Frigid Start to 2018

I worked at the rental branch last Saturday morning (30 December)--the final work day of 2017. It was quite busy, despite the sub-freezing cold. Because of that cold, Marvin and I kept the vehicles in the wash bay for a few minutes after washing, to prevent freezing of the doors and windows.

After work was done, I headed right away to Immacolata School (http://www.immacolata.org/immacolata-school-about-us.cfm) in Richmond Heights for the conclusion of the 9th Annual Mary McDermott 3rd Grade Basketball Tournament (https://www.glennon.org/mary-mcdermott-basketball/), which began the previous Thursday. This tournament for boys and girls Catholic Youth Council (CYC) teams raised money--through admissions, concessions, and a silent auction of sports memorabilia--to fund a Hybrid Cardiac Catheterization Suite at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. This tournament is named for Mary McDermott, an Immacolata parishioner, who died in 2008 at age 24 from a heart condition.

I arrived as the girls final was ending, and caught the boys final--a game that went into overtime. While there, I chatted briefly with Mary's father, Bill McDermott, a graphic designer and soccer commentator, who I have known for many years. I told Bill I was very happy to help out, in at least a small part, for this cause in her daughter's memory. There was a great crowd for the final game, and it was most supportive and positive of the action on the court.

After the final game, I got home as soon as possible to warm up. I basically stayed at home all weekend, including New Year's Eve. When the clock struck midnight, Mom and I walked out on the front porch to yell "Happy New Year!" I also rang a bell. After about 30 seconds of this, Mom and I got back inside and were in our respective beds soon after.

The next morning, I woke up for breakfast and to watch the Tournament of Roses Parade on TV. I spent much of the day watching episodes of "The Vietnam War" that I received for Christmas.

Back to work early Tuesday morning (2 January), it was one real busy morning. Vehicles jammed our lot when my colleagues and I arrived, and it took a while to warm them up to remove ice from the windows so we could move them around the lot. Eventually, we got a good handle on things and we took care of business very nicely. Because of the sub-freezing temperatures, we held off washing the vehicle exteriors, to prevent freezing of doors and windows.

After a not quite a busy Wednesday at the branch, I flexed out in mid-afternoon and came home. Off on Thursday, I took care of some chores in the morning before going out to two branches that afternoon. I first went to Kirkwood, where I left a greeting card and gift card for its manager, Hannah. She was out sick, but her assistant accepted it for her. This was celebrating Hannah and her boyfriend Justin recently moving into a new house.

I then headed to Ballwin branch, where I presented the same items to manager Tessie. She recently moved into a new home with her boyfriend, my former colleague Alex. Tessie really appreciated the gesture. (Alex told me the same tonight, by phone as I was driving home from work.)

That night, I was at Marion Morris' house in Maplewood for the IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) business meeting. (This was technically the December business meeting, held off until now due to the Holidays.) We planned our upcoming meetings, discussed some business, and agreed to the special categories for this year's Modeler of the Year model contests. I also officially took over as club secretary at this meeting.

It was a pretty busy Friday at the branch today, but things still went very well overall. I'm back at work tomorrow morning. Time to relax and stay warm.

Later.

2016 Ends

After the Christmas holiday, it was back to work Monday morning (26 December). The week as a whole was rather quiet compared to most weeks, primarily due to the Holidays and with customers wanting to keep their vehicles longer during this time. Things went well for us at the branch, and we stayed on top of things. So much, in fact, that I was released from work about 35 minutes early last night. Not that I was complaining.

Off work on Thursday, I took care of my laundry, and had some shopping done.

Late this morning, I drove to the Church of the Immacolata (http://www.immacolata.org/) in Richmond Heights to watch final day action in the Mary McDermott 3rd Grade Basketball Tournament (http://www.glennon.org/mary-mcdermott-basketball/). I caught one full game and parts of two others in this 8th annual tournament, whose proceeds benefit SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. I bought my lunch from their concession stand, and I looked at the sports memorabilia offered up in the silent auction. (I passed up on the latter; this was too rich for my blood, unfortunately.) At the tournament, I saw my friend Bill McDermott, Mary's father, who acted as public address announcer and as a guiding light for this event. (Mary McDermott died at age 24 in December of 2004; a new Hybrid Cardiac Catheterization Suite at Cardinal Glennon is being named for her.) I was very happy to help in at least a small way in this most worthy cause.

Home that afternoon, I turned on the TV and watched the NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Black Hawks at Busch Stadium. It was neat to see all those legends from those teams playing at least one more time, and before a packed crowd. The Winter Classic is Monday afternoon at Busch. I just hope the weather isn't too bad; there's a strong chance of showers that day. (I'll be at work that day, but I'll record it on the DVR to watch later.)

I'm home tonight to welcome 2017. Nothing special. There were good things that happened to me in 2016, and some not so good things. I hope for all of us a great, prosperous, and above all Happy New Year!

Later.