Hunt Theme: Lucky Ducks in a Row &&&&&& in the Nick of Time to Ward off Quaken Bush Dead Duck

 And the Russian/Nick theme continues as this following notable Russian Death will reveal: 

• Yury Grekov (13 September 1943 – 19 April 2024) 80, Russian military officer, commander of the Ural Military District (1992–1999)

It was enough that he was Russian and enough again that he was born on September 13 given my previous post: 

• 1894 – Nikita Khrushchev (15 April [O.S. 3 April] 1894 – 11 September 1971)  7th Premier of the Soviet Union

And so generating a “September 11, __, 13/ Date Sequence” pattern cluster.  Enough for us to investigate Yury further.  On following the first lead on his wiki page the following crops up: 

Imperial Nicholas Military Academy

So there’s the name Nicholas again!! And clicking on the link we come to the namesake:  

Nicholas I (6 July [O.S. 25 June] 1796 – 2 March [O.S. 18 February] 1855)

And being royalty, there are a number of predecessors with a form of Nick/Nik: 

• Olga Nikolaevna of Russia (11 September 1822 – 30 October 1892)
• Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia (8 August 1831 – 25 April 1891)
• Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia (18 August 1819 – 21 February 1876) 

To bridge the September 12 gap, we arrive at: 

• 1999 – Bill Quackenbush, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach (b. 1922)
• Hubert George Quackenbush (March 2, 1922 – September 12, 1999), known as Bill Quackenbush

A “March 2(x2)” pattern cluster.  Do note the name “bill (ducks bill)”… then “Quacken bush”… and that he was 77 years old at death — the 7 shares the same key as the & symbol … that looks like a swimming or sitting duck!!  It would be sitting or nesting given the “bush”.  This also occurred to me with this recent notable death: 

Steve Kille, American musician (Dead Meadow)

Because his name is related to “Steven” that’s an addition to the recent and prolific “Remove a Letter from Name Makes a Word” pattern cluster… and so making “seven” aka &!!  Could be sitting duck makes dead meadows duck. Interesting to note that the US president at the time of 9/11, was George W. Bush: 

George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946)

What do you know, he’s 77!!   And we now have a “July 6(x3)” pattern cluster.  And speaking of “Walker”, another recent notable Russian who passed away was a speed “walker” :

Vladimir Andreyev, 57, Russian race walker, Olympic bronze medallist (2000).

• Vladimir Vasilyevich Andreyev (7 September 1966 – 16 April 2024)

Keep in mind that September in origin means “7”… and he was born on the 7th… so more &&.  So, the saying “sitting duck” is a way of referencing “a very easy target”!!  So, if we should manage to get our “ducks in a row”, it will be in the nick of time…, not a moment to spare!!  And yes there is a “row” in the list of recent notable deaths: 

Raman Subba Row, 92, English cricketer (Surrey, Northamptonshire, national team)6

 To get your ducks in a row means to organize your tasks and schedule so that you are ready for the next step.

 So…  Lucky Ducks in a Row &&&&&&  in the Nick of Time to Ward off Quaken Bush Dead Duck!!  Make of it what you bill?!  Oh, and “bill” is not just a ducks bill, butt money bill!!