To Iowa and Beyond

Last week was pretty eventful. Tuesday we spent most of the day making solutions and packing up equipment for out big trip to the University of Iowa. We met back up on Wednesday morning at about 7am, loaded the car, and were on our way. We stopped at the World's Largest Truck Stop because Brad thinks it's amazing, and it is pretty cool I have to admit. Then we get to Iowa City, park, and go into the basement of the one of the Med. School buildings where we met up with some pretty smart guys. (I am terrible with names so don't ask me, ask Brad) There were some pretty interesting conversations had and most of them were over my head but I pretended like I knew what they were talking about.
Anyway we gathered some data on the ESR, which I am still trying to figure out, and left a little early to go to Bio-research Company. There the talks continued and looks like we have a partnership with them. Some of the stuff we talked about I think would be pretty cool to start doing around here and the two guys we talked too were really smart but also down to earth.
Later after we checked in to our hotel I took the guys to Hu-Hot's a Mongolian place where you put everything you want in a bowl and they make it right in front of you. It's pretty cool. Then spent the rest of the night relaxing in the nice air conditioned Hotel.
The next day we continued running samples in the ESR and got some great graphs to show up. I didnt' really do a lot cause my knowledge of the ESR is really limited so I would just make up solutions when needed too. Also we met up with Matt Faron for lunch and it was good for me at least to hear about the transition from Monmouth to Grad School. Over all it was a great trip, I learned a lot about ESR and Grad School.
On Friday then we met up with Stephan a colaborator of Brad's from North Carolina. I got to have some one on one time with to discuss the data I had collected while Brad and Ben drove through some pretty harsh weather to get Brad and Stephen's kids.
Over all last week was overwelming. But for the better I think. Learning isn't always easy and there are going to be times you feel like a five year old at a fancy party. But you just have to stick it out and keep going and eventually you will become part of the party.