Some satisfaction of late

Last week, two most interesting things happened. Wednesday morning, I went to The Creative Group office in downtown St. Louis to update their info on me (not having worked an assignment for them in over one year) and to be quickly briefed about the assignment for me. That afternoon, I reported to the client's supervisor to be given a catalog for proofreading. The client also gave me their style sheet, where they deviated from the standard styles for written items (such as AP and Chicago Manual of Style, both of which I'm familiar with). I came home to find my cousin Bertice Brown and her husband Ed at home with my parents. They drove up from their home in Birmingham, Alabama, on their way to Colorado to see their youngest daughter, Emily. My parents saw them when my Aunt Margaret Knowles (Dad's sister, Bertice's mother) died last year, but I had not seem the Browns for just over 20 years. They are doing well and they very much appreciated our hospitality, even if a stormy night livened things a bit. Bertice and Ed drove off the next morning.
I got down to work on the proofreading assignment, wich I completed late Friday morning. Mid-afternoon, the client asked me to come to their office with the proof copy, which I did. The supervisor greatly appreciated my work, telling me (as she looked over the document with my proofing marks) how this was just what she wanted in a proofreading. She signed my timesheet and thanked me for a super job. I asked her to please let me know if she heard of any jobs fitting my experience and skills, or people I should network with, and she said she would. I got the timesheet faxed in at a office supply store's print shop.
Last weekend was rather quiet. No games then, or this weekend. I'll be back on the 28th with a pair of games to referee.
Last night, I went to a house meeting in Affton of some concerned citizens and Obama supporters. We (about 10 of us) gathered to discuss health care reform and what we want. Several of us told of how they are being brought to financial hardship, if not ruin, by high health insurance payments and treatment costs (office visits, prescriptiuons). Our consensus was that we should let our members of Congress know that they should stand with the people and not the lobbyists for the health insurance firms. The American people want to make sure everyone is covered and all at affordable costs across the board. You can find out more on this issue and what you can do to help at http://www.barackobama.com/
I have IPMS Gateway meeting tonight at Calvary Presbyterian Church. I'll be at the fellowship hall early to get it set up for the meeting. Just a reminder that our club is hosting the 2009 Gateway to the West Invitational model contest and swap meet on Sat., 12 September at Hitters Choice Cages in Eureka, Missouri. For more info on that and our club, visit http://ipms-gateway.com/
That's it for now. See you all soon.

Some interesting events of late

Last Tuesday, I was reelected by acclamation as President of IPMS St. Louis for 2009-10. No other candidate was offered up for the position, after I told the assembled members and guest that I was willing to stand for reelection. No problem. The club should be in good hands (let's hope) for another year. Meeting was nice, with a guest having found out about us from our web site coming to the meeting for the first time, and joining on the spot.
The next day, my one temp agency called to set up an interview for me for a temporary proofreading job with a healthcare maintenance organization. The interview was on Friday afternoon in downtown St. Louis. It was rather brief -- only about 20 minutes -- but I think it went very nicely. I haven't heard back yet from the temp agency if I got the job or not. I plan to call back tomorrow to find out. Before the interview, I snapped a photo of the Meeting of the Waters fountain across Market Street from St. Louis Union Station.
Saturday morning, the St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Catholic Church parade ran down my street towards the church for its annual picnic. It was mostly youth groups in the church walking or riding in vehicles. Several of them tossed candy towards our driveway and front lawn, and I was able to scoop all this up for the family. (Some of it was taken to our church today by Mom.) Later that day, I drove to the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex in Cottleville, for the PDL match between St. Louis Lions and Real Colorado Foxes. I was assistant referee 2 (AR2), the official on the far side from the team benches. It was my first AR assignment in this league, and I admitted to being rather nervous. However, the game largely went well (St. Louis won 2-0) and I at least benefitted from the experience.
Yesterday started with two men's games (Latin American Soccer League) at De Soto Park in St. Louis. I worked with two Bosnian-Americans, who I had never worked with before, but we somehow got the games in OK, for the most part. I grabbed a bit of lunch from one of the food vendors set up at the park during these games -- in my case, a pork rind taco which was spicy, yet tasty. Then, I drove to the Anheuser-Busch Center in Fenton for the WPS match between Saint Louis Athletica and Sky Blue FC. It was the first time I saw a WPS match, which Saint Louis won 1-0. I snapped a few photos of the game action, plus a self portrait of myself.
I had a nice online chat yesterday with a young woman I met online. She seems very nice and I hope to chat with her again soon, and meet her in person.
Take care & talk to you later.

A rather interesting Memorial Day weekend

Friday night, I went to The Royale pub in south St. Louis to take in a DJ spin on their patio. Husband-and-wife DJs and KDHX-FM hosts Steve and Cat Pick were spinning a rather eclectic mix of music. Cat was my high school classmate. I don't think she quite recognized me there, but I was happy to see her.
Saturday afternoon, I was in Cottleville for the St. Louis Lions-Des Moines Menace match, working as 4th official. We gathered well before game time to inspect the field, go over procedures and begin administrative tasks. The game was physical, but fine, as St. Louis and Des Moines tied at 2. St. Louis led 1-0 with an early goal, but Des Moines scored two 2nd half goals to take the lead, only for the Lions to equalize late in the match. This result meant that St. Louis advanced to the 2009 US Open Cup tournament, and Des Moines did not. I was rather nervous, this being my first PDL assignment, but overal it was fine. I work as 4th on another Lions match on 6 June. After this game, I had a nice dinner at a St. Peters bar and grill, Mad Dogs and Cats, before driving home.
Sunday afternoon found me going Greek for awhile, as I attended the annual Greek Fest put on by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Town and Country, Missouri. Skies were overcast and I took in the vendors, food and entertainment of this event. I should have some cellphone photos from that event attached to this post. (My scheduled men's soccer games Sun. morning were called off, probably because no one wanted to play that day.)
Yesterday was quiet. I spent it at home, watching some war movies on cable (Turner Classic Movies' annual Memorial Day Weekend marathon). Today, I got my hair cut, deposited my pay from Saturday's game. and applied online for a magazine editing job in Pennsylvania. Wish me luck!
Later.

Entering the Memorial Day Weekend

Rather quiet now as I write this. Starting the holiday weekend that is the unoffical start of summer. I know what I have planned. I'm 4th official on tomorrow night's PDL match between St. Louis and Des Moines in Cottleville. Should be interesting, to say the least. Sunday morning, I have two men's games to officiate at Jefferson Barracks Park, then I can enjoy the rest of the Holiday weekend.
Nothing much happening. I got my last paycheck from the Census Bureau this past week, and that was for when I turned in my gear. Helped my parents celebrate their birthdays recently -- Dad's 85th on Thu., 14 May and Mom's 69th on Mon., 18 May. (Yes, that's 14 years and four days apart.) Last Saturday afternoon, I helped run a Make & Take event at the HobbyTown USA shop in Arnold, Mo. Myself and three IPMS Gateway colleagues faciliated this event, as four kids and two mothers worked on model kits, which they got to take home after they put them together. Nice way to promote our hobby and club, and for the shop to promote itself. It was real fun, and the tools I brought came in handly. I also got to plug our Invitational this September.
Saturday night, I joined two of my WAWWA friends at a trivia night in Richmond Heights, Missouri. It was put on the Richmond Heights Chamber of Commerce. Our table -- eight people total -- had the night's highest score, getting 94 of 100 questions right. Each person in our table won $20. I also won a side contest that night, which netted me a $50 restaurant gift certificate and four tickets to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Quite a nice night.
I did read of a job opening this morning in my e-mail, for a managing editor position. I'll check this out and ask around my network for info on this posting.
Later.

Where was I?

Rather quiet past few days, for the most part. I had two games I ran line on Wed. night at St. Louis U. High. Both semifinals in the Missouri Soccer Association's amateur cups -- Men's Amateur and Men's Over-30. They went pretty well. I was just glad the stormy weather held off until well after the games were over.
Yesterday, my parents and I had a nice dinner at Tucker's Place in south St. Louis County. It's a steakhouse, and we were celebrating my parents' birthdays -- Dad's 85th was yesterday, Mom's 69th is Monday. Tucker's is a good place to go for a nice steak dinner -- I had the New York Strip, which was very nicely prepared.
This past Tuesday, I went to a meeting of the STL Writers Connect MeetUp in Brentwood. About 6 of us were there -- this was my first time at this MeetUp -- and our leader gave us some tips on turning our ideas into books. I would like to try this in the coming weeks. Later on Tuesday, I went to a Yellow Tie networking happy hour hosted by Spoke Marketing in midtown St. Louis. There was a large crowd there, but I got to talk with a few people (including a few fellow job seekers) and it was a generally nice affair.
Tomorrow has me (1) officiating two games in the morning, weather permitting; (2) helping conduct a scale modeling Make & Take at the HobbyTown USA shop in Arnold, Missouri; and (3) attending a trivia night in Richmond Heights, Mo. with some folks from the WAWWA group. On Sunday, I'm going to a singles MeetUp brunch in west St. Louis in the morning, then referee tow men's games in downtown St. Louis that afternoon.
Later.

Formally finished with census canvassing

This past Monday, I turned in my Census Bureau gear -- hand held computer, kit bag, credential, manuals and forms -- to my supervisor. This formally ended my enumerator work, although I had not worked a block since 23 April. The supervisor thanked me for my efforts, and let me know that they may be hiring people again for temporary work in August if I was interested. I said I was.
Last weekend found me on the pitch, refereeing. I worked a busy slate: four games Saturday in St. Charles (Midwest Regional League under-16 boys) and three on Sunday, with one MRL game in St. Charles and two St. Louis Youth Soccer Association u17 boys games in Fenton. Generally, they went well. Spring season ends in about a month from now. Will at least have some summer games (Latino men's league on Sundays, plus two men's amateur fourth official assignments in the coming weeks).
Did some straightening out in my office yesterday, clearing out some old papers. Look to do more such straightening out in my living spaces in the coming days.
More later.

On hiatus

Last week, I canvassed two neighborhoods in St. Louis' north side for the US Census Bureau. I found many boarded-up buildings and vacant lots, but also some residences. They were the last neighborhoods I have canvassed in the course of the current program. There is a slight possibility of being sent elsewhere in Missouri to help, but that is remote. I'm pretty much done with Census work for the time being, although I could be recalled this August for some other duty with them. In the meantime, I can get back to finding full time work.
After several games called off due to weather, I was back refereeing last week. Worked four tournament games in St. Charles Sat. afternoon, and two Development Academy games Sun. in Maryland Heights. I'm scheduled for two games tonight, weather permitting (the field may be too wet), and some more games this weekend.
Lately, I've been bothered by major itching and rashes on my back, chest and shoulders. I have applied lotion to it, but the itching persists. Anyone have any ideas?
Later