Looking outside the sedimentologists' window. This was on a particularly rocky day!

I could really do with some fresh cow's milk...

09:45 – Alarm rings; Hit snooze.
10:00 – Slowly climb down from bunk bed.
10:10 – Brush/shower/shave. Leave laundry bag outside.
10:30 – Breakfast: All bran cereal and Gossner Whole Milk. Grab a quick cup of Ahmed Tea (‘England’s Finest’)

11:00 – Head to the core lab for a quick update from the night-shift sedimentologists.
11:30 – Catch some sunlight outside.
11:45 – ‘Official’ crossover meeting with the night-shift scientists.
12:00 – Shift begins; Start describing mud.
12:15 – Periodically bug our smear-slide person for lithology estimates.
12:45 – Annoy the biostratigraphers about the latest age estimate.
13:00 – Enter descriptions into database software DESCLogik.
13:05 – DESCLogik woes.
13:10 – DESCLogik works!
13:15 – DESCLogik hangs.
13:20 – Gripe about DESCLogik-induced rollercoaster of emotions.
13:30 – Resume logging mud on tracks and describe sediments.
14:00 – Another cup of tea.
14:10 – More mud!! And interesting sediments!
14:30 – “Oh look, a nodule!”
15:00 – Down to the Galley for a cookie break. And yet another cup of tea.
15:30 – Make a decision about music preferences for the afternoon.
16:00 - Annoy the biostratigraphers. For ages and for amusement.
16:30 – “Core on deck!” More DESCLogik fun.
16:45 – Joke around with paleomagnetism and physical properties’ scientists. Also get updates/data.
17:00 – Lunchtime: Vegetarian meal of the day and Pocari Sweat for refreshment.
17:30 – Back to the mud!
18:00 – More aggressive music to avert drowsiness.
18:30 – Go outside on the bridge deck to catch the sunset.

A gorgeous sunset in the Mahanadi Basin.

18:31 – Gawk at the sunset and the ocean and congratulate yourself on choice of profession.
18:45 – Reluctantly go back inside.
18:46 – More cores? Wow.
19:00 – DESCLogik apathy.
20:00 – Try not to look at the clock.
21:00 – Last cup of tea and cookie break.
21:30 – Frantic DESCLogik cleanup prior to crossover.
22:00 – More mud…
22:30 – Gather thoughts and data for crossover meeting.
22:45 – “Oh look an anomaly!”
23:00 – “That’s really interesting!”
23:30 – Head down to Galley to order and store a meal.
23:45 – ‘Official’ crossover meeting with the night-shift scientists. Our turn to present this time.
00:00 – Satisfied with the amount of science for the day.
00:10 – Get off shift! Yay!
00:11 – Run down to the room to throw on some gym clothes.
00:14 – Head to the movie room for “INSANITY” workout session.
00:50 – Regain self-respect and composure after workout.
01:30 – Dinner: Beans, rice, boiled vegetables, and one boiled egg with pepper. More Pocari Sweat.
02:00 – Actual free time! (Catch a movie/show, depending on level of fatigue)
02:45 – Sleep!

A couple of Tuesdays ago, Marissa Vara, an undergraduate researcher in our lab, and I were expecting our weekly liquid nitrogen delivery from Air Products. Before the delivery arrived, I remembered an errand I had to run in the other building. Before leaving, I told Marissa to text me when our delivery person showed up. Unfortunately, Marissa did not know that I had changed my phone number and I hadn't bothered to tell her either. So naturally she texted my old phone number, which, as we later figured out, now belongs to someone else. Comedy ensued (Marissa in blue; owner of my old ph. no. in silver):

Of course, with my penchant for eccentricity, Marissa thought this was weird but not outside the 2σ realm of possibilities. So she didn't mention the incident until yesterday when I told her that my phone number had changed. The eureka moment was, "Wait, then who was I texting about liquid nitrogen?!"

A Day in the Life

A Liquid Nitrogen Incident