Weeks" on one light effect? It's just a picture, not brain surgery...

That sounds like a rough process (a direct dye remover might have worked better first).

Moisture in a limit switch is the worst. Try putting a little dielectric grease on the gasket before you seal it up next time. That extra layer can really block water from creeping in. A hairdryer is a solid fix in a pinch, but stopping it before it starts is way better. Your old man might be onto something about that luck.

Honestly, I used to think color coding was just extra work for no reason. My old system was a mess of black pen scribbles that all looked the same. But last month I had to plan a family trip and my mom's birthday party in the same week. I used pink for travel details and orange for party stuff. Being able to just look for the color made my brain shut off the panic mode. It just works when everything feels like too much.

Disagree on the weird side project thing. That apprentice is learning muscle memory and tool feel in a zero risk setting. Drawing squares might look silly but it builds real skill for when the lines actually matter. I'd rather have a guy who's played with a laser level than one who's scared to turn it on. Sometimes the best use of a tool is just getting comfortable with it.