Interesting. I did actually rebuild the carb just before I did the ring job, so the main jet is essentially brand new (I'd say it's got about an hour's running time on it since the whole thing got put back together). I also replaced the fuel filter back in the fall, so I doubt it's dirty - and the new one certainly looks very much like the old one. At the time, I remember being satisfied that they were functionally equivalent, but it's hard to remember why anymore. I have some sea foam around here somewhere - I'll start with that and see what happens. If nothing else, it'll be nice to try something that doesn't require me to take anything else apart. Am I right to assume that, if this doesn't work, the next stop is removing the thing and giving it a nice soak in a solvent of some sort? Or is there something else I should try before that? (Now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure there's some gumout kicking around, too.)

Greco-Roman Wrestling The day begins with Precious Angel flexing her muscles and sprinting around the table at 6:15am. She then begins hurdling over the legs and then does a spring board onto the balance beam (the wicker laundry basket) followed by a head first dive into the litter box. Standing up and slowly shaking her head she becomes a target for her opponent, Pumpkin Spice also known as Pumpkin Noodles. Pumpkin slowly circles the laundry basket slinking close to the floor and keeping her eyes glued to her opponent. With a fell swoop she lands on top of Precious and pins her to the floor. Precious is down for a count of two before she takes her rear feet and upends Pumpkin. She then pins Pumpkin to the floor and holds her down to the count of three before they both spring apart and begin circling the mat(aka towel) and sizing up their opponent before the next take down. Precious lightly paws Pumkin's tale and then Pumpkin hunkers down and faster than a speeding bullet she lands on top of Precious and holds her for a count of five. Pumpkin is declared the winner and she leaps onto the nearest chair and then dives down on Precious' back and a new match ensues. This has become a normal morning adventure before they sit by the bed waiting for a response from me and declaring it is time for their morning feast. I have two spoiled to the core kittens who refuse to drink water from the tap. They sniff at it and then sit, stare acusingly at me and then sit near the counter where the Zepherhills water sits and refuse to take their eyse off the bottle until I pour water into their bowl at which point two heads begin lapping water like mad. The next move is to follow me into the kitchen and sit and watch until I open the Fancy Feast and then they beging dancing in circles when they hear the spoon banging against the plates. I place the plates on the floor and two flashes beging inhaling their food. Following their feast they take a few moments to groom their beautiful faces before they sit near my feet and watch every move. They are waiting for me to take the fishing pole out with their fake fish attached. Then it becomes gymnastic time as they stand on hind legs and bat at the fish, grab it and attempt to run before the elastic line reels them back in and finally they roll with the fish on the floor (by the way I had to purchase a second one so that they each have one). Pumpkin is the smart one. She has managed to free her fish twice now by chewing the rubber line into two pieces. Oh the terrorist. I was awoken in the wee hours of the morning yesterday when I heard a crash of stuff landing on the floor off of the table. I then felt a thud on the bed and finally on my head followed by a pat down massage of my fact. I had the television on and in the flickering light I slowly opened one eye and stared into the sweetest most innocent face you have ever seen. Precious stopped in mid-pat and became a still statue and while staring at me her eyes seemed to be saying I am not doing anything why are you looking at me and then she patted my cheek and her eyes seemed to say how can you sleep when something as cute as me wants to play. I just reached up, grabbed her and placed her next to me and slowly stroked her head as her eyes closed and her breathing became slow and regular. I shortly felt a second thud as Pumpkin jumped onto the bed and placed her little terror filled eyes under my hand. I slowly stroked her until she fell asleep with her head on Precious' stomach. They were still there when I awoke around 7. That is the first time tey have done that. I have misplaced the memory card to the camera after uploading images from a shoot and as soon as I locate it I will take pictures and post them. Thanks for the kind words as regards my writing *blushing* Pictures coming soon I hope. Linda

Someone sent this to me. SELF CPR What are you to do if you have a heart attack while you are alone? If you've already received this, it means people care about you ... The Johnson City Medical Center staff actually discovered this and did an in-depth study on it in our ICU The two individuals that discovered this then did an article on it .. had it published and have even had it incorporated into ACLS and CPR classes. It is very true and has and does work. It is called cough CPR. A cardiologist says it's the truth ... For your info ...If everyone who gets this sends it to 10 people, you can bet that we'll save at least one life. Read This...It could save your life! Let's say it's 6:15 p.m. and you're driving home (alone of course), after an usually hard day on the job. You're really tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. What can you do? You've been trained in CPR but the guy that taught the course, didn't tell you what to do if it happened to yourself. Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, this article seemed to be in order. Without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about very two seconds without let up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many other people as possible about this, it could save their lives! From Health Cares, Rochester General Hospital via Chapter 240s newsletter 'AND THE BEAT GOES ON ..' (reprint from The Mended Hearts, Inc. publication, Heart Response)

LOL I don't think the ugly Americans are the Kentucky team. The have been very respectful and thankful for any help they have asked for. I can understand them just fine! I think they are having a ball and really appreciating the trip. I couldn't believe it when he whistled at the woman walking by the taxi. That took me by surprise! LOL I, too, wanted to shove a salami down her throat. And I don't think it has been NEAR as awful as some years. I remember seasons where all but one or two teams bickered the whole trip. Remember the one guy who people thought might be abusing his wife? I can't remember their names, but it was awful. I have heard that those remote control helicopters are very hard to control. It cracked me up when Mr. Pilot thought it might actually be a REAL copter! lol Very touching to split the money with the one contestant from Kentucky. He said that his daughter is on quite a few prescriptions for respiratory problems.