But is turning down a steady 3k actually smart... seems like a huge risk for most people. A lean summer sounds nice until you can't pay rent. That "one client blowing up" is just luck, not a real plan. Putting all your hope on a few small clients feels just as risky as one big one.

That's one lucky repair, but most people just end up making a bigger mess. Epoxy is still way more reliable for beginners.

Frame that thing right away, seriously. I kept my first big book in a cheap plastic sleeve for years and the corners got dinged. Get a proper top-loader and maybe even a backing board (the acid-free kind, they're cheap). Store it flat in a box away from sunlight, not stacked under a pile of other books. That mint condition won't keep itself.

Did you add any salt or acidic ingredients like tomatoes while cooking? I've heard that can make beans stay hard no matter how long you boil them.

Honestly I let mint run wild on purpose. It fills in empty spots and smells amazing when you walk past it. I just pull up what I don't want, it's not that hard to manage. People act like it's kudzu but it's just a tough herb.