Early the next morning, it was on to the Holiday Inn St. Louis Southwest--Route 66 (http://www.hiroute66.com/) in Sunset Hills. Saturday was the 12th annual IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) model contest. I came to help where I could on set up before we opened for the public. When that happened, I was at my station at the east entrance, helping take money for admission and contest registration, and surveying them as to how they found out about our show. I don't have definitive attendance figures, but I am estimating about 100 people came to our show.
I also entered three models in the contest, and bought some raffle tickets, with proceeds to Toys for Tots (https://www.toysfortots.org/) in Metro St. Louis. I got lucky in the latter, with four of the six tickets I bought winners. I got a collection of four modeling reference books, and three kits. I later traded two of those kits with vendors for three kits. (At least I came out a kit ahead.) The raffle raised $561 for Toys for Tots.
That afternoon, I helped judge the Automobiles categories in the contest, as I did not have any entries there. The contest drew 219 entries from 55 contestants. The awards were presented later that afternoon, and I was one of those receiving awards. My Prinz Eugen took second in Ships, 1/351 and smaller. I was very happy about that, and about how successful our show turned out. I heard good news from all those attendees I spoke to that day.
I then headed to Smugala's Pizza Pub (http://www.smugalas.com/smugalassunsethills) in Sunset Hills for dinner. I had one of their thin crust pizzas, which are very good. Then, I caught the Pub2Park bus for Toyota Stadium and that night's Saint Louis FC (http://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Harrisburg City Islanders. After hanging out in the tailgate with the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/), I marched in with them to the stadium. After falling down 1-0, Saint Louis leveled in the second half, only for Harrisburg to pull out a last-minute 2-1 win.
It was back to soccer the next morning (10 September), this time refereeing youth matches at Lou Fusz Soccer Complex in Maryland Heights. I worked three matches there, with the middle in the second match of the set. It was rather intense, but all was good.
After the games, I drove to Deer Creek Park in Maplewood (http://www.cityofmaplewood.com/79/Maplewood-Local-Parks) for the IPMS/Gateway picnic. I joined with some members and their significant others in food and conversation.
Back to work Monday morning (11 September), I put in my hard work getting our vehicles ready to rent. Twice that day, I was taken to our Kirkwood branch to pick up vehicles, and chatted briefly with their new branch manager, Hannah, a former colleague at Ellisville.
Tuesday was a shorter work day, as I am working this Saturday morning. That morning, my colleague Melissa--another former Ellisville crew mate--came from her new branch at Creve Coeur to get one of our vehicles. We chatted for a bit.
After flexing out, I headed to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (https://www.flystl.com/) to pick up Mom, who came back to town after nearly two weeks of visiting Doug and his family in Los Angeles. On my way to the arrivals area, I stopped by the Enterprise (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html) counter and chatted briefly with Jake, who was working there. I wished him and his airport colleagues all the best.
I got her bags, then drove Mom and myself to The Concord Grill (http://www.concordgrill.com/) for an early dinner. It was my first time there, but I really enjoyed the Reuben burger I ordered. Then, it was home.
After a full Wednesday at the branch, it was off to Francis Field (http://www.washubears.com/facilities/francis-field) on the Washington University campus to see the men's soccer match between Wash. U. (http://www.washubears.com/landing/index) and Webster University (http://www.websterathletics.com/). The host Bears dominated the match, defeating the Gorloks 2-0.
Off work today, I made treats runs to our Kirkwood and Florissant branches. First, it was doughnuts to Hannah and her colleagues at Kirkwood, which she greatly appreciated. After chatting briefly, I was on the road to Florissant to delivery cookies to that branch. Justin, the new manager there (and formerly mananger at Ellisville) was not in the branch when I arrived (I left the treats with one of his colleagues), but Justin pulled up in the parking lot as I headed to my car, and we chatted for a bit.
Back home, I did my laundry and went out for a late afternoon run. Mom and I had dinner at Lemay Wok (http://places.singleplatform.com/lemay-wok/menu), a small Chinese restaurant that is a favorite dining place of Mom and I. We then went for desert at Dairy Queen (https://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/?localechange=1&). Back to work tomorrow.
Later.
