Synchrotron Sunday

Update 2:35am: So I thought I'd go ahead and start a new post for the 'new day,' not that I've noticed much of a change mind you. On the plus side, I'm collecting data set number two though - a substrate soak no less! In other news, Ailsa has just made a fresh pot of coffee, Neil is fast asleep on the sofa (driver's privilege) and I'm taking the spare moments my data collection has afforded me to 'get my blog on.'

We haven't had an update on the scores in a while. Well, it looks like Ailsa's streets ahead - must be 6 or 7 now - where as Neil and I are level-pegging on a rather paltry two.

Just before Neil fell asleep I finally told him that for the last 4 hours or so he'd had piece of tape on his back that said "I eat cock, 'cause I love cock, give me cock," at which point he pulled a piece of tape off my back that said "kick me" that he'd put there about an hour before. Oh the japery! Yes it truly is a laugh a minute an hour around here. And blimey - just eleven more of our earth-hours to go!

Update 5:22am: Not enjoying this at all. Not at all. More coffee.

Update 6:09am: The sun is up. I feel quite odd. Situation summary -we're running on empty and rapidly out of time. More coffee? I couldn't - I'm spent.

Update 7:27am: I just went outside a minute ago - it's a lovely morning. There's a dewy freshness to the air which is a welcome change to the humidity we're used to in Charleston. It reminds me of early mornings camping in France, when I was little. And it looks a bit like Northern France around here actually; open, ever-so-slightly rolling countryside that's vaguely industrial and pretty dull. There's cow parsley and cornflowers and it even smells earthy and a bit like France. Perhaps Illinois is approriately named after all. Or maybe my exhaustion is getting the bette of me.

Update 8:45am My eyes keep closing involuntarily and I think I'm going to lose my mind any minute. We're doing everything we can to finish early. We have just over two hours left on the ID beamline and just over 5 hours left on the BM beamline - though we won't use it all. Hopefully we can get out of here by 12:30 or 1pm and then get to the airport and have a (well deserved) drink or seven. Just over 12 hours until we get back to chucktown and therefore around 13or so until bed time. That's assuming there are no delays with the TWO MOTHER-FUCKING FLIGHTS we have between us and our beds. I swear, if there are any delays then some people will be very very sorry. I'm not in the mood to be effed around.

I want to sleep, to lie down and close my eys, that's all I want to do. It's not much to ask is it?

Oh yeah, if you were wondering about the names of the beamlines... ID stands for "insertion device" (heh heh). I don't know how it works, but I do know that there is an important part called a "wiggler." Seriously. The BM stands for "bending magnet" (snicker). Presumably it's got some magnets somewhere and they bend things. It might be a bit more complicated than that, I'm not sure - not sure I care right now, anyway.

Update 11:05am Well, we've stopped work on the ID beamline and handed it over to some geks from UGA. Just one or two more crystals to shoot on the BM beamline and it'll be time to head to the airport - not a moment too soon, I might add. We're quiting a little early, but what's an hour or two when you haven't slept in 27 hours? Quite. Bring on the over-priced airport booze says I.

So this is the last post from SER-CAT. If I don't instantly fall into a coma-like sleep when I get home this evening I might post a few photos of some of the highlights of our trip. You know...

"lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip its been.
Truckin, I'm a goin home. whoa whoa baby, back where I belong,
Back home, sit down and patch my bones, and get back truckin on.
Hey now get back truckin home."


-Mr. Ed