Into the Dog Days

The FIFA World Cup ended yesterday, with Spain's 1-nil win over the Netherlands in the Final. I was at O.B. Clark's in Brentwood at the St. Louis United FC Watch Party. A fun time, even if the match wasn't such fun. At least the better side won, and I like that.
I got back on the pitch -- albeit a small-sided one -- on Sun., 27 June at Gordon Moore Park in Alton, Illinois. I refereed several games in a 3v3 tournament. They were mostly youth teams, with one adult co-ed match. These were short games -- 12-minute halves -- so we worked them in every 30 minutes. It was different, but no major hitches.
The next day, our monthly soccer referee clinic discussed recent World Cup refereeing controversies. This year's tournament provided plenty of discussion material for us referees. I'm back on the pitch this Saturday afternoon, working a college showcase tournament in St. Charles. Need to hit the road(work) for that one.
The 4th of July found me on the Gateway Arch grounds as a volunteer for Fair Saint Louis. I started out in the K-Zone children's area, supervising some activities (ring toss games, hands-on with musical instruments, coloring with crayons), then moved to beverage services that afternoon. I finished the fair helping staff the information booth. I finally left the grounds just over an hour after the fair ended, then finally hit the road home some time after that (what with the traffic in all). Tiring, but satisfying to be helping out at such an event.
I went to a pair of Straight Up Hook Up Meetup events late last month, which were nice. I'm keeping an eye on my wallet, with money being a bit tight at the moment.
Last Tuesday (6 July), I ran the IPMS St. Louis meeting, which included membership renewals and officer elections. I was retained as president for another year, by acclaimation, and ditto for the rest of the officers. I must be doing something right.
Last Saturday afternoon, I did some canvassing for two Democratic candidates: Robin Carnahan for U.S. Senate and Charlie Dooley for St. Louis County Executive. I walked a block in Affton, and there I ran into a friend from college I had not seen in years, Mike Vogt. He's a Missouri State Representative who's having to leave this year due to term limits, so Mike's out campaigning for the canidate he wants to succeed him. Small world.
Anyway, take care & talk to you soon.