Notes from 1986

I found a notebook in lab that just was titled "mean" on it. Inside, I found a remarkably apt description of what I do and similar kinds of problems that I have to deal with.

4/24 For some unknown reason, dumb pressure suddenly goes up to 1x10-6. no leak was found, and mass 18 was a lot in chamber, suspect water leak from X-ray source, but did not found.

4/25 I forgot to connect the XPS terminator box to the chamber until I collect data (terrible) and after that I connected the analyzer, try to collect data, but it just didn't work, no signal. data was collect and displayed. when try to stop cycle it didn't get out of the collecting program. I found no way to get to the main menu, so turn off the computer. try again. still didn't work. I thought it was broken. After two hours, i come back, try again, it works!

I don't know why

4/26 another story, I try to work on XPS it doesn't acquire any data. I fool around a couple hours and didn't success. After lunch, i try again. First do survey. It works. I suspect sth is wrong in software/ oh, no, analyzer don't work again after two successful run/

I am getting tired of it. after dinner and watch tv for a couple hours, xps works again.
I am mad, XPS die again! after run twice

4/27 whenever I turn off the xray source without exit the program, computer die, i have to reboot it, and it works.

Later: DAMN - BELLOWS LEAK

It is so often that I try things to get software to work and the instruments to consistently analyze and then things break, and I have no idea what to do and how to fix it!! So, I remember to be reasonable and leave and eat dinner and maybe watch TV and go at it again later because it ALL OF A SUDDEN decides of its own accord to work again.

I love that this person recorded all the humanity of my job within a short few days...