[non] tears over [non] steamed [non] milk

My espresso machine [a gift from joey] and I have been on and off for a couple years.

Recently, after months of daily lattes [lactaid or soy milk]--which aided greatly in my tri-weekly drives to and from Rochester--the steamer stopped steaming.

I descaled. I cleaned. I looked at it. I tried to force it into working through thought-power.

Then I called KRUPS in Boston. An understanding* service rep went through the usual: Did you descale? Did you clean the wand? Then suddenly: 'Did you you prick a pin in the steamer opening?'. As soon as I tried it, a burst of steam made the oh-so-familiar sound, and I knew she was revived.

*concern, sympathy and disgust mingled together at the thought of life without proper foam