I was going to post this yesterday, but did not want to intrude on the Greek Independence day post by Mrs A. So a few belated random items from a somehow odd day:
Got out of bed this morning at 4:05AM after a somewhat fitful nights sleep. I was wide awake, which is sort of what happens to me. At some point, my brain decides that I am just done sleeping, and snaps to "full awake" mode. I almost never wake up groggy. This has happened to me for a very long time, I used to try to fight it and lie in bed and try to get back to sleep, etc. That long ago proved to be a waste of time, so now I just go with it and get up. I like the early morning anyhow.
Before I got out of bed this morning, for some unknown reason I had it in my head that there was a good chance that I might get a look at Reverse-A-Skunk today. Reverse-A-Skunk is a curiously colored skunk that lives someplace around the neighborhood. Rather than the typical skunk black-with-white-stripe motif, R-A-S is nearly all white with black feet and tail. He's been spotted several times by me and a few of the neighbors. I think he raids our trash sometimes. But I love seeing animals around, and was hoping to this morning. But I looked outside for a bit, but there were no skunks to be found. So I got ready and headed for work. I stop at the mini-mart near work for fuel, look in my wallet and note that I have a few bucks in there. Feeling both wealthy and a touch hungry, I spring 99 cents for a six pack of mini-chocolate donuts to go with my economy unleaded.
I like starting work early, those first few hours are often my most productive.
I got there around 5Am, and there was a request for a repair to a part of one machine that we refer to as a "spinner." It does just what the name implies, slowly rotates part of the workpiece. So I spent some time on it, tracked down the problem, found parts and made it work. Returning to my desk, I logged out the repair, which sends email notifications to everyone that needs to know, that the system is fixed. This includes the operator who runs it. Around 10AM, this guy comes to my office and asks if the spinner is fixed. "Yes", I tell him, "I logged it out, did you get the notice?" "Well yeah but it seems to still not be working" he says. Thinking I may have missed something, we both walk across the building to the machine. I step up to it, flip on the spinner switch and turn the speed control knob up. It spins up to speed smooth and nice as can be, and keeps on running.
"What did you do?" he asks.
"Um, I turned it on, and turned the speed control up."
"Was the switch off?"
"Yep, I turned it off when I was done testing it." I reply.
"Oh, well that's the problem. I NEVER turn that switch off, I just turn the knob down."
"Maybe so, but it still needs to be ON for the spinner to run." I say, and get out of there as fast as I can.
Note that the switch is 1/2" from the speed knob. And this guy has been doing this for years. And he likely sat around for a couple of hours waiting for me to fix something that I already told him was fixed. This guy is not dumb, but, sheeh.
I return to my office, and "Bob" appears asking to borrow a tool. I give it to him, and he proceeds to assault me with several minutes of drivel. Wishing that Reverse-A-Skunk would arrive and spray him, I finally pretend that I need to make a phone call, just to get Bob to leave.
Getting back to my task, I realize that my Pencil is missing. Not just any pencil, but my PENCIL! The nice mechanical one that I have used for maybe 8 years. Gone. Derailed, I go on a hunt, asking around, but it is nowhere to be found. A coworker takes pity and gives me one of his spares. I appreciate the gesture, but it is just not the same. I need to grieve and adjust. I mean the new pencil is nice, but we don't even know each other yet. You need time to get acquainted and learn how things work. How do you know this is the right pencil for you? Lots can go wrong. But there is lots of work to do.
I consider going home early.
I decide to give the pencil a fair chance. The lead clicker is on the side, rather than on the top. I still keep clicking the top to get more lead, tough to break that habit. I'm having second thoughts about this new pencil, but I am not sure of the correct protocol. Do I give it back, or just stick it in a draw and get another one?
I am in the middle of doing a program for a logic controller, but am having trouble trying to get my brain around the flow of the thing. I think the pencil is distracting me. If I get this wrong, it will either cause expensive damage, or hurt someone (most likely me...), so I switch to another less intense task that does not require a pencil and do that until it is time to leave.
On the way home, I stop by a friend's house to pick up some firewood. The exertion is a good diversion from the emotional turmoil over my Pencil.
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