Working Hard, Witnessing Living History

This past week has been quite good at the rental branch. Our assistant manager Miranda has been off on vacation this past week, but the rest of us have stepped up to keep things going so well.

Home on Thursday (26 April), I helped mom with her new lawn mower, which she bought the day before. (The previous one had engine damage that was impossible to repair.) After trying to get everything set up, I was able to mow the front lawn with the new mower. It worked out very well.

I was back at Circus Flora (http://circusflora.org/) Thursday night for another volunteer shift. We had a very nice crowd for the show.

After a full day of work yesterday, I relaxed at home that night. This morning, though, I was at Jefferson Barracks County Park (https://www.stlouisco.com/parksandrecreation/parkpages/jeffersonbarracks) for World War II Weekend (https://www.facebook.com/events/2047820755453633/), a living history event this weekend. Reinactors of German, US, British, Canadian, and Soviet troops camped at the park--complete with authentic uniforms, arms, equipment, and accessories. I saw a skirmish involving the Germans and Americans, with troops shooting blanks while giving visitors a feel for World War II small unit combat. It is quite a nice event and rather appropriate it is being held at a former military post.

Later.

IPMS/Gateway Meets; Circus Flora Returns

Last Tuesday (17 April), I went straight from work to Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) to help run this month's IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/IPMSGateway/) meeting. We had a demo on making snow for models and model bases, and we had the Model fo the Month "Beauty Contest." I showed the 1:48 scale RF-80A kit I'm working on right now.

I was in Midtown St. Louis Thursday night for the peanut-free preview of this season's Circus Flora (https://circusflora.org/) production, "The Case of the Missing Bellhop." This was my first volunteer assignment of the season, and after helping clean the seats I acted as an usher. This year's show is a mystery comedy with plenty of thrilling acts. This includes the trick horse riding of the Alanian Riders (https://alanianriders.weebly.com/), and they did not disappoint. This year marks the first year for Circus Flora in its new permanent location on Washington Avenue about two blocks east of Grand Boulevard.

Two nights later (21 April), I was back for the official opening night of "The Case of the Missing Bellhop." We had a great crowd for the show, and I performed the same duties as I did on that preview performance. I was so happy that the show was so well received by this crowd, and look forward to more of the same during the run, which lasts until 13 May. Hope you can check out the show; you won't be disappointed.

I worked at the Enterprise (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html) branch Saturday morning, filling in for Marvin. It was busy, but we got things done in good order. I then got lunch and bought some work shoes.

Yesterday morning, I refereed SLYSA (http://www.slysa.org/) matches at Sportport International (http://www.sportportintl.com/). I was scheduled to work three matches, but the first was not held as neither team showed up. The other two went well. I stayed to run line for the early part of another match until the assigned official arrived from another field. After the matches, I got some lunch at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/). The baked salmon was most tasty. This airport serves lunch on Sundays for $7 per person.I then treated myself to ices coffee and pound cake at Starbucks (https://www.starbucks.com/) in Creve Coeur before coming home.

Later.

Soccer Weekend: Cheering On, Running Lines

I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/SOCCERPARK) last Saturday night (14 April) to join the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) at their pre-match tailgate. I enjoyed a nice dinner before matching into Toyota Stadium for the match between Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) and LA Galaxy II.

A header just after halftime was the difference as Saint Louis FC ran out 1-nil winners. We St. Louligans were in fine form cheering on the home side. After the match, the players came over to sing to us--as Saint Louis FC does after they win. It is something we always look forward to seeing and hearing.

Saint Louis FC is on the road for the next two matches. Hopefully, the good form will continue.

The next morning, I headed to Sportport International (http://www.sportportintl.com/) to run lines on two St. Louis Youth Soccer Association (http://www.slysa.org/) matches. (I first headed to the Soccer Park, until I was notified I was as the wrong facility.) The matches were rather interesting, to say the least. I won't go into the details here, but my crew did well in their assignments.

After the matches, I had lunch at Hooters (https://www.hooters.com/) in Maryland Heights, where I enjoyed their smoked wings. (Good work by server Portia.)

Later.

Recognition for My Volunteer PR and Blogging

Last Saturday (14 April), I was at Mike Duffy's Pub & Grill in Kirkwood (http://mikeduffys.com/kirkwood/) for the annual spring luncheon of the Missouri Professional Communicators (http://www.mpc-nfpw.org/cpsiteframepage.lasso?-token.lpuserref=113815.113118). About 12 of us members and guests attended. After a nice lunch--in my case, the Reuben--the awards for MPC's annual Communications Contest were announced. Several members were honored for their work, including yours truly.

Two press releases I wrote and disseminated for IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/IPMSGateway/) took first and second places in the category of news or feature release--single release. The winner was for the club's donation to Toys for Tots (https://bridgeton-mo.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/Default.aspx) in Metro St. Louis last December. The judges noted how much respect I showed for a volunteer assignment and for the release's multiple placements.

Taking second place was the release for IPMS/Gateway's Contest in September. The judges' comments also applied for this release.

My work editing IPMS/Gateway's newsletter, The Arch Scaler News, earned second place in print publications regularly edited by entrant--magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper publication. The judges noted the good placement of the headline and logo, and being very clean. They thought I should use italics to break up the heavy font, and to try another font for headlines for variety. I believe I will try those suggestions in future issues.

Finally, this blog received honorable mention in Blogs, personal. It was a very thorough chronicle of one person's life, the judges noted. They also liked the blog title. A suggestion by the judges, which I am going to try here now, is to go towards briefer entries focusing only on highlights. Let's see how this goes.

It was a great afternoon that I finished with a personal celebration at the Kirkwood Starbucks (https://www.starbucks.com/), where I enjoyed a coffee beverage and coffee cake.

Later.

Soccer, New Phone, and Happy Hour

Last Saturday night (7 April), I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/SOCCERPARK) for the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) tailgate prior to Saint Louis FC's (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Fresno FC. The tailgate featured chili--seven varieties of it--that we could sample and vote on as the best of the lot. It was most welcome, as it was rather chilly for April.

After the tailgate, we marched into Toyota Stadium for the match, which ended up drawn at 1. Saint Louis scored from the penalty spot just before halftime, but Fresno leveled it early in the second half. Saint Louis actually had the run of play, so it was a disappointing result. We'll see about bettering that tonight against LA Galaxy II.

Up early the next morning, I was at Sportport International (http://www.sportportintl.com/) in Maryland Heights to officiate three St. Louis Youth Soccer Association (SLYSA) (http://www.slysa.org/). They went well, including my middle in an under 15 girls match. I did feel a bit stiff afterward from the activity, but otherwise I was fine. After the match, I had lunch at Saint Louis Bread Co. (https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/home.html) in Des Peres.

I put in a good day of work on Monday (9 April) at the rental branch. Good thing, as it was a busy morning as usual. Back home that night, I found the new phone I ordered waiting for me. It's a Samsung (https://www.samsung.com/us/) Galaxy S7 from CREDO Mobile (http://www.credomobile.com/). This is a trade-in for the Galaxy S6 I have had for a little over two years. After charging it up, I was able to activate my new phone and start getting it set up for my uses. (I will be sending CREDO the old phone in the coming days.)

After work Wednesday night, I headed to Joey B's Food & Drink (http://www.joeybsmanchester.com/) in Manchester for a happy hour being given by my Enterprise (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html) colleague Hannah Gober. She's leaving daily rental by the end of this month to become a business analyst at corporate headquarters in Clayton. Employees from our area had a good time that night.

Off work Thursday (12 April), I finished the April issue of The Arch Scaler News for IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/IPMSGateway/). I printed and mailed out copies for a few members, then emailed to the rest of the members.

Back at work yesterday, it was a full day of exceeding customer expectations. Naturally, I did my part. During my lunch break, a check of my Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/) feed showed a post on my profile from my former Enterprise colleague Kimberly Jansen. She was thanking me for the greeting and gift cards I sent her this week to congratulate her on her new home. Kim said these made her day. I was very happy to have done so.

I have a luncheon and soccer later this weekend. More on those events in my next post. Also, next week is the return of Circus Flora (http://circusflora.org/) with their new location in Midtown St. Louis and their new show, "The Case of the Missing Bellhop." The first of my volunteer assignments is this Thursday (19 April). The Alanian Riders (https://alanianriders.weebly.com/) will be among the acts in this year's show. Hope to see you there!

Later.

Easter and a Cool Start to April

I went to service Easter Sunday (1 April) at Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/). This was a joint service with Affton Presbyterian Church (http://afftonpc.org/), which is nesting with Calvary. After the service, I went home to Easter dinner with mom. She baked a pound cake in the shape of a lamb--a long-time Easter tradition. Then, I relaxed at home.

The work week at the rental branch went well. It was busier than the week before, with people back from vacation and school Spring Breaks. It got real cool late this week, with lows just below freezing.

I spent some time painting interior parts of a scale model, and starting work on this month's issue of The Arch Scaler News, newsletter of IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/IPMSGateway/).

Yesterday morning, I stopped by Krispy Kreme (http://krispykreme.com/) in Fenton to buy some doughnuts to take to work. It was a long day for us, ending just before 7 pm--hour hour after closing--due to getting our vehicles ready for the next day.

After coming home and eating dinner, I met my friend Tim Popp at The Sports Pub in Oakville (http://www.thesportspubstl.com/) for a beer and conversation. Tim was in town on business. He also took me to his parents' house nearby to introduce me to them. We four had a nice, brief conversation.

Soccer tonight with Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) home against Fresno FC, and soccer tomorrow morning with youth matches to officiate.

Later.