BOO-YAH!!!!!

 Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.  I've been on the losing end in the search for my phony coffee.  I do like a nice hot cup of Joe in the mornings while I contemplate the amazing fact that I'm still alive.  For the last 30+ years, it's been this Orange Cafe that has kept me going through thick and thin.  It's even gone on vacations with me to Hawaii and not one, but TWO business trips to China.  That was all a lie, because although it WAS a business trip, I wasn't in the business of doing anything but being a tourist.  One of these days I'll tell you about those weird trips.

As you know, for some crazy reason, Maxwell House decided not to make it any more.  Finding an alternative has been a long and lonely road.  Every other flavor they make is so sweet even "I" can't stand it.  That's really saying something!!

I've tested a can here and there with no good results.  Yesterday however, was THE day to do a happy dance.  BOO-YAH!!!  I found my new coffee flavor.  Not too hot, not too cold and just the right amount of SUGAR!  I ordered 16 cans from Amazon!  I'm stockpiling this stuff like toilet paper!!

With a big smile on my face, I then headed off to the gas station for a few gallons of fuel for the generator.  I really do try to think ahead on occasion.  I better figure out how to run that generator before I go anywhere.  As you can tell, my cans are as old as the hills, making it SO much easier to dispense said fuel.  I didn't fill the red nozzled one ... it was too dirty inside.

The comedy of errors began at the pump when it said I had to go inside to pay.  I would rather move the truck.  At the second pump, my credit card wouldn't work.  I moved the truck again.  Then the fuel wouldn't pump without major contortions.  I couldn't really see how full they were getting.  I ended up only half full so I wouldn't lose any of that precious $4.79 a gallon gold.  I filled my two cans half way and it was STILL $12.50.

So here I am, knowing absolutely nothing about generators.  When I purchased it in Arizona, Dan started it for me, just to be sure it would run.  So many buttons and knobs!!!

I was able to check the oil ... yup full, and it was pretty easy to figure out where the fuel went.  I didn't fill it up either since I wasn't sure I would be able to lift the thing back into the truck!

I flipped the knob to choke and pulled the handle three times.  Nothing.  Might I just say, it took Dan only three pulls and it started right up.  Four or five more pulls .... nothing.

I messed with this thing for about 50 pulls, ten each time.  NADA!!!  Now I'm getting really frustrated and am on the verge of calling Mr. Chance.  I'll give it one more shot.

I wedged my foot against the side and pulled with both hands TWELVE times before it finally yelled uncle and started up.  I turned the knob back to RUN.  BOO-YAH!!!  I actually did it.  A happy dance ensued.  I'll probably be starting it every other day for the next six months, you know, just to be sure it's not so hard to do when I really need it.

By the way, anyone know how long they can run on a full tank of fuel?  I'm just curious.

Back inside the house, my little basket is coming along, although it's much harder to get those stitches in the right place than I ever thought.  I have always loved the grass baskets I see for sale around Arizona (I own several), but I now have a much greater appreciation for the workmanship.  

I decided to try a new stitch, made much more difficult by the lack of pictures in the instruction book I bought.  No wonder pine needle baskets are so expensive to buy!

It's puppy paralysis time before another session of packing ensues.  Then it will be Baking With Nancy as she whips up some Christmas presents.  That will be an adventure in itself!!  

Oh ... and just in case you want to be amazed and scared at the same time, there is a new show called Extreme Rescues on NatGeo I think.  This guy was 1,000 feet down in a cave when a rock fell and hit his back, cracking 5 vertebra.  The rescue crew had to crawl through tiny TINY spaces to find him and get him loaded onto a stretcher.  

BUT ...  they couldn't get the stretcher through the small openings to get back out.  I can't believe I'm even saying this .... they used small sticks of dynamite FIVE TIMES to open the pathway wide enough to get the stretcher through.  I held my breath the entire time!  It's a GREAT show!