Tangle free caught me off guard one time with a 12 foot bull shark that was basically gift wrapped in mono. I switched to a serrated blade myself after that, a cheap Cold Steel folding knife that cuts through braid like butter. Now I clip it to my PFD with a lanyard, always on my right side so I can grab it fast.

Pull down that insulation first and check the whole ceiling for obstacles. Saves everyone a headache and keeps the vapor barrier intact.

Man that parts wait is brutal, I feel your pain on that one. Plenty of guys I know have been sitting on Cat stuff for months waiting on basic things like filters or gaskets. Sounds like you made the right call with the Cummins, nothing worse than a truck that won't run when you need it most.

My buddy bought the same cheap monitor arm I did back then, he returned his within a week because it felt too flimsy out of the box. Two years later mine is still rock solid, holding my heavy 27 inch monitor without any sag or wobble. It makes me think about how many things we give up on too fast because they don't feel premium right away. Like the cheap tool set I almost returned that ended up outlasting my expensive name brand stuff. Or the off brand kitchen knife that felt cheap but sharpens up better than the fancy one. Do you think we sometimes judge things by their first impression instead of letting them prove themselves over time?

You could just as easily argue that whoever laid that brickwork did a lousy job in the first place. Proper drainage and a solid base should prevent most freeze-thaw problems, not let them pile up until the whole thing gives. Sometimes people overlook the basics and then act surprised when nature does its thing.