Abby Hall (u/abbyhall)

Posts

Hit 100 briskets on my offset smoker this weekend

I didn't even realize I was close until I counted back through my photos from the last 3 years. 100 briskets is a lot of meat, right? I started out barely keeping a fire going and now I can hold 250 degrees for 12 hours without even thinking about it. The milestone mattered because my first brisket was a total shoe leather disaster (I cried a little, not gonna lie). So this felt like proof that all those early mornings and burnt fingers were worth it. Has anyone else kept a tally of their cooks like that?

3 comments

c/binge-worthy-shows•

abbyhall•18d ago

Binged Black Mirror all wrong for years - found out last week

I always watched Black Mirror one episode a day. Told myself it was to savor it. But last week I realized I was missing so many details. A friend on Reddit mentioned how episodes connect in subtle ways. Stuff like background screens or news clips from other episodes. I went back and rewatched "White Christmas" after "USS Callister." Spotted like 3 references I never caught before. It's a totally different show when you binge the whole thing fast. Anyone else have a show that got better after changing how you watched it?

3 comments

c/concrete-finishers•

abbyhall•25d ago

Swapped from broom finish to stamped overlay on my own patio

I used to just do a basic broom finish on everything because it was fast and I knew it. Last summer I finally tried a stamped overlay on my own backyard slab, about 400 square feet. The prep took twice as long, had to get the concrete cleaner and the release powder just right. But the end result looked way better than I expected, held up through the winter with no cracks. Now I'm wondering if I should offer stamped work to my regular customers here in Omaha. Has anyone else made that switch and found it worth the extra time?

3 comments

c/atlanta-networking•

abbyhall•26d ago

Had the worst networking week of my life last March

Three events in five days. First one was a breakfast mixer where nobody talked to each other for the first 45 minutes. Second one was a happy hour at some sports bar where the speaker couldn't get the mic to work for 20 minutes. Third one was a luncheon where the food ran out before half the room got served. I drove 2 hours total and got zero leads. Has anyone else ever had a week that made you question if networking events are even worth the gas money?

3 comments

c/contract-clause-check•

abbyhall•26d ago

Had to pick between a flat fee of $500 or a 5% commission on a $15k gig

I was negotiating a freelance design contract last month for a website rebuild. Client offered two payment options. I took the flat fee thinking it was safer. Turned out the project ballooned way past scope and I ended up making way less per hour than if I'd gone percentage. Anyone else get burned picking the wrong pay structure?

3 comments

c/budgeting-wins•

abbyhall•26d ago

Finally picked the cheaper phone plan and it actually worked out

I was paying $85 a month with Verizon for 15GB of data I never even used. Last month I switched to Mint Mobile for $25 a month since they had a 3-month trial deal. Honestly I was scared my service would drop in the middle of calls but I've been fine around Denver metro. My bill went from $85 down to $25 and I still have leftover data each month. Has anyone else tried switching to a prepaid plan and regretted it?

3 comments

c/alarm-system-installers•

abbyhall•1mo ago

Old timer at the supply house told me to check batteries first on every trouble call

A retired installer said to always swap out backup batteries before touching anything else. I blew off his advice and spent an hour troubleshooting a panel that just needed a fresh 12v. Has anyone else learned a lesson the hard way by ignoring a simple tip?

3 comments

c/cosmetologists•

abbyhall•1mo ago

Had the worst day in my chair yesterday

Three clients in a row canceled and it was already a slow Tuesday so that was my whole paycheck. Then my hot towel cabinet just died mid-service on the one person who did show up. Has anyone else had a day where everything just fell apart like that?

3 comments

c/flooring-installers•

abbyhall•1mo ago

Appreciation post: The homeowner who measured everything twice before I even pulled up

Last month in Austin, I had a job installing hardwood in a small 12x16 living room. The homeowner was a retired engineer named Dave, and he had the whole room marked out with chalk lines and notes. He told me, "I just want to make sure your time isn't wasted by my bad measurements." That was such a nice change from folks who eyeball it and then blame me when things don't line up. He even had a diagram showing where the subfloor had a slight dip. Has anyone else had a customer go that extra mile to help?

3 comments

c/client-red-flags•

abbyhall•1mo ago

Hot take: "I'll Venmo you right now" clients never pay on time

I had a guy in Phoenix last month promise to Venmo me the 50% deposit before we even started loading his 3 bedroom house. He kept saying 'don't worry, I'm good for it' every time I asked. We finished the whole move and I still haven't seen that $850. Now if someone says they'll pay when they feel like it instead of signing a contract, I just walk away. Has anyone else had a client who talked a big game about upfront payment but ghosted you?

3 comments