Downhill

Earlier this week, I overheard two of my classmates discussing which day of the week is the best. One classmate was of the opinion that Monday is, in fact, the best day. His reasoning was that Monday marks the beginning of the week; you come in refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on whatever comes your way. Your head is full, thinking of all the things you're going to get done this week. By Friday, reality has set in, probably harshly. Yeah, you may have gotten things done, but not nearly all the things you were intending to.

This week has been ringing true to his words.

Monday was a surprisingly good day. My team and I were able to get the insert caps for our r8's machined. (There were a few hiccups along the was, but they were dealt with.) Tuesday was a bit draining, but I (thought that I) got stuff done. Wednesday was a disappointment: the stuff I did do was done wrong, I had to deal with things I intended to do earlier, but forgot about. Today dragged on; I finally finished grinding the graphite electrodes (day three), and they still came out wrong. Tool Making Theory was a waste of time today.

...

Whenever we have to partner up for something, I'm usually stuck partnered with whoever is left. Everyone else has already partnered up with somebody, leaving me among those standing alone. No one wants to partner with me - not by choice anyway. It's always by default.

I don't blame them.

It took me three days to grind my graphite electrodes to the right dimensions (though technically, mine weren't to the right dimensions; I got the diameters, but blew it on the lengths). It should have only taken one, maybe two (a lot of class time went to lecturing this week). I screwed up in every way I could have (or so it feels).

I ground down too far. I ground too fast, breaking off and chipping the graphite. I left material on that I was supposed to get rid of. I got the lengths wrong. I moved off the part without zeroing, so I had no idea where I was.

It seems like every project I work on, I find some way to botch it. The worst part is, I'm not looking. It just happens. Every time.

No wonder no one wants to work with me.

...

It's been a long week so far. Just one more day, and it will be over. Good thing that - I can't take much more.