Remember when @victor101 mentioned that quiet feel? It makes me think of my old apartment by the train tracks. You'd get used to the noise, but the first night after they did track work was weird. It was too quiet, like the sound was missing from the room. Took a week to sleep right again without that rumble.

Started using a GPS tracker on my phone for hikes. It keeps me honest about the distance, plus I like seeing the actual route afterwards.

Man, I did the exact same thing for ages, just pointing where the load should go. It made perfect sense in my head. That new guy asking for a check actually did you a favor, because having to crack the book open is what finally made it stick for me too. The official thumb method is way clearer once you get used to it, especially from a distance. Funny how the rookie ends up teaching the old hand a new trick.

Remember when the whole point was to get a straight answer. Now it feels like people just want an audience for their stories. Hard to find the real questions in all that noise.

Ngl the pipes weren't that greasy, it was mostly just old food gunk. Honestly the worst part was just the smell.