Making the Grade…in the Chem. Lab

Have you ever wondered what highly concentrated Nitric Acid feels like on your face?? Yeah! Me too! Hehe

Ok, so I was in the lab the other day…

My Teacher: “Class, we will be working with highly concentrated Nitric and Sulfuric acid.”

Narrator: In case there are some who don’t know what acids are, they are corrosive substances that can rapidly corrode most metallic and some biological matter. I knew this at the time.

Me: “Wow! Concentrated Nitric Acid! Better wear gloves!”

My inner me: “Wonder what this stuff will do to this paper towel??”

Me: “Whoa! It ate right through the paper towel!”

My Teacher: “Avoid getting it on stuff you don’t want to loose. Like your books…”

My inner me: “Yeah, yeah and Body parts….hhmmm…Body parts…..NO! Gavin! Get a grip!...Concentrate on the experiment! Ok, so I need 4mL of Nitric acid…and 4mL of Sulfuric acid…mix them together. Ok, now I put them in an ice bath and let them sit…”

Narrator: I start whistling like a mad scientist in his home laboratory

AHhh…AHCHO!!! *sniff*

My inner me: “Wow, that was a big one!”

Narrator: Being a good lab tech, I had sneezed into my clean sleeve, however, I wiped my nose on the back of my gloved hand…It only took 30 seconds before my nose felt like it was being torn off my face by an army of fire ants in Bermuda Shorts!! I guess you could say it felt sort of like a tropical searing sensation. Odd that.

Anyway, you must realize that I am surrounded by other students working at their experiments, and doing a good job too. These were smart people. They knew what they were doing. I simply could NOT even hint at what was happening to me! It was out of the question. Therefore, I grabbed a flask I had just cleaned and calmly…as if I had not a care in the world…made a dash to the sink.

As I was passing my lab buddy he quipped: “Hey man! I thought you just washed that thing! *Chuckle* Clean Freak! HA HA!”

I just nodded and whipped about a dozen paper towels off the spinner, cranked the tap for the water to FULL, and proceed to vigorously “Clean” my flask…right next to my nose! To better see the dirty spots of course.

I faked blowing my nose with the soaking paper towels…like fifteen times. After the tenth time the pain started to go away. I was fine after the fifteenth. I finally looked up and saw that my buddy was just starting at me. “You OK man?” he asked. I spluttered a vague acknowledgement and walked calmly back to my lab bench a MUCH wiser man.

Cheers!

Going...Going...hhmmm, Still there thank the Lord!

Ok, so I am looking for a car now and...well, I have not found one that I can afford yet. I currently own an atuomatic 97 Ford Escort! It's a fun car to drive! No, really! It's like a new ride every time I get in it! It has several interesting perks!

For instance:

-It will refuse to go above 30 MPH for the first 15 minutes you drive it...no matter how long to let it warm up.
-Every bump I gently ascend and descend is an adventure! I hardly know what to expect! I find myself constantly saying "Whoa! That was a new sound!"
-One of the tires spontaneously deflated on a major highway and I found that the Car Jack, that for the longest time I had thought was in the trunk, was not in the trunk. Nor anywhere else for that matter.
-Interior lights are an afterthought and work GREAT! When they work.
-If you even think about passing someone going 20 under the speed limit (farm tractors make great examples) my car hyperventilates and switches into that mysterious gear I have since labeled, Neutrith gear. It’s a mix between Neutral and Fifth.

Anyway, it's quite a ride!

Yes, it might seem that I am really calm about the hole thing but to be honest...How can I put this...I am a praying man. I pray often. Basically every time I get into my car I say a prayer of thankfulness and praise that my current car starts when I want it to...and even moves! I remind myself that this is the car that God has given me, and I tell Him how truly grateful I am to have the privilege to own my own car. I pray for safety for my travels. Also, I am constantly confessing my many sins and asking for forgiveness. The reason for this is that even though I may not know when God will call me home… I do know which flaming chariot He’s gonna use!

Well, I think that is about it for now. I would greatly appreciate all your prayers for my continued humility and patience through this time.

Cheers!

We got a LINE!!!

You get a pole. we all go down to the crawdad hole!