Read about this in a design blog once where they made fun of bad color picks. Strong contrast is key for making things easy to read, but black on white can look too stark at home. Dark gray on light beige gives a softer feel but still works well. Your light pink on clear labels is the usual error of choosing pretty over practical. I even saw a chart that showed navy on cream is almost as clear as black on white. So you can try other colors if you make sure the difference is big enough.

Seriously, a python in the hallway during an install? That's next level risky. Cutting carpet with a snake nearby must have been so distracting. I'd be paranoid about where it was every second. Clients really should keep pets secured when work is being done.

My Minolta X-700 had the same seizing issue. I used a drop of synthetic watch oil and let it cure for two full days. The blades have been moving freely for months now. Guess I learned the hard way that shortcut fixes just don't cut it.