10.04.2008

Review of the worst. week. ever.

This was my week......
Monday: Find out my data might be seriously messed up. Begin questioning all future plans such as graduation and postdoc. Cry a lot.

Tuesday: Decide that a trip to remote technical lab is required. I did work in this lab for 8 months and they ran these samples for me after I left. Curse relaying on anyone else for data.

Wednesday-Friday: Learn all I can about the problems and how to fix them. Curse having a major part of my project be something that no one at my university has expertise with. 

Friday night: Finally stop worrying for 4 hours and go out on a date with the Grackle. See an amazing concert that makes everything right in the world. I've wanted to see this guy for years and it was worth the wait!

Saturday: Back to reality, preparations for leaving, and watching the last ditch effort by the Cubs* tonight.
Sunday: 6 am flight to remote lab.

The status of internet at the remote lab is questionable so I might not be able to post till I get back. Even more fun, I don't even know when I will be back! 
Hopefully, the remote nature of the place will allow me to resume being productive on writing the dissertation. All writing has pretty much stopped as I deal with data issues. 

This was really a rock-bottom week for me and I spent a lot time just trying to hold it together. It was often a fight to stay proactive in the situation instead of just reacting to it. Hopefully, there will be more entries on the situation but for now, I have to get back to packing not only all my clothes but also my office into a single suitcase. 






*The last two games have been painful. What happened Lou???? 

7 comments:

Amanda said...

I'm so sorry that all this happened this past week. I hope that the trip to the remote lab will help. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you can salvage most of your data! I'm sending good thoughts your way.

Unbalanced Reaction said...

Sh*t. I hope that your trip goes well, and that you're back on track soon.

Dr. Brazen Hussy said...

Oh no! Is this because of the stuff you emailed me about this week? I promise to answer your second email soon! And really, unless there's more I don't know, there's a good chance it will all turn out just fine.

Albatross said...

Thanks for the good thoughts Amanda and Unbalanced Reaction!

Brazen- It is all that stuff. Thanks (in advance) for the second reply but no worries about timing! I've been running around crazy here and won't get to do anything about it till this week anyways. I really hope you are right that it will be fine--once I see the data, hopefully that statement will come with more confidence...

ScienceGirl said...

Ohhh, this sounds really stressful. I hope you are able to salvage your data; I am keeping my fingers crossed for you! At least the weather at the remote lab shouldn't be too terribly hot this time!

botanybabe said...

hang in there and remove all sharp objects from your vacinity. just better not to have the temptation there, you know? just keep repeating, it will work out, it will work out. somehow in life it usually does. that is what i tell myself when the chips are down. and they are down a lot in our life.

Isis the Scientist said...

Hang in there albatross. This too shall pass. Relying on others for your data is an unfortunate reality in science. It sounds like you've learned some lessons early in your career that other don't learn until much later.