It is completely over before it has even started....

thrown_hammer · 06-16-2006, 05:31 PM

I moved to Orange county California about two weeks ago. I haven't had a chance to get out and meet any pelicans because work has been insane. I have been working feverishly to prepare a facility in Irvine to receive a full biomedical production line. We were within days of starting our preliminary runs of product on thursday. I was called into the big mans office thursday late in the day. The main company has decided to pull the plug on the entire project. Nothing else is coming out and everything that is here will be returning to indiana. This was a huge product line for the company out here. Today the anouncment was made to all the employees. This was not a good day.

Where does that leave me? Well my job suddenly boomaranged to Indiana. There is literally nothing for me to do now at work but make sure everything gets on a truck. So at this time it looks like we will be headed back to Indiana in a few weeks.

A couple of things that I now have time to deal with in my lack of work related stress.

1) We need to have a good old fashion GruppeB Bonfire of Doom!!! on Southern California soil. (and maybe have a BBQ at the same time)

I woud really like to meet all the OC guys.

2) Before I was asking about a mech. to work on Bec's targa cause I just didn't have time. Now I am wondering if some of the OC guys could swing by and help me get her car sorted out before we load it on a truck and exile it back to indiana.

Jim Smolka · 06-16-2006, 05:38 PM

I feel your pain. Went to work for on a fiber optic company. Looked for a house, found one we liked, moved in, then the bottom fell out of the fiber optic industry. Laid off before I had made the first house payment.

Zeke · 06-16-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Smolka
I feel your pain. Went to work for on a fiber optic company. Looked for a house, found one we liked, moved in, then the bottom fell out of the fiber optic industry. Laid off before I had made the first house payment.

Holy Schmoly, this has happened more than once? Shawn called me this afternoon while he was on the freeway (not gonna miss that part, eh bud?

) and I stood there with the phone in my hand absolutely slack jawed. How can a company ship machinery from one state to another (that's how he explained it) and then decide before they even get up and running to ship it back????

This smells to me like some good ol' Californicacte politics on the permits, ins, etc. OK, to keep this on topic and 911 related, I can't do anything this weekend, but I can bring tools, service manuals, whatever to help out with the Targa.

How 'bout it guys? When do we get together??

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Shawn,
Wow, I'm sorry to hear what happened.

deanp · 06-16-2006, 06:43 PM

Wow. I followed the saga of multiple trips out to CA. Questions about moving, the caravan cross country and now this.... I hope the company steps up and does the right thing by you to get you back on your feet in Indiana. Good Luck!

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

holy friggin' hell!

damn, shawn..very sorry to hear this turn of events. at the very least, i hope you get to have at least a blowout or two with all the local cali pelicans..that would at least help with the hangover of this crap deal..
ryan

randywebb · 06-16-2006, 06:57 PM

I'm sorry to hear it Shawn. But, Indiana will be more sane than LA despite the cold winters and humid summers.

And the cost of living is much lower.

Things could be worse...

Anyway, best wishes.

thrown_hammer · 06-16-2006, 08:49 PM

Any help or BBQs are appreciated.

Something big happened that I will probably never know about. I had a couple long conversations with very high ranking officials today. They feel terrible. I know all of them personally so it wasn't just fluff. The company is taking care of us and on a good note we never sold our house in Indiana. Here everyone is still in shock. It is just unbelieveable.

Now when is a good time for everyone to come over and get Bec's Targa on the road?

Jack Olsen · 06-16-2006, 09:56 PM

Wow. That sucks.

Here's my suggestion: go to the Big Bear run tomorrow. Use whatever car you've got to get there, and then ride shotgun with one of the other guys. It'll give you a chance to see 50+ Porsches snaking through the canyons, for starters.

450knotOffice · 450knotOffice's Garage

Oh man! So sorry about that. I'd like to meet you before you leave though.

lateapex911 · 06-16-2006, 10:48 PM

Do the Big Bear run... I used to live out there, and the internet didn't exist. I didn't know these guys ....now I'm kicking myself for moving, LOL. THe Pelican community is a major plus to SoCal.

Now, during the Big Bear run, meet lots of guys, secure a job offer with a company that has it's head screwed down, and live happily ever after.

tsuter · 06-17-2006, 05:24 AM

Consider yourself lucky. You could have bought an 800ft fixer upper in Cali AND had your vehicle fail smog all in the same day. Back in Indy you can live in a smog free mansion! And actually be able to drive 20 miles in under 20 minutes......

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

That's too bad Shawn - but could have been much worse. Enjoy your time in SoCal and glad to hear the company is doing its best to make things right.

Don

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Stop off in Chi-town on the way back to Warsaw and maybe we can charge your a/c.

thrown_hammer · 06-17-2006, 07:53 AM

I can't make it to the big bear run. We promised the kids while we lived here we would do all kinds of things....well now we have a MUCH tighter schedule.

Ralph (carrear3.5L) had mentioned hosting a Welcome to California BBQ for us. Maybe now we can have a In and out of California BBQ?

I have worked for this company for 14 years, they have done alot for me. I know the descision to cancel the project wasn't made on a whim. I plan on taking lemons and making lemonade.

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

Holy crap! Well, I'm sorry it worked out this way Shawn, I guess it's a good thing you didn't sell your house in Indiana. Let us know when you're coming back and perhaps we can motor down to Indiana to have a "welcome back to the midwest BBQ" !

BReyes · BReyes's Garage

Yes that is incredible. Your faced with one question. So what?

On a personal note, you should have no doubts.

Best wishes.

724doorE · 06-17-2006, 10:17 AM

Wow, Shawn thats crazy!

I think I know you well enough to say, you'll deal with it and not be a sourpuss. Now you will be a very experienced cross country mover!

Maybe you'll be backintime for the F-1 race hehehehehe

Maybe you just staged this whole move so you could get Bec's car finished! just kidding!

Huh · 06-17-2006, 10:22 AM

so are you back to Warsaw? I am assuming that is where you lived. I can't think of any other medical device companies other than Guidant/Boston Scientific.

PeteT · 06-17-2006, 11:18 AM

Shawn,
Unfriggin' believable!! At least you have a great attitude about the whole thing and didn't sell the house in Warsaw. I am not going to the BB run tomorrow, but am willing to give you a hand on Bec's Targa. I live in Tustin between Irvine and Bryan. Let us know if you are going to setup something up.