A busy past few days; some books to recommend

I have spent much of the past few days at my temp job. Us temp proofreaders & production artists have helped the client by pitching in on their big project. I was proofreading complicated documents, making sure they matched the mandated norms. A lot of intellectual grunt work, but it will be satisfying once this project ends early next month.
I recently finished three books that I would highly recommend. Two are in military history; the third is in environmental-economic matters. The first one is "Hell Hawks! The Untold Story of the American Fliers Who Savaged Hitler's Wehrmacht," by Robert F. Dorr and Thomas D. Jones. This book tells the saga of the 354th Fighter Group, US Army Air Forces during World War II. The group -- nicknamed the Hell Hawks -- flew P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft on fighter-bomber missions in support of US forces in northwest Europe from just before the D-Day landings in France on 6 June 1944 to V-E Day on 8 May 1945. A fascinating story of some airmen whose tale hasn't been told much before, and it's told very well by Messrs. Dorr and Jones. I got my copy from Bob Dorr, and he and Jones signed it for me. If you're interested in getting a signed copy, please let me know and I'll fill you in on the details.
The other military history book I recently read was "The Great Gamble: The Soviet War in Afghanistan," by Gregory Feifer. It's a tale of the 1979-89 Soviet war in support of the pro-Moscow Afghan government against the mujahiden rebels, who got backing from the US. The story is told with interviews of people on both sides of this conflict, and tells of how the Soviets almost casually entered Afghanistan, expecting an easy little war, and ending up fighting to have peace with honor. A great read and a cautionary tale relating to the current US-led operation in Afghanistan.
In another direction, I recently finished reading "Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution -- and How It Can Renew America." This book is the latest by Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman and tells how climate change, an expanding middle class worldwide (especially in China and India), and a rapidly growing population pose great threats for all of us on Earth. Yet, Friedman also argues it's a great opportunity for the US to take the lead in sustainable technologies and conservation, if Americans have the public and political will to do so. Another great read from one of my favorite columnists.
That's it for now. Take care & talk to you soon.

Meeting a friend, and a day of soccer refereeing

Work has been going well, although a bit slow of late. Looks like we're pretty much caught up on our project to this point. Good in that sense. May have reduced hours this week.
Last Thursday (13 Aug.), I had a meeting and tea with Llynda Walker (nee Combs), one of my Mehlville High classmates. We had not seen each other since we graduated back in 1982. Llynda's now married and living in western Virginia, but was in town last week to meet spend time with family and friends. She was a fine gal in high school, who sang beautifully in Special Chorus, and is still a fine gal. We wished each other all the best in our lives.
Saturday, I got back into soccer refereeing with a girls' friendly tournament in Cottleville, Missouri, hosted by the Tony Glavin Soccer Club. I worked four games that day, and my lack of fitness showed, as I had a cramp in my right calf during the third game I worked. However, I did my best around it and completed my assignments (although I was relieved as assistant referee early in the second half of the third game in question). Being a friendly-oriented tournament helped, in that the intensity of play was not that would be found in regular tournament play.
Back to the job: I am glad for this work, in that the pay is enabling me to pay off my credit card debt. I should have that all paid off in full by month's end. What a relief!
Been also tuning up for the IPMS Gateway to the West Invitational in Eureka, Missouri on Sat., 12 September. I have sent show flyers to several area hobby shops, and posted notices on several local online community calendars. These include: stltoday.com, toastedrav.com, kwmu.org, and kmov.com. Hope to see you at the show. For more info, visit http://ipms-gateway.com
Later.

http://www.dccc.org/page/s/standagainstrush

http://www.dccc.org/page/s/standagainstrush

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Catching my breath

Chilling out at home now, doing my laundry. Now into my fourth week of my temp work assignment. It's going real well. Making good progress, I'm told. A bit slow today, waiting for others' work to catch up to me, but I'm satisfied with what I'm doing now.
Last Tuesday, IPMS Gateway had its annual Slam Fest at the July general meeting. I came to Calvary Presbyterian Church right after work to open the fellowship hall and get it set up. From 7:00 pm, members so interested had two hours to assemble and finish a model, which would then be entered in a "beauty contest" by vote of the members present. I worked on the Pegasus 1:48 scale P-51B Mustang, which is a snap together kit. I had a bit of problem with the kit, as the plastic was real slick; more of a toy type plastic than one associated with model kits. Fit was a bit tricky on the wing-fuselage joint and on the propeller spinner, but I was able to complete it and paint it some, plus use the kit's stickers in about 1 1/2 hours. Six of us did models for that, and mine ended up tied for second in the vote. I won a $5 gift certificate from CRM Hobbies.
This was my lucky night, as I also won $13 in the 50/50 raffle, had the high bid on a kit in the silent auction, and won another kit in the raffle of "beauty contest" entrants. Very nice. I also let the club board know about the web sites I posted notices on our Invitational coming up on 12 September in Eureka. You can get info on that event at http://ipms-gateway.com
That's it for now. Talk to you soon.

Into a less busy week

Last week was a hard one. I had my proofreading job in the daytime -- just entered its fourth week today -- plus an additional night job. It was a take home one, proofreading a book catalog for a distributor I had worked with a few weeks back. I received the catalog on Monday morning, and turned it back in, completed, the following Friday morning. I had to put in some long hours Wednesday and Thursday night to get it done, but get it done I did. The current job is going well -- tedious at times, but progress is being made. Good group of people I'm with, in both the full timers there and fellow temps.
Been couped up with all this work, so I did go out for a jog yesterday afternoon. Will need more running to get in shape for refereeing. I hope to get some soccer assignments for late this month and the start of August. I do need to get in my maintenance assessment when I referee a men's game soon, as part of registration.
I did take in the festivities of All Star Week in St. Louis last week via television, including last Tuesday's All Star Game. A wonderful time, except for the National League losing again. Apparently, everyone in town had a great time.
Take care & talk to you soon.

Where was I?

Been a bit hectic of late. I'm nearing the end of my second week on a new temp work assignment, proofreading documents for a insurance firm in Metro St. Louis. I can't get into any specifics here, but it's very detail oriented. The assignment should run 2-3 months and pays very nicely for me now. Glad to get some work for once.
One week ago, I was downtown after work. After dinner at Hooter's, I walked to the Old Post Office Plaza to catch a free screening of one of my favorites, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," It's a hoot to me. The film was shown courtesy of Frontyard Features, which presents free outdoor screenings of various films during the summer. Last month, I took in a screening of "To Kill A Mockingbird" at Tower Grove Park. Check these guys out: http://www.fyfstl.com/.
The 4th of July -- Independence Day in the USA -- I was working at Fair St. Louis on the Gateway Arch grounds. I was a volunteer helping with a beer and soda booth on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., just a few yards north of the main stage. It was slow when I arrived to work at 1.30 pm, as it rained earlier in the day and caused a delay in the fair's start. As the day and night wore on, the crowds picked up and the drinks were selling. We got done with tearing down just after 10 pm, and I and the others picked up $21 in tips each (individual shares from the tips collected at our booth). The only downside to this was that I had my back turned to the fireworks display. (Plus, the booth's roof and back wall prevented me from looking up at the show.) I saw some video highlights the next morning.
I refereed some men's soccer last Sunday afternoon. Games were OK. There's a 3v3 tournament in town this weekend, so I may do some of those games.
That's it for the moment. Later.

Hot Times in This Old Town Lately

I'm trying to say inside as much as possible, at the temperature is above 90 degrees F. Rather muggy out.
Nothing new on the job search. The one organization I interviewed with nearly 3 weeks ago needs to run a background check on me and the other candidates, so I provided my agency with a filled out background check form. Waiting to hear back on a few other firms I applied with recently.
Last Friday, I had a wonderful "happy hour" at EXO Lounge in Midtown St. Louis. The event was run by Stress Free Fridays, a social group that has weekly get togethers like this. It was my first time at a Stress Free Friday, although I had signed up on its web site some weeks back. It was a neat time, chatting with some people, enjoying two cocktails and some finger food (the latter from a fundraiser going on simultaneously, for state Representative Tishaura Jones. I even got a free massage on a masseur there. Hard to beat that! I plan to be at this week's Stress Free Fridays event in the Central West End.
Sunday after church, I went to Humphrey's near St. Louis U. to watch the USA-Egypt and Brazil-Italy matches of the FIFA Confederations Cup on TV, with some of my fellow referees. We were amazed with the results of these games, 3-0 wins each by the USA and Brazil, which meant they advanced to this week's semifinals. The USA needed to win by 3 goals and for Brazil to beat Italy by 3 goals for the Americans to advance. You can't make this up!
Right after the games, I walked to Robert R. Hermann Stadium for the SuperLiga match between the Kansas City Wizards and Atlas FC. I remarked to a fellow spectator on the walk to the stadium that, compared to the Confederations Cup matches we just saw, this SuperLiga match would be a let down. It was -- KC and Atlas played to a 0-0 draw in very hot and humid conditions. The referee called water breaks about 30 minutes into each half, out of concern for the players. Good move.
I'm off to the IPMS Gateway business meeting tonight. I have some ideas for publicing our Invitational in Eureka in September. Our general meeting one week ago at Calvary Presbyterian Church was a good one. We gained a new member and had a nice turnout for the decaling demo.
Take care & talk to you soon. Stay cool!