Watched my buddy shiver through a dive until a local taught him to chew ginger first.

Feel that pain. Watched a crew spend three days just chipping up old tile adhesive that was like concrete. Every time they thought they got it flat, the laser level showed another dip. Budget went out the window before they even laid the first new board.

Ever think about what's happening under the crown, like the chimney's footing? If water's getting in and freezing below it, even a perfect crown mix can fail from the ground up. A good crown is key, but it's the last line of defense. Make sure the whole chimney structure, especially the very top bricks it sits on, is solid and sloped to shed water away first.

Ha, my book club nearly broke up over a love triangle.

Wait, @wells.reese, was your old mud in the heat?