13 July 2012

Surviving the July Heat Wave

Last Saturday (7 July), I co-hosted the monthly edition of "Writer's Block" from Naturally Autistic Radio. Co-host Tim Pylypiuk and I discussed comedy writing, as pertaining to TV sketch comedy and situation comedy programs. I think it went pretty well. Then, I was at the Scott Sifton campaign office in Affton for my weekly Saturday afternoon phone bank for the state senate candidate.

The next morning, I was at DeSoto Park in St. Louis to run lines on two Latin American Soccer League games. Both games were rather interesting: The first was terminated in the 76th minute due to a mass confrontation between the teams; while the second went the distance, but had a player from each team sent off early in the second half for an altercation. Then, I dashed off to Sportport in Maryland Heights to referee four 3v3 games in a tournament. I was rather hot and tired by the time I got there. Fortunately, the games were shortened (7-minute halves, instead of the usual 12-minute halves), due to excessive heat wiping out the previous afternoon's matches. All of these games I worked went well and I held up OK. For the first time in over one week, the high temperature was below 100 degrees F (40 degrees C).

Monday morning (9 July) found me standing outside the Tesson Ferry Branch of the St. Louis County Library registering voters. The deadline for registration to vote for the 7 August primary election was two days away (11 July). In the nearly 2 hours I was there, I registered two voters, while volunteers with me signed up two more. A rather satisfying time for me.

The Mehlville High Class of 1982 reunion meeting scheduled for 10 July was called off at the 11th hour, due to low anticipated attendance. I did go to Crusoe's, hoping to make the Mehlville-Oakville Alumni Association meeting; however, I did not see anybody from that group. I did chat briefly with two of my classmates, who did not get word of the Mehlville '82 meeting being called off, so it wasn't a total waste of time.

Wednesday night (11 July), I was making more calls to voters for the Sifton campaign. This campaign seems to be going well for Sifton at this point. The next day, I spoke with an intake counselor from Life Skills regarding assistance in finding employment. She suggested I volunteer with a local organization (check with the United Way on those opportunities), and to meet with a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the Missouri Department of Employment Security. I hope to do those steps next week.

Last night, I was at the Regal St. Louis Mills Stadium 18 & IMAX in Hazelwood, Missouri. This cinema hosted a special 60th anniversary screening of the classic musical "Singin' in the Rain." There was a sold-out crowd at that screening (I had ordered my ticket online a couple of weeks ago) and it was a delight to watch this beloved classic with many other like-minded movie fans.

Later.