That's exactly how I handled an attack last summer, right down to the syringe method. Found those nasty white grubs in two of my biggest plants and felt the same panic. The Bt injection worked a treat, and the vines even put out new growth after. Really smart move on your part to act so fast.

My buddy Mike was setting steel with a crane last month and their whole radio system died. He said the operator just froze for a solid ten seconds because nobody on the ground knew the proper "lower slowly" or "stop" signals anymore. They had to shut the whole lift down and send a guy climbing up to talk to the cab. It was a huge waste of time and could have been dangerous. That moment really stuck with him about keeping the old skills sharp, even with the fancy gear.

Abstract art furniture is right. Happens when you forget to measure twice before cutting. Been there.

What makes you think a pro would have caught that crack? Plenty of amateur welders do solid work that lasts for years. One bad job doesn't mean every DIY fix is unsafe.