Soccer to Watch, Work to Do, and New Glasses

Last Saturday night (21 July) found me at World Wide Technology Soccer Park Fenton for the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) tailgate prior to the Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Orange County SC. We enjoyed bratwurst and beer before marching into Toyota Stadium for the match.

The match itself ended in a 2-2 draw. Orange County would score first, then Saint Louis equalized, then Orange County retook the lead before Saint Louis leveled it. Saint Louis FC is some points off from a playoff spot, and it won't be easy getting more soon: They are away to Reno 1868 FC tonight.

Work at the rental branch this week went well. A bit slow this week, due to lower inventory and demand. Still, we work hard to earn our customers' loyalty every day.

After work Tuesday night (24 July), I drove to Marion Morris' house in Maplewood for this month's IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/IPMSGateway/) (https://plus.google.com/109625362829756697296) business meeting. (I originally came to Bill Wagner's house, until I realized that he was hosting next months' business meeting.) We discussed our upcoming Invitational model contest on 8 September, and some other club business. I posted notices on our contest on several area online events calendars this past week.

This morning, I drove to Crown Vision Center (https://crownvisioncenter.com/) in Concord Village to pick up my new glasses. This was made to the prescription written after my eye exam there on 18 July. They look and feel great, and are quite an improvement over the interim glasses I've worn the past few months. I celebrated these new glasses by walking to the nearby Saint Louis Bread Co. (https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/home.html) and treating myself to a caramel latte.

Relaxing at home now.

Later.

In Print; In the Dark

I worked at the rental car branch a week ago yesterday (9 July), and it went well. Not real busy. I grabbed some lunch after work, and washed my car at Martian Car Wash (http://www.martiancarwash.com/) in Ellisville. The place opened up a few weeks ago. They did a great job cleaning my Corolla, and was a good value for the money.

Resting at home last Sunday afternoon, I got a pleasant surprise in my email. The long-delayed, long-awaited latest issue of Middle Marker, journal of the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) arrived. It was the first issue put out in two years, and included my story I wrote then about Charles Morley, a Missouri airman killed during the Vietnam War. My article told of Morley's story, including how his F-4 was shot down over Laos one night in 1970 and he and his crewmate were listed as Missing in Action. The remains were found in Laos 25 years later and Morley was buried with full military honors. The story also included some photos of Morley and of an F-4 displayed at Jefferson Barracks Air National Guard Station that is painted like Morley's plane. (Two of my photos are included in the article.) I am very happy to see this issue of Middle Marker out at last, and for my work to appear in print. I am hoping to write more articles for this journal in the coming years.

Work went well this past week, although it got very interesting on Wednesday afternoon (13 July). A thunderstorm with high winds blew through the Metropolitan St. Louis area. Power went out at our branch for about three hours, so we had to resort to using tablet computers to process rental transactions (thank goodness for tablets!), cell phones for communications, and flashlights for seeing in darkened areas of the lobby. The power was restored just as we were closing for the day.

However, power also went out at my house, and my mom and I were left in the dark until late Friday afternoon. We had to resort to candles, flashlights, battery operated devices (radios, cell phones, and tablets), and not moving around much at home due to the heat. Ameren (https://www.ameren.com/) reported that over 100,000 metro area residents were without power, and the last were not restored until today.

Fortunately, power was restored at my doctor's office on Thursday morning, when I went for my annual examination. I am in very good health overall, with no problems apart from lingering tendonitis in my one heel. I should get some blood work done in the coming week or two.

Friday morning (15 July), I brought in some doughnuts from Krispy Kreme (https://www.krispykreme.com/) for my colleagues, and they greatly appreciated the gesture. My branch mates look forward to my bringing in doughnuts on every other Friday morning, which coincides with pay day.

Yesterday starting with catching up on my laundry, then I was at Caleco's Bar & Grill (http://www.calecos.com/Calecos%20Downtown.htm) in Downtown St. Louis for lunch with the St. Louis Historic Sites Meetup (http://www.meetup.com/St-L-Historic-Buildings-Meetup/). About 19 of us got together for a fine lunch. It was my first time at Caleco's in Downtown, and enjoyed meeting with the group, which had come off touring some Downtown landmarks.

On the way home from that lunch, I stopped by Crown Vision Center (http://www.crownvisioncenter.com/) in Tesson Ferry to pick up my new glasses. They fit great and I can see great with them on.

After time at home including dinner, I drove to Stone Spiral Coffee and Curios (http://www.stonespiralcoffee.com/) in Maplewood for the StL Tea Club Meetup (http://www.meetup.com/StL-Tea-Club-Meetup/). About ten of us attended and we enjoyed sampling several teas while we conversed about tea and other things. It was a most pleasant outing.

Home today, I attended service at Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) this morning, then rested at home this afternoon.

Later.

Into July with Writer's Block and Soccer

Last Thursday (30 June) had me at Circus Flora (http://circusflora.org/) one more time this season to volunteer at a performance of "Pastime." I was helping customers find their seats and helped make sure the safety net guidelines were not interfered with during the trapeze act just before the show ended. It was a great time to help out again this season, my third doing this. God willing, I will be back next season.

Saturday (2 July), I was co-hosting this month's episode of "Writer's Block," the monthly online radio show from Autistic People (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/autistic-people-/2016/07/02/writers-block-10am-pst-radio-drama--the-princess-part-four-11am-pst). Tim Pylypiuk and I discussed epic poetry, with examples from John Milton ("Paradise Lost"), Homer ("The Iliad" and "The Odyssey"), and Virgil ("The Aeneid"). It was quite a fine discussion. The program is now available to access online, including downloading for podcast.

The Independence Day weekend was pretty low key for me, not really venturing out. The rainy weather much of that weekend had a part; so did not feeling really up for going out. I did go to a friend's house on Monday night (4 July), only to be told the party she and her husband were to have hosted was called off due to lack of interest, so I left after a few minutes.

It was an abbreviated work week for me, with the branch closed on Monday, flexing out on Tuesday afternoon (I'm working this Saturday morning), and taking today off for a one-day vacation. It was busy on Tuesday, due to the renters coming back from the holiday weekend, but we got things done. I was most glad to a week ago today that my colleague Hannah had passed her Management Qualification Interview (MQI) the day before, which will help bring her one step closer to becoming an assistant branch manager. I was so happy for her; Hannah has been such a go-getter since she started with us about one year ago.

Our firm is a bit down this week, due to the passing last weekend of company founder Jack C. Taylor. I never met him, but I heard many great words about Mr. Taylor, and how he was not only such a visionary founder, but a great philanthropist. Enterprise has set up a tribute to Mr. Taylor at: http://jacktaylorremembered.com/.

Right after work Wednesday night (6 July), I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park for the USL (http://www.uslsoccer.com) match between Saint Louis FC (http://saintlouisfc.com/landing/index) and Seattle Sounders FC 2. Sounders took an early lead, but Sam Fink's 86th minute equalizer made it a 1-1 draw. I had a good time cheering on with the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/). After the game, there was a brief, but nice fireworks display. Saint Louis FC is back in action at home tomorrow night (9 July) against FC Cincinnati.

On my off day yesterday (7 July), I took my Corolla in to Weiss Toyota (http://www.weisstoyota.com/) to have them look over the car's front passenger air bag, which is subject to a recall. After a few minutes, they confirmed it and said they order the necessary parts to replace that airbag, which they said would come in about two weeks. I also got my eyes examined at Crown Vision Center (http://www.crownvisioncenter.com/). My eyes were in good shape, the doctor old me. There, I also got new glasses ordered; they should be ready in about two weeks.

I took today off as a personal vacation time. I just wanted to take it easy after some hard weeks of work recently. I went to lunch with Mom, after running an errand, and then mailed a small package to a friend. Back home, I did my laundry.

Later.