Shit has hit the fan

and flung to the far corners of the room.

I predict a busy, busy week ahead without much progress on my crystal ball.

The mould I used has miraculously resulted in a disjoint channel structure this morning, which only means I have to recast the mould. The last primer will arrive tomorrow afternoon, latest by 1430hrs, and SLU is now rushing me to get back to produce some results so that the Prof will have something to present on it coming Monday.

Let's see now. It's already the end of Tuesday, and I can't do anything else really. So that leaves me 3 days to produce anything, otherwise I'll have to be back on Saturday and Sunday. No, no, NO! This can't be happening to me!

Plan
Wednesday
Morning
1. Cast and cure the mould in the morning (hope it turns out fine this time).
2. Demould after tea break.
Afternoon
3. Cast one layer in the afternoon to determine if the mould is good.
4. Try to find some way to get the outlet holes and a way to bond the inlet to the rest of the layers.

Thursday
Morning
1. Call and 'talk' to Boss at 1000hrs (1600hrs Singapore time).
Afternoon
2. Head to SLU to work on the first three ladder rungs.
i. Anneal the complimentary primer strands (Heat to 94C and cool slowly. How slow ah? 5C drop every minute can? Until 40C, hold for 5mins, then hold at 4C.)
ii. Check for bands.
iii. Purify and check for bands again.
iv. Quantify concentration (hope the equipment works fine like yesterday).
3. IF there's sufficient time, form the ladder and test on Machine.

If I leave immediately after the call to boss, perhaps there WILL be time. That means I have to spend extra money for the bus, since my card only allows me two trips a day.

Friday
1. If Point 3 was not completed on Thursday, proceed to SLU and continue working on the Machine. Else head to the other lab and try to figure out how to bond the freaking layers together.

Potential Problems
Wednesday
1. The freaking mould doesn't turn out fine (I hope not.).
2. I can't figure out how to bond the layers (Very likely!!!).
3. I can't figure out how to create the outlets (Potential killer as well!!!).

Thursday
1. In a bad mood and unable to work after 'talking' to Boss (Potential hazard!).
2. Largest 1500bp rung doesn't work as it should (I already saw something odd yesterday. The length is mostly 950++bp with a little at 1440++bp on the Machine. But on gel, the band looked fine. Much higher than 1000bp, so it should be of the correct length. So... Fingers crossed.).
3. Even if the ladders are produced properly, can the Machine read it without the commercial dye supplied (Since the Machine seems to be able to read the dye, maybe this wouldn't be an issue.)

Friday
1. I still can't stinking figure out how to solve the problems of bonding and creating outlets.

As one so kindly pointed out today, the problems only increase in power with each preceeding predicament overcome.

I'm wading in the sewers, surrounded by SHIT.

Just listing the issues made my eyes pop out of the sockets, so I had to Screw Them back.

I'm so looking forward to next week; Good Friday and Easter. Off on Wednesday afternoon and back only on Tuesday. I can only hope I'll be able to enjoy the holiday without lingering thoughts about work.

Sigh... I wish my mates and shopping kakis were here. I'm in such desperate need for some therapy now.

Mood: Depressed