The brick fireplace chimney on my mother's 32 year-old home is in need
of repair badly, and since I parged her foundation last summer, I want
to get started on repairing the fireplace.

I never did tuck-pointing before, and it seems one of those
pain-in-the-butt type time-consuming jobs. If anyone has any tips to
make the job easier, I'd appreciate hearing about it here.

Also, the chimney lists about an inch away from the rest of the brick
fascia (of the house). I obviously can't glue it back. I'd like
suggestions on the best "adhesive mortar" to use for this job.