My first home brewing kit was a plastic bucket and some hand-me-down bottles from my uncle. I spent maybe eighty bucks total. The beer wasn't great, but it got me started. Now I see people online saying you need a full stainless steel setup to even try, and it just isn't true. That basic gear taught me more than any fancy equipment could have.

Polishing air, that's a new one. Sounds like Frank saved you from a very expensive day of making shiny dust.

Tbh @piperwhite, taking a short walk outside really helped me clear my head.

Last Thanksgiving I tried to use my old knife that was basically a butter knife at that point... spent twenty minutes on one turkey leg before my brother took pity and handed me his. I felt so dumb, like I was trying to carve with a spoon.

Oh man, this hits home. My sister tried to grow mint in a tiny pot on her windowsill and that stuff went totally wild, like it was trying to take over her kitchen. She ended up with so much she was forcing mojitos on everyone who visited for a month. Honestly, some herbs just don't know when to quit.