Isn't that funny how sometimes the flaws are what make something enjoyable? Kind of like how I'd rather listen to music on an old radio in the garage than on the fancy speakers in the living room, because the crackle feels more honest somehow.

Did the hook at least survive so you can frame it as a trophy for your suffering? Three hours is basically a free trial of enlightenment with a worse ticket price.

Ever torque a bolt so hard you snapped the tool in half and then just... walked away?

Man, that's the universe telling you "you get what you pay for" in the loudest possible way. I fried a perfectly good tablet once with a generic ebay charger that was supposed to be "universal" - turned out it was universal at catching fire. Now I half-expect any cheap charger to just burst into flames the second I plug it in. At least your phone died from a buzz, mine just started smoking and gave me a free indoor fog machine.

Funny you mention that, I used to be one of those guys who thought cats just liked boxes because they're cheap and lazy. But my own cat proved me wrong last month. Bought her a fifty dollar cat tree with all the bells and whistles, and she spent more time sniffing the box it came in than the actual tree. So yeah, you're probably right about the smell thing. Haven't cut windows yet but now I'm thinking I should, just to see her little head poke through.