My uncle actually hired a gardener for his place in Tempe last year, it wasn't some fancy choice between servants. Most of us are just trying to get the lawn mowed, not casting a movie about rich people. Feels like this is reading way too much into regular chores.

Your story reminds me of a time my book club argued over whether a main character was selfish or just scared. Everyone focused on their big actions, but I noticed how they always touched their necklace when lying. That small habit showed they were hiding fear, not being mean. It shifted the whole talk from judging them to understanding their pain. We ended up seeing the book as a story about vulnerability instead of morality. That one detail made everyone rethink their take.

Slate is completely smooth and breaks in flat sheets. Phyllite has a faint satiny shine to it because its mica flakes are just a bit bigger. If your rock has any kind of shimmer when you turn it in the light, it’s phyllite. That change happens with a little more heat and pressure on the slate. Creek tumbling can polish it and make that shine harder to see, so check a fresh broken edge. Still just looks flat and dull gray? Probably slate.

A 'tricky scope mounting issue' (come on) can't be that serious, right?

Freezing part of your batch can prevent takeout urges.