Information Overload
As part of our project, we are exploring crossflow filtration. We knew Modesto was in the process of implementing a crossflow filtration system. So we wanted to pay a visit to that plant to see if the system they have there would work here in Fresno. Unfortunately, a trip to Modesto would be a whole-day event and that may not be the best thing when you are in the last week of your project. We weren't exactly in the greatest position to be able to afford a day off from our lab work here. But luckily, we were able to split our tasks with Brooks running the experiments here in Fresno and I would go with Lupe up to Modesto. I planned to meet with a couple of guys in Modesto T&Q Dept., but there was a problem. Never being at the Modesto plant before, I had no idea where I was going or who these people were that I was meeting and Lupe had no idea who these people were or where there dept. was at the complex. Lupe dropped me off at the front entrance and went on to do his business at the plant. I told the guard who I was there to see and he directs me to the building. Step 1 complete. Now I am at the building with no way to get in because the guys I was there to see were not at their desks and had their cell phones off. And one of the cell numbers I had was completely wrong and his desk phone number was not updated. So I just hang out at the door until somebody walks in with thier badge. Oh by the way, I am also carrying a cooler containing samples that needed to be delivered to the lab for testing. So after about 5-10 min, I finally get in the building. He directs me to where this guy's desk is, but I already knew he wasn't there. But then he left. Now I am wandering around this office trying to see who I could bug next. I find somebody to direct me to the other guy's office. He walks me outside his building and points me in the direction to his office. He wasn't really sure where this guys office was, but it was in this building. He leaves me with "good luck" which now makes me wonder how easy it would be to find this place. I did find the place with realtive ease, but I had no idea where the actual office was. So wandering around the lab lost again, somebody actually offers to help me. I told them I was looking for John and it turns out I was only about 10ft from his office. This entire process, from the time I left Lupe until the time I found John, probably took 20-30 min. We start our discussions and then he takes me to see the system they were installing. Wow, is that turning out to be a quagmire. And we continue our discussions. And they continue some more. Here it had been a little over an hour of non-stop discussions and we were ready to meet Dave for lunch. I was kinda thankful it was lunch time because we could get away from work and I could step back and process everything that was discussed. Boy, was I wrong. Once Dave joined us, the discussions only got more intense. For lunch, we went to California Mongolian Barbeque.
Mongolian barbeque is awesome, but probably nothing like you expect. You get a bowl and go through a salad bar-type setup filling your bowl with various meats and vegetables. The veggies are fresh but the meat is not. The meat is actually freeze-dried or dehydrated. Once your bowl is full, then you move on to the saucing station. You can add any combination of sauces and oils you want. Then you hand your bowl of food to the cook. He dumps your entire bowl on to a huge flat iron grill. They mix all your contents together while walking it around the circular grill and then scoop it all back in your bowl. Then you go to you seat and enjoy it.
Like I said, the discussions only ramped up in intensity and they continued on the way back to the office. John left us, and we were joined by Bob. Our discussions had to end because Dave had to go to a meeting. I was in discussions for 4 hours straight! So it was time for me to leave and I head towards the gate. But there was a problem. I was inside the complex, but between buildings. I only had two ways out, either through the building which I couldn't get in without a badge or out the gate wihch i couldn't open without a badge. So I was stuck inside the complex for 20min with no way out. And there was nobody around. Luckily, somebody finally was coming through the gate I was waiting by and let me out. Lupe and I were on our way home and I had to now discuss with him what I just discussed for the last 4 hours. By the time I got home, my jaw hurt, because I spent the last 5-6 hours talking over and over about the same thing. And the best thing about it was, Dave typed up a summary of notes from our meeting to help me remember everything we talked about. Thank goodness for that, cause I had no idea what I was walking in to and it seriously was information overload.
Mongolian barbeque is awesome, but probably nothing like you expect. You get a bowl and go through a salad bar-type setup filling your bowl with various meats and vegetables. The veggies are fresh but the meat is not. The meat is actually freeze-dried or dehydrated. Once your bowl is full, then you move on to the saucing station. You can add any combination of sauces and oils you want. Then you hand your bowl of food to the cook. He dumps your entire bowl on to a huge flat iron grill. They mix all your contents together while walking it around the circular grill and then scoop it all back in your bowl. Then you go to you seat and enjoy it.
Like I said, the discussions only ramped up in intensity and they continued on the way back to the office. John left us, and we were joined by Bob. Our discussions had to end because Dave had to go to a meeting. I was in discussions for 4 hours straight! So it was time for me to leave and I head towards the gate. But there was a problem. I was inside the complex, but between buildings. I only had two ways out, either through the building which I couldn't get in without a badge or out the gate wihch i couldn't open without a badge. So I was stuck inside the complex for 20min with no way out. And there was nobody around. Luckily, somebody finally was coming through the gate I was waiting by and let me out. Lupe and I were on our way home and I had to now discuss with him what I just discussed for the last 4 hours. By the time I got home, my jaw hurt, because I spent the last 5-6 hours talking over and over about the same thing. And the best thing about it was, Dave typed up a summary of notes from our meeting to help me remember everything we talked about. Thank goodness for that, cause I had no idea what I was walking in to and it seriously was information overload.