A Scale Model Show and Brasil Day

Last Saturday (10 Sept.), I was up early and bound for the Holiday Inn St. Louis Southwest--Route 66 (http://www.hiroute66.com/) in Sunset Hills for the IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) Invitational scale model contest and vendor swap meet. We had about 150 attendees, 50 contestants, and nearly 200 contest entries. These figures were lower than last year, but we hosted a regional a year ago, so there would be higher figures for a regional than an invitational. I worked the main entrance, helping taken admission money and asking where they heard of our show. I also entered three of my models and helped judge two aircraft categories I was not entered in. Although the contest numbers were lower than last year, nevertheless the quality of contest entries was high. One of my entries--a 1:144 scale USA/USSR strategic missile set--took second place in Armor--Missiles and Railguns. (To be fair, there were only two entries in that category. Still, I am happy with this award, the second it picked up this year.) We'll be back on 9 Sept. 2017 for our next Invitational. Save the date!

After helping tear down the show, I headed to Strauss Park in midtown St. Louis' Grand Center for the annual Brasil Day St. Louis (http://www.brasildaystl.com/) street festival. It is held the Saturday closest to Brazilian Independence Day (7 Sept.). I got a nice dinner from the booth of Dona Flor STL, a Brazilian food catering company (http://www.donaflorstl.com/). I also tried my had with dancing to samba music. It was not easy, but I gave it my best shot. It was a fun time.

The next day, after church, I was at Deer Creek Park in Maplewood (http://www.cityofmaplewood.com/index.aspx?NID=79) for the IPMS/Gateway picnic. Many of us members and our significant others enjoyed a barbecue lunch--burgers and bratwurst--cooked by Chris Merseal, with attendees bringing side dishes. (I brought in some chips and dip.) We had a fine time eating and socializing, and the weather was very nice.

Work this week has been good. Plenty of customers, and things have been going well for our branch. This past Monday morning (12 Sept.) was very busy for us, even for a Monday. We got through it in good order.

Flexed out Tuesday afternoon (13 Sept.), and came home to prepare for a happy hour that night at the Signature Room in Overland. It was put on by Sex Positive St. Louis (http://sexstl.com/; https://www.meetup.com/Sex-Positive-St-Louis/). I stayed a bit after talking with two women there, but neither had any chemistry with me.

Back to Portuguese class last night after work, at St. Louis Community College--Meramec (http://www.stlcc.edu/MC/). We are now halfway through the class, and things are going well.

Off to a pair of events tonight: a party for Festival of Nations volunteers, and the Missouri Aviation Historical Society's meeting. More on those in my next post.

Later.