I'd love to go to Japan. I love Japanese culture. On the downside, the flavors in Asian cuisine don't really agree with my taste buds, so IDK how I'd survive.
Make a paste of water and plant fertilizer, then rub it on the new tap. It should artificially "age" the metalwork. I'm not sure how long it has to set.
I've seen a number of Pileated Woodpeckers near my parents' house over the years. They're YUUUUUGE! Fortunately, they never attempted to dine on any "bugs" beneath the cedar shakes on the house.
I wouldn't worry too much. Coyotes are cowards, and they don't usually like to get near humans. Moreover, they're typically nocturnal, so the odds of seeing any during the day are very slim.