Craftsman lawn mower operating basics?

Question

ok so my fiance is in canada until Monday on a fishing trip and the grass in our backyard is as tall as my head (and i'm 5"1) lol!! my kids can't even play outside until I clean the yard up.

I want to surprise him and cut the grass myself. now i'm not an idiot so I know that I have to pull start it (gas mower).

it's a craftsman eagle one 6.5 mower. my dad taught me how to mow the grass when I was about 13 so I kind of know what I'm doing.

our mower doesn't have a bag on it so I won't have to worry about emptying it. it has a pull bar and an engine engage switch-what are these used for?

i'm assuming the pull bar is to lift the blades up when going over sidewalks,porches,etc. but not sure. and i'm pretty sure the engage switch is to put the mower into drive.

a little basic instruction would be greatly appreciated!!!

Answer 1

Bailout 2008, a poem by David Jeffrey:

Like a bloodied warrior,
laying broken and torn.

Like a dying soldier, hopeless and forlorn.

But the blood, it be green,
the color of money.

And the soldier is an economy,
and it is anything but funny.

Broken are it’s people and shattered are their dreams.

Thanks to the ultra rich and their full proof schemes.

It is a tragedy with more pain to come.

Finance will be h**l, and their wills will be done.