Read a thread on a mason forum where a guy swears by mixing a small test batch and letting it cure for at least 48 hours before you touch a wall. That pink mortar story is a perfect example, color in the bag is a straight up liar.

That bit about not feeling the itch after the first few stops really hits home. I once forgot my phone on a long train ride and spent the whole time staring at a guy's bald spot, trying to figure out if he was asleep or just in deep thought. Turns out he was asleep and started snoring, which was somehow more entertaining than any Instagram feed I've ever scrolled. Maybe our brains just need a minute to reset before they realize the phone isn't coming back.

I did the same thing with a cheap pork shoulder last winter. Turned it into pulled pork for sandwiches, then fried rice, then a pot of beans with the leftover bone. That one cut covered like five dinners for maybe fifteen bucks total. The trick that stuck with me is writing the per plate cost on the meal calendar, so future me sees that $1.75 and skips the urge to order pizza.