Update! I spoke with the manager a couple times and she has arranged for me to get a new "head" which is the machine part without the embroidery arm. I will have it tomorrow! Thank you Kim, if not for you...

Well I purchased a new machine. It is an embroidery only from Babylock. I stitched a few things, of course at high speed since I could, and then turned it down for some FSL. It seemed fine... but the next time I started it, it sounded horrible. Grinding and clanking, I finished what I was doing then got it ready to go back to the shop. At this shop the women evaluate every machine before it goes to service and will send it home if they can fix it. She started it and right away it made crunching and grinding noises. after a while she was conversing with a colleague who said "we have a floor model right over there: expected it to sound like mine and send mine home. Well it sounded beautiful and I said so. The reason I got this machine was because the low grade machine I mistakenly purchased grinded my nerves. Lol! <br /><br />
Also, as I pulled the plastic wrap out of the box to repack the machine, a screw fell into the bottom of the box. Of course I forgot the screw at home. The women at this store have always been delightful and let me know they put a 2 week rush on the service request as the machine is brand new, instead of the 6 week estimate for fixing. This guy is really good especially compared to the last guy. Any way that is my story. Christie is coming again in December. This is like her 10th visit and she stays 4 weeks. I was kidding her the other day about the first time she came, she was so homesick. She has adjusted since them. Hugs and prayers for you all. Christine