Planning

So, a couple of years ago, Charlie Brown got his ASE certification (think PhD for an Auto Mech), and with his Subaru specific certifications, the combination made him a bona fide "Senior Subaru Master Tech." The only one in our area.

He recently got invited, by Subaru, to participate in their biannual not so frequent (the Subaru America competition is actually in its first year as a US-Nationals competition - the international has been around awhile) skills competition. Only 43 people in the nation were invited to participate!

Requirements include the Sr. Master tech certification, and that techs must be recommended by the Subaru service reps that travel their Subaru dealers, providing tech assist to mechanics that are stumped. Charlie Brown's rep covers all of NE CO and Denver, and often calls CB saying he's stumped too, asking, WWCBD (what would Charlie Brown do)?

Charlie Brown will start out by doing an online test, then a phone interview - top performers for each region will go, all expenses paid, with spending allowances for family and all that, to Lafayette, Indiana and compete against each other to fix a mechanical mystery in the fastest amount of time - note the emphasis on actual FIXING in the fastest time. Charlie Brown is top notch in both diagnostics and performance time.

The national winner will go on to the international competition in JAPAN - same deal, all expenses paid, yada yada yada.

In addition to winners getting great travel packages, perks like free leases on new Subarus and the like abound.

Now - as blockhead/average Joe as Chuck can be about domestic disputes at casa del Meyer, he is a freaking GENIUS about his work...So I'm just left wondering where I can find a kimono in colors that suit my red hair and white skin and a size that fits my (disclaimer: "GENERALLY" speaking) so-not-trim-sleek-and-Asian figure?