Plenty of Work and Some Soccer as October Begins

I was at the rental branch Saturday morning (30 September) for work. We had a fine morning of business, and I stayed to help clean up the rest of the branch's vehicles to get them ready for Monday morning. After that, it was lunch, then chilling out at home.

I was at Worldwide Technology Soccer Park the next afternoon to referee some youth soccer matches. I had four scheduled, according to my assignment, but there was no match for the first slot of my assignment. Thus, my crewmates and I waited around until the next match time. The three matches I worked--two as referee, one as assistant referee--went well.

Back at work Monday morning, it was quite a busy week for us. Things did go well, overall. I did flex out Tuesday afternoon, as I am working this Saturday morning. After flexing out, I came home to relax.

Tuesday night found me at Mark Twain Hobby Center (http://www.hobby1.com/) for this month's Mark Twain Model Club meeting. We had a show and tell--I told of the JH-7A model I was working on and asked for decal advice--and there was a demo on opening car doors and trunks, including how to make hinges for these items. It was quite interesting.

Yesterday was a full day of work, but things went very well for us. After coming home, I opened a package of souvenirs I had ordered the previous weekend from the Experimental Aircraft Association (https://www.eaa.org/eaa). These were related to the Ford Tri-Motor flight I had undertaken in Mt. Vernon, Illinois a week ago. I ordered a t-shirt, pin, postcard, and a fact sheet. Very nice items.

Off work today, I bought some doughnuts at Krispy Kreme (http://krispykreme.com/) in Mehlville and drove to the Enterprise (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html) branch in Festus. There, I gave the doughnuts to Meggie, the branch manager, which she really appreciated. We chatted briefly and I also gave her a card to wish her and her husband-to-be all the best when they get married in a month from now.

Going to a happy hour with colleagues tonight. More on that in my next post.

Later.

15 Minutes Airborne In a "Tin Goose"

Last Thursday afternoon (21 September) was supposed to be a branch lunch at a nice restaurant. However, after I got there, I found out the manager and assistant manager were both sick that day and that the lunch was postponed to a later date to be selected. Quite a disappointment.

That night, I was at the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) meeting at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/). Members from the Gateway Chapter of the Army Aviation Historical Foundation (https://armyav.org/st-louis-missouri/), based at Creve Coeur Airport, spoke about their organization and presented a short film from the mid-1960s of US Army Aviation aircraft on maneuvers prior to the Vietnam War. The Chapter also plugged its Barbecue Fundraiser on Saturday, 21 October at Creve Coeur Airport. Proceeds from the event go to their restoration of two Vietnam War-era helicopters, an OH-58 and a UH-1 Huey.

Work at the branch at the end of last week kept my colleagues and I plenty busy. Fortunately, all went well.

Saturday night (23 September), I was at Smugala's Pizza Pub (http://www.smugalas.com/smugalassunsethills) in Sunset Hills for a beer before catching the Pub2Park shuttle for World Wide Technology Soccer Park (http://www.saintlouisfc.com/soccerpark) for that night's Saint Louis FC (http://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against FC Cincinnati. I took in the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) tailgate in the parking lot before we marched into Toyota Stadium for the match. Saint Louis jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but could not hold it as Cincinnati scored twice--leveling on a penalty kick in stoppage time--to earn a 2-2 draw. A disappointment for sure, though we had fun during the match.

Sunday afternoon found me back at World Wide Technology Soccer Park, this time to referee youth soccer matches. I worked two under-12 girls matches, 9-a-side on a small field. It was a very warm day, so my crew granted water breaks midway through each half for player safety. Both matches went well.

Work started off well on Monday, which was busy as usual. We had plenty of business going and I did my best to keep things running smooth.

After flexing out Tuesday afternoon (26 September), I went home to take care of some personal business. I went to Marion Morris' house that night for the IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) business meeting. Besides planning upcoming meetings, we discussed some club business at length. I will disclose that in more detail in due course.

After a full day of work Wednesday, it was a full off day Thursday (28 September). After doing some laundry that morning, I drove early that afternoon to Mount Vernon, Illinois. My first stop was Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (http://www.mtvernonairport.com/), where my flight was waiting in the form of a ride on a Ford 4-AT-E Tri-Motor operated by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) (https://www.eaa.org/eaa). The aircraft, built in 1929, arrived in Mt. Vernon for rides that day through this Sunday (https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/flight-experiences/fly-the-ford-eaa-ford-tri-motor-airplane-tour). I ordered my ticket online that morning before driving to Mt. Vernon.

I signed in at the airport, then waited with the nine other passengers for that fight. We took in a brief safety briefing in the airport terminal before walking out to the Tri-Motor, nicknamed the "Tin Goose" due to its corrugated aluminum skin. I took my seat in the second row on the right side of the cabin, with the Number 3 engine nacelle and right main landing fear just outside my window. This was the Ford's second flight of the day; the first one had several local press people aboard, and a few press people were on this one. The pilot started the three engines and warmed them up briefly before taxiing to the active runway. We got airborne after a fairly short run and climbed to about 1000 feet (304.8 m) for the 15 minute flight around the airport. The plane flew at its cruising speed of 107 mph (93 knots; 172.2 kph). It was noisy in the cabin and there was vibration and slight turbulence, though the skies were clear. However, I was one very happy traveler, as were the others on board.

We landed and taxied to the terminal, and got out after the engines stopped. It was one great experience for all concerned, a flight back to the early years of commercial aviation. I took a few pictures of the Ford before leaving the airport.

I then drove to the Enterprise (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html) branch in Mt. Vernon, where Lauren, my former colleague at Ellisville, serves as assistant branch manager. She was away at a satellite location, one of her colleagues told me, but I did say hi to my colleagues there and gave them a tin of cookies, which they appreciated. (The next morning, Lauren messaged me to thank me for the cookies and for stopping by, and apologizing for not being there when I came by.)

After driving back home and changing clothes, I drove to Forest Hills County Club (https://www.foresthillscc.net/) in Chesterfield, where Enterprise branch personnel in our area gathered for an event celebrating our contributions to the United Way of Greater St. Louis (http://www.stl.unitedway.org/). There was a buffet supper, beer and wine to drink, a raffle of donated gift items (the number of tickets depending on our United Way pledged donations for the coming year), and an auction of some premier items. It was great seeing colleagues working at other branches and in area management. Plus, I got to wear coat and tie to a company event. I didn't win any raffle prizes, but some of my branch mates did. Overall, it was a fun night, and I treated myself to a concrete at Andy's Frozen Custard (http://www.eatandys.com/) on the way home.

Back at work today, it was a busy one, especially late in the day with many vehicles dropped off. We stayed until about 7 pm--one hour after closing--getting the vehicles cleaned up and parked for tomorrow. There will be another Vehicle Service Agent joining us a week from today. This person will work mostly on Mondays and Fridays, our busy days, and will help ease the burden on my colleagues and I.

This morning, I picked up my former colleague and branch manager David Abraham, who was in town for a friend's wedding. We got caught up as I drove him to the branch for the rental. David apparently asked for me personally to pick me up. I am most flattered by that.

Later.

Watching and Refereeing Soccer; A New Refrigerator

It was a good day of work last Friday (15 September), with plenty of business for us to take care of. Things worked out great.

Same with the next morning, as I worked at the branch that morning. We kept our customers most satisfied and handled things most efficiently, so we did not have to stay too long after closing time.

After lunch and coming home to change, I made my way to Smugala's Pizza Pub (http://www.smugalas.com/smugalassunsethills) in Sunset Hills, where I caught the Pub2Park bus to Toyota Stadium in Fenton for that night's Saint Louis FC (http://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Orlando City B. I joined in the tailgate with the other St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/), enjoying a nice spread courtesy of Saint Louis FC, then picked up a large print of the head of club chief financial officer Tom Strunk, whose 50th birthday was that day. We marched in to the stadium before the match and pleasantly surprised Strunk with all the large head prints. We then took our place in Section 8 and cheered on our side, which won the match 2-0.

At halftime, after a demonstration match put on by St. Louis Ultimate (http://www.stlouis-ultimate.org/cms/), we St. Louligans came on the field to sing "Happy Birthday" to Strunk, which he greatly appreciated (I think). After the match, after the players serenaded the St. Louligans in appreciation of our support, I chatted with Strunk and with Saint Louis FC chief executive officer (and Saint Louis University classmate) Jim Kavanaugh. Tom signed my head print of his, which I will keep at home under lock and key. I also bought a pair of socks from St. Louis Ultimate, as a fund raiser for that group.

The next morning (17 September), I was at Kolping Fields in south St. Louis County to run lines on two under 15 boys soccer matches. They went well, with no real problems for my crew. I chilled out at home the rest of the day.

Back to work Monday morning, it was plenty busy. Fortunately, a Vehicle Service Agent (VSA) from another branch was there in the morning to help me and my team out. The manager said we should have a new VSA to join me at Ellisville in the coming weeks.

It was a bit slow going into work the next morning, due to fog. Fortunately, it wasn't too bad to be a real problem, but it did mean taking it easy on the drive to the branch.

After work on Tuesday (19 September), it was on to Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://www.calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) in Mehlville for this month's meeting of IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/). Perhaps it was the heat that night and/or the fatigue after hosting our Invitational contest earlier this month, but we had a low turnout of members and of entries in our quarterly contest for Modeler of the Year. I helped judge, as I had no entries, and our judges got it done in just a few minutes. We also had a recap of our show.

I flexed out of work yesterday afternoon, since I will be working this Saturday morning. I did some trips to pick up vehicles for our branch and to ferry the Ballwin branch's manager to the Manchester branch, so she could get a car for her branch. I came home to rest, and to catch up on the current film "The Vietnam War" running on PBS this week. I viewed the two most recent episodes from the DVR cache, then watched last night's episode. A terrific series.

This morning, after a jog to loosen up my legs for this weekend's games, I helped my mom with getting our new refrigerator installed in the kitchen. Two people from Sears (http://www.sears.com/) came to remove the old unit and to plus in the new one. After mom and I performed a hookup of water to the refrigerator (which also includes a freezer, and a panel for getting drinking water and ice in one of the front doors), we loaded the unit up with food.

Off to a company lunch this afternoon, and the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) meeting tonight. More on all those events and others next time.

Later.

A Wonderful Scale Modeling Contest

I put in a hard day of work last Friday (8 September) at the car rental branch. We had the usual rush at day's end, but my colleagues and I got the job done.

Early the next morning, it was on to the Holiday Inn St. Louis Southwest--Route 66 (http://www.hiroute66.com/) in Sunset Hills. Saturday was the 12th annual IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) model contest. I came to help where I could on set up before we opened for the public. When that happened, I was at my station at the east entrance, helping take money for admission and contest registration, and surveying them as to how they found out about our show. I don't have definitive attendance figures, but I am estimating about 100 people came to our show.

I also entered three models in the contest, and bought some raffle tickets, with proceeds to Toys for Tots (https://www.toysfortots.org/) in Metro St. Louis. I got lucky in the latter, with four of the six tickets I bought winners. I got a collection of four modeling reference books, and three kits. I later traded two of those kits with vendors for three kits. (At least I came out a kit ahead.) The raffle raised $561 for Toys for Tots.

That afternoon, I helped judge the Automobiles categories in the contest, as I did not have any entries there. The contest drew 219 entries from 55 contestants. The awards were presented later that afternoon, and I was one of those receiving awards. My Prinz Eugen took second in Ships, 1/351 and smaller. I was very happy about that, and about how successful our show turned out. I heard good news from all those attendees I spoke to that day.

I then headed to Smugala's Pizza Pub (http://www.smugalas.com/smugalassunsethills) in Sunset Hills for dinner. I had one of their thin crust pizzas, which are very good. Then, I caught the Pub2Park bus for Toyota Stadium and that night's Saint Louis FC (http://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Harrisburg City Islanders. After hanging out in the tailgate with the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/), I marched in with them to the stadium. After falling down 1-0, Saint Louis leveled in the second half, only for Harrisburg to pull out a last-minute 2-1 win.

It was back to soccer the next morning (10 September), this time refereeing youth matches at Lou Fusz Soccer Complex in Maryland Heights. I worked three matches there, with the middle in the second match of the set. It was rather intense, but all was good.

After the games, I drove to Deer Creek Park in Maplewood (http://www.cityofmaplewood.com/79/Maplewood-Local-Parks) for the IPMS/Gateway picnic. I joined with some members and their significant others in food and conversation.

Back to work Monday morning (11 September), I put in my hard work getting our vehicles ready to rent. Twice that day, I was taken to our Kirkwood branch to pick up vehicles, and chatted briefly with their new branch manager, Hannah, a former colleague at Ellisville.

Tuesday was a shorter work day, as I am working this Saturday morning. That morning, my colleague Melissa--another former Ellisville crew mate--came from her new branch at Creve Coeur to get one of our vehicles. We chatted for a bit.

After flexing out, I headed to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (https://www.flystl.com/) to pick up Mom, who came back to town after nearly two weeks of visiting Doug and his family in Los Angeles. On my way to the arrivals area, I stopped by the Enterprise (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html) counter and chatted briefly with Jake, who was working there. I wished him and his airport colleagues all the best.

I got her bags, then drove Mom and myself to The Concord Grill (http://www.concordgrill.com/) for an early dinner. It was my first time there, but I really enjoyed the Reuben burger I ordered. Then, it was home.

After a full Wednesday at the branch, it was off to Francis Field (http://www.washubears.com/facilities/francis-field) on the Washington University campus to see the men's soccer match between Wash. U. (http://www.washubears.com/landing/index) and Webster University (http://www.websterathletics.com/). The host Bears dominated the match, defeating the Gorloks 2-0.

Off work today, I made treats runs to our Kirkwood and Florissant branches. First, it was doughnuts to Hannah and her colleagues at Kirkwood, which she greatly appreciated. After chatting briefly, I was on the road to Florissant to delivery cookies to that branch. Justin, the new manager there (and formerly mananger at Ellisville) was not in the branch when I arrived (I left the treats with one of his colleagues), but Justin pulled up in the parking lot as I headed to my car, and we chatted for a bit.

Back home, I did my laundry and went out for a late afternoon run. Mom and I had dinner at Lemay Wok (http://places.singleplatform.com/lemay-wok/menu), a small Chinese restaurant that is a favorite dining place of Mom and I. We then went for desert at Dairy Queen (https://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/?localechange=1&). Back to work tomorrow.

Later.

Back to Work After Labor Day 2017

Back at work Tuesday morning (5 September), it was a rather busy morning, coming off the holiday weekend. Still, we at the rental branch got our business taken care of in good order.

After work, I headed to Mark Twain Hobby Center (http://www.hobby1.com/) for this month's Mark Twain Model Club meeting. I helped plug this Saturday's IPMS/Gateway Invitational (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/invite2017.html) model contest and swap meet at the Holiday Inn St. Louis Southwest--Route 66. We also had a demo on science-fiction scratch building that was quite interesting, and they raffled off some kits and publications. I won a four year old aircraft modeling magazine.

Mom is still out in Los Angeles with Doug and his family. I saw a few pictures they took and they all seem well, especially Doug's twin boys, Luca and Matteo.

I put in another full day of work yesterday, and things went well that day as well. (I did find out that the candidate who interviewed for a vehicle service job with us decided to work elsewhere.)

Off work today, I did my laundry, mowed and watered the lawns, jogged for a half hour, and tried (with little success) to transfer some photos from my phone to my laptop. I wanted to make some space on my phone for the photos I will inevitably take at Saturday's show. I also printed off admission charge signs and attendance survey forms for Saturday.

Later.

Ethnic Festivals and Back into Soccer

After work on the end of the last full week of August, I was at Tower Grove Park in St. Louis for the International Institute's Festival of Nations (http://www.festivalofnationsstl.org/) on that Sunday (27 August). I spent some time walking around the grounds, checking out the various food, shopping, and information booths. I then spent two hours helping at the Viva Brasil STL (http://www.e.vivabrasilstl.org/) booth, where I helped spread the word about Brazil and our organization. I then helped tear down the booth. After that, I worked at one of the Festival's drinks booths for the final shift of the day. Then, I assisted in tearing that booth down. It was a very nice day and a real good turnout of people for the Festival.

Back at work the next day, it was a busy morning as usual, and quite busy the rest of that Monday. The work was fine that week. Hopefully, I will get help in vehicle service soon at the branch.

I flexed out Tuesday afternoon (29 September), and got the oil changed on my Corolla at Jiffy Lube (https://www.jiffylube.com/) in Mehlville. They also changed the automatic transmission fluid (well overdue) and rotated the tires. All this should help my car run better in the coming months.

That night, I hosted the IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) business meeting at home. We discussed the final preparations for our contest this Saturday in Sunset Hills. Overall, things are in very good shape for the show. We also discussed some other club business, including my taking over as editor of the club's newsletter in the near future.

Off work Thursday (31 August), I took Mom to the airport, where she caught a flight to Los Angeles. She's spending a few days visiting my brother Doug, his wife Helen, and their sons Luca and Matteo.

I worked Saturday morning (2 September) and it went very nicely. Then, I began to enjoy my holiday weekend. I relaxed at home the rest of the day and night.

Yesterday morning, I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park (http://www.saintlouisfc.com/soccerpark) in Fenton to referee matches in the SLSG Gallagher Friendlies (http://slsgsoccer.com/tournaments/gallagher-friendlies). I worked three matches, including the middle on a under 13 girls contest. The referee coordinator there gave me a new referee shirt, which I changed into after the first match, which is of the new style and pattern. It feels cooler than the previous one. My legs were tired--these were my first matches since last spring--but am looking forward to more games this fall.

After the matches, I drove up to Mark Twain Hobby Center (http://www.hobby1.com/) in St. Charles to drop off some flyers for this Saturday's IPMS/Gateway show. They had a few already at the front of the store, but the manager was happy to have some more flyers promoting the show.

Today, I was at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (http://www.sngoc.org/) in St. Louis' Central West End for the final day of its 100th annual Greek Festival (http://www.opastl.com/). I stayed briefly, enough for a lunch (gyro and spanakopita) and watching a bit of Greek dance in the auditorium. Still, it was a nice little time.

Back to work tomorrow. Should be busy. The rest of this week will be too.

Later.