Northeastern Hammertail (robber fly)

The sky was clear and the temperature was moderate this morning. I went out looking for a blip first thing. Deciding to use my beautiful ripening tomatoes (until this bug replaced them), I went to the raised bed garden. A mass of spreading grasses in the mulch met me. After getting a few photos, I attacked the weeds, cleaning out the mulch bed around the garden, the adjoining gardens by the driveway and the one around our well head. So many different types of grasses were trying to take over the gardens. Hubby cleaned up the piles of weeds. I was a sweaty, dirty mess, but the gardens look so much better. I cleaned off the dirt, ate breakfast, straightened the kitchen, etc. Hubby helped me try to install a new virus checker app on my Mac. We gave up in frustration when we couldn’t figure out my password. It seems passwords are our biggest issue using apps. They never work, even if the computer fills them in from our encrypted password file. Now I have a project for WV while the other three replace the back deck. We picked up Brooklyn after her 8th grade orientation and treated her to lunch at Mission BBQ. While we waited for her to get to Kim’s school, this unflattering insect landed on the car’s upholstery. I tried to get a side shot but couldn’t. Its body is similar to a dragonfly. Seek identified it for me. We opened the window and door but it wasn’t anxious to leave. I don’t think it is a biting/stinging insect but I try not to get too close to anything that flies. Hubby got several stings trying to remove that wasp nest. Apparently, at least one flew inside his shirt. He actually took Benedryl last night so he could sleep. We took Brooklyn home and have accomplished a few things. We removed the car seat covers from my passenger seat but the air bag is still disabled. We’d read in the owner’s manual that covers or cushions could disable air bags. I was using both. Hubby took the seat out to check all wiring and everything is seated securely. We have an appointment at the Toyota dealer tomorrow. They charge close to $200 just to diagnose the problem. That’s why we wanted to rule out the easy stuff car owners are able to check. Oh well…. We have leftovers for dinner. The evening should be quiet. We did not get the forecasted storm last night (as usual). Radar shows a line of storms that could affect us later this evening. Hubby is trying to mow the lawn before they arrive. Sending wishes for good weather in your area. Stay safe. Thanks for stopping by. “I don't care how small or big they are, insects freak me out.” - Alexander Wang