That hidden behavior list is gold but it's tricky because the old code might have bugs that accidentally worked for years. Something nobody mentions is asking for the test data sets too, not just the behaviors. The real kicker is when you find out the old code was doing something wrong but customers had built workarounds around the bug, so fixing it breaks their flow. I always grab the payment logs from the last six months now to spot those accidental features people rely on.

Flea market skillet strikes again.

Start with the absolute worst being up in the alpine when a dry lightning storm kicked off right over head. Had to ditch everything metal and lie flat in a boulder field while the thunder shook the ground. It made me realize how much we treat the outdoors like a predictable machine when really nature just does whatever it wants. Same thing happens in everyday life too. People plan their whole weeks down to the hour but then a kid gets sick or a car breaks down and everything falls apart. We pretend we have control but really we are just guessing most of the time.

500 rejections is a badge of honor in this game. It means you're actually showing up and sending work out instead of hoarding it in a drawer. Keep the spreadsheet going and watch that number climb.

So that single bag has stretched across dinners, meal prep, and random stir fries" - how many times a week are you actually eating rice though? Cause if you're hitting it 5 or 6 nights that $40 bag saves you a ton on takeout. Just wondering if the volume is worth it or if it's more of a once in a while thing.