Good times, bad times, you know I've had my share

We are digging out now from our first winter storm. It followed a very cold summer and fall, but a mild early winter. A week before this storm hit, I used my snowblower to make sure everything was working as it should. It works just fine. When the storm did hit, I went out to clear the first round with a great deal of confidence in my snowblower.

• good news- it started on the first pull.
• bad news- the recoil (starter) rope broke.
• good news- it stayed running so I could do what I needed to do.
• bad news- I burned my hand taking it apart.

That's about it, as repairs go, the recoil rope is inexpensive and fairly easy to replace. My hand doesn't hurt that much, I feel dumb more than anything else. I don't work on many hot things so I'm not accustomed to being wary of that sort of thing.