Was it one of those things where you suddenly had a free hour and the energy hit at the same time? For me it was finding a good spatula buried in a drawer while a worse one was just out on the counter. That tiny logic fail made me so mad I went and got the drill right then.

Yeah there's a whole podcast episode about this, how a single piece of bad gear can wreck the vibe for everyone. They said it's way worse in a group because you feel responsible for the whole meal falling apart. That quiet disappointment is brutal, makes you want to just pack up and go home. Never skimping on the stove again after hearing that.

What about trying a longer timer only for really complex turns? We switched to a warning system first, then the timer, and it cut down on arguments. Maybe let the group vote on the time limit each game night.