At the helm

We've been playing tourist since Grandma Edna's arrival.

So far, our outings have taken a maritime theme: a tour of the Duluth-Superior Harbor aboard the Vista Queen, a walk on the Lakewalk down to the Aerial Lift Bridge, and this visit to the Lake Superior Marine Museum.

The best part, so far, was looking straight up while we sailed under the Aerial Lift Bridge and out into Lake Superior.

Tours of the S.S. William A. Irvin iron ore carrier, Split Rock Lighthouse and Great Lakes Aquarium remain on our list.

Half a century

In today's mail

A postcard arrived in the mail today from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture issuing notice that an aerial application of a biological insecticide to slow the spread of the gypsy moth will occur in my area the week of June 13.

Seems a tad late, considering yesterday's posting.

Invasion battle begins

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture began its attack against gypsy moth caterpillars in our neighborhood around 5:30 this morning.

I was awakened by the loud drone of this plane that delivered the weapon of choice: Btk, Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki. The soil fungus activates spores in the stomachs of caterpillars that eat vegetation upon which it has been sprayed, causing the caterpillars to die in seven to 10 days.

The official government fact sheet on Btk reports it is relatively harmless to humans and pets, though they recommend staying indoors up to 30 minutes after the spraying, waiting for the dew to dry before going outside, washing your hands after being outside, and washing any skin that comes in contact with wet spray.

Another aerial attack is likely to come later this summer. It would drop synthetic pheromone chips that confuse male moths, making it difficult for them to find female moths and mate.

Our little scholar

Less than one hour after our son arrived home from his last day of kindergarten, he was working on problems in his math workbook.

Another fun first

Our son ran his first race, the 1K Congdon Cougar Chase, this morning.

On the walk to our car afterward, I asked him what he liked best about the race. I expected it to be running with his kindergarten buddies, or chasing the school's Cougar mascot, or getting a race t-shirt.

"I liked that you could walk and run," he said. "Because I needed to walk when I got tired, then I could run again."

Automobile milestone

My vehicle and I are at a critical juncture.

I realized this as I sat waiting Thursday afternoon in Hermantown Transmission and Exhaust for repairs on my muffler/exhaust system.

I took my 1999 Honda CRV to the dealership Tuesday afternoon, expecting they would change my oil, give it a routine 21-point inspection and fix my muffler, which had become noisy over the weekend and was hanging awkwardly by one clip.

Their inspection revealed I needed a new tie-rod in a very bad way, I had acquired an oil leak of unknown origin, and some belts needed to be replaced. Oh, and the muffler work would require a $1,500 replacement of the entire exhaust.

I felt as if I had gone to the doctor for a sore throat and come away with a diagnosis of something that requires expensive surgery. Time for a second opinion.

After having the dealer fix my tie-rod and oil leak, I found my way over to Hermantown Transmission and Exhaust for an estimate. The owner put my car up, took a look and came back with a couple of repairs they could do on the spot -- for $170.

What a relief! My husband and I had spent the morning getting estimates on a new or near new car, as well as trade-in values for our two aging vehicles.

Leaving the exhaust shop, I pocketed the owner's business card. He mentioned that he knows a number of good service professionals who could help me with other repairs should I need them.

I've been very happy with the performance of my CRV and with the service the dealership has provided. But the older my car gets, we're not going to be able to afford to repair it to dealer specifications.

I thought about my previous mechanics -- Woody at Downtown Service, who worked on my 1976 Cadillac Sedan Deville, and Rick at Hermantown Service, who worked on my 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix. I liked both men and trusted the advice they gave me and the work they did.

Maybe this milestone won't be so bad after all.