Sunday, May 22, 2022

The Pause That Refreshes

Scottish Infantrymen of the 8th Royal Scots, 15th Infantry Division, pause to regroup after coming
under heavy fire from German forces. Near Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands. 27 October 1944.

(Source)
All right lads and lasses, it's time for me to regroup, straighten out the lines, get the replacements settled in, and figure out just where I'm going with this story. It all tends to flow from my imagination (often willy-nilly) and there are times I need to take a deep breath and get it all sorted.

Right?

I've introduced some new characters, from the Royal Air Force and the Deutsches Luftwaffe, we've re-established contact with von Lüttwitz and his lads. We've also seen what Billy Wallace and his boys are up to, not to mention the "new" Poles with their French sniper in tow.

I realized the other day, that Jan Kołodziej and the love of his life, Elżbieta Chlebek, are still languishing in Poland, unaccounted for in some time. The last we saw of them was Jan getting a dirty look from Elżbieta as he is now wearing the uniform of the hated Niemcy.

Jan did it to survive of course and return to his love, but Elżbieta doesn't know that. I need to get that situation squared away and updated. But it might take a while, all of the action at the moment is along the Channel coast and it's mostly in the air. (I'm not sure if I'll throw some sailors in shortly, I mean it's the English Channel and there were naval units all over the place!)

But I do want to touch base with Jan and Elżbieta shortly, even if it's just in passing. Jan is a very important character in my D-Day to VE-Day story, as some of you might recall.

Did anyone recognize the name of Willi Hoffmeister and his tankers? He was in the later book quite a bit, right up until near the end as I recall. Willi and his crew are going to see a lot of action in the East and perhaps even North Africa, I haven't decided yet on including the Afrika Korps in this tale. We shall see.

Also, as the war progresses we'll start seeing the Americans creep in, which makes me lean towards including North Africa as that's where Flavio Gentile got his start. (Who? What, you've forgotten Stump already?)


With all of that being said, it was a long week, productive and busy, but long. I'm getting some laser work done on the left eye next Friday which, while it doesn't worry me, does give me something to stress about. (For glaucoma, it's a procedure to shrink the tissue which pumps moisture into the eye, need to slow that as the increased liquid in the same volume increases the pressure, which isn't good. My doc says the eye drops aren't really cutting it anymore.)

Ear doc on Monday (geez, I am falling apart) for some issues I've had lately. So this coming week will probably be hectic as well. Been busy, will get busier still.

So, I'll get back to the book shortly, but the Muse asked for a breather which I gladly gave her, after all, I need it too. She comes up with the ideas, I just type. (And boy my fingers are tired!)

So stay tuned, hang in there, smoke 'em if ya got 'em, (I know, I know, not good, but I used to do that so I understand the urge, it's been ten years since I puffed, so far, so good, knock on wood and all that) and be cognizant of the fact that our characters need to be standing by for heavy rolls. It's war dontcha know?

See you Tuesday or so, stay frosty.



24 comments:

  1. Flavio, Willi and Jan oh my! Need an OOB/spreadsheet for the players. Good luck mañana Sarge.

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  2. Memories of reading articles that the smoking of a certain substance reduced that eye pressure you write of. Having older relations in the family who afflicted by glaucoma I thought then I’d be safe from heredity because of my imbibing of said substance. Maybe you can take up this “other” evil weed now. :-)
    Naw, that is kids stuff. Hope all goes well with the medications and treatments. Prayers for good skills from your health providers Sarge.

    However I will attest it was a lot more fun pushing 20 years in the 70s than pushing 70 years in the 20s.
    Franknbean

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  3. As I have recent events to witness, this getting old stuff aint for the faint hearted. Keep going!!

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  4. Stay frosty, aye Sarge! You as well. It appears many of us are "of an age" and that the years are catching up on our chassis and sensors. We know you gotta do the maintenance when it's called for; got some of that coming up myself.
    The D-Day project was ambitious (and excellent) enough; and yes, I remember Stump. I'll own to forgetting about Jan and his girl in the rush of events, but I would like to "know" some more about them since you mention it. Quite a task for you to play God with so many "people". Please do keep at it!
    Boat Guy

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    Replies
    1. It's a labor of love. Can't fathom quitting at this point.

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  5. Sarge, the laser treatment for glaucoma treatment does work! Had the procedure about 12 years ago (2-3 sessions if I recall correctly). Quick and easy plus reduced the number of med's. by 1. Dr. said it may need repeating in appx. 5 years...and as of today internal pressure has been in 15-16 range (by the blue light/touch method...not the air pulse) at each exam which satisifies my Opthalmologist. Hope yours is successful.
    Cletus

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    1. Ah yes, the blue light/touch method, gives the most accurate reading. According to my doc, it's one session, takes about five minutes. Isn't technology crazy?

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  6. I got a strange call from the UofMN Eye Clinic that I should come in immediately for eye surgery. Long story short, I had allowed my medical history for research study and "Dr Google" and "Dr Watson" had each discovered I was at very high risk of blindness from rapid onset glaucoma and needed out-patient surgery TODAY. ... six hours later, I had three tiny holes lazer-drilled in each iris to limit sudden increases in internal eye pressure.

    I can't see them in a mirror, but computers can, and I had to get new eye-ID photos.

    The miracles of modern medicine.

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    Replies
    1. It's amazing the progress we've made in the medical field.

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  7. Good luck with the medical stuff!
    As to the story, have you thought of a time line? Something physical on the wall? 1938-1945 as a way of keeping track of who & when, butcher paper sized, something big... you're the writer and I don't actually have the faintest idea of what it takes or how you go about it! :-)
    I do appreciate that you do share your hobby with us on your blog!
    Again, good luck with the medical stuff!

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    1. A lot of it lives in my head, I also have copious notes, spreadsheets, orders of battle, etc. It's a project keeping it together but it seems to work.

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    2. I'm one of those people who works better if the broad outline is on the wall in front of me but we all have our own way... your stories are great so I guess what you do is working!

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    3. A lot of it comes in flashes, hard to plan ahead. As I have the general outline of the war to go by, that helps.

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  8. I was actually just thinking about Jan and Elizabeta the other day! Glad to know they are not forgotten! (but really, is this not the way of such things? During such small vignettes are playing out all over). Good luck on the medical stuff!

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    1. It's those small actions by individuals which make up the ebb and flow of history. The big shots think they control events, we in the trenches know better!

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  9. Thanks for popping back to reacquaint this reader with some characters/individuals I'd lost sight of - looking forward to meeting them again. Good luck with the med probs: OTOH, consider it a blessing you don't have to add carpal tunnel to the list; it becomes such a hemorrhoid when typing I have to switch to Dragon (which has a mind of its own).

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    1. Had a bout with that back in the mid-90s, no fun at all!

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  10. Not to worry, Sarge, I'll smoke anytime the smoking lamp is lit.
    --Tennessee Budd

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  11. I'm so sorry to hear that you are still troubled by those worrisome eye problems. I will ask the big guy to intercede on your doctor's behalf.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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