T'was the Friday Before Chicago...Marathon.

And Ethan and Cheryl were trying their best to catch everything up and relax for a few hours before the big trip.  The End!

Just kidding.

Looks like Tomorrow will be the travel day with the Expo to wrap things up.  And then...Sunday is Race day.

I wanted to post a quick update on things before I'm stuck in a hotel room trying to recap the EXPO and trip.  This week has been a bit of a chaotic mess that has somehow managed to work out.   Allow me to explain...

We started the week with a gig for Collegeboard and I began scoring a Pearson project in the evening.   We finished the Collegeboard job earlier than expected ( mostly because we read like madmen in order to finish ahead of schedule.)  and I'm continuing the Pearson project as I'm writing this.   Throw in the number of miscellaneous stocking orders and you can probably wee how there are not enough hours in the day to squeeze in a blog posting.

Ah well,   I'll have more time after Chicago.   And I'll have the actual Chicago Marathon event to blog about!   How fun is that?


In the mean time.  I should point out that the "city" of Wellman has provided us with a new manhole cover!   I'm not sure if it is hooked up yet, or when they plan on finishing it.   No one was here today to work on it, so perhaps it is one of those "Wellman Holidays" that only the city workers know about.

I changed the oil in Subie,  replaced and programmed the new Key Fob, and had a bit ot time to help Hiro with his latest Catch.  ( I'm not sure where he keeps finding these things)  You would thingk that we would eventually run out of Chipmunks after a while, but I watched one run across the porch this morning!  I guess there are more than first thought.

Chicago Traffic Battle!

That is all for now.  Hopefully I will have enough energy to post something tomorrow night.   I will remain apprehensive;  given that I will have to fight Chicago traffic and find parking, check into a crowded hotel and navigate the EXPO.  We shall see.   In the mean time.   Wish us luck!

Bringing Bearing and Butterflies To The Blog

A New wheel bearing

A little alliteration always spices up the blog from time to time. Why not have some fun!

An "Old" wheel bearing.  i.e Mine!

So,  we went for the rear wheel bearing replacement via professionals for Subie yesterday.  Meaning:  I left if to the "real" mechanics.  The place we go to was great in fitting us in on a Friday with no appointment.  And,   best of all,  they had it done by the afternoon.   We had a full day of scoring at College board yesterday, so we hardly even noticed the car missing.

 the "bearing" is missing in this one

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!   I'm not entirely sure how long we had been living with that bearing noise.  All I know is the Subster  is so quiet now that I think THAT is a new problem.   It just does not seem normal that our car could be so quiet.   Cheryl informed me that Subie can not break anymore for the rest of the year.  AND   She also told me to stop talking about "phantom" car problems.  Regardless if they are real or imaginary.  That is what the blog is for.

All these parts.  Call the Pros on this one!

So the Mechanic said the bearing came out in "parts" and "Pieces".  Meaning either it was made up or numerous small parts...  Or it was totally shot and the small bearings came out in  even smaller parts  than originally designed.  After watching the videos on how the bearing is "pressed" together,  I imagine it is a little bit of both.  There was no way I was going to be able to work on this job and feel confident about it.

Hiro Stands Guard in the Front yard.

Female Tiger Swallowtail

Other than that,  our time at college board is coming to a close.    Next week is our last week,  and we have a half marathon coming up that Saturday. ( A week from today.)  The money might be tight, but at least I have a certain level of confidence that the Subie will get us there.

While prepping to write this entry,  I had the rare opportunity to capture a few "moments" in our front yard.  Even though we have flowers by our front window,  and even though it is not "uncommon" for butterflies and other colorful creatures to visit them;   it is VERY rare that I happen to have the camera handy when an  opportunity presents itself.

She likes the purple flowers best.

Notice the two rows of yellow dots on Hindwings.

Behold!   The Tiger Swallowtail....Black Female Version!   Very rare indeed!   Allow me to pull out my Lepidopterous hat and explain.

Tiger Swallowtail Common form

 The Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is usually a large butterfly with tails on its hind wings.  They are easily identified by their bright yellow colors with black "tiger" stripes.  However,  one of the common phenomenons about butterflies is their ability to mimic things.  First as eggs,  then as larvae.   But sometimes they even mimic other butterflies!

Pipevine Swallowtail  ( poisonous)

So,  the female Tiger Swallowtail butterfly has a built in recessive gene that allows it to take the colors of a Pipevine Swallowtail ( they are poisonous)  or a Spicebush ( they are bitter tasting, I think)  so that, in the event a bird decides that tiger swallowtail butterflies are the latest "healthy food" fad,  and begins targeting them for dinner,  the species will live on because a few of the females will look COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from the species norm.  Pretty cool! Eh?

She was very nice to pose for me.  I even got to pet her.

I guess I will never lose that Biologist side of myself.   Life is a pretty cool subject, after all.  Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far.  Perhaps the little posting will enhance your Trival Pursuit game someday.   The topic Can be confusing as there are often MANY overlapping and parallel  ties that connect butterflies.   So many I do not want to make this posting any longer than it has to be.    But, what can I say.  I love bugs  ( most of them) and Subarus    Even if the love is one sided most of the time.

The Wonders of Dementia.

Ever wonder what it would be like to be crazy?   Nothing "bad" mind you, but rather a tamer, "mostly harmless" version of insanity.   Like those old ladies that chase butterflies in the fictitious garden within their living room. Ah butterflies.....so pretty.

Ahem,  yes!  Well, ever wonder how those people found that "Happy Kind of Crazy"?   Perhaps it was a lost love, a broken heart, or traumatic war event that opened that gate in their mind where all the bright colors are alive and vivid.  Everything is cute and cuddly...the animals talk,  the people are nice,  the flowers are always in bloom.....with butterflies...lots of butterflies.  

Well,  there are moments when I wish I could be swept away from the tragedies that happen on this planet, but alas.....I have a college education that forbids me from going there.  Why do smart people have to suffer so...? ( not that I'm very smart....just "aware")   What could have possibly caused this line of thinking within me?    We heard back from the car doctor....Subie will require some MAJOR surgery.

Turns out Subie's  "'sode"  was more like a full blown heart attack!   Not one where you require a transplant...( Although that was an offered option) but one that requires some valves and gaskets replaced...along with a timing belt, water pump and a couple of stitches.   In the end...take the highest number you can imagine it costing...and add 50% more....Yeah!   THAT kind of crazy.

Ah well,   we love Subaru.  What are you going to do?   It's not like it is a child in the 1800's.   We have too much invested to bury it and start over.  Cheryl informs me that the financing is "doable" but it's going to seriously hurt.   Looks like PBJ sandwiches for the next month or so.   And it is going to take longer than expected....Thursday.   We have a  race this weekend...and if we can pull it off....well, I guess things won't be as bad as I "imagine"....   (My imagination is kind of "dark")  The bright side is that we will have the "major repair" all done and out of the way for years to come....Years!    Hopefully.    200,000 miles baby...Yeah!   Now, where are those butterflies?

On a brighter note....if you can call it that.   ETS has offered me Texas STARR for the 9 days I will be between SAT administration...which means I can work more...yeah!   And make more money...yeah!    So I can pay off the Subster's auto repair....Yeah!