Did the bank at least give her a list of what they needed up front, or was it one of those things where they keep asking for more and more papers every time she called? I had a similar situation with an old credit union account and they wanted my signature from a utility bill from 2004. It took three separate visits before they finally accepted the right combination of documents.

Have you noticed how so many things these days are made to last just long enough to get you through the initial use? It's like there's this pattern of planned failure built into everyday products. The Sharpie on plastic thing is a perfect example, it works great on paper but they know most people will use it on bins or labels. I'd honestly go with the paint pen if you want it to stick around for more than a season. It's a little extra effort now but it saves you from having to redo everything in six months when the Sharpie ghosts you.

Glad to hear your back pain eased up, that's a solid win.

Buddy of mine bought cheap work boots and ended up with a bad case of plantar fasciitis.

Does the wood ever split when you're cutting the 45-degree angle on thinner strips?