So I am pleased to report this story has a happy resolution.
I had a prepurchase inspection scheduled for this morning, and it was part of why I desperately wanted my Baron able to taxi away under its own steam. Asking the FBO for a 3/4 mile tug out and back and on the active taxiway is a large ask and one likely to result in similarly large fees eventually. They have been gracious so far, but there are limits, and I prefer not to over-use my favor points.
Weather delayed the prebuy this morning, and this allowed me a scramble to create
Baronus Mostly Intactus, and it was taxiied to the FBO with 15 minutes to spare. Starter adapter worked great. Calibrated elbow was on point, but the fish scale trick is hot liquid wisdom and may be applied ex post facto. And certainly in the future with gusto. I may notch a set of 7/16, 1/2 and 9/16 wrenches at the 12" point to accomodate this pro tip.
After doing my plane relocation, flirting with the FBO girls, and returning to my hangar to clean and prepare -- wouldn't you know it -- my Mooney friend taxiied back in from shooting an approach in some hideous 200/4500RVR weather, a most impressive feat in itself.
I sauntered over and engaged in a hangar bull sesh. I opened with my apology for being a doos yesterday evening. He graciously noted that my blaring music in the hangar should have been a context clue that I was "in the zone" and he said he completely understood. Not to be outdone, I complimented his 231 and its sweet paint job. Maybe we are not BFFs yet, but now we know one another's names and we will likely be waving at one another from now on. And he may now feel free to sample and borrow from my extensive tools, jacks, doodads, jigs, and hardware. And I may sample backwards-attached rudders perhaps, should the need arise. Or maybe I can borrow his F150 truck one day. A dude can dream. This is how bromances form.
Balance has been restored to the force. I feel cleansed of my having put the 'ass' in Ambassadorship, Karma freshened, and perhaps I will hesitate a little bit extra next time I am throwing elbows and F bombs at my plane and someone pokes their dozy head in the door to chat. After all, anyone can fly, but the telling of proper hangar lies are a sublime skill worth refining at every rare opportunity.
...or maybe I will troll him, proseal a shiny quarter to the taxiway and see if that Mooney stereotype is true. Heh heh.