His nephew can do it in 45 minutes" - oh man, I felt that one in my soul! I once had a customer tell me their teenager could replace a transmission in a weekend because they watched a YouTube video. I was like, "Cool, then tell your nephew to bring his own tools and have at it." People really think turning a wrench is like assembling Ikea furniture, but it's not - half the time you're fighting rusted bolts that haven't moved since the car was built. Honestly at this point I just smile and say "that's great, you should definitely have him do it!" and let them figure it out the hard way.

Three inches of rain in two hours during a competition? That's brutal. I would have just packed up and accepted the loss honestly. Respect to anyone who can keep a fire going through that kind of monsoon.

Wait... people actually call you back about gate alignment after two months? Around here nobody would bother unless the gate straight up fell off the hinges. I mean yeah I get that a dragging gate is annoying but an inch off after fast-set concrete... that feels like one of those things you just shim with a washer or two and move on with your day. You basically changed your whole method over one picky homeowner? Seems like a lot of fuss for something that probably wouldn't even matter once the wood swells up in the rain anyway.