So I was working on a post for the 'have a lizard ... follow you around ... some kind of story' contest, but Karen came along and she's already stolen the prize. I thought I'd post anyway, cause I had hired this guy to follow me around—and he didn't come cheap. If you click on the image you can get the full resolution version. This was actually taken under the rear axle of the Pontiac while it was suspended about a foot in the air during a rear brake replacement operation. Once he got settled in I couldn't get him to leave. He may still be out in the garage now ... I hope he hasn't figured out how to use a doorknob. [EDIT] more details [/EDIT] You're pretty accurate in your comments, Em. I was working on the first side of the brakes in the garage and as I reach down to grab my spring tool I notice this guy out of the corner of my eye. He was sitting on the center of the repair manual that was about 1 foot away from where I was crouching. He kind of shifted as I reached down towards him, and that was enough for me. I quickly stood up, tossed the spring tool back on the ground, "dusted myself off" (working on brakes is a dirty job, you know. I'm sure it didn't look anything like a person in full creepy-crawly panic mode), and then yelled for Emily. I usually don't manage to give Emily much to go on, but I get better reactions that way. I'm sure I said something like "Hey Emily, want to see something cool? It's in the garage." She must have known she was in for it when I told her to grab the camera on her way in. Clearly—my hands were much too covered in brake grease to use the camera—so I needed Emily to take the pictures. By the time she got there he had worked his way under the car (was he following me? I don't know for sure.) Going back to what you said about guys and the way we do things, rather than spend time washing my hands, I grabbed a plastic AutoZone bag and emptied it of brake parts in order to use it to insulate the camera from the grease on my hands while taking pictures. It's definitely a good thing Emily was there to remind me that no good could come from me trying to pull off that stunt. She managed to fill what was left of the disc with some terrifying looking pictures. Once I had settled back down I finished with the brakes. At some point during all of that I had completely lost track of where the bug had gone. I think when I switched sides I scared him away, probably while pounding the rust loose from the drum. About an hour later, as I was sweeping out the garage, I pulled the rake out of the front corner and out he popped again! I scurried him out into the yard, but I think if he wants to return that he has the abilities. I'm no marine biologist or anything, but I googled for some grasshoppers and I think this guy is a young Migratory Grasshopper. It's one of the most destructive pests in western Canada, or so they claim. :)