Oh man, that's rough. Bet the problem is those jackets rely on a factory coating that peels off quick, but the real fix is reapplying DWR spray yourself every couple months. Most folks just toss it in the wash and wonder why it stops working.

...and then the dog barfed and that was the final nail in the coffin for uncle Bob's advice. That story reminds me of my grandpa who swore by this trick where you rub a pork shoulder with nothing but salt and leave it out on the counter for like 4 hours before cooking. He said it "opens up the meat" or something. First time I tried it the whole thing got this weird sticky crust and smelled like a wet dog in a sauna. We ended up ordering pizza that night while my dad kept yelling "that's not how you do it" from the kitchen doorway. Old timers have this weird confidence about things they've been doing wrong for decades.

That cropping thing is a trap for sure. My brother tried to crop a family photo for a Christmas card and ended up with just the dog's nose and my grandmother's ear. The worst part is when you realize you can't undo it and have to start all over from the original.

You ever notice how some horses just sort of... test you at first? Sounds like you earned her trust without even trying that day. My trick is to always start with a light touch on the shoulder, let them feel you're not in a rush. If a horse is tense, I'll pause and wait them out instead of forcing the issue. That mare probably picked up on your calm vibe and figured you weren't going to hurt her.

It was actually 2000 not 2009 for the Netflix buyout offer.