This is Something Much More Seriously Mundane

Life had not been overly unkind to Barbie and Duke as of late.  At least until now.
 
I suppose it was a mutual idea for them to leave town.  Something to do with an outstanding warrant.  And leave town they did--at least temporarily.    Their excursion down I-55 was supposed to be part of a larger journey to the west coast.   It turned into car trouble in Mt. Olive, Illinois.  Mt. Olive was renown as the stomping grounds of Mother Jones, the early union organizer for the coal mines.  Barbie and Duke had no idea of the history of the place.  They only griped because it took them 4 hours to hitch a ride back to Springfield.

They returned with the minor inconvenience of lacking a place to stay.   Something to do with the previous lack of rent.   And a court order.  So they decided to pay a little visit to Hal's apartment.   They figured Hal wouldn't mind as he was in Florida for the month. 

The next minor obstacle was the lack of money.   Given that Barbie had a cleaner criminal record it was agreed that she would get a job.   She got a gig doing phone sales for a company that specialized in selling t-shirts with Lincoln's face on them.   This was Springfield, after all.  From there she applied for an American Express credit card and her new boss--for a small service--personally vouched to the credit agency for her.  From there, it was only a small step that she would accompany each of the few friends she had for purchases of diamonds, dresses, and booze with the new card--her friends giving her money for each purchase. Of course, a scheme like that could only last so long.   Pesky credit card limit.

Duke was also involved in their fundraising endeavors.   He held up the local grocery store with his last remaining possession--a Colt .45.   Then he hocked the .45 at the local pawn shop.   Having tapped out his resources, he came up with the bright idea of subletting their new apartment.   After all, Hal was not going to miss it--at least for another month. 

So Barbie and Duke went down to the Lincoln Library and printed off a flyer describing the desirability of the apartment which slightly exaggerated by a year the expected date when Hal would return.  Duke then went to the university and plastered the fliers all over.   The response was immediate.   Duke ended up with one's months advance rent and a security deposit.   That was enough to purchase a quarter.   That should last for the weekend--maybe more.

the walking pneumonia lingers, but I am a stalwart against antibiotics.   I eventually get some without making an appointment to see a doctor.   Maybe should try for something better along those lines...lol
anyway, rotary party is a hoot, but feel like poop afterwards.   Whirles win sectionals and beat all the Decatur teams at basketball, then lose to the springfield st. agnes amazon who was taller than me.   The polish guy gets an endowed professorship, and the uzbecki severs her umbilical cord.   The whirles also have a sleepover in springfield.   Absolutely unprecedented.   Also I know the guy who is going to be president of the rotary club next year.  He's weird.

You Must Tell Me About the Creature from the Planet Venus

"Colonel, I hate to intrude on your private precious thoughts, but you must tell me where the creature is."

I'm sorry I can't tell you, its classified information.

"I know you have just been trying to help, and all I've been doing is snarling at you.   But I promise, after this is over, I will make it up to you, maybe a candlelight dinner and a bottle of wine?"

That sounds delightful, but you must tell your men to stop shooting at the creature.  In the name of science, the creature must be preserved.

"I've spotted the creature, its right by those sulfur pits."

Good, I'll maneuver the helicopter over it, and drop the net.

"Colonel, that net will never hold.   That creature has superhuman strength!"

Now you tell me.   And the creature just killed four of my men.  Good men with families.   How are you going to live with yourself?

"Don't worry about me Colonel.  I was a Mussolini supporter who collaborated with the Nazi's in 1942.   My conscious is 20 Million miles from Earth."

Well I'm not sure how to break this to you, but after this is over, I'm going to take you up on your offer to buy me dinner and wine.   But right now, I need some new ideas on how to stop the creature and I'm fresh out.

"Colonel, I remember I once heard a lecture from Sister Agnes about Venus.   How the surface temperatures on Venus could melt lead."

Yes, that's true.

"Well that got me thinking. If the creature is used to super hot temperatures on Venus, why don't we try stop it by throwing ice at it."

By George, I think you are on to something.    But where do we get the ice?

"My cousin Luigi has an ice machine in his refrigerator.   He lives on the next block over.    I'll go grab a bucket."

Nice thinking, I should have never underestimated you dear.

"Don't mention it.  And I'm still offering you that dinner when we are done."

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Approximately Volgograd '43

Version I:   From Zigmund K., primary history source (age 86).

In 1942, Zigmund was a 15 year old Russian Jew living in Rostov, USSR.   The Germans were marching toward Rostov which did not bode well for Zigmund and his family.    "When I heard that the Germans were killing Jews I wanted to fight them.   So I left my family in Rostov to join the Russian forces to the east of Rostov.   My sister and mother remained in Rostov.  My father was working in the Russian army building railroads." 

At that time, the Russian Army was near the Volga river near Stalingrad.

Zigmund did not reach Stalingrad.  Instead, he met up with a cavalry unit and joined them Northwest of Stalingrad.   He was provided a carbine rifle as a weapon.  At that time, Kalashnikov's were rare and only given to special units--and especially not to 15 year olds.

Zigmund's unit was involved the Russian counterattack which encircled the German units camped out in Stalingrad.   The counterattack was successful and the German units were cut off from supply.      The German's had extended their supply lines too long and made the mistake of having the Romanians and Italians guarding their rear.   Zigmund said that the Italians had no stomach for fighting and wanted to return to Italy.   The Russians cut through the Italians like butter (or perhaps like Olive Oil? lol).   As a result of the encirclement, the Germans in Stalingrad ran out of ammunition and food.  Eventually, they surrendered.   For the rest of the war, the Germans were in a state of retreat.

After the German's retreated, Zigmund returned Rostov and reunited with his family.   For reasons unknown, Zigmund did not continue fighting in the Russian Army until the end of the war.   Rostov was retaken by the Soviets in 1943.   Zigmund did not indicate he was in the military after 1943.   Zigmund did not think much of General Zhukov because he used the Russian Army like cannon fodder against the Germans. 

After the war ended, Zigmund heard of a position open at the airport in Rostov.   He took the position which involved constructing radars.   He worked for Aeroflot for the next 50 years. One time, in the 1960s or 1970s the Shah of Iran visited the Rostov airport.   According to Zigmund, the Shah and his wife were very dignified.

Version II:   From Zarya, estranged and divorced wife of Zigmund, secondary history source (age 78).

At the local Jewish center in Cincinnati, all the old people call Zigmund "Little Napoleon" not so much because he is short (which he is) but because he is dictatorial and insists on always getting his way.  Zarya does not believe Zigmund's war stories.

According to Zarya, Zigmund's mother was distraught when Zigmund left Rostov in 1942.  Zigmund caused his family unnecessary suffering because of Zigmond's "adventures."   Zigmund's mother remained in Rostov waiting for Zigmund to return even when the Germans were about to take Rostov.   Zigmund's mother and her daughter waited for him until the last minute and narrowly avoided capture by grabbing the last train leaving the city as the Germans approached. 

Zarya believes that Zigmund was just a boy at the time and was saved because the commander of the cavalry unit protected Zigmund and saved him from the fighting. 

In any event, Zigmund did take a position at the airport.   However, as he rose in his position, he was required to undergo additional training.   Zigmund did not like to study and ended up bribing officials instead of passing the required courses.

During Zigmund's adventures, he had another daughter outside of his marriage to Zarya.   That subject was not discussed.

If Etta James became hypothetically famous in Russia and became a big star, they would say etta spheresky grande.   This is a big star, after all.  The tug of war continues on the only daughter, who has a brief tantrum over timing of eating chicken soup