Yeah, "papers over the real problem" is exactly it. I've totally been that guy who just wants the quick fix so I can ride now, only to eat it later. Learned that lesson the hard way more than once. You're spot on, @kai445, that gritty feeling never lies. Makes you wonder how many times we ignore the little warning signs just to save an hour.

The fact it kept the audio file is what gets me. That's not just listening, it's saving private talks without a clear reason. It turns a helpful tool into a real privacy worry.

My dad worked 70 hour weeks his whole life and always said money was time. For years I believed him and burned myself out. That client in Austin is right though, the fence can wait. I finally took a real vacation last month and realized I had forgotten how to just sit still and be a person.

Oof, sandraf98's story sounds rough.

I had a piece last year that looked like soapstone but felt wrong. Running a bit of water on it was the trick for me. Soapstone just absorbs it quietly, but this left a little bead on the surface. That quick test, plus how heavy it was in my hand, told me it was actually marble. Visuals get you in the ballpark, but a simple water test can confirm it.