gsh: (Default)
gsh ([personal profile] gsh) wrote2005-01-31 03:15 pm

Dr. Frankenstein I presume

When I arrived at work today we had three computers in various states of nonworking. Two of them were acutally important, one very much so, as it controlled the measuring machine that measured photographic plates. The thing is about a ton of granite with Haldenhein controllers (expensive do-dads that measure distances to upmty squat decimal places). We're about 1/3rd of the way through the "last" project this thing will measure, but we have about 2000 plates left, and at 3 hours per plate, that's still a lot of work to do. The three people who had the most to do with building this monster have all left the observatory, and the computer controlling it broke. Given that I'm the closest thing we have to a hardware expert, I spent the morning swapping out components. At the end of five hours I went from three broken computers to two working ones and one shell stripped of parts, but the Measuring Machine works!

I just feel that I should have had Toccata and Fugue playing in the background. And now "Frau Blucher" jokes are running through my mind.
reedrover: (Default)

[personal profile] reedrover 2005-01-31 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Given that I'm the closest thing we have to

I've heard that phrase a lot lately regarding one of my co-workers. CuteCoWorker#2 is the closest thing we have to a telecom guy, networks guy, security guy, hardware expert... Days like today, I'm glad I'm not him. We just went over the team duties and assignments matrix; he picked up another couple of tasks, and he's not even in the office today!

My irreverent quote for this is "I'm a doctor, not a floor wax!"
reedrover: (Default)

[personal profile] reedrover 2005-01-31 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah! That'll teach him... to have his hot water heater bust at 4 AM on Sunday morning. He missed work today to replace his new hot water heater.
reedrover: (Default)

[personal profile] reedrover 2005-01-31 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
To install it, I mean. You know what I meant.