Ukraine Starting Over

May 18, 2017,   13:17:47 After being waved through 3 checkpoints Ukrainian , the Russian controlled and then United Nations check point into the central district of Lugansk , each checkpoint is backed up nearly 20 minutes  with cars and trucks ,  every time  as they approached a control point , Misha radios ahead to the checkpoint commanders , then as they near , somewhat stopping the outgoing traffic , allowing them to drive  around the line, Johnny's had a habit of  rolling down his window giving a nod to whoever looked in,  helps in that no document checks are needed for them. Passing behind the block of the previously Separatist check point, Johnny yells out to a wiry young soldier taking a break for a smoke "Vasily! Something for you here, the man approaches , smiling. Vasily : what, I can lose my  job again from  another of your bribes,   Zhenya ? (Grins) Johnny : yes of course, (he reaches into his bag and grabs 3 f...

May 18, 2017 ,  16:20- 18:07 At the Regional administration building.  https://www.google.com.ua/maps/place/Luhansk, All the day long, Johnny is on the phone , IM's , SKype,  chat requests, heavy, long, intense database documents rolling across his screen at his administrative office building, along with annoying interruptions, odd stoppages on the fiber optic networks,  data hiccups, There is  a constant service of tea via his whimsical secretary ALyosha: she is in a laughing mood, which suits him, telling stupid jokes to entertain him, he puts off all his personal stuff, it's just too intense: Patrushev messages Johnny, among other things, strangely,  the head of the Russian Federation's Presidential administration, he is asking about the status of a younger girl, Anna, a redheaded orphan  , she has a small business baking pies  for  the long distance truckers, for some reason, he is asking to send a team to provide for her person...

Oleg  is driving the Land Cruiser, expertly through the potholes and random detours imposed by the still active mine clearing operations, now coming up a low rise  passing through a wire fence with explicit, graphic warnings about the mine fields (there are also actual craters visible from exploded mines)  then an inner fence with toppings of barb wire , they are going in through the rear entrance of the construction site , coming up to a concrete block guard shack' with heavy steel gates swung outwardly. Oleg,  during  Johnny's talk over the phone, he is playing some music off a flash drive through the car stereo, it's peppered with Ukranian Nationalism slogans, yet he turns it way down as they approach the outer, heavy steel plate  gate. Johnny: he is dressed in his set of the well tailored  Khaki factory work floor clothes issued by  The Consortium's mandated uniform dress code, he  is finishing  a chat with his mentor , Mehbo...

May 19, 2017  00:11:47 : A small convoy moving cautiously through darkened streets, still a few people walking about in the International Quarter,  there is a light rain : The Emissary of Turkmenistan has decided to join them, his Mercedes following the SUV driven by Micha : he is playing Radio Nowhere by Bruce Springsteen:  48.564077, 39.338077 Jenna is texting her editor to hold the story until the weekend, about the gas /transit pipeline corridor  announcement  ******************* I was tryin' to find my way home But all I heard was a drone Bouncing off a satellite Crushin' the last lone American night This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there? This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there? I was spinnin' 'round a dead dial Just another lost number in a file Dancin' down a dark hole Just searchin' for a world with some soul This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there? This is radio nowhere, is there anybo...