You find a lot of things in a machine shop. Metal shavings in places they shouldn’t be, that one 10mm socket everyone’s looking for, and occasionally, a perfect, silent statement of fact.
Case in point: Reilly’s toolbox.
It’s a standard-issue red Mastercraft, covered in the inevitable chips from whatever was on the mill last. But front and center, there’s a sticker. A cute, round little hedgehog looks out at you with a knowing smile. Above it, in simple letters, is the phrase: “surrounded by pricks.”
It’s a good pun on the surface—hedgehogs have prickles, we work in a shop full of them. But here at Terra Machine, it’s more than just a pun. Reilly, our first-year apprentice who runs the Haas TM3 like a pro, is the only woman on the shop floor. In a space dominated by testosterone, old habits, and the occasional crash that makes me wince, that sticker isn’t just a joke; it’s a declaration.
It’s a reminder that she walks in every day into an environment that wasn’t necessarily designed for her. It’s an acknowledgment of the reality, delivered with a dose of humor so dry it could be used as a soaker pad. There’s no malice in it, just a sharp-eyed observation. It says, “I see the landscape, and I’m still here, doing the work.”
In many ways, that sticker embodies the best kind of shop attitude. It’s resilient. It doesn’t complain; it states a fact and gets on with the job. Reilly’s focus is on the tolerances, the tool paths, and the finish of the part—not on proving a point. The point is made simply by her competence and the presence of that hedgehog on her box.
It’s a small detail in the organized chaos of the shop, but it’s one I respect. It takes a certain strength to face that reality every day, and an even sharper wit to label it so perfectly. In a world that often feels illogical and unsustainable, especially tied to the oilfield as we are, a little honest humor goes a long way.
It’s a good reminder for all of us: know your environment, keep your sense of humor, and let your work speak for itself. Even if you’re surrounded by pricks.
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