Another Year Older; A Brazilian Feast

Last Saturday (7 Feb.) was my birthday. It was a low-key celebration at home with my Mom, as I opened a few presents (including a new bed robe, a model kit, and a book. At noon, I co-hosted Writer's Block, the monthly online radio show from ANCA Radio Shows--Autistic People. Host Tim Pylypiuk and I discussed adaptations (such as from book to movie), and the challenges writers and editor have with them. It went well and you can listen to it here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/autistic-people-/2015/02/07/writers-block-adaptions--10am-pstradio-drama-the-grooming-hour-11am-pst

After the show, Mom and I went to Crusoe's Restaurant in Oakville for lunch. I had a coupon for several dollars off an entree from there. We had a good lunch and returned home.

The next night, after a rather quiet weekend (apart from working on a couple of model kits), I was at Yemanja Brasil Restaurante in St. Louis' Benton Park neighborhood. I joined 10 others from the Ethnic Restaurant Fans Meetup group for the Yemanja Day Celebration. (Yemanja is the Queen of the Ocean in the Umbanda religion in Brazil, which combines African traditions with Roman Catholicism, Spiritism, and Indigenous American beliefs.) We enjoyed a four-course dinner from a menu for the night. I started with a Cocktail de Camerão appetizer (which featured rock shrimp), followed by Salada de Bacalhau (shredded cod and vegetables on a bed of lettuce), an entree of Caldeirada do Mar (a kind of fish stew), and completed with Pudim de Chocolate (a flan dish) for dessert. I drank a Cadillac Caipirinha before and during this dinner, then had a cup of hot coffee with and after dessert. All in all, a very good dinner and some wonderful conversation. I highly recommend Yemanja Brasil Restaurante. You can visit their website for more info: http://www.BrazilDining.com.

Back to work Monday and things have been going well at our branch. Plenty of business to keep us humming. After work Monday, I was at the Grand Glaize Branch of the St. Louis County Library for the monthly soccer referee clinic. We had a presentation on the evolution of the Laws of the Game, which I found interesting, followed by discussion of the correct decisions in several game situations.

Took care of my laundry today and got in some painting on one of my models. I'm getting close to finishing them for this Tuesday's IPMS/Gateway meeting, which will have the Out of the Box Contest--the first of four contests in 2015 towards Modeler of the Year. More info on the club here: http://ipms-gateway.com.

I'm going to a planning meeting tonight. Will tell you more in my next post.

Later.

Bobby D Blog: Of a Sweet Tooth and Snow

Bobby D Blog: Of a Sweet Tooth and Snow

Of a Sweet Tooth and Snow

After a good week of hard work at the car rental branch, I was in downtown Maplewood, Missouri last Saturday (31 January) for the city's second annual Sweet Tooth Tour. This was a walking tour of 14 food merchants in Maplewood. I was with 10 others from the STL Food Lovers Meetup group and we had a wonderful time. In just over two hours, we visited all 14 establishments and enjoyed samples of chocolate, cake, pie, donut, cookie, beer, tea and coffee. We even did a bit of shopping at one or two places. A great time was had by all.

At home most of the rest of the weekend, I did some work on a couple of models I should have completed to enter at the Out of the Box contest at the IPMS/Gateway meeting on 17 February. I did also watch the Super Bowl on Sunday--mostly for the commercials, but also for some of the game action. It was exciting up to the end, but I was disappointed that Seattle lost.

Back at work on Monday (2 February), things continued to go well for our branch. Yesterday afternoon, we had to deal with sleet, then a bit of snow. That did make my work a bit more difficult, as I had to scrape ice and snow off vehicle windows before driving them--even on our lot--and had to be real careful when taking a customer back to his house and coming back late in the day. Fortunately, all went well.

I drove from work to Mark Twain Hobby Center in St. Charles on Tuesday for the IPMS/St. Louis meeting. The four of us there talked some scale modeling, as well as movies, and we discussed ideas to grow our meeting attendance and membership. More on this club here: http://www.ipms-stlouis.com/.

This Saturday is not only my birthday, but (thanks to trading a work shift with a colleague who requested it) also when I next co-host Writer's Block, the monthly online radio show from ANCA Radio Shows, Autistic People, streamed over blogtalkradio.com. Host Tim Pylypiuk and I will be on live at noon, Central Time (10 am, Pacific Time; 1800 hours GMT) for the hour-long program, which will be archived for download later on Saturday. I hope you can listen in. Details here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/autistic-people- and http://www.naturallyautistic.com/.

Later.

Good Weather Times Won't Last

We've had some very mild, and even unseasonably warm, weather of late. However, it looks like it will be snowy from this Saturday night. Best to enjoy the good weather while I can.

My mouth is fine after that tooth extraction of the previous week. Still getting used to no tooth in that space in my mouth, but I'll persevere.

Work has been good. I've been doing my part to keep things going great at our branch. That included work this past Saturday morning (24 January).

After work Tuesday night (27 January), I was at Marion Morris' house in Maplewood for the IPMS/Gateway business meeting. We got the next month's general and business meetings planned, and discussed some other club business. A rather productive meeting, I think.

Got in a bit of proofreading work Wednesday after work, as I proofread a two-page newsletter a friend was editing. It looked good and I let her know right away.

On my off day from work today, I typed up and distributed the minutes from Tuesday's meeting, and also finished writing and sending to The Arch Scaler News (IPMS/Gateway's newsletter) an article for publication.

This weekend should be real interesting, even before the snow fall hits. More on that next time.

Later.

One Less Tooth to Chew With

Last Thursday night (15 January) found me at Creve Coeur Airport for the first Missouri Aviation Historical Society (MAHS) meeting of 2015. This event celebrated the 40th anniversary this month and next of record time-to-climb flights made by the St. Louis-built Streak Eagle, a modified McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighter. Several engineers involved in this effort were present, and we saw a documentary film about the Streak Eagle's record setting flights. A most interesting meeting. More info on the MAHS website: http://moavhist.org/.

Saturday afternoon saw a pair of Meetups for me. First, I was at Cafe Ventana in midtown St. Louis for the Saint Louis Area Sippers meetup. About 10 of us gathered for coffee and conversation, and that went very nicely. I met some people from our last Meetup earlier in the month and a few new people. A good time was had by all.

From Cafe Ventana, I drove to Panera Bread Co. in St. Louis Hills for the first get-together of the Multilingual Americans Meetup. There were four of us there and we discussed our experiences learning other languages. (I mentioned my recently starting to learn Portuguese; the group leader said one person who did not make this event knows that language and would be a good learning partner for me.) It was very nice and I look forward to getting together with them soon.

After working Monday morning (19 January), I drove to St. Louis County Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Sunset Hills for a tooth extraction--mine. One of the lower teeth on the left side of my mouth had its root go bad and the dentist could not save it, so he recommended this practice. I was in and out in about one hour, from check in to departure. It went really well and I did have some swelling and pain the next couple of days, but I was well enough to drive to get some prescriptions (for antibiotics and painkillers) filled on the way home. The dentist performing the surgery noticed my Enterprise shirt and he said he has rented from our Chesterfield branch and been very satisfied with our service. It was good to know I was in good hands! (I did pass the dentist's comments to the manager of the Chesterfield branch, who I know well.)

Back to work late the next morning, I got through the work day without any ill effects. I did stick with soft food, so I had a couple of milk shakes on the way in to work and some chili for lunch yesterday. I should be fine now with harder food, although I will need to keep the space where that tooth was cleaned well.

Tuesday night, I went straight from work to Calvary Presbyterian Church for the IPMS/Gateway meeting, which was our annual Swap & Sell and Kit Auction. Several members had their wares (kits and related items) for sale, and I bought something each from three of them. We then had our annual auction of kits and related items donated by club members, with proceeds going to club activities. There were about 60 people at that meeting--January meetings are highly attended due to the Swap & Sell--and included five first-time people. More info on this club here: http://ipms-gateway.com.

Off work today, I typed up the minutes from the IPMS/Gateway meeting and sent those to the board members. I also got out my resume and began to make a few tweaks, in anticipation of career opportunities that come my way.

Later.

Staying Warm and A Nice Banquet

It has been real cold here in St. Louis lately--the coldest of this winter so far--with temperatures getting down to 5 degrees F (-12 degrees C), with wind chills getting even colder at times. Fortunately, the ice storm feared for early this week did not materialize. It is starting to warm up and it looks like we'll hit 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) this Saturday.

Work has gone well. At least with only the cold and not the ice or snow, it makes my job of preparing vehicles a bit easier. Business has been good.

After working last Saturday morning (10 January) at the branch and relaxing at home, I drove to Vincenzo's Italian Ristorante in Ferguson, Missouri early that night. The Gateway Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers' Society (IPMS) was holding its annual banquet. After a nice buffet dinner in the private room there, the attendees heard club founder Del Miller speak about the origins of IPMS/Gateway 40 years ago and the early days. He was then presented a Life Member certificate in appreciation for his efforts. The club's Modeler of the Year and Bob Stroup Award (outstanding achievement) honorees were recognized, all present enjoyed themselves. The club meets this Tuesday night (20 January) for their annual Swap & Sell and Kit Auction. More information at http://ipms-gateway.com

Tuesday night (13 January), I went to the bar at Schneithorst's Restaurant in Ladue, Missouri for a happy hour put on by the Sex Positive St. Louis Meetup Group. There must have been about 60 people there from our group. I saw a few people I knew from this group and a few I had not met before. I wasn't able to converse much with anyone, but it was nice.

Off work today, I sent birthday wishes to my friend Eliana in Brazil. Off to the Missouri Aviation Historical Society's meeting tonight.

Later.

A Model Display and a Movie Amid Cold Days

After finishing a good week of work on Friday (2 January) to start the New Year off right, I got some models together and was at the Cliff Cave Branch of the St. Louis County Library in Oakville last Saturday morning. There, myself and three others from Gateway Chapter, International Plastic Modelers' Society (IPMS) set up a display in the lobby display case. We had a nice variety of model subjects--aircraft, armor, ships, cars, science fiction, and figures. Plus, we had flyers about our club and the IPMS/USA Region 5 Convention we're hosting on 12 September. The display will be in the case for the rest of this month. Info on our club at http://ipms-gateway.com.

A good work day on Monday (5 January) was followed by a good movie that night. I joined others from the Monday Indie Movie Club Meetup group at Chipotle in the Delmar Loop for dinner before we walked a short distance to the Tivoli Theatre. There, we saw "The Imitation Game," a marvelous docudrama set in World War II and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the British mathematician who helped his country crack German codes during the war and laid the foundation for modern computers. We all very much enjoyed the film and each other's company, and look forward to meeting again soon to see another fine movie.

The temperatures really dipped that night, and we were below freezing in both temperature and (more so) wind chill factor. This made things a bit more difficult at work, at least when I was outside bringing vehicles in for and out of cleaning and for driving these vehicles with customers and ferrying the vehicles. Fortunately, there was very little snow that fell and no freezing rain to complicate things. I did dress in layers under my work outfit, so that helped.

Tuesday night (6 January) after work saw at Mark Twain Hobby Center in St. Charles for the monthly IPMS/St. Louis meeting. Only two of us were present, so it was not much of a meeting. I did hand over the presidency on an acting basis to the other attendee, who is the new chapter contact. I'm glad to not have to do so much of the day-to-day work on this group.

Off work today, I did clear out some old emails from my computer. (It really needed it.) Also, I installed some newly acquired foreign language learning software from Rosetta Stone. I selected Portuguese (Brazil), and just had my first lesson a few minutes ago. It was pretty good to start, but I feel I want to redo that lesson so I feel more comfortable with it. Wish me luck!

Later.