Cookie catastrophe- almost!

I think I may have mentioned my love for cookie baking once or twice. Since arriving in Germany I have overcome a number of challenges in this regard. The difference in several ingredients, the complete absence of brown sugar and chocolate chips, the voltage problem for my Kitchen-Aid mixer. I thought it was smooth sailing now that I've worked through these things. I've adapted to the different texture in sugar (it's coarser here), I have found baking powder or something similar that works, friends and family have helped me import chips and brown sugar and we have a hefty transformer to step down the voltage for the mixer. I thought the way was clear for me to start baking some holiday treats.

I got out all the measuring cups and spoons, set out the ingredients and hauled the transformer over to the mixer. I plugged it in and turned it on--- and nothing happened. I unplugged it all, replugged it - still nothing. Okay. Don't worry. Maybe something is wrong with the outlet. Tried a different one- nothing. I started to panic and called for Aaron. He tried the transformer with a different appliance and it worked fine. Really panicking! My mixer can't be broken! I love this thing. It's expensive. Who can repair it in Germany? It's too heavy to pack in my suitcase to get repaired in the U.S. Meanwhile, Aaron suggested trying an extension cord. I scoffed. "Why would that work if the mixer is broken? But how can the mixer be broken? Nothing happened to it! I've never plugged it in without the transformer and...." Aaron left and got a big long orange extension cord, and voila! The mixer worked perfectly! Aaron says that's why he's the boy. He does not panic. He just analyzes the problem and deduces a solution. I might have figured it out on my own... eventually!