Christmas is Near, and Winter is Here

I joined with two others from the Single in the City Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/STLSingleInTheCity) for a tour of the Brewery Lights (http://brewerylights.com/) at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in south St. Louis Sunday night (17 December). It was my first time going through this display and the three of us had a wonderful time admiring the light displays, posing by one of the Budweiser Clydesdales (http://www.budweiser.com/en/clydesdales/history.html), and sampling beers along the way. Our wristbands had five numbered tabs that we would remove, one at a time, to redeem for a free cup of beer. It was nice trying out the various beers from the AB InBev (http://www.ab-inbev.com/) family. One of those I tried is Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve (http://www.budweiser.com/en/our-beers/1933-repeal-reserve.html), an amber lager brewed for a limited time and based on a recipe last used just prior to Prohibition (1920-1933). I really liked this beer. Overall, it was a very nice night.

It was back to work at the rental branch bright and early Monday morning, and it was one busy morning. Perhaps, the busiest in my time with Enterprise (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html). We had a line of customers in the lobby at times, waiting to either pick up or drop off their vehicles. It was a scramble, but we of the branch got it done and kept our customers most satisfied.

Great news came on my computer that night, as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website (http://www.stltoday.com/) approved my press release and Julie Vaughn's photo from Friday morning's IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) check presentation to the Marine Corps Reserve in Fenton for this year's Toys for Tots (https://bridgeton-mo.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx) campaign in Metro St. Louis (http://www.stltoday.com/pr/lifestyles/gateway-chapter-ipms-donates-to-toys-for-tots/article_e63d9d82-e28b-11e7-8cee-5cb9017bb5c0.html). I also posted the story on Mehlville Patch (https://patch.com/missouri/mehlville-oakville/gateway-chapter-ipms-donates-661-toys-tots) and on IPMS/USA's website (https://news.ipmsusa3.org/news/gateway-chapter-ipms-donates-661-toys-tots).

After another busy day Tuesday (19 December), it was off to Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) for this month's IPMS/Gateway meeting. It was a busy meeting, as we discussed the proposed revision to the Constitution and By-Laws (C&BL). After much debate, the members decided to not vote on approving the C&BL until the February 2018 meeting, to allow more time for members to study and discuss the changes. We did have elections for next year's executive board (eboard), and I was selected as Secretary by acclamation. (I was the only candidate left for the office. Members also voted for the Bob Stroup (Member of the Year) Award, which will be presented at next months' meeting. We then had our annual recognition contest, in which we had to guess the subjects of images projected on the wall. I got 15 of 25 correct, a low score by my standards. (I usually win or are in the top three finishers in this contest.) Finally, we had our big raffle of kits and some hobby knife holders. I had the last ticket drawn, so by default, I got one of the knife holders, made at home by our outgoing president, Bill Wagner.

Plenty of work yesterday at the branch, as we and our customers looked ahead to Christmas this weekend. Looks lie the same for tomorrow. Yesterday, by the way, was my fifth anniversary at Enterprise. During the week, I received brief congratulatory emails from two higher ups in the organization, which I was very honored to receive on this occasion.

Off work today--the Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere (Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere)--I did my laundry, helped remove leaves from the front lawn, and made my last deliveries of newsletters and cookies to my colleagues. After delivery to the area office, I stopped by the Manchester car sales location to give its manager a newsletter. I now feel I have accomplished my mission of spreading holiday cheer among my colleagues. I then did a bit of Christmas shopping before coming home.

Later.

Work, Parties, Futsal, and Spreading Cheer

After working at the rental branch a week ago yesterday morning (9 December), I headed to Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill in Webster Groves (https://www.hotshotsnet.com/locations/stlouisarea/webstergroves.aspx) for a MLS Cup Final Watch Party organized by Saint Louis FC (http://www.saintlouisfc.com/). I picked up my 2018 season ticket shirsey (shirt-jersey), as well as a team mug and Christmas ornament. I had lunch there, joined by quite a few St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/), watching the match on the TV screens. (Toronto FC defeated Seattle Sounders FC, 2-0, in the match.) It was fun.

Early the next morning, I was in St. Louis' Forest Park (https://www.forestparkforever.org/) to serve as a volunteer at this year's Hot Chocolate 15K/5K run (https://www.hotchocolate15k.com/stlouis). This pair of foot races--15 km (9.3 miles) and 5 km (3.1 miles)--is part of a serious held around the country, with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish (http://wish.org/#sm.001ij9rr41dizeirwab1b4g3brslt). I joined with other volunteers to help prepare and serve electrolyte refreshments to runners who have just finished the race. It was just below freezing when I arrived on the site around 5:30 am to check in, and it wasn't much warmer when I began helping pour electrolyte liquid into cups set up on the tables. Despite the cold temperatures, it was at least sunny and the runners--approximately 10,000 for the two runs--were in good spirits.

Just under 30 minutes after the run began at 7:30 am, the first 5k finishers arrived, and we got the cups out to offer to the competitors. We stayed until the last competitor crossed the finish line just over 3 hours after the start. Among those I offered electrolyte to were Maggie, a colleague from the Kirkwood Enterprise branch (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html), and Dina Croy, wife of a family friend. The runner were very happy to get the refreshments my colleagues and I offered, and a few even thanked me for helping. I thanked all the runners I met for taking part, and told them it was a pleasure to help.

After I was finished with my finish line work, I joined in the post-run treats of hot chocolate and a chocolate fondue. For the latter, I dunked a banana, marshmallows, mini pretzels, Rice Krispies bars, and biscuits. It was a most sweet reward for helping out at this event.

That night, I was at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) for the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) member Christmas party. It was a nice, casual event for socializing with fellow members and their guests (usually significant others). We enjoyed a catered buffet dinner and a slide show of various pictures taken at or around St. Louis Lambert International Airport (https://www.flystl.com/).

Back to work Monday morning (11 December), it was a busy time, especially in the morning, but my colleagues and I got the job done well and satisfied our customers. We had long days, but we remained committed to the job.

At night, I assembled the December issue of The Arch Scaler News, the newsletter of IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/). It was completed Wednesday night, ready to send out the following day. Additionally, I finished the press release I would issue on behalf of the club regarding our donation to Toys for Tots (https://www.toysfortots.org/) that Friday.

Off work on Thursday (14 December), I continued my visits to my Enterprise colleagues, bearing newsletters for them and cookies for them and their colleagues. I began at Sikeston, chatting briefly with Lauren, who recently became branch manager. I stopped by Cape Girardeau next; manager Liz was away, but a colleague accepted the items for her. Finally, I stopped by Arnold and chatted briefly with manager Kelley.

That afternoon, I printed out a few copies of The Arch Scaler News and mailed them out to the few IPMS/Gateway members who needed their newsletter in that manner. I emailed the newsletter to the remaining people on our membership list.

Dressing for work Friday morning, I made sure to wear my ugly Christmas sweater under my coat. (Friday was National Ugly Sweater Day.) I made this garment a year ago and kept it on the rack until now. Two of my branch colleagues also wore their ugly sweaters. It was most interesting to see.

After getting word of IPMS/Gateway's donation of $661 to Toys for Tots--the presentation was made that morning at a toy drive in Fenton--I started getting the release and a photo taken of the presentation to local media.

I took it easy for much of yesterday morning. Early that afternoon, I was at Worldwide Technology Soccer Park (http://www.saintlouisfc.com/soccerpark), where the St. Louligans held a leadership meeting, in which the group's leaders talked about the past year and what could be done to improve matters going forward. Several members also aired their grievances with the group, and the leaders talked of what should be done to address their concerns.

I was off to Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis (http://public.cagsl.net/) that night to referee youth futsal matches. It was my first matches of the season, and my first since early this year, but fortunately all worked out well in the end. My partner and I had four matches and there were no serious issues.

Later.