The Day After ( Non Nuclear )
Hi Friends,

It's the day after Christmas and I'm relaxing now. I went and did some phone work for a friend. I got Amy and we did the week's grocery shopping. Tomorrow it's back to the same old grind for 4 days. Attached are some more Xmas pictures. Some are a bit fuzzy because they were copied from the tv screen. I videotape each year's gift opening.
Time for me to get back to domestication. I will write more soon.

The Blue Baron

The top picture is Amy, 2nd., Kelly, and 3rd Tina and Kelly.

Merry Christmas, and stuff
Mood:  not sure
Hi Friends,

Another Christmas come and gone. I had a great time gifting to my kids, relatives and friends. Again this year Christmas day was a little somber. In an effort not to be in a protracted divorce fight, I allowed the ex to have the kids each xmas morning. One day I may fight this. It's my 5 year old I most treasure these times with. Attached are some pictures from the family xmas.









































The 1st.picture is my niece Alicia with my oldest Tina. The 2nd. Shot is Amy. The 3rd pic is Amy opening a Cabbage Patch Doll. The last picture is Kelly on the couch closest to the left. Her cousins are also in the shot.

I plan on taking more pics and posting them tomorrow.


Talk to you then,
The Blue Baron

A Look Back
Mood:  a-ok
Hello Friends,

I'm just now getting well after a bout with a bug. I've felt listless and tired the last few days but I'm bouncing back. It's been a year since my big split with my ex. Looking back I have to say I'm quite happy. Knowing now what I couldn't see then, I think all is fine. My kids would be the only ones to have it better than they do now had we stayed together. Sides divided can't maintain as well as forces unified. I don't regret at all that she has moved on. To make the sacrifices she wanted to stay together would be tantamount to "kissing up". She's a nice person mostly but not worth the worship she reasoned she deserved. Most likely the guy she's with now will find this out in due time and wonder what he's gotten himself into. I've said way too much. Talk to you later.



TBB

Troll Times
Mood:  cool
Hi Friends,

Things are good. I'm feeling ok considering my dad passed away last weekend. 1 friend has found a new guy and I hope all goes well for them. Another great friend has someone she knows who apparently had a stroke. I hope the best for him.
I've gotten a lot done for the holidays so far. Most all my cards are out. I'm happy that I can be giving to all my acquaintances this season.
That's it for now. Attached is a comic panel. The doc recently referred to me (I think) as a lurking troll who reads his blog.

I'll talk to you later,
TBB

Sad Commentary
Mood:  d'oh
Hello Friends,

I'm on my way to the funeral home for visitation. A note here though. My ex wrote some unfit verbage in a commentary on doc's blog Sunday. I copied it to a brother and a sister but won't post it here. You guys can ask for a copy if you want. Basically it was a short nice piece about my dad and a long fit about my mom and a note about my siblings and me. My ex doesn't seem to remember all the things in a correct way. Another reason for me to be thankful I am where I am today, FREE!
I'll yet do my troll comic. I won't have a chance until 12/2.

Bye now,
TBB

Lurking?, You're under the bridge!
Mood:  mischievious
Now Playing: Joan Armatrading, The Key
I'm not sure but I think the doc referred to me as a lurking troll on his newest web blog. I don't have the time tonight to draw up a comic but my creative juices are flowing again. Here in a day or 2 I'll post a troll comic. His pokes and jabs from under the bridge make me think of him as the troll. I have a visitation and funeral to attend in the next 2 days. So I'll be back in a couple of days.

Everyone take care. See you in the funnies.

TBB

A Great Loss
Mood:  sad
Hello,

Sad news, after a long life my dad has passed away. He had dementia and spent the last 18 months in a nursing home. He could hardly remember short term things but remembered things from his long past. His body forgot some things too. He had to be fed through a tube because his esophagus didn't know to shut when food came in. He had a stroke a while back and this worsened his situation. Things got into his system, he got pneumonia, and died.

________________________Philip Ruplinger 3/21/22-11/26/05____________________

I'll always feel as though he never aged in my mind. To me he looked as good the day he died as the day the above picture was taken in the 1956. He helped and served others. He fought in world war II. He never thought of himself first. He was a great artist and woodworker. As a father he was there when I needed him. When I was a boy scout he camped with us sometimes. He inspired me to be a camper. He hand made 2 flintlock rifles and I have shot them both. He loved animals. He was a good husband and never became angry except to give discipline when it was required. He worked very hard for 34 years, often putting in overtime, to make sure a roof was over our heads, food was on the table, and vacations could be had.

I will miss him a lot. I know he is in a better place, free from the constraints that held his body and mind down.....Take care dad.


Mike (TBB) 11/27/05

Turkey Day Trot
Mood:  rushed
Now Playing: Robin Trower Caravan to Midnight
Hello All, Happy Thanksgiving

Things are well around here. I'm scurrying to coordinate all the food to be done about the same time. Tina is with her cousin Whitney. Kelly is reading and sometimes both Amy and Kelly are helping with the cooking.
Last night there was a "light up" festival in my ex in-laws neighborhood. My ex father in-law invited I and the girls to come. Tina opted to stay home. Kelly and Amy both got to see santa and get face paintings.

All is going very good. The ex will be by after dinner to take the girls for a couple hours. I will hang out and rest. Tomorrow starts yard work and prep for the holidays. Saturday morning is a hot wheels kmart day.

Bye Bye now,
TBB

Diving into The Holidays
Mood:  happy
Hello All,

It's a nice time at the Ruppy house. My daughters are back from their mom's and ol doc's place. Doc is still minding his manners. He has yet another new blog area. He is fun to find as he goes about his machinations.
The girls and I went out to a nice dinner and tomorrow we see a movie. Kelly is on lockdown but I will let her go because the rest of us will be gone. I've got yet many fall leaves to rake up yet but the great daughters come 1st. Last 2 weeks I spent quality time with great friends. This and my after hours work, allowed those leaves to pile up. I will try to nip them in their buds next week. I most likely will be off early Wednesday as well as Friday.
Wednesday night, I and the girls have been invited to a "light up" festival by my ex-father in law. He says that his daughter, not him, divorced me. Besides we're still good friends. I don't get into political or religious discussions with him. Since I am his grand kids father, we will hang out. A real nice guy he is.
Soon we will draw names for the nephew and neice xmas gift trades. We will have our xmas get together on 12/18 I think.
My dad had a non permanently damaging stroke. He is ok now. We were worried for a while. We will keep a close eye on him.
That's it for now. More later,

The Blue Baron

Stutterday night
Mood:  a-ok
Hey Blue Baronites,

Are you wondering why I haven't picked on the doc lately. Seems we've made up for now. While I find his presence and personality abhorrent, I won't make fun of him. He has stopped saying mean things about me at the present time. I've never liked him around my kids but my ex trusts him. He'll have had to do a complete 360 from things he wrote as early as a year and a half ago to convince me he's ok. Either what he writes means nothing to him or he's putting on an act. I'm watching him though. He's hopped yet to another url to avoid me reading him. I found him pretty quick though. My goal is working. That is to keep him moving and changing so much that no one knows where to read him unless he tells them.

All is quiet. I took Amy, my 5 year old, to a birthday party and good fun was had by all. She is now asleep in bed. I took her to the pediatrician earlier today. She had a cough and deep congestion. I got medicine for her and she is on the road to recovery.

Tomorrow, Sunday, I plan on attending church, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and going to the nursing home. If I have time I might sneak in some rest. That is if Amy doesn't crawl in my bed again at 7:30 saying "wake up dad".

As usual I have no deep thoughts here. Only the superficial day to day stuff.

Everyone take care,
TBB