My uncle's 1982 Maytag repair manual has coffee stains and betting slips in it, which tells you everything about its real value.

Oh man, "mess of scribbled notes that only I can read" is so real. My desk is covered in sticky notes with my own shorthand that makes zero sense if I look back a week later. That method you described for one-off stuff totally makes sense, it's like you're just having a direct chat with the person doing the work.

Full time babysitting gig" is the perfect way to put it.

Fight back" is right. I used to think plants were just passive things that died if you messed up. Seeing that basil bounce back after looking totally dead made me realize how tough they actually are.

Read about a similar trick for a local Facebook group.