A homeowner in Toledo told me I was 'giving the tree a haircut' and it made me rethink my pruning explanation

My uncle told me to skip the spray foam and just use rockwool in the container ceiling

He said it would be cheaper and just as good for our build in Flagstaff. I listened, but after the first real cold snap last week, we had crazy condensation dripping inside. Had to pull it all out and get the closed-cell foam sprayed in anyway, which cost us an extra $1200. Should have trusted my gut about the temperature swings up here. Anyone else run into this with high-altitude insulation?

My uncle told me to use a drop of olive oil on a stuck shutter blade. It worked, but then the whole thing smelled like a salad for a month.

Pro tip: double check your layer states before sending a file

I was in the middle of a big site plan for a project in Tampa and sent the PDF to the engineer. He called back immediately because all the utility lines were on the wrong layer and didn't print. I had to re-export everything and rush it over, which cost me an hour. Anyone else have a go-to method for a final layer check before hitting send?

My sourdough starter went flat after a week and I almost gave up

Turns out my kitchen in Seattle was just too cold, so I moved it on top of the fridge and it doubled in 6 hours. Anyone have a good spot for a starter in a drafty apartment?

My old car's gas gauge was a real wake up call

I was driving my 2008 sedan to work in Phoenix last Tuesday, and I had to fill up for the third time that week. I looked at the receipt and saw I'd spent over $75 on gas in just five days. That's when it hit me that my 20 mile daily commute in that old thing was a huge part of my problem. Has anyone else had a moment like that that made them finally look for an electric car or a bike?

I finally got my friend to watch the first episode of Monster

He texted me 'okay you were right' after 40 minutes, which never happens. Anyone have a good second anime to suggest for someone who liked that slow-burn start?

Hot take: The new park benches downtown are a perfect example of form over function

I was walking through Mill River Park yesterday and tried to sit on one of those new curved metal benches. They look cool from a distance, but the seat slopes forward so much you have to brace your feet the whole time! It's like they designed it to be a sculpture first and a place to rest second. Has anyone else found a public space with seating that's just plain uncomfortable to use?

My emergency fund saved me from a surprise car repair

The alternator went out on my 2012 Civic yesterday. I wrote a check for $480 from my savings account labeled 'car stuff' without touching my regular budget. Anyone have a separate fund for specific types of emergencies?

Remembering the old way we used to map the river bottom

Back in the day on the Mississippi near St. Louis, we'd drop a lead line every few hundred feet and just guess at the contours in between. It was slow and you'd miss a lot of stuff. Now, with the side-scan sonar unit we got in 2018, we get a full picture in real time on a screen. Anyone else still have a lead line kicking around their gear shed, or is it all digital now?