Totally! That early win with Python builds momentum that gets you ready for tougher stuff later.

I found soaking them in lemon water like @knight.dakota said is key for that perfect crunch.

Yeah that number feels kinda sad. I've got maybe four or five people I'd drop everything for, and who would do the same. Quality over quantity for sure, but three still seems low. Makes you wonder how they even measure that stuff.

Ugh, date logic is the worst. Did they ever figure out why it only happened on the 31st of specific months?

Did you at least put some mesh tape or something behind the hole first? Spackle needs something to hold onto, it can't just bridge a big empty space. You might have to cut it clean now and use a real patch piece.