travlbug

I'm glad that the present Sean is not the one who spent a week drugged out of his mind at a "conversion therapy" torture center (i.e., in the Do Over Redux timeline); and now, he'll never have to find out what it's like. I love that Margaret Flores' "expert" knowledge of AIDS is trumped by that of a true expert--David, Sr.--"the director of the nation’s AIDS program for the past two years." (Sorry, Maggie, you're chopped liver! ) Of course, the Jones household is perfect for Sean's fostering (Davey gets another foster brother! ); but I doubt that the Rules will ever give up their parental rights, if for no other reason than spite, preventing Sean from being adopted. "...He began to happily stuff Rice Krispies in his mouth." I haven't eaten Rice Krispies in over 55 years, but I can still sing the jingle--proof positive of the power of advertising! “Jeremy, you’re here because we all want you here.” I said firmly. “We’re not just saying that because we have to say it, we mean every word.” “What happens if other people find out?” Jeremy asked. “We stick by you, thick or thin.” Jenny said with firmness about her that told him she meant business. The importance of Jeremy knowing he's supported--and wanted--cannot be overemphasized. With Mom's fundraising business sliding, Davey makes a suggestion: “Have you thought about expanding your charities? ...They’re really starting to do AIDS fundraisers now and Dad has a lot of clout with those types.” Sheer genius! (Ask for a percentage! ) "There’s no cure on God’s judgment for those who live immoral lives. I’ve found out that the Principal, and the father of one of our fellow students has secretly let a kid infected with that disease be enrolled into our school, without us even knowing…" Connors is a right bastard and was put up to this stunt by his church. Yet, Connors' announcement is merely the opening salvo, as a telephone blitz is already underway: After taking a phone call, the principal says, "That was the President of the School Board…. Apparently, he just got a few phone calls from so-called ‘community leaders’ worried about a danger to the health of children in our school…. As President of the Board, he can and has called an emergency meeting and he’s pretty much threatened to terminate me if I don’t remove you immediately from school." Additionally, the bigots have called the press, and Dr. Darner just happens to be in front of the school for an interview on the Today Show. Thus, the fear mongers have hit hard and fast with a three-part strategy: First, scare the kids into becoming bigots themselves and endorsing the adults' campaign of hate. Second, force or threaten the principal, via the school superintendent, to remove AIDS-infected children from school. Third, stir up national support for their bigotry by involving the press/television. (Of course, the fourth part of their strategy is spewing lies right and left, but that's already a given. ) Hurrah for Davey! After multiple lifetimes, he is used to public speaking, even on camera, and he is not afraid to call Dr. Darner on his bullshit. With Davey as his mouthpiece, DK provides an eloquent, reasoned discussion of AIDS' transmission and bystander risk, with emphasis on the stupidity of excluding kids from school for minimal risk issues. (Take that, Dr. Darner!) I love that the chapter ends with Davey in the arms of his mother: Even gifted orators with ancient minds can benefit by a hug from mom!

It wouldn't surprise me if DK was thinking of Ryan White when he created this situation, and I look forward to searching for parallels to Ryan's experiences in tomorrow's chapter. Of note, the media of the day was not held accountable for publishing Ryan's AIDS diagnosis, but the penalties today for such a HIPAA violation would be daunting.

Congratulations to Davey on his 15th birthday. Mom, the original Material Girl, shows herself to be clueless about appropriate games for 15 year olds, and one has to wonder just how much attention she actually gives to her firstborn. Wearing a suit to your 15th birthday? Being serenaded by part of a symphony? Requesting donations to charity in lieu of presents? Remind me (when I'm reincarnated) not to choose a parent in politics! I love the inside joke, with 100 candles on the cake! (Davey, just be glad you're not getting birthday spankings! ) Wow! In a great scene, Sean escapes kidnappers to return to the Jones residence and, hopefully, safety. Mr. Rule, slime that he is, acknowledges trying to commit Sean for his "disease" and stalking Davey with intent to prove he's a "pervert." David is brilliant in talking circles around Mr. Rule; and when the evil Margaret Flores (the religious "freak") shows up from Social Services to support Mr. Rule, Davey's quick thinking--in summoning Mary Lou--allows her to save the day! The chapter concludes with feelings of victory: "...Sean gave me a triumphant smile and my father gave me a nod of respect. My father and I sure did work well together as a team." 😊 However, another problem remains, as Mr. Rule makes a threat against Jeremy: "You’re going to find out that this town isn’t going to like you exposing their kids to that god-awful disease tomorrow! ...I know that boy you’re fostering has AIDS and tomorrow so will the whole town!” So, what is Mr. Rule going to do, and how can our heroes counter him, if his plans remain a secret until they're unveiled?

I'm disappointed in Brian, Brandon, and Trevor: Even after thinking it through, they adhere to their selfish view that Davey has cheated them of a final good bye with Best Friend Sean. As Brian says, "You can’t say Sean would have done anything bad, for all you know it would have made it easier on him." Really? Knowing you're about to die makes it easier? Yes, it may have been easier on the friends, but it would have been terrible for Sean. Worse, they have made Davey second guess his actions--have undermined them--where Davey will have to live with the results of his decisions, and I am livid that they have made him think that he "betrayed" his friend. Sorry, DK, but asymptomatic HIV infection is not AIDS, and the statement that Jeremy has AIDS is simply wrong. However, presupposing that Jeremy were suffering from AIDS, I'm disappointed in how Davey speaks to Papa: While Papa is fearful for the health of his family, Davey fails to educate him--to show him that Jeremy is not a threat. At one point, Papa actually says, "I really don’t understand it [HIV and AIDS] all that well," but rather than use the opportunity to teach, Davey derides Papa's fears: He could have alleviated those fears but prefers to argue. (For shame.)

"You gotta have a program": A nice little summary of the Do Overs, with relevant scenes and actors. (Here, ma'am, I'll take one! ) Knowing that best-friend Sean is about to undergo personality death, Davey tries to give him one of the best days of his life: He remains true to his best friend at the risk of alienating his other friends, and I agree that this is the right choice. To give Brian, Brandon, and Trevor the ability to say good bye would mean informing Sean of his impending demise; and what could be worse than filling Sean's last hours with the horrible anticipation of an execution? Given time, Davey and Sean's friends will likely come to the same conclusion (and this is where the real trust between them will prevail).

David Jones, Sr., has proven to be an able communicator who is adaptable and willing to evolve his viewpoints with knowledge and experience. Additionally, by bringing Jeremy into the family, he proves to be compassionate. (Davey and the gang welcome Jeremy with open arms, but he would not be there at all excepting for the good will of David and Sandy.) David's character--in getting a job for a man who doesn't like him; in accepting Davey and Brian's relationship despite his religious beliefs; and in giving a home to a boy with a stigma, not to mention the equivalent of a terminal illness--shows incredible growth and strength. While David compliments Davey et al for the young men they're becoming, David himself has become a formidable man before our very eyes. Point of clarification: In an untreated patient, the usual time from HIV infection to full-blown AIDS is 5-10 years, with death 1-2 years after AIDS onset. If Jeremy contracts HIV through a blood transfusion at age 14, even in a time period without treatment, he would likely live to somewhere between age 20 to 26, though the course can sometimes be fulminant. The likelihood that Jeremy would die before age 16 is low, and I think DK mixed up the prognosis for new onset AIDS with that for new onset HIV. (Oops.)

The ballad is quite cheeky! 😂 A behind the scenes look at the seat of power! 😂😂😂 The assassin gives Kai the chance to look heroic: "Now taste my steel...or something." (I love Kai's way with words! ) And Conrad, getting skewered just to steal Kai's thunder! Really! Sebastian's faith in The Phone is not misplaced. All hail, the powerful Phone! (I love squirrel videos. 😊) "Who’s the seme? Who’s the uke?" See? Even Tani know that this is a Boy's Love story!

"In two years, my father had become far more comfortable with the whole ‘gay’ thing, and now I was actually wishing for the homophobia to come back. It was a lot easier to deal with than the way he’d tease me every time he spotted a gay man checking me out, or just in passing." Dad has developed "gaydar!" He exemplifies that homophobia--a learned trait--can be "unlearned" or at least mitigated. "...What other reason was there for going to Disneyland besides going on the rides?" I used to have a season's pass, and one of my favorite activities was plunking myself on a bench in Jackson square (across from the Haunted Mansion), listen to live jazz (played in a cafe on my other side), and alternate between people watching and reading. (What can I say? I'm old!) "When Sean opened the door to our hotel room, we found out my mother had pulled another sneaky trick on Dad. Our room had about ten bags in it, all from her shopping spree in the park." DK may be using this story (at least in part) to debunk gay-related myths, but he is definitely not doing the same for the feminist cause! RIP Best Friend Sean, who has literally undergone personality death. That said, his "death" is frustrating because, while his Do Over was an absolute necessity in a prior timeline, it is completely redundant in this one (the present Do Over would not have occurred if the obligatory one had not). As Davey explains, "You don’t remember it, but it was necessary for you to come back. ...Thanks to you, a timeline that actually saw all-out nuclear war was aborted, and we’ve got a much better one instead. If the price of that is losing my best friend of seven years, and getting back a man who is just as good of a friend, then I’ll pay that price a dozen times." Davey has no choice in the matter, of course, and his words are just right to give comfort to his old friend, but his tears are a testament to the loss of his best friend. And how will Sean's other friends react--not just to the loss of the Sean they know, but also to the familiar "stranger" who takes over his body?

The talk between father and son goes better than expected…. Ah, the old "reading Russian as opposed to the translation" trick: Yes, Dad, Davey has had his Do-Over memories all along. They're just a bit more fuzzy than they used to be. Dad insists that Davey reveal his (the father's) history through the timelines; and to do him justice, he never calls Davey a liar. He accepts the information in the spirit it's given, and my only surprise is that he makes it to the end of their conversation before belting back a scotch! Further, he listens to Davey--really listens--in their discussion of homosexuality, the roots of promiscuity in a segment of the homosexual community, gay commitment/marriage, AIDS, and the evils of "conversion" therapy. (In fact, Davey becomes a Gay apologist in this chapter [presumably a mouthpiece for the author]; but considering the likely reader for this book, he is preaching to the choir!) I love where Dad actually calls a conversion group and has his eyes opened-- finds that minors can indeed be tortured on their parent's say so. Overall, the author presents a complex situation in a concise but comprehensive manner. Now, we get to the personal: Dad accepts Davey's relationship with Brian, even if he doesn't understand or condone it. At least, Brian is a "real man," so Dad can deal; and he sets house rules which would be fair even for a heterosexual relationship. Dad is trying, but the scotch is still welcome! By the way, now that Dad knows the truth, did anyone else notice that Davey's headaches are gone despite his accessing Do-Over memories?

🎶 Hot tubs and feelings and time to trade rings, These are a few of my favorite things 🎵 I love Brian's approach to making Davey his boyfriend: First, he talks to his friends, his parents and even Uncle Rich. As for Davey--he's the last one to know! The boys have created a wonderful group friendship for themselves (and Brandon, Sean, and Trevor seem to be fooling around a bit on their own). If this chapter were to have a theme, it would certainly be the interpersonal relationships being established which will serve them life long. Dad may have seen the hug between Davey and Brian, but the good news is the lack of immediate screaming or condemnation (vs what probably would have happened in the first or second timeline). Additionally, Dad has gained a tolerance and respect for the Gay community through his work on AIDS. Thus, Dad's statement that he and Davey need to talk may be less ominous than it sounds. (Either that, or he intends to hide the body in the office!)

Not surprisingly, Davey's father remains uncomfortable with homosexuality: The difference, particularly strong in the last two timelines, is that he can be respectful and interact meaningfully with the gay community despite his personal views. He's actually doing a good job. Unfortunately, David's work has resulted in the crazies threatening harm, and the upgraded security has become necessary. (I love that the Secret Service reassures Jenny that she won't be reported to her parents if she doesn't do her homework! ) All friends have to be vetted, and I wonder if something funny will actually be found. Poor Sean: He continues to have self esteem issues. I'm glad that Davey doesn't tease him but simply provides reassurance of their friendship. Of course, if Davey and Brian become a couple again (does anyone really doubt it?), then odds are good that Sean and Brandon will also become a couple again, so that Davey's new friendships will benefit Sean as well. (Admit it, Brandon, it's the freckles! 😂)

Ah, the story is now being told from Brian's POV, and his first few thoughts in 7th grade English suggest that he is not quite a paragon: First, he can barely refrain from snorting at a "frumpy" girl who causes his "geek meter" to ping. (Sadly, even Davey has to stifle a laugh, not to mention Trevor and Brandon, making one wonder if being a jock automatically causes brain damage.) Second, in his identification of Davey as "the new kid, the guy whose buddy had gotten in my way…," he demonstrates his internal refusal to take responsibility for shoving Sean (no matter that he apologized). Third, he zones out to think of sports, rather than pay attention to what is going on in class. Considering this baseline, Brian has some growing up to do, and it will be fun watching Davey help him do it. Made for each other? "It was funny, but in a way I felt like I’d known him for years and yet, we’d just really met." Brian instantly feels comfortable with Davey. He further notes, "It was weird, really, but I didn’t feel the need to chatter all the time with him. Just being around him seemed nice." Perhaps even more revealing, Brian keeps "getting caught in his eyes." Later, he doodles Davey's face into his notebook. He may not realize it yet, but Brian's got it bad! Two major changes have already occurred in this timeline: First, the mad scientist who invents time travel has had an accident (to be said in the voice of Edward G. Robinson), indicating that the assassinations are starting right on schedule. Second, Uncle Rich stays alive, dumping his boy-slut and performing AIDS outreach. An auspicious beginning. Of course, the "old" Sean will return to this timeline at some point (as stated in Do Over Redux), but as long as his arrival remains a secret, the time machine will remain defunct...right?

A dark story with a happy ending, focusing both on world events and on the personal--on family, enduring friendships, and love. You'll see a bevy of historical politicians as they have never been seen before, and I loved watching Davey, our hero, interact with many famous politicos in his attempts to correct the timeline. With its unique method of time travel, its high-stakes plot (with the fate of the world literally at risk), and its engaging (but not necessarily nice) characters, Do Over Redux is a fascinating read, and I highly recommend it.

"Yep, it was a big day, this first day of the Seventh Grade, and things couldn’t possibly be better." After meeting Brian again, Davey develops a big smile on his face and a new spring in his step. (In fact, he can't contain himself and "practically [skips] the last few hundred feet to school.") Until then, he seemed to have forgotten his Do Over memories--or had he? 😉

Sebastian thinks of Kai's body as "part of the curse." I can just image Kai returning to his body and finding it buff, preppy, and covered in tattoos! Sebastian doesn't have romantic lovers: He has "bed warmers." I wonder if he'll fall for Milo and what he'll do if he has to leave Earth without him. 🤔 Kissing 101: Does Sebastian assign extra credit? (Actually, Sebastian mostly uses the Socratic method, allowing Milo to explore and find the answers for himself!) Ah, the Great and Powerful Phone is given credit for a tutorial on kissing. (I just looked it up. Well, whadda you know! 😂) Now, Sebastian has stated his intention to see Milo naked, and Milo's not complaining. And Milo's house has food! (And of course, after seeing each other naked, they'll be satisfied and stop, right? 😂) "Whatever, [Kai] would wing it [at court] like he did with homework all the time." I'm not sure if Kai is smart and doesn't apply himself or is merely an airhead. So far, if I had to choose, I'd say he's an airhead. By making people happy instead of rendering strategic decisions, Kai shows himself to be a nice guy but a stupid ruler. (Yes, an airhead….) Oh, and about that minstrel: “I’m slaying dragons, and people feel the need to sing about my butt?” “It is a majestic butt,” Pepin said. It's all about priorities! 😂

"...The part of me that had lived through those years whispered that Dad had taken up running to spend more time with me whenever he was home." Sounds like Davey's personality/ memory integration is not perfect, though serviceable. “The men listed in that letter are a danger to our country’s safety, and the entire world’s. They must die…. If I wasn’t already losing these memories, I’d suggest my name be on the list….It’d be safer for everyone involved. The truth is, right now I couldn’t make another time machine that worked. In a few days, or a few weeks, even the memories I have now will be gone." Davey finally has his interview with the President, but he's walking a tightrope: He has to convince Reagan of the need to kill the other time travel participants but show why he should be spared. (Of course, he doesn't bring up Sean at all, so he is actually misleading Reagan by omission. Once Sean arrives, a new machine could conceivably be built.) "I’d bear watching, but this time when [the future memories are] gone, they’re most likely going to stay gone. In the past when this happened to someone else, their memories were gone forever after they came back briefly." Where is this information coming from? As far as we know, Davey is the only person to have had adult memories implanted in a child. Even if this happened to a prior volunteer (and the volunteer before Davey died, so there was no such volunteer), he would have had to grow up to report it to the mad scientist--and he would have forgotten so he couldn't have reported it! I think that Davey is fibbing to make himself appear harmless and to prevent the government from using him in the future. That said, Davey does collapse again. The cliffie: Does he truly lose his memories or not!

Interesting: The battle for Davey's mind makes it sound like the Do Over memories, which came back in '76, did not "take" the way they should have and are now resurging, after being buried for four years. Further, rather than overwriting Davey's memories (already done in '76), the memories laid down between '76 and the present are blending with the Do Over memories, as opposed to being lost. Davey becomes a gestalt of both memory sets! (Supposedly. he reads a letter which triggers the Do Over memories, but how could he have been certain that they would have been triggered?) Davey finally provides an explanation as to why the Do Over memories did not graft appropriately and why, perhaps, they are causing headaches. That said, he has no basis (as per the info provided in the story) for presuming that the memories will completely fade away, and I'm not sure why he makes the prediction, unless he intends to pretend they resolve so that he doesn't have to deal with them anymore. I love that Papa instantly realizes that the "old" Davey is back. As Papa is now aware that his grandson is a time traveler, Davey has at least one ally he can talk to at need.

Aw, 8 year olds playing in Little League: Davey and the crew are probably adorable at this time, even if Davey's somewhat older mind is having thoughts he shouldn't be having! One of the advantages to being short is having a smaller/tighter strike zone. Yay for Sean! Ok, Davey has now, at the age of 8, made his first contact with Reagan (we knew he was precocious! ). As a side note, my Aunt was a docent at the Reagan library for years, and it was a standing joke that she was the token Democrat! "...I realized this was part of what [the Brians] were trying to tell me. It wasn’t enough for me to place myself firmly in the timeline, to make it as much as me as I could, but it also included accepting how, and who, I was in that timeline." Davey is investing into this timeline, and by making it his, he is truly setting the stage for his future success in it. Again, Davey is experiencing headache when he thinks of his prior memories. Is someone trying to tell him something (e.g., to avoid the memories)? I can't imagine that this is the answer, as he needs his old memories to make sure of the future assassinations. Yet, the fact remains that the headaches occur only with the old memories, as if they have somehow become toxic. In fact, Davey has become so concerned about the headaches that he has written letters to be mailed in case something happens to him. And something does: We end on a cliffie as Davey loses consciousness--or worse! The new chapter can't come fast enough!

I love that no one trusts David, at least with money (and maybe not with pretty secretaries, baseballs, and 80-foot drops), but he's the pious one who prays to God. David is a hypocrite and doesn't even seem to realize it--at least until now: "What I did, it was wrong, son. I should never have put you in that type of situation, should never have blamed you for my own wrongdoing." Did David just take responsibility for his own actions? I think I felt the timeline shift! Davey, primed by Dad in the prior timeline, gives David arguments calculated to sway him to a career in politics; and David actually decides to run. (If he wins, he'll say it was his idea, but if he loses, he'll blame Davey. ) Davey's long-term strategy is beginning to work! Davey has Sean smiling--even doing a bit of exercise! The chapter ends on a hopeful note for virtually everyone concerned.

Why, Davey, we need to get you a larger piggy bank! 😂 Hmmm. Davey notes a night of severe headache pain while going through his memories of stock performance. The operative phrase seems to be "while going through his memories"--his other timeline memories. Why he continues to have the headaches is unclear, and I hope that he is not experiencing associated brain damage. I'm concerned that, if the headaches continue, they may actually jeopardize his mission. However, Davey is happy with the portfolio he's designed: "It wouldn’t make me a millionaire as a teenager, but it would be enough to guarantee an excellent education for Brian and for me, as well as provide us a good base for whatever business we might want to start together after college." So Davey intends to profit from the Do Over after all. (He probably justifies this money as a substitute for the government salary he won't be getting! ) "What do you think your father should do with his life?" Papa is acting like Davey's straight man in asking the million-dollar question. I love that they're already planning his career in politics, with seed money as a loan from Davey. I love the new house! Papa is brilliant in deciding to keep Dad's name off the deed. (He knows him too well.) Yay, Sean gets a break: By making friends with Davey now, he is virtually guaranteed a better life. Like Davey, I feel way more optimistic about this timeline--excepting for the severe headaches. (See a doctor, Davey: It couldn't hurt.)

I caught my very first trout from the Knott's Berry Farm Trout pond. (A replica of Indepence Hall now occupies the site.) My father took me, and I have never forgotten those magic moments (and I have never tasted better fish!). Kudos to Papa for allowing Davey to play hooky and for making a memory for him. Of course, Papa has an ulterior motive in keeping Davey out of school--placing more bets! (Interesting that Davey loses respect for Bush when he tries to use the Do Over for personal gain, but Davey is now using his future knowledge to enrich himself. That said, perhaps he needs the money to fund his Do-Over goals, so I'll reserve judgment.) Dad actually attempts to throw a baseball to break Davey's nose! He is then rewarded appropriately. 😂 Hopefully, he will internalize Davey's criticism, but a father who would attempt revenge on a blameless son has a long way to go (before Davey can try to control and manipulate him). At least, Davey has started the dialog, even if he has to run away afterwards. (This time, Papa will do the talking for him.)

To thine own self be true. (Unless you're a hater, in which case lying to yourself about being a good person may be the only way you can get through your day.) Congratulations to Charlie: It took a while, but he finally gets it! 🥰

I hope that Jerry finally gains a little height. 😉 A wonderful, feel-good story--a lovely counterpoint to those of the troubled teens seeking Aunt Alice's/Barbara and Rick's help. "Standing up for myself"? Carlos learns that the best motivator for standing up for yourself is when you're standing up for a loved one as well!

Ultimately, the Russians send nukes to destroy Eureka and the US time machine: Apparently, if they can't have it, then nobody can, and the human race be damned! (Can we say "attitude problem?") Davey makes the jump by the skin of his teeth: "...I was fairly sure one of those nukes had gone off over Eureka. Who knew what the power surge of the explosion, the radiation, all that stuff might have done to the time travel process." He makes it to the past but notes new headache pain and an overshoot of the target date by 4 years! (We are led to believe that the nuclear explosion is causal, but could other factors be involved?) "A month ago, just a few weeks before Christmas, I had caught my father, the pastor of a Missionary Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida, fucking the church’s secretary." Oh, no: We just got used to the new, improved David Sr., and we're back to the one who cheats on his wife. Davey will have to be vigilant to make sure he doesn't molest Jenny either. Davey has a new strategy to "win" in this timeline: In addition to salvaging his relationship with Brian, he wants to assassinate all the other time travelers, as well as the time machine's inventor; and he wants to minimize his work for the government ("none of that had ever done any good, really"). To get the ball rolling, he has 5 years to manipulate his family (Ok, his father) to the point of giving him access to Reagan (to arrange for the assassinations), and he just so happens to have had a pre-Do Over discussion with his father on "how I could convince him to change his choice of careers without necessarily revealing that I was any different than the young son he’d know at that time." Yes, Davey is a man (uh,boy) with a vision: He just has to survive elementary school to make it work! 😂

"More than likely, the leak to the Soviets had occurred somewhere in the chain [Mr Bush] had used to keep tabs on the [time machine] project’s development." Thank you, Mr. Bush, you have earned a one finger salute for your contribution to WW III. As the new president, Mr. Bush insists that Jeb go back in time instead of the thoroughly briefed, well-prepared NSA representative. Why? To give Bush the edge against Reagan in 1980. Davey has just lost any respect he may have had for Bush (for using the Do Over for personal gain); but to Davey's credit, he still gives Jeb an appropriate briefing. "My father was fairly certain you were Reagan’s man through and through. He was prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to get what we needed out of you, but you’ve proven yourself to be someone we can trust…." Sounds like Bush was ready to torture Davey again had he refused to brief Jeb about his position as a time traveler. (He may be a bastard, but at least he's consistent. 🤗) "Davey, go back; don’t let them send someone else. Make yourself part of that time, and then come find me before you do anything else. Davey, go back, be with me, and don’t make me live another life without you." Davey experiences his own briefing, but whether it's the dream-induced musings of an injured man or a true message from Brian in the great beyond is left to the reader's imagination. Someone should make a movie about Davey's impersonation of a Russian spy impersonating an American! I love this sequence! (While Mrs. Rush initially criticizes his Russian, he must have improved it over the last 3 years in order to pull off the caper.) Another Do-Over? When you're at rock bottom, things can only get better...I hope.