Keith Walendowski Rocks .....

Someone please get this man a beer .....

In this photo provided by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's department, Keith Walendowski is shown. Walendowski is accused of shooting his lawn mower because it wouldn't start. According to the criminal complaint, Walendowski said he was angry because his Lawn Boy wouldn't start Wednesday morning, July 23, 2008.

'I can do that, it's my lawn mower and my yard so I can shoot it if I want,' he told police.

(AP Photo/Milwaukee County Sheriff's department via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

.............................................. Ruprecht ( STOP )

Down To San Diego .....

It's that time again ......

Time for Rupe's annual visit to San Diego for Comic-Con, a Mecca of wonder and people and joy and costumes and back slappin' and jokery and stuff that just needs seein' to be believed .....

When The Con is mentioned, many roll their eyes. Words like "geek" and "Nerdfest" and "dork" and "freakin' no-deodorant-wearin' weirdos" pop up frequently and with conviction.

And it's true: There are those that attend.

Rupe isn't one of'em. Or so he likes to think.

But that's okay. Rupe gets lost in all the hubbub and excitement the four and a half days afford. 125,000+ people last year, an Entertainment Weekly feature article (out this week!) and a sold out 2008 convention of comic book loving fans says something, I don't care what you're readin' otherwise.

It's not all about the comics. It's about the blood drive. It's about the stars and premieres and sneak peeks of the coming year. It's about our governor The Arnold popping out from behind a curtain unexpectedly when no one is expecting it to promote the new Terminator flick. It's about getting that autograph to complete your collection. It's about jaw dropping artwork at an art show. It's about heading to Perry's for a big breakfast to get you through the day and Dick's Last Resort in the Gaslamp District to cut loose at night. And so much more .....

Last year was probably the ultimate Con year for Rupe. Rupe finally got to meet one of his top-list heroes. A kindly gentleman by the name of Mike Ploog.

(... flashback ...)

Rupe was iller than ill and bedridden one elementary school day. In comes Mom with a motherly look of concern on her face and a handful of comic books to help get young Rupe through his illness.

A "How do you feel?", a warm kiss on the forehead and Rupe was left with his pile of kiddie books to flip through.

Now .... Rupe had never before read a comic book. And the wonder that unfolded before him as he began opening pages was otherworldy. Who was this Conan The Barbarian? Cool! Bugs Bunny, in panel form! The Batman! The Hulk sure was formidable!

But it was The Man-Thing that caught Rupe's young attention.

There were several Marvel Man-Thing books to peruse and, as they began to be digested, the artwork of one Mike Ploog was what really caught Rupe's eye. The lines and curves and unique style were impressive to Rupe and Mr. Ploog's artwork would not only influence but be a delight to Rupe for the remainder of days.

(... flash forward to last year's Comic-Con ...)

Going over the on-line schedule of the upcoming fest, Rupe noticed gleefully there would be several panels featuring Mike Ploog at the 2007 Comic-Con - one devoted exclusively to him.

Long story short, the panel was spectacular. Rupe sat rapt in attention. Rupe learned tons about this long-sought-after artist and film storyboardist, more than out of any book Rupe's read on the man.

Afterward, Rupe got the opportunity for a one-on-one with Mike Ploog - a 45 minute chat that culminated in a prized sketch and a commitment to commission a black and white ink piece from him.

The final, ultimate thrill was the photo below Rupe took with Mike Ploog.

See that giddy grin on Rupe's face? That's the kid in him - glowing, ecstatic and thrilled beyond happiness .....


(... today ...)

Onward to The Con! One big, goofy, awe-filled long weekend of bliss and camaraderie and old friends and escape from the everyday.

*... now ..... where in the world did Rupe put his geek hat ... ?!?!?*

........................................................ Ruprecht ( STOP )

Fun With Telemarketers

It’s the middle of a much anticipated showing of some program that Rupe has wanted to watch for eons. (Okay … maybe not eons, but Rupe’s been anticipatin’ it for a long time. That’s all you need to know .....)

Rupe’s phone rings. Luckily, Rupe has the show DVR’d, so it’s not a problem to pause the show to get up and answer the phone. (A’sides, Rupe needs something cold and refreshing to drink whilst watching his show …..)

“Hello?” Rupe answers.

“Good evening! Is this Mr. Ruprecht?” a way too cheery voice queries.

“It is!” Rupe answers back, checking a nearby mirror.

“Mr. Ruprecht,” the telemarketer begins: “I’m from the Flagrant Man-Handling Umbrella Company and I would like to …..” But Rupe cuts’em off at the pass.

“Pardon me, but would you mind holding tight for a quick minute? You caught me right in the middle of doing something important, but if you can wait a sec, I’ll be right with you. Can you do that?”

“Well, certainly Mr. Ruprecht” the salesman accommodatingly states.

“Great! Be right back,” Rupe responds with an upbeat flair.

Rupe moseys on over to the fridge to pour hisself a nice glass of cold water, plunks a few ice cubes inside it and heads back to the waiting phone.

“S’aight! I’m back!” Rupe gushes, energetically.

The telemarketer begins anew. “As I was saying …..” But Rupe again doesn’t let him get far.

“Hey, wanna know what I was doing? I had to feed my fish. I forgot to feed’em this morning and the poor things were hungrier than skeeters in Florida at a mid-summer's night potluck. Wanna know what they’re names are?” Rupe asks Mr. Telemarketer.

“Well … yeah … sure, I guess.”

“Great! Well, lessee … there’s Pete and Jimmy and Pete and Pete and Pete. They’re all brothers .. I think. And then there’s Wolfy, Crabs McGowan, Pete, Pete, Pete, Little Pete, Pete Jr., Finnegin Floyd, Little Joe and Petey Pete. Sharky’s in there too … he’s the one that always causes lots of problems, but if you just flick’em on the top of the head with your finger, he usually straightens out right quick. I got Earless Lilo, Fish Sammich and “The Deadly Scum Sucker” to round out the bunch. They’re all just one big happy fish family in that tank, lemme tell you. They hardly ever get nasty with one another – that is ‘cept Sharky. Whatta card he is! Thinks he’s the king of the tuna fleet, he does. And they’re real easy on the eyes, too. Barely need tendin’ to.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! I almost forgot! Sally’s in there, too! She’s like the big mama that keeps’em all in line. Though, she really doesn’t keep’em all in line … s’more like she just swims around and minds her own business, but I like to SAY she keeps’em all in line, if’n you know what I mean, y’unnerstan …..

“Then, in the OTHER tank, the BIGGER tank, there’s …..”

*click*

That telemarketer doned hung up.

Rupe takes his water and heads back to his chair to watch his paused program …..

................................... ( STOP )

Drama .....

It's all over the place.

And, of late, it's been comfortably housing itself within the spare bedroom at Casa De Rupe.

The World Of Rupe is oft overflowing with Three Ring Circusry! Everyday, it seems, for the last several weeks there's been acrobatic drama up the nose!

Clowns and elephants and 'splosions and musical accompaniment in spades!

Zounds! Admission should be charged!

Onward .....

Rupe has a good friend from school. He's a good guy, but he's got strange things bippin' & boppin' about in his noggin, Rupe thinks.

Rupe's wife gets a call from Rupe's friend's mother who lives a few hours distant. "Heard from 'Tall Drink 'O Water'?" she asks Rupe's wife in a message left on voicemail. (Henceforth,'Tall Drink 'O Water' will be referred to as 'TDOW')

Rupe's friend's mother reveals: "'Cause we haven't ... and this's been goin' on for the last week or so ..... Father Of TDOW and I have called numerous times and can't get hold of TDOW, Wife Of TDOW or Mother-In-Law Of TDOW."

Rupe's wife informs Rupe. Rupe jumps on the phone and dials up TDOW. Nuthin'. Answering machines. At TDOW's home, cell and Wife Of TDOW's cell as well. Rupe leaves messages all over the place, wonderin' what's goin' on. "Give Rupe a call," Rupe requests ... and a bit heatedly at that.

Rupe calls Rupe's friend's mother. "How'za doin', Mother Of TDOW? Tell Rupe a story," Rupe offers.

"I've'n't a clue, Rupe. We call and call and call to no avail. Have you heard from either of them?" Rupe confesses he has not. But he's left messages and if he hears anything, Rupe'll be on the horn to Mother Of TDOW posthaste.

It's not like TDOW to NOT return calls, especially when messages have been left. And now, it's been a week of days past ... with no word.

Rupe considers taking a jaunt to TDOW's house to see what Rupe can see.

Rupe has visions aplenty of what could've come about or happened, all of which are blog worthy fiction, of course ..... but Rupe won't allow his 'magination to get the better of him just yet ..... (At least ... not 'til Rupe gets to the heart of the matter and finds out wasabi .....)

Discussing the situation with Rupe's wife, the best plan of action may be to skedaddle to TDOW's abode for a looksy.

It's been hours since the original phone call to Mother Of TDOW. Rupe decides to give her a jingle in the event any new news has surfaced and to let Mother Of TDOW know what Rupe intends.

But, just before Rupe can pick up the phone, Rupe's phone rings. It's Mother Of TDOW. It seems the mystery has been solved. TDOW and Wife Of TDOW have come to a collective decision. Neither will be answering the phone in the evening time anymore.

This is an excellent idea on their part, they surmise, to keep the accumulated stress levels of the day to a minimum ..... and to keep any additional invading drama at bay .....

Mother Of TDOW discloses Brother Of TDOW finally got hold of TDOW and discovered this goofy bit of information.

Brother Of TDOW gave TDOW a tongue lashing that may make news in the morrow's paper, she reveals. Rupe offers to do same, 'cept with some well placed backstrokes to the reverse of TDOW's head with a canoe paddle.

Mother Of TDOW thinks that's a spiffy idea and grants Rupe her blessing. "Just don't wake the children if'n you're there after hours," she cajoles mildly.

There you have it. Drama.

Most excellent drama ... rife with Three Ring Circusry .....


.................................. Ruprecht (STOP)

It's Not A Wad ... It's A Waste .....

Appalled.

That's what I was when I saw the amount of paper being wasted in my office when I started there a year ago.

Coming from the printing industry, I made it a practice that my customers contact me if they had waste paper. I dutifully printed logos, names and numbers (or whatever) on the reverse side, chopped it up, glued'em together and scratch pads for scribbling, et al.

But this place .... *yeesh* I've seen an overworked copier that spits out tons of single-sided items to be tossed in a matter of minutes once their use is exhausted.

So I yelled and screamed. And the rules changed.

Anal by nature about paper, I've always quartered waste 8½ x 11 sheets and used the reduced pieces as scrawl stock. Great for quick notes or doodling while in purgatory on the phone. Perfect for jotting down that number or reminder you need and stuffing into your pocket. Staple a wad of'em together and you have an instant note pad to take into that dreary meeting with you. Someone's bound to wonder what that rag-tag mishmosh of gathered paper is doing in your possession. Edumacate'em, why don't you! Who gives a rat's ass if it's got printing on the reverse? Get concious, people. Getting savvy ain't tough for this little project.

You can do it. Don't be so particular that you can't have a stray upright letter file on your desk with a neat collection of reusable paper. It's good for the mind, good for the soul, good for the tree that gave its branches up knowing you're gonna use its pulp to the fullest. (The tree's soul is hovering over your left shoulder giving you the stink eye each time you chuck a good piece of unused paper in the round file, you know ..... Less trees used, more overall benefits for you and yours.)

It's just a little thing, guys ... but in the overall scheme of the everyday, it's huge. And you'll feel better about yourself for having done it.

It won't hurt you. Promise.

................................................................. Ruprecht ( STOP )

The 'Renewal' Of Allegiance .....

I went to a Soroptimist function recently ... my first ever. (I had quite a good streak going there of never having attended one, too. I guess it had to be broken sometime. Though, I am jealous of an acquaintance that had his 83 year streak broken.) It was a luncheon in honor of an individual for her selfless contributions over the years to the organization.

After a welcome and invocation, we were asked to recite a 'renewal of allegiance' as was customary at Soroptimist's functions.

Can anyone tell me what in the world a 'renewal of allegiance' is? I'd never heard of such a thing. Since being a tot in school, I've always known our salute to the flag of the United States of America as The Pledge of Allegiance. When did Francis Bellamy's 1892 'pledge' become a 'renewal'? Who decided the pledge - officially recognized as the official national pledge in 1945 - was to be revised and recognized as a 'renewal'? Did I go on vacation and miss some history?

It just so happened I was sitting next to a teacher while at the luncheon. I turned and asked him: "When did The Pledge of Allegiance become the 'renewal of allegiance'?"

I was told: "Beats me. I've always known it to be The Pledge of Allegiance."

So. Here we go. Let's put on our thinking caps, shall we? Come on .... get down and dirty with me and and let's see what all this 'renew' and 'renewal' gibberish is all about. Whaddaya say?

Let's see if any of'em apply to 'renewal of allegiance' per the definitions .....

renewal: n. 1. a renewing or being renewed; 2. an instance of renewing or something renewed

renew: n. 1 to make new or as if new again; 2. to give new spiritual strength to; 3. to cause to exist again; reestablish; revive; 4. to begin again; take up again; 5. to replace as as by a fresh supply of

Let's start with 'renewal' .....

renewal, definition #1: 'a renewing or being renewed' What? Did you lose something? Are you renewing your allegiance? This would imply you lost or misplaced it, right? Nope. Doesn't apply .....

renewal, definition #2: 'an instance of renewing or something renewed' Again, did you lose your allegiance to the flag? I don't think so. Nope. Doesn't apply .....

Okay. Here we go with with 'renew' .....

renew, definition #1: 'to make new or as if new again' Unless you got in an accident and lost your memory, I don't think so. Nope. Doesn't apply .....

renew, definition #2: 'to give new spiritual strength to' Who said anything about spirituality in reciting The Pledge Of Allegiance? You're not giving spiritual strength when you do so - you're simply giving your pledge of allegiance to your country. Nope. Doesn't apply .....

renew, definition #3: 'to cause to exist again; reestablish; revive' Again, unless you lost your memory, I don't think so, Tim ..... Nope. Doesn't apply .....

renew, definition #4: 'to begin again; take up again' Well .... to be honest, each time you say The Pledge of Allegiance, you are 'beginning again' to say it. But that's not exactly the meaning of 'begin again' where The Pledge Of Allegiance applies ..... Nope. Doesn't apply .....

renew, definition #5: 'to replace as by a fresh supply of' Yeah, right. There are so many pledge of allegiances out there, even I get confused. Whatter you ... GOOFY?!? Nope. Doesn't apply .....

Bottom Line: Unless aliens came down and wiped your mind clean ... or unless you changed allegiance to a different country then came back to the wonderful U.S. of A., you're not 'renewing' anything when you recite The Pledge of Allegiance.

*yeesh*

The Next Day: The Pièce De Resistance .....

I got through via the phone to the president of this particular chapter of Soroptimists. As nice as I could be, I asked her what the story was with putting in their program the 'Renewal Of Allegiance' as opposed to the correct Pledge Of Allegiance. Her response was that she didn't exactly know. Somewhere down the line someone - another member of the Soroptimists - had told her to do it that way. She stated this person told her 'you're 'renewing' your allegiance to the flag when you're saying it'.

I explained this was just not the case. You aren't renewing anything. You're simply stating a pledge of allegiance to the United States of America when you recite The Pledge of Allegiance. There's no 'renewal' involved; it's a patriotic pledge to your country.

I could just about hear the light bulb above her head come to life. She stated that in light of this conversation (there was more, but you get the gist of it) she would be delving into when and where the Soroptimists had revised The Pledge of Allegiance and she would happily contact me with that information. I told her I would appreciate that, because whoever revised the title was misinformed and dead wrong.

I thanked her for her time and understanding and she thanked me for querying her about the situation.

See? Every once in a while, there's justice in the world.

One person at a time .......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Nailing Those Red-Light Runners - On Bicycles .....

From the 'Opinion' section, 'Letters To The Editor'
The Fresno Bee, Tuesday, May 1, 2007:

This week's sign of the apocalypse -- I was riding my Giant Road bicycle down Willow out by Clovis North and Clovis Hills Community Church. The light right in front of the church was red and there were no cars coming, so I went through the red light on my bicycle.

A California Highway Patrol officer on a motorcycle was sitting at the light and immediately turned on his lights and sirens and pulled me over. I couldn't believe it, he asked for some ID (license) which I didn't have and then lectured me on how I am just like a car and I could be injured and should carry ID etc. ... blah, blah, blah.

He wrote me up and I wish you could see what he put on the ticket.

Violation: ran red light

Vehicle make and model: Giant Bicycle, Black, 2004

Approximate speed: 10 mph

I have to appear in court and take traffic school (do they even have a bike section?) to get it cleared off my record.

I want to be angry, but this was just too funny, so I had to share it with everyone.

This was my first ticket ever.

Joseph Gentry, Fresno

___________________________

I just had to write in response .....

I am completely amazed at the tone Mr. Gentry took in his note about getting a ticket for disobeying a traffic light and his surprise at getting the ticket for doing so.

What does he 'want to be angry' about? He broke the law and got what he deserved. His prize is a contribution to Fresno city's financial bankroll, a trip to a traffic school of his choice (which he will also have to pay for) and hours of lost time on his part he will never get back. And he thinks this 'was just too funny so I had to share it with everyone.' Yup. It's a laugh riot.

We try to get people - kids especially - to follow the rules of the road and adults flagrantly toss them aside. Ever hear of the term 'Lead By Example'?

Mr. Gentry of Fresno: Let's hope your 'first ticket ever' is your last.

Oh .... and grow up.

___________________________

Ruprecht ( STOP )