Catching Up: Soccer, Circus, Books, Aviation

I've been so busy and tired the past two weeks since I last posted here.I will do my best to get caught up.

I ran lines on two under 15 St. Louis Youth Soccer Association (https://www.slysa.org/home) matches at Kolping Fields in south St. Louis County. They went well.

Work the past two weeks has been busy, but well. This past Tuesday (8 May) was assistant manager Miranda's last day at Ellisville, as she moved down the street to become manager of our Ballwin branch.

I chipped in to support some worth causes on Give STL Day (https://www.givestlday.org/index.php) on 2 May. This year, I contributed to: St. Louis Public Radio (http://news.stlpublicradio.org/), St. Louis Artists' Guild (https://www.stlouisartistsguild.org/), Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/), Cinema St. Louis (http://www.cinemastlouis.org/), Circus Flora (http://circusflora.org/), Needy Paws Rescue (http://www.needypaws.org/), Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-st-louis-region-southwest-missouri), and Viva Brasil STL (https://www.vivabrasilstl.org/).

I saw my dentist a week ago Thursday (3 May) for my semi-annual checkup. No issues.

That night, I continued my volunteer stint with Circus Flora. After the show last Sunday night, I joined with other volunteers for a party in the ring. After posing for a group picture, we enjoyed a buffet dinner with fried chicken, along with some conversation among ourselves and the performers. A very nice night.

Circus Flora's show "The Case of the Missing Bellhop" ends this weekend, and I'l be helping on the last two shows: Tonight and tomorrow night.

Last Saturday, I pulled a double volunteer shift at the Greater St. Louis Book Fair (http://stlouisbookfair.org/), which was held at the Greensfelder Recreation Complex at Queeny Park (https://www.stlouisco.com/parksandrecreation/recreationcomplexes/greensfelderrecreationcomplexinqueenypark). I helped customers in the morning shift, and was a cashier in the afternoon. In between, I did buy a few books there and got lunch. A very nice bit of help for various literacy and childcare causes.

Right after my last shift at the Book Fair, I headed to Toyota Stadium of World Wide Technology Soccer Park for Saint Louis FC's (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Portland Timbers II. Despite the cheers I and my fellow St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) made, the match ended in a scoreless draw.

The next morning, I was back at World Wide Technology Soccer Park, this time to officiate under 12 girls matches in the Premier League (http://slsgsoccer.com/slsg-missouri/leagues/premier-league-2006-2009). All three matches--including my middle--went very well.

Off work on Thursday (10 May), I finished editing this month's issue of The Arch Scaler News for IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/IPMSGateway/). I got it distributed via email and US Mail that afternoon. That night, I was at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) for the Missouri Aviation Historical Society meeting. I was there to help distribute name tags and make sure members and guests signed in. A big crowd (about 80) took in a panel discussion on the 60th anniversary of the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II's first flight. This program was most interesting.

I have been working on a model I should have ready for next week's IPMS/Gateway meeting and the IPMS Region 5 Contest, MOSS CON (http://ipmsmoss.com/), in Branson, Missouri.

Later.

Warm and Dry For a Change

Last Saturday afternoon (6 May), I co-hosted this month's edition of Writer's Block (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/autistic-people-/2017/05/06/connected--writers-block-10am-pstradio-drama-11am-pst), the Naturally Autistic ANCA Radio show, with Tim Pylypiuk. We discussed the history and role of libraries, and on the role of the written word in the digital age. It was a fine discussion, and you can replay the program and download it for podcast now.

Later that afternoon, I drove to Queeny County Park in Ballwin to help out at the Greater St. Louis Book Fair (http://www.stlouisbookfair.org/), held in the park's Greenfelder Recreation Complex. This is an annual used book sale, with proceeds going to St. Louis area literacy and education programs. After doing a bit of shopping, I helped count books at the check out counter, giving the totals for each customer's purchases to the cashier. It got hectic at times, but having done this a few times in the past, it was nothing I could not handle. I was very happy to help out this event and the causes it supports.

Due to the overflowing Meramec River flooding World Wide Technology Soccer Park, last Saturday night's Saint Louis FC match vs. Rochester Rhinos was postponed until a later date. My soccer games at the Park for Sunday morning were cancelled.

At least the weather was warm and dry this week, and the flooding was ending in the area. Work Monday morning (8 May) was most busy, with many customers in the lobby at times. However, we got everyone taken care of by the end of business that day.

Since I'm working this Saturday morning, I flexed out Tuesday afternoon. I came home to relax catch up on some needed rest. I worked a full day yesterday, which went well.

Off work today, I did my part for Give St. Louis Day (https://www.givestlday.org/index.php?action=homePage), an annual campaign for St. Louis area non-profit organizations. I gave my money to several groups I am most interested in, such as Viva Brasil STL, Circus Flora, and Cinema St. Louis. I also worked on a small armor vehicle kit for this Tuesday's IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) meeting.

Later.

A Hectic, But Satisfying Weekend

After a hard, but ultimately successful week of work at the car rental branch, I had quite a weekend. I spent some free time during Saturday (30 April) morning and early afternoon working on a couple of scale model kits. I'm looking to get them done in time for the contest at the May IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) meeting in just under two weeks from now. In mid-afternoon, I headed to West County Center (http://www.shopwestcountycenter.com/) in Des Peres for the Greater St. Louis Book Fair (http://www.stlouisbookfair.org/). After a brief bit of shopping, where I bought two history books, I reported for a volunteer shift. Four about four hours, I helped count the merchandise customers had selected and supplying the totals per price range to the nearby cashier, and packing the items in bags or (in some cases) boxes. I found it wasn't as busy as at previous Book Fairs, perhaps due to the stormy weather that hit the area late in my shift. Still, it was most satisfying to helping out at this event.

Right after getting off my shift, I headed to Worldwide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton for Saint Louis FC's (http://saintlouisfc.com/landing/index) match against Vancouver Whitecaps II. That was the plan; however, Mother Nature had other plans. Lightning in the vicinity postponed the match. After about a three-hour delay, the match was called off as it was clear that the lightning would not leave the area soon. It will be made up later this season. Hopefully, there won't be stormy weather this Saturday, when Saint Louis FC hosts Swope Park Rangers.

After a bit of sleep at home, I was up early the next morning (1 May) and heading for Six Flags St. Louis (https://www.sixflags.com/stlouis) in Eureka. There, I was a volunteer Course Marshal for the Roller Coaster Race (http://rollercoasterrace.com/), a 10 km and 5 km footrace through the theme park. After some difficulty, I found my station on the course just before the first runners came my way. I was there for about an hour, directing and encouraging the runners as they passed through my position. It was a lot of fun helping out at this event, with proceeds going to Operation Food Search (http://www.operationfoodsearch.org/), which helps provide food to the needy in the St. Louis area.

After my volunteer stint at Six Flags, I headed to the Kirkwood Community Center (http://www.kirkwoodmo.org/content/City-Departments/1856/community-center.aspx). There, I attended the Midwest Model Vehicle Association/St. Louis (MMVA/STL) (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/MMVAStLouis.html) Spring Contest and Swap Meet. IPMS/Gateway had a table there with two model car displays, and I chatted with club members there and elsewhere in the room. I also bought an aircraft model kit from one of the vendors before going home. The IPMS/Gateway display plugged the club's Invitational this September.

I spent more free time this past week working on those models. If all goes well, I will have three kits done to enter in the club contest.

Like quite a few people in and around St. Louis, I have been following the St. Louis Blues (http://blues.nhl.com) in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let's go Blues!

Tuesday afternoon (3 May), after flexing out of work, I went home and made contributions on Give STL Day (https://givestlday.org/). This was an effort on behalf of various non-profit organizations. The website was down, though, due to heavy traffic, so I ended up phoning in my contributions. This year, I pledged to: Viva Brasil STL (http://www.e.vivabrasilstl.org/home); Cinema St. Louis (cinemastlouis.org); Circus Flora (http://circusflora.org/); Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-st-louis-region-southwest-missouri); and, Saint Louis Power Soccer United (http://www.saintlouispowersoccerunited.org/).

Later.