That "left it unspooled in the garage" move is probably what saved you, since getting it warm and dry quick is the whole game. The rust risk is real if you keep doing it though, so a light coat of grease on the cable before the next cold snap would let you keep thawing it without paying for it later.

That rubber ring on the bottom of a color bowl actually does way more work than people give it credit for, since without it you're basically trying to balance a slippery plastic cup on a smooth trolley all day. Blaming your technique and your trolley for 3 hours makes total sense though, because who thinks to check the bottom of the bowl when the thing is clearly sitting right there. Next time it slides, flip it over first and save yourself the headache.

Does bribery count as a trick? I keep a stash of lollipops and tell them they get one if their head stays still, and half the time it works every time. The other half I end up with a sticky clipper and a kid who looks like he lost a fight with a lawnmower.