# File lib/map_reduce/active_record.rb, line 54
      def get_id
        t = Time.now

        if @lock
          return :locked_queue_wait
        else
          unless object_id = queue.shift
            return :empty_queue_wait
          end
        end

        @time_spent_grabbing_objects += (Time.now - t)
        @num_objects_grabbed += 1

        return object_id
      end