The Stages of My Sewing Machine

Nothing frustrates me more than not being able to figure something out and my sewing machine is not an exception. Let's go through a recap of the life of my sewing machine:

Gifted to me in October 2003 by my mom. Happy with the machine and its functions, unhappy with the cheap plastic finish. This would come back to haunt me. (Note to self: Never pay more for something because it has an aesthetically pleasing design- quality is compromised)

Move: August 2006. Etienne uses my machine to prop up used and folded moving boxes. Said boxes tip and the machine goes with it, breaking the cheap plastic finishing. To my horror, the two main elements needed to run the machine, two of the upper threading devices, are broken. Between birth of Louise and settling in a new place, we put the machine away.

Spring 2007, take out machine again. After much prodding, we finally attempt to take the machine apart to put back the broken parts, but to no avail. Desperate, we send the machine off to E's uncle, who knows how to fix anything.

March 2008, I am like a little kid at Christmas getting my machine back. So many projects in store. But, of course, I didn't expect it to work, why should it? The repair is like new, only one of the pieces couldn't be attached back on properly, so he used piano wire (the the job looks professional, let me tell you) to create another threading device. So, I threaded the machine, ready to sew and to my dismay, all the needle does is stay in one place and creates a huge glob of thread.

I tried threading that thing several different ways with the new attachment and I just can't figure it out. And, is it really the threading that is causing it all these problems? I'm bewildered and wondering if I'll ever get my sewing machine up and running again. I was so excited to make an African print dress for Louise...