2018 Airshow at Spirit Airport

It was a chilly, gloomy Sunday morning (14 October) when I drove to Spirit of St. Louis Airport (https://www.spiritairport.com/) for this year's Spirit of St. Louis Airshow and STEM Expo (http://spirit-airshow.com/). I went there primarily to help staff the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) information booth, which was beside the static aircraft ramp. Jim Means and I staffed the booth, but we had few visitors. This was likely due to the reduced attendance that day compared to the day before. We thought the weather was to blame for that. Still, it was good to represent our group at this show.

I was able to get out and look at the aircraft on the ramp. These included several Boeing (http://www.boeing.com/) F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters; this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Hornet's first flight. Several Boeing F-15 Eagles, a CV-22 Osprey, a P-8 Poseidon, and other current aircraft were on display. Older aircraft present included the B-25 Mitchell, TBM Avenger, and L-3 from the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (http://cafmo.org/). Also there was the B-29 Superfortress "Doc" (https://www.b29doc.com/), one of only two flyable B-29s in the world.

I caught the air displays, which included several of those aircraft mentioned, although the clouds made the aircraft fly lower than normal. A B-52 Stratofortress made a pass in front of the crowd. I caught the flight by the Royal Canadian Air Force's CF-18 Demo Team (http://rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/cf-18-demo-team/index.page). This aircraft's scheme celebrates the 60th anniversary of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) (http://www.norad.mil/). It was a most spirited display by the CF-18's pilot, helped by the enthusiastic narration.

I left Spirit Airport soon after that demo to head for home. The air show returns to Spirit Airport on 7-8 September 2019, with the US Navy's Blue Angels (https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/) as the featured attraction.

Later.

MPC Meeting; Saint Louis FC Clinches a Playoff Berth

Last Saturday morning (13 October), I went to the St. Louis Artists' Guild (https://www.stlouisartistsguild.org/) in Clayton for this month's Missouri Professional Communicators (http://www.mpc-nfpw.org) meeting. The meeting was well attended and had two speakers--Dr. Andrew Smith of Lindenwood University (http://www.lindenwood.edu/) and Jessica Bellomo of Gateway Media Literacy Partners (https://www.gmlpstl.org/)-- on media literacy with the midterm elections coming up next month. It was quite an interesting program.

After relaxing at home that afternoon, I headed to World Wide Technology Soccer Park (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/SOCCERPARK) for the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) tailgate. This was held before Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) played its final regular season match against OKC Energy FC. We enjoyed a crawfish boil with beer at the tailgate, and made contributions to the St. Louligans' Charity Du Jour, Painting the Town Gold (http://ptgglened.org/), which raises funds to fight pediatric cancer. This season's Charity Du Jour efforts have raised $30,000--exceeding the goal before this season of $20,000.

We then marched into Toyota Stadium for the match. Saint Louis FC only needed a draw to clinch a berth in the United Soccer League (https://www.uslsoccer.com/) playoffs for the first time in club history. Club Chief Executive Officer Jim Kavanaugh led the St. Louligans in the chant "Who Are We," immediately followed by "Whoa, Saint Louis FC," just before kickoff.

The night ended with the home side's mission accomplished, as the scoreless draw clinched a postseason berth. We came out onto the pitch to celebrate with the players. It was a most happy time for us.

Saint Louis FC finished 8th in the USL Western Conference, and will play at top seed Orange County SC this Saturday night at 9:00 pm, Central Time in Irvine, California. The sides played to a 1-1 draw in Irvine on 12 May and a 2-2 draw at Toyota Stadium on 21 July. Bring it on!

Later.

Quite a Week for This Soccer Fan

Last Saturday night (6 October), I was at Robert R. Hermann Stadium on the Saint Louis University (https://www.slu.edu/) campus to cheer on the men's soccer team (http://www.slubillikens.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&SPID=93202&SPSID=632571&DB_OEM_ID=27200) play Atlantic 10 Conference (http://www.atlantic10.com/) rival LaSalle. The Billikens came back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to win 4-2. It was quite a fine match and I was happy to be supporting my alma mater. A number of SLU men's soccer alumni were honored at halftime.

The next morning, I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/SOCCERPARK) to run lines on two under 16 girls soccer matches. These were friendlies among member teams of the Elite Clubs National League (http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/), a group of top girls soccer clubs around the country. The matches went well, and it was good getting some nice exercise that morning.

Two days later, I heard of the big announcement about an effort to land a Major League Soccer (https://www.mlssoccer.com/) team here in St. Louis. A new group named #MLS4THELOU (https://mls4thelou.com/) introduced themselves. They are made up of the Taylor family, of Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (https://www.enterpriseholdings.com/en/index.html), and my friend Jim Kavanaugh, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of World Wide Technology, Inc. (https://www.wwt.com/). The group announced that they would seek an MLS franchise, shooting to begin play in 2022, and that they would have a privately funded stadium built in downtown St. Louis. This soccer fan is most happy about this development--not just because I am friends with Kavanaugh and an Enterprise Rent-A-Car employee--and wish this group all the best in their efforts.

Wednesday night (10 October), I was back at World Wide Technology Soccer Park for Saint Louis FC's (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Tulsa Roughnecks FC. This was the match rescheduled from 14 July, when lightning and stormy weather interrupted the match. I joined in the tailgate before the match with the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/), where I enjoyed nachos and beer, and took in a soccer kit contest by several of our group. We then marched into Toyota Stadium for the match, were a first half goal sufficed for Saint Louis FC's 1-0 win. This result means a draw in tomorrow night's season finale at home against OKC Energy FC will be enough to send us into the United Soccer League (https://www.uslsoccer.com/) playoffs for the first time in club history. This should be great!

Later.

Tablet Training and Soccer Refereeing

One week ago tonight (26 September) found me at the Centene Center for Arts (https://keeparthappening.org/centene-center-arts) in midtown St. Louis. I went to a volunteer training session from Cinema St. Louis (https://www.cinemastlouis.org/) in advance of the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) in early November. Along with a handful of others, I learned how to use tablet computers to ring up sales of film tickets, SLIFF merchandise, and Cinema St. Louis memberships. I had never used an Apple iPad before, but it was very simple to understand, and I feel I can get this done well when I volunteer at SLIFF. Volunteer assignment requests will be accepted from mid-October.

Work went well late last week. I chilled out at home on Saturday (29 September), and was back refereeing soccer the next morning at Sportport International (http://www.sportportintl.com/) in Maryland Heights. It was a set of three St. Louis Youth Soccer Association (SLYSA) (https://www.slysa.org/) under-13 matches. Our crew worked a girls contest, then two boys games. I had the middle on the last match of the set, a rather close affair.

After the matches, I grabbed lunch at a Subway (https://www.subway.com/en-US) restaurant, then drove to Mark Twain Hobby Center (https://www.hobby1.com/) in St. Charles. There, I found and bought some paints for the model I am working on next. I also browsed around the shop. There is always plenty to browse through at hobby shops.

Back to work Monday (1 October) and our new vehicle prep, Brandon, was with us on his first full day. (He worked the previous Saturday morning.) I think he will do well for us, and his presence is most welcome.

Off today, I delivered some treats to colleagues at corporate headquarters in Clayton and the rental branches in Ladue and South County. They were most welcome by the recipients, who I briefly chatted with before going on. I also took care of my laundry, and went to dinner with mom at Culver's (https://www.culvers.com/) in South County.

Later.

Another Soccer Weekend, and a Business Meeting

After another week of working hard at the car rental branch, I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/SOCCERPARK) Saturday night (22 September) for the Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against San Antonio FC. I arrived in the parking lot for the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) tailgate, which featured Mexican food and music (the latter by a DJ). After enjoying two freshly made tacos and a beer, I joined the St. Louligans in marching into Toyota Stadium for the match.

The home side had the run of play, but it was two goals late in the match that made Saint Louis FC 2-0 winners. It was a big win for us, and that means we need only four points in the final three matches of the season to clinch a berth in the USL (https://www.uslsoccer.com/) playoffs. During the second half, I had two more tacos, this time from the Locoz Tacoz (https://twitter.com/LocozTacoz?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) truck at the atadium.

The next morning, I was back at World Wide Technology Soccer Park, this time to run line on two St. Louis Youth Soccer Association (https://www.slysa.org/) matches. They went very well, with no real issues.

I put in two full days of work at the car rental branch. After work yesterday (25 September), I headed to The Muddled Pig Gastropub (http://themuddledpig.com/) in Maplewood. There, Marion Morris hosted this month's IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home) business meeting. After a bit of left over business from our Invitational earlier this month, we discussed proposals for improving club operations. There was good discussion by the board members in attendance, and good food. For me, it was their house burger, a can of 4 Hands Brewing Co. (http://4handsbrewery.com/) City Wide ale, and a shot of bourbon. I found it most satisfying.

By the way, this past weekend, I submitted my Member Spotlight article for IPMS/Gateway's website, where it now can be found: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aiMSumLlS2SFwGlXOCCXy3xhnEO3v8Dh/view

Off work today, I mowed the front and back lawns at home, did my laundry, and got my hair cut at Great Clips (https://www.greatclips.com/). I then treated myself to a beverage from Saint Louis Bread Co. (https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/home.html) and shopped for personal care items at Walgreens (https://www.walgreens.com/).

Later.

Trivia, Aviation, Soccer, and Scale Models

One week ago tonight (12 September), I was at Element Restaurant and Lounge (https://www.elementstl.com/) in south St. Louis for their weekly Tenacious Trivia. I went there with others from the Single in the City Meetup group (https://www.meetup.com/STLSingleInTheCity/). There were some real challenging questions posed, and even a trivia ace like myself had a tough time with it, but it was fun and a great time for our group.

After work the next night, I was at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) for this month's Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) meeting. We had a presentation on the history of Trans World Airlines (TWA), followed by a talk by a former TWA Lockheed L-1011 pilot on his experiences with the aircraft. A fine time was had by all.

Friday (14 September), I came home from work to find in my mail a certificate from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) (https://nfpw.org/). It was the Third Place award in this year's NFPW Communication Contest for my press release issued last December on behalf of IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) when they made a donation to Toys for Tots. That release was entered in this contest because it took First Place in that category at this year's Communication Contest by the Missouri Professional Communications (MPC) (http://www.mpc-nfpw.org/cpsiteframepage.lasso?-token.lpuserref=113815.113118), an affiliate of the NFPW. This was the first time I received national recognition for my professional work, so of course I am most proud of this honor.

Sunday afternoon (16 September), I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/SOCCERPARK) to referee three youth matches. I worked two under-13 girls middles around a line on an under-15 girls match--all with the heat index reaching 100 degrees F (38 degrees C). Our refereeing crew had water breaks midway through each half of these matches, yet I had cramps in my calves during the second half of the last match. Still, the matches worked out well for us.

After work Tuesday (18 September), I was at Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) for this month's IPMS/Gateway meeting. This featured a recap on our recent Invitational model contest and swap meet, and our Modeler of the Year Contest, with the Special Category of "To the Rescue." I didn't enter in that category, but I did enter one model each in the Miscellaneous and Aircraft categories. They both earned Second Place honors. It was a good night, including having several new members at our meeting.

Off work today, I had my annual checkup with my new doctor. It went well, and--though there were a few minor issues I can work on--I am in overall very good health.

Later.