Sharon, dear: I hear your despair. I too am a perfectionist and as an eye doctor had tons of esoteric math classes. Then, last year when I decided I wanted to learn to quilt all my fancy math was for naught. So - I began taking classes and for the first year called myself the Village Idiot because, like you, nary a seam would meet. I began pinning and Lo! and behold, slowly those dratted seams/corners began to fall into place. Persistence is the name of the game. Looking back I am stunned at how much I've improved and learned - and continue to learn. Hang in there, girlfriend.