1990

1995 Wetsuit Catalog

Catalog of the Magic Johnson line of Body Glove Orthopedic products

Photo from the 1989 Surfbout of winner Vince De La Pena

Drop Zone LA Magazine with cover from Uncle Bob's Memorial

Files ready to be filed of the history in the making...

It's An Un-Belize-able Place!

Last December my family got the chance to travel with the group below and go to Ambergis Caye, Belize. This place is a little slice of heaven. Here are some of my favorite memories from the trip...

There were too many photos to show it but this massive log that all of us are standing on was originally a mile down the beach. My dad and Charlie got the brilliant idea that it would look way better on the beach in front of the Rojo Beach Bar & Lounge. It took an afternoon and about 10 people but we eventually got in in the perfect place. Even after a hurricane hit Ambergis Caye last month, the log is still sitting there in front of the bar.

Here is a picture of Rojo Beach Bar and Lounge. If you ever have a chance to visit Ambergis Caye, stopping by here for a cocktail is a must. If you have time for dinner, even better. Their food is AMAZING. Follow their instagram and you will be able to see for yourself. 

https://www.instagram.com/rojobeachbarandlounge/

Belize is a truly beautiful place. Looking out the front doors of our bungalow at Rojo you can see the gorgeous white sand beaches and crystal blue water. Everyone we meet on the trip was amazing, from the crew at Rojo and especially our divemasters. 

Over the years of diving around the world I have learned a lot about the lion fish and it how it is an invasive species. It is taking over the native landscape of reefs around the world, especially in the Caribbean and the USA and it reduces biodiversity. Typically on trips we see the dive master carry a Hawaiian sling and spear the lion fish. On this trip we all got to take part in the hunt! I typically don't like to spear fish but knowing that these little buggers are killing all the local fish I felt like I was doing something good for the local fish :)

The best part is that they make for good ceviche or fish tacos. After one of our afternoon dives we cooked up some fish tacos and the best ceviche I have ever had!

Another big lesson that we learned while in Belize is their ongoing problem with plastic. A couple miles down the beach this is what it looks like. This is an area of the beach that isn't regularly cleaned. What is more shocking to me isn't that this is dirty, it is that if the other beaches weren't regularly cleaned they would look like this as well. 

The problem stems from lack of proper recycling facilities, other countries near by that don't have proper recycling and plastic getting washed by storms to the islands off Belize... the list goes on and on. Our friends, Charlie and Michelle Croughwell and Vivian Yu have started an organization, Earths Oceans, with the goal of teaching people about single use plastic and proper recycling. They are working with the government in Belize on programs to motivate locals to pick up and recycle this waste. Not only will it make this beach look softer on the eyes but it will make our oceans so much healthier!

https://earthsoceans.foundation/

A parting gorgeous shot taken from our puddle jumper from mainland Belize to Ambergis Caye.

Till next time!

    

        

The Doors of Malta

One of my favorite parts of my recent trip to Malta was the architecture. You feel like you are in a cross between Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Most of the buildings are an off white stone, some crumbling, some new built on top of the older buildings. When you walk down the narrow streets you can feel the old european influence. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the many doors of malta.

Fits Like a Glove: The Process

Working on the book on the history of Body Glove was one of the most amazing experiences and life testing projects that I have ever worked on. Last week I was going through all my pictures and I found these from one of the last times we all met to discuss the book and review it. These photos made me smile as I reminisced on how crazy the book writing and publishing process is. Though we were all driving each other crazy going over every little detail we made it through the process and have such an amazing story to share. 

"Fits Like a Glove: The Bill and Bob Meistrell Story" 

http://www.amazon.com/Fits-Like-Glove-Meistrell-Story/dp/0982694067

Sometimes you just need a little extra energy from Body Glove Surge

Robbie Meistrell pounding his head against the desk with Bob smiling in the background

Billy Meistrell making his final edits

Uncle Bob reviewing the draft

Scott Daley, master of controlling the madness

Frank Gromling, publisher and author, just wanting us to tell him what to do!

A Little Slice of Paradise

One of my favorite parts about traveling is feeling the “rubber band snap”. It might sound weird but I promise its the best feeling ever. It happens when you board a plane and you are heading on a new adventure. You take off, feel the airplane wheels retract, level off at a cruising altitude and games on… best feeling ever… Especially when you are heading to the North Shore.

One of the best parts of traveling is going on mini adventures with friends. On the North Shore there is a great little hike up Bunker Hill and you get an amazing view of the North Shore. Thanks to these peeps for waiting for me!!! Steep hills aren’t always my best friend :) I promise I only fell twice! There is a gorgeous view from the top. So amazing being able to see the lines of waves heading towards Pipeline. 

Nothing like a post hike snack. This trip I learned what Pitaya was and oh my was it tasty. So many awesome food trucks on the North Shore. One of the things that I love most about the North Shore is how healthy you can eat. Maybe not if you go to Ted's Bakery (which I so did) but there are tons of healthy options!

There is nothing better than traveling with a buddy. Lucky girl here got to travel this island with this adventure girl! 

We had one massive house full of a lot of crazies but I wouldn’t have had it any other way… well maybe next time I won’t be sleeping in the bathroom… but it was quite the adventure! With this view it was all smiles. Can't get much better than sunsets on the North Shore a glass of vino :)

So much healthy eating on the North Shore… and the best of all was Beet Box… such an amazing little place in Haleiwa. Definitely my favorite find of the trip! Lionel Richie posters everywhere, the cook rocking out to Fleetwood Mac… such a cool little joint.

This girl always makes the simplest things so much fun. So stoked she talked me into booking a ticket so I could make some guacamole with her :) 20 avocados later and oooooh la la such amazing Guac! 

Even though the view was tough to beat, the best part of the trip was hanging out with everyone. We had a great group of retailers, reps, all of our surfers... just one big happy family :) Here is a shot of the crew hanging out on the deck getting some amazing footage!

Gotta put your toes in the sand one last time in Waikiki before heading home, while singing the Zac Brown band song "A** in the water, Toes in the sand!!!"  ... something like that :) Till next time!