taobmaetS ooGcM rightly guessed that not all has been well recently.
I’ve been working like a horse to make a project work for months and finally two scientists I work with flew out to make it work – plus a third scientist who we are collaborating with. I felt some relief that surely with their help we would lick this problem, but at the same time it was with a different small amount of relief that after three days three absolutely brilliant scientists found nothing flawed with my work. But, that also means that we still didn’t make it work.
I told one of them that I thought that what we have been thinking our diagnostics have been telling us about our laser is incorrect and that meant that no matter what we did we would not get the wee beastie working. She agreed. I said I needed to go home because I physically couldn’t do any more.
That (Friday) evening, just two hours later, I got a phone call from one of the other scientists telling me that I could opt to say no, but “Would you go down to Texas to build the instrument that you designed at a different facility?”
What the hell are you supposed to do, say no?
Without missing a beat I said “Yup, I will go.” When I got surprise on the other end I said “Look, I’ve been killing myself over this and I damn well want to see it work. I’m not giving up. If it doesn’t work it won’t be because I didn’t give it everything I’ve got.”
So this week I fly down to Texas to try another group’s laser and equipment – let’s hope it works.
Yes, that has been A problem but not THE problem. I’ve been over-exerting myself physically and for long enough that my neck has been telling me things were seriously wrong. Friday last, it really told me. I was in a vicious pain cycle to the point where I nearly had a co-worker take me to the hospital but managed to get it under control with painkillers before that became necessary.
Saturday was the real problem. I woke up in the morning pretty bad off and took pretty much everything I could, but after an hour I was even worse. I asked Cruel Wife to call the pain doc and have him call the ER ahead of us so they knew to not let me sit in agony in the waiting room for three hours like last time (that was a few years back). Problems with going to the ER are (1) acute embarrassment even though you just want them to make it stop, and (2) there is nothing you can say that will convince them that you truly aren’t a drug-seeker, unless you have a decent doc like I have finally found who managed to pin down three discs that other docs missed.
I was lying there, pretty much writhing on the bed, when Cruel Wife came in and said “here, take these… the doc called in another Rx”. Time ceases to have any meaning when you feel like that so it had felt like both years and moments since I’d asked her to call the doc. I took them and within 15-20 minutes I was wrung-out but the pain was receding rapidly, and I was drowsy enough to fall asleep. I stayed drugged up all weekend, knowing that I had to pack up and fly to Texas for three days and hoping that the rest and meds would allow my body to heal a bit.
I still feel kind of cruddy but better than I have been.
My apologies for not posting – it will be spotty this week, too, but I will be taking all of next week off.
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Well, damn. Can’t say as how I blame him. Makes you wish you could take the load off his shoulders though. Through no fault of his own…
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People assume weather science can predict anything? Well, isn’t that true if climate scientists can project global warming and climate change out to 100 years from now?
“People see that and assume we can predict everything,” National Hurricane Center senior forecaster Richard Pasch said.
But when Irene struck, the storm did not stick with the forecast’s predicted major hurricane strength winds.
“It’s frustrating when people take our forecasts verbatim and say, ‘This is where it’s going to be at this time and this is how strong it’s going to be,'” Pasch said. “Because even though the track is good it’s not certain.”
In other news, global warming is causing a rise in mental illness. Hmmm. I thought the latter led to the former.
RATES of mental illnesses including depression and post-traumatic stress will increase as a result of climate change, a report to be released today says.
The paper, prepared for the Climate Institute, says loss of social cohesion in the wake of severe weather events related to climate change could be linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and substance abuse.
As many as one in five people reported ”emotional injury, stress and despair” in the wake of these events.
Damn, that is choice.
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In my school days, getting good or perfect attendance was expected and if you were skipping a lot of days it mean an ass-kicking at home. Now, apparently, you get an iPod for doing what you should have been doing anyway.
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And here I thought Spice was a geriatric drug that gave you blue eyes and allowed you to fold space. Well, it must do something if so many folks in the military (and elsewhere) are testing positive for it. People don’t generally test positive for massive ingestion of talcum powder or carnuba wax because they don’t get you high.
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Okay. That’s all I’ve got for now.
Figured you had lots of stuff on your hands and mind. Good luck with the project in Texas. Hope you get some relief from the pain as well.
Remember, there’s no problem in the world that can’t be cured with the proper application of high explosives…
Ah, good to see you, mrmacs. Hope you are well.
That’s sage advice. It has worked so well for so many, hasn’t it?
The advice really only works when you have access to the explosives. And are really frustrated or very motivated.
Then again, in your and my line of work, a 12 oz. ball peen hammer has the same effect.
Doing well, thanks. You take care of yourself and the family!
I should have said, “Don’t post anything unless you’re feeling better”.
Sounds like your Dr broke out the serious pain meds. Go easy on ’em, buddy.
I totally sympathize with you, LK. Both the pain, and the “no, you are a pro, you cannot turn down the assignment” situation.
Remember all this crap and take yourself a seriously long vacation after its over.
It’ll be nine-days vacation for the cost of four, which isn’t too bad. Not like I don’t have hours built up.
Then when they do the neck fix it is going to be weeks and weeks of “vacation”. I’ll be flat-out itching to go back to work then… heck, even nine days leaves me a bit stir-crazy.
yup, currently flying first class to TX. Footrubs, aromatherapy, chocolate fondue, and all you can eat ribs. Living the high life.
I wish the project were in San Antonio, LK. Hope you get to feeling well enough to enjoy your stay!!
Yes, it would have been cool, but I probably would have been WAY too busy anyway. Probably for the best. 🙂
We’ll meet up someday, probably the whole fambly at once.
Praps whatcher tryink to do is unpossible? Ya ever mebbe tink about dat schmott guy?
Well, I might have thought of it once but since I’m “House”, my ego crushed the idea.
It worked tonight, and I got data.
So there.
Going home tomorrow.
When i was in electronics class i found the reason i could not get touch on/off lamps to work was due to my bodies very low electrical field. this is the voltage induced in the nerves by nearby A.C. most people have a voltage of about 110-120. mine is around 50. i don’t know if this is the case for your project but some sensitive electronics will not work if i handle them.
As for the “Spice” test wasn’t there a problem with some drug tests showing false positives for tea drinkers who had never used drugs?