Photographing Models at the IPMS/Gateway Meeting

After work Tuesday night (21 May), I headed to Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) for this month's meeting of the Gateway Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers' Society (IPMS) (https://sites.google.com/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home). Stormy weather outside--including a tornado warning--kept the crowd low this night, but the meeting went on without weather incident.

This meeting had the second 2019 Modeler of the Year contest, with the Special Category "6 is a Serious Number." That is, the subject has a 6 (six) in its name or designation. We had 20 total contest entries, including eight in this Special Category.

We also had a clinic on model photography. Rick Keasey brought in his photo studio and invited members to bring their models to be photographed, and their cameras to take pictures. I took photos with my Canon (https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras) PowerShot digital camera, including of my submarine Turbulent, which took Third Place at the Military Modelers Club of Louisville (http://www.mmcl.org/) Invitational the previous Saturday. This clinic was a lot of fun and I hope we can do it again another time, when we hope to have more members attending to take part in this.

During the meeting, we got updates on the St. Louis Blues (https://www.nhl.com/blues) playoff game. I was home later that night when the Blues won the game, becoming Western Conference Champions, and sending them to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1970. The Best-of-Seven Final against the Boston Bruins starts this Monday night.

Later

Where the (Model Kit) Auction Is

After work on Tuesday night (15 January), I went straight away to Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) for this month's IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home) meeting. This was our annual Swap & Sell and Kit Auction.

A few members brought kits, decals, and publications to sell or trade with the fellow club members. I bought an aircraft kit and a decal sheet from one member. There were a few items I was interested in buying, but held off so I could have enough money to bid on kits at the Kit Auction.

The meeting was called to order and some business was discussed. Last year's Modeler of the Year and Bob Stroup (Member of the Year) Awards were presented. Then, we had the Kit Auction, with items donated by club members. I successfully bid on two kits--one of a stock car, the other of a military vehicle--and on two books. One of the books was about the South African Air Force and its aircraft in 1980, the other was a detailed history of two iconic World War II fighters, the Supermarine Spitfire and the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The auction raised over $400 for club activities.

This meeting also gave me a good opportunity to use my new Canon (https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog) camera in a meeting setting. I think this will work out very well for the club's newsletter in particular.

Later.

Christmas 2018

Christmas this past week went well. After a shortened day at work on Monday (24 December), I went with mom to a Christmas Eve service at Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/). This was a joint service with Affton Presbyterian Church (http://afftonpc.org/), which is co-located with Calvary. The service was pleasant, including seeing my friend Lisa Crain with her parents, sister and sister's family. Lisa and I chatted for a bit before the service.

After the service, Mom and I came back home, where she asked me to open one of my presents. It had come earlier that day from the delivery truck. It was a camera I had ordered just over a week before from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/). This is a Canon (https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog) PowerShot SX530 HS, a digital point and shoot camera with 50x zoom lens. This came with a host of accessories, including: carry case; two batteries and charger; two memory cards; lens cleaning kit; mini tripod; carry strap; and view screen protector. I charged the battery up overnight, so I could use it the next morning.

The next morning, after a small breakfast, Mom and I opened our presents in the living room. I must have been very good this year, as I received several presents. They included: two calendars; two DVDs and a few books from my brother Rick (I sent him a book in exchange); and a few other things.

Mom greatly appreciated the bedroom slippers and restaurant gift cards I gave her for Christmas. We spent the day relaxing around the house. I also did some test shots around the house with my new camera.

Normally off work on Wednesdays, I worked this past Wednesday (26 December). It was a fairly quiet day for the most part. The rest of this week went well at the branch. Late Friday afternoon, I filled in at the Ballwin branch as they lacked a car prep that day. My services there were most appreciated.

Yesterday, after helping Mom pick up leaves from the back yard, I went to the Church of the Immacolata (http://www.immacolata.org/) in Richmond Heights to catch the last day of the 10th annual Mary McDermott 3rd Grade Basketball Tournament (https://www.glennon.org/mary-mcdermott-basketball/). This was a tournament for boys and girls Catholic Youth Council (http://www.cycstl.net/) teams. Proceeds from admissions, concessions, and a silent auction of sports memorabilia will go to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation. This event is a memorial to Mary McDermott, an Immacolata parish member and athlete who died for a heart ailment in 2008. She was the daughter of my friend Bill McDermott, a graphic designer and soccer commentator. It was a pleasure for me to watch some of the action and to support this effort in at least a small way.

Back to work until mid-afternoon tomorrow, then time to celebrate New Year's Eve. This past year was good, and I am hoping for better in 2019.

Later.