Hand sanding gets a bad rap sometimes, but it's all about technique. A lot of those waves come from uneven pressure or not using a sanding block. With a good block and a steady hand, you can get surfaces just as flat as a machine. The real benefit is control, since you can't accidentally burn through a veneer or round over an edge by hand. Machines are great for bulk removal, but for a final finish, nothing beats the feel of doing it by hand (and avoiding those tiny swirl marks some pads leave behind).

My chiropractor in Chicago basically knows me by name from all my visits. I have a bad habit of ignoring back pain until I can barely stand up straight, which is pretty dumb. For physical strain at work, I try to set reminders to stretch but always end up skipping them. The chiropractor helps a lot, but I know I should be more proactive. It's like I'm funding his vacation home one adjustment at a time because I won't listen to my own body. Finding a balance between work and self care is hard, but seeing a pro makes a big difference.

A buddy of mine lost his entire gaming setup to a faulty surge protector. It's easy to forget that some parts are there for more than just looks. Now he has a very expensive paperweight collection. I make sure to check all my connections twice after hearing stories like that. It's one of those things you don't think about until it's too late.

That wobble couldn't have been that bad, right @the_kevin?

Seriously, Anna's right about watching the humidity like a hawk. My bridge warped twice last winter until I finally got a decent case humidifier, not just a little gauge. That paper-thin feeler gauge trick is solid for checking the feet, but you also gotta sight down the fingerboard after every tuning to catch any lean before it gets bad. It's a constant fight against the weather and string tension.