Not currently in the territory of Epic Badness
Well, there's this water recirculating system that we use to regulate temperature in our lab. The motor inside this system started making noises like a blender trying to blend rocks which, needless to say, is not what it ought to sound like. So, three weeks ago, I called down to an electronics store in town where I'd previously gotten a replacement motor. They said they could get a replacement motor for me in two days. I called two days later and they said sorry, try again tomorrow. I called again and they said, er, try the next day? Then they said that the motor shipment had gone missing. Now I know that this store isn't in a great area of town, but I hardly think that things are bad enough that an entire truck full of motors could get swiped. But anyway, no replacement motor for me. And so on, the next day and the next. Keep in mind that this is a company the lab has bought from before and never had any trouble with, so they're not exactly a shady bunch that I uncovered on my own. Still no motor, although they keep saying that surely it will be here tomorrow.
Finally this Monday, realizing that I'm coming up on Christmas, I start calling all the other companies in town, trying to find one than can get me a motor before Friday. One says they can. They aren't technically in town, they're in a neighboring town, a bit of a problem when I don't have a car, but they say they can have it delivered to me by Wednesday (today). Much rejoicing on my part. Payment of extravagant price to obtain motor. More waiting, but rather less despairing this time. This morning the pump for the system arrives (since we couldn't figure out what was causing the motor to make the noise we decided to replace everything). At this point I'm gnashing my teeth a little bit because the pump, which is a made-to-order sort of thing, has arrived before the motor, which is a standard part, theoretically obtainable anywhere. Still no sign of the motor. I call the new company to check on the status of the missing motor. Much confusion. Apparently they sent it out Tuesday and it ought to be in my hand. We all track the motor. Shipping website says the zip code on the delivery address was wrong (?!), but has been corrected and the motor delivery has been rescheduled. Not sure what this means, other than the motor is still not in my hands. Am told that I will receive the motor tomorrow. Feel that I have heard this before.
Two days left before break. Two days left before I have make the decision to shut the whole MRI system down for all users for two weeks or chance that the old motor will fail while the lab's relatively empty and take the whole system down.
Worry.
worry.
worryworryworryworryworryworryworryworryworryworry....
Finally this Monday, realizing that I'm coming up on Christmas, I start calling all the other companies in town, trying to find one than can get me a motor before Friday. One says they can. They aren't technically in town, they're in a neighboring town, a bit of a problem when I don't have a car, but they say they can have it delivered to me by Wednesday (today). Much rejoicing on my part. Payment of extravagant price to obtain motor. More waiting, but rather less despairing this time. This morning the pump for the system arrives (since we couldn't figure out what was causing the motor to make the noise we decided to replace everything). At this point I'm gnashing my teeth a little bit because the pump, which is a made-to-order sort of thing, has arrived before the motor, which is a standard part, theoretically obtainable anywhere. Still no sign of the motor. I call the new company to check on the status of the missing motor. Much confusion. Apparently they sent it out Tuesday and it ought to be in my hand. We all track the motor. Shipping website says the zip code on the delivery address was wrong (?!), but has been corrected and the motor delivery has been rescheduled. Not sure what this means, other than the motor is still not in my hands. Am told that I will receive the motor tomorrow. Feel that I have heard this before.
Two days left before break. Two days left before I have make the decision to shut the whole MRI system down for all users for two weeks or chance that the old motor will fail while the lab's relatively empty and take the whole system down.
Worry.
worry.
worryworryworryworryworryworryworryworryworryworry....