Honestly my only rule is to never be more than thirty seconds from my coffee maker.

Practicing in the mirror is smart. For the sun, I always try to set up so the crane op has the sun at their back, if the site layout allows it. Makes a huge difference.

It's like that everywhere now, honestly. We just keep piling stuff up and calling it normal.

It's funny how the simplest, well-made things outlast all the fancy gadgets. Makes you appreciate keeping the basic stuff around.

Had the same problem with some old cookbooks my mom gave me. The linen thread just turned to dust when I tried to fix a spine. Switched to a basic polyester thread from the craft store for the repair. Five years later, those stitches are still holding without any fade or weak spots. The older stuff has its charm, but it doesn't always last.