You mentioned it feeling like a "shortcut," but idk if that's quite right. I mean, the heat from a hairdryer is just helping the chemical reaction happen faster. It's not really skipping a step, it's more like giving it the right conditions to work, especially in the cold. Maybe it's just me, but calling it a shortcut makes it sound like a cheat, when it's actually a pretty normal way to get the job done right.

You're so right about problem solving skills fading when you never touch the machines. I jumped to remote support too and it killed the fun for me, lmao. I used to actually fix things in the shop and now I just follow a guide all day. It feels like I forgot half of what I knew because I'm not doing it with my hands anymore. I really miss just hanging out with the team and picking up tricks by watching them work. I'm looking for a job with some on-site days now just to feel like a real tech again.

When you say you can feel the damp air in your basement shop, has there ever been a time your senses were off and you applied finish when you shouldn't have? Do you still check a forecast as a backup, or do you trust the feeling completely now?

Wait, bitterness can add a nice depth if it's not overpowering. I've used wet hickory on purpose for a stronger smoke flavor that some people really like. It's not that hard to control the heat with a decent smoker and a little attention. Maybe that dog just doesn't appreciate good barbecue.

Helped my uncle on a walkway when I was a kid, and we mixed the mortar in a wheelbarrow. You had to get the feel for it, adding water a little at a time. That slow method meant you placed each brick, gave it a tap with the mallet, and really looked at it. It built a habit of double checking your work that stuck with me, even on faster jobs now.