Stuck or fuel-logged float, causing fuel to leak down and flood the engine, as I warned you could happen in the previous thread. The 'band-aid' fix is to put a fuel valve in the fuel line between the tank and carb, and turn it off when you're finished mowing. Typically you will find an oil spot where its stored from the residual oil remaining after the gas evaporates. The real fix may be as simple as shaking the float loose by bouncing the deck once or twice. You could then use a solvent oil like MMO in the fuel, at about 2 oz/gal, to help clean up any gummy residues in the fuel system. I had the same thing happen on my Duraforce engine before I started using it. I'd go into the shed and get hit by a strong gas smell, finding a wet spot on the wood floor under the mower, so I struck a match to see what it was - just kidding! :) Seriously, its a real hazard in an enclosed space. You may not be able to stop it with these methods, which leaves you needing to overhaul the carburetor. Bear in mind that excessive oil smoke on a 2-cycle can only mean either too much oil in the mix or too much mix entering the combustion chamber and muffler.

Well, Mary, how have you been???? Thought I saw you at the SG&M Forum a couple of times but haven't been there in a while. Glad to hear from you again in this neighbourhood. :O) Like you, I find that some plants have a 'good' year at times where they appear to be keepers. Then the next season comes along and the spark starts to fade a bit. I think that lots of things can lead to the change including weather changes (more rain vs sun in a summer), the way we treat/feed the soil around the plant in the spring, the simple aging of the plant, etc. Gaillardia is one I've culled from our gardens. Nice plant, but not reliably hardy here, even though it's sold as such, and floppy like crazy. The Joe Pye puzzles me though. You said you changed it. Did you change the amount of sun/shade it gets? I have three plants. The one in the most shade actually has greener leaves than the other Chocolates in sunnier places. These three plants are all from the same plant which was divided last year so I've come to the conclusion that a bit more sun will keep the darker hue stronger on the plant. Maybe the same for you? As they matured, my Blue Poppies were pooping out. Leaves were not as nice this year and the flowers were not as big or numerous. I took the plunge and divided them and all seems to be going well. Looking forward to more of them in the next couple of years. Some plants just need dividing as they age, but then again, you know that I'm sure. :O) My Phlox Paniculatas and Astilbes and Crazy Daisies keep me going on that front for sure!!

I finally figured out the history of CG strains in the U.S. I have grown so many different ones. Costoluto Florentino appears to be consistent from different sources, but every seller has a totally different CG. That is the reason for the strongly varying reviews. There is not one CG tomato cultivar in the U.S. There are many different plants sharing the same name. I started growing CG from Pinetree seed over 10 years ago. It was a fabulous tasty large tomato, perfect for cooking and eating. Over a few years, that packet of seed was used up. Since then, I have bought from many sources to try to find the original wonderful CG. Never found it. But last year I found seed that I had saved from the original. I was so excited. They had listed my original CG as an OP. Well, the original seed that I got from Pinetree was definitely a hybrid. The plants that I grew this year are clearly F2s. Every plant was totally different. Size ranged from one inch to about 3 inches. Some fluted, some smooth, some in-between. The only one that was highly fluted, like the original CG, was only an inch across. (Cute little fellow.) Most tasted good, but not as great as the original. The only possible explanation is that my original seeds were hybrids listed as OPs. That also explains why every seller whose seeds I have bought has a totally different plant named CG. The first CGs brought into the country must have been hybrids, and different companies grew out different versions. I would have loved to grow my old beefsteak CG again, but that will probably never happen. But there is an alternative. PanAm used one of the GCs to cross with Brandywine, producing Genuine, which is comparable to the original fabulous CG. It looks the same, highly fluted. It is beefsteak size. Taste is better than any of the CGs that I have grown for 10 years. It is dense for cooking, like the original. It is the most productive tomato that I have ever grown. I have had it two years now, and it has been equally outstanding both years. People who got plants last year requested it again. I am giving up the quest for the original great CG, and using Genuine to replace it.

I see others have chimed in with what I believe. The employee did the right thing. First of all if 20 minutes early is okay today , what about 30 tomorrow? Where would the line be drawn? What I was thinking though was that the employee may not have access to the cash register. The key holder may have run to the bank and the person left in the store may not have access to the safe, keys to unlock door, etc. The store may also have the policy of only being open with two employees in the store. Perhaps the second employee came in at opening time. I can see many reasons why the employee wouldn't open the door early especially with an irrational customer at the door. The whole "do you know who I am" thing irks me. The close second is the "what is your last name" scare that people threaten employees with. Like the employee will back down in lieu of having a customer complaint filed against them.