Maria has, with some trepidation, decided that her time has come. She feels that she needs to become comfortable with blowing up a hot water bottle, lest she be asked to do it unexpectedly. She removes a new Chinese hot water bottle from its wrapper, and just on a lark, puts it to her face, puffs out her cheeks to form a seal, and tries to push air into it. The sensation is definitely too much, too soon, and she is too nervous to try to refine her technique. So she screws it onto her tube, with its safety check valve, puts the tuba mouthpiece on the other end to her lips, and blows. Still noth...

Maria has, with some trepidation, decided that her time has come. She feels that she needs to become comfortable with blowing up a hot water bottle, lest she be asked to do it unexpectedly. She removes a new Chinese hot water bottle from its wrapper, and just on a lark, puts it to her face, puffs out her cheeks to form a seal, and tries to push air into it. The sensation is definitely too much, too soon, and she is too nervous to try to refine her technique. So she screws it onto her tube, with its safety check valve, puts the tuba mouthpiece on the other end to her lips, and blows. Still nothing! Then she realizes that her hose is simply kinked. Invert the hot water bottle, puff again. After several tries, with enormous reddening cheeks, she finally gets it to start. She continues to hold it in hand for s long as she dares, until she feels ready to test its ability to support her weight - and her ability to continue blowing even with 100 or so extra pounds bearing down on it. Fortunately, she is up to the task, and even risks bouncing on it. After some more big breaths delivered this way, she decides that she needs a little more distance. She gives it her all during this "final stretch," and is rewarded with a very loud and kinetic burst.