The coolant bottle is low, so I think maybe that's it. I go call Gary. That's not it. Back in the gen house. The snake is in a different corner and he's pissed that I'm there. I check the oil. Fine. I go out and check the fuel. Fine. Back in the gen house. Snake is now behind the gen, still pissed because I'm upsetting his hunt. I can finally check the radiator because it's cooled down. No problem. Finally Roger (the repair guy who will grow old with us--we've seen him through the birth of his youngest child and now he's a grandpa) calls and asks if I checked the fuse. No! Back to gen and the snake--the fuse is blown. I drive to the Chevron (our only gas station within 36 miles--it's only 10 miles away)--wrong fuses. Off to town.

I still have to pack and leave at 12:30 to get Juni to the kennel and pick Gary up at the end of shift at the mine. As I'm driving to town, I wish I had Juni with me, but I only thought I was going to the Chevron. I buy fuses and head home. The snake is gone. I change the fuse, start the gen and the fuse blows. Repeat process--same result. I only have three fuses left, so I give up and call Gary. Check the wires for worn spots that would cause a short. I can't find one, so I call Roger and will now have a $200 repair call.

I take a cold shower and pack. Throw the dog in the truck along with my suitcase. I call to tell Gary I'm on my way. Then I ask if he knows what's in my suitcase. He says no. I said funny thing--neither do I. I just threw stuff in .

I'm dying of thirst, and I haven't eaten all day. I stop at McDonalds and go in. I wait in line. I tell the girl I want a milkshake. She looks at me and says, "We don't have milkshakes," as if they have never had milkshakes and I'm stupid for asking for one. Now, I could understand if I'd asked for a beer or something, but aren't milkshakes kind of normal at McDonalds?. I picked up my purse and walk out. Funny thing--the Lovelock McDonalds had milkshakes. Roger called and told me he'd found and repaired the short. There was a worn wire leading to the glow plug. I tell Gary that and he says, "Couldn't you have found that?" After he disengaged his nose from the steering wheel, he drove silently the rest of the way to Reno.