Man Vs. Machine

In the left corner we have the reigning champ Vitalab (The Beast) Selectra E blood chemistry instrument and opposite The Beast we have the lean Jesse Pry who just won’t let Selectra enjoy the crown.

After nearly three weeks with this machine, I feel that I know it well however, it is still not enough to come p with any decent theories as to why it continues to misbehave. There are now quite a few healthy brains allocating a good deal of time to the issues that we are having with the control/calibrators/sample results. It is very strange being the go-to when it comes to this technologic tragedy. When I give some suspicion as to what I think might be the problem, I am told, ‘I think you are right, try that’. Takes me a minute and I usually ask if they have any other ideas because, well if this one doesn’t work then it was really all my doing, ha.

It is refreshing getting results though. Even if those results are from a malfunctioning machine that I can’t begin to explain. There is something to show for the work that I am doing, other than just an impressive number of sent emails. Of course the correspondence has its place and there are times that I enjoy this as well but, I welcome the change of scenery.

Speaking of changing scenery. Tonight I went with the gang to watch Thor. The posse has gained some members lately. Just met a fourth year med student from UAB that just got into Zambia to work with CIDRZ. He showed up at our Bible study with a guy that Kahler has been talking to about options in Zambia named Brad. I started talking to Tyler on Sunday evening about what he has experienced in Zambia in the past week or two that he has been here. I could certainly relate with the alone and isolated feelings that he was alluding to. Made me even more thankful for Katy and Kahler. They have been here with me through everything and I don’t think I would have made it without them. Now this guy will be fine. He is only here for a few months and has already been surrounded with a group of neat folks.

Another fella came in to work with Family Legacy, John. A great guy that is here for the summer but looking to raise support to be here on a full time basis with the ministry. Joe and Melissa joined as well. They are a couple that works with the Billy Graham Project/Mission. Then there is, of course, the core made up of Megan, Claire, Ellen, Katy, Kahler and myself.

It is neat getting to talk to the CLS and IAVI folks in South Africa. They have said several times now that they want to bring me there and take me out for a drink as they have been with me trying to find reasons that the chemistry readings. They are great folks that will certainly be good contacts for me in the future should I stray away from that beloved states again.

This post will be a day late as there is no internet in the flat four that I call my house, and has not been for the past two nights. I will have to haul the lappy to IAVI to connect unless they make some magic happen by lunch tomorrow.

Oh man, something made me laugh hard today after work. Our poor day guard for the IAVI sight, Mr. Milton has apparently been exposed to some sort of pesticide that has taken a wicked toll on his voice. I left this afternoon to run over to Main Site and grab my things before they shut down and locked my bag inside. On the way out I said so long to Milton and told him where I was going and he squeaked out ok, Mr. Jake, see you tomorrow in a voice that I can only compare the female mice in Disney’s Cinderella. It was unbelievable that those sounds were coming out a man. I do feel sorry for him but, I was taken aback and had to fight the giggles until I made it out of sight.

Well I pray that you all are well and that your voices are just a fantastic as I remember. Have a beautiful day, I so wish that I could bring what we have here to Texas. It is still just nothing short of ideal outside. Can’t wait for the weekend!
All is well