Scale Modeling Road Trip to Chicagoland

After work last Friday (7 Nov.), I got myself and my gear into a rental car and drove to Springfield, Illinois for a night stop. Early the next morning, I checked out of the hotel in Springfield and drove to Downers Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The Butch O'Hare Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers' Society/USA (IPMS/USA) was presenting its annual model contest at Lakeview Junior High School. It was my first time attending this show and I was most impressed. I entered two aircraft models in the contest, but did not place in the contest. This contest had a few general categories (aircraft, armor, cars, etc.) and judging teams that could award an unlimited number of gold, silver, and bronze medals in these categories. There were many high quality models in the contest, and some displays by the Butch O'Hare Chapter and several other model clubs in Chicagoland.

There was also a large vendor room to shop at, and I did buy a kit each from two of these vendors, plus a precision glue applicator tool from a third vendor. Having purchased six raffle tickets, I was lucky and won three more kits there. I saw a few friends from IPMS/Gateway who were there for the show, and a former IPMS/Gateway member now in the Chicago area. A friend living near Downers Grove, Kris Monroe, came by the show for awhile to visit with me. I knew Kris when she was playing softball for Saint Louis University while I was working in sports information there in the late 1980s. We had been in touch over Facebook, but this was out first face-to-face meeting in years. We got caught on things and I showed her around the show, which impressed Kris. (I had hoped to see some other friends in the area, but they weren't available for various reasons. Maybe next time.)

After the show, I checked into a hotel in Downers Grove and--apart from going out for dinner--stayed in my room until the next morning. After getting breakfast, I checked out and started the drive home to St. Louis, where arrived in the late afternoon. I was tired, but happy. The rental car worked great for me during this approximately 610 mile (981.7 km) round trip.

Monday morning (10 November), I drove the rental car to the branch to report for work and to settle my account. Work has been good this week, although the sudden downturn in temperature from Tuesday morning on took some getting used to.

Off work today, I got my hair cut, got a flu shot, and mailed a package to my brother Doug. Also, I got my laundry done. Back to work tomorrow.

This Saturday, I'll be at the Missouri Aviation Historical Society's meeting in Florissant in the afternoon, and at Webster University that night for my first volunteer shift at this year's St. Louis International Film Festival. Information on these events at http://moavhist.org/ and http://cinemastlouis.org/, respectively.

Later.