Oh Crap moment

Gave my boss the two week notice yesterday. I meant to see him in person, but he's in SoCal. I've known the guy since 92 and he's a friend. I had to tell my buddy over the phone that I'm quitting him after commiting to take over Vancouver ops. I feel like a heel, but he was cool about it. He said to shoot him an email and we'd get things settled. He understands the opportunity and can't feasibly make a case to keep me. He wouldn't try to screw me, but he might try and talk me out of it for our company's best interest. Not gonna happen, and so far he hasn't wasted his breath.

Today I'm trying to get back to my hotel and I'm driving through Vancouver WA, just piddling along. My cell rings and I recognize the rocketshop's area code so I answer. It's the VP of Human Resources.

"Is this Red?"

"Yes it is," I reply. Wonder what's new, why is the VP calling me, where's my recruiter-contact?

"Unfortunately...uhhh" Do Not Ever start a conversation with a prospective employee like this! All I could hear was the pounding of my heart, the ice in my stomach and the buzzing of my teeth. My adrenaline spiked and my pupils dilated fast enough to hurt. All in about 2.7 nanoseconds.

"..unfortunately Elon didn't get around to signing the offer letters until last night, so you won't receive your letter and package until tomorrow. Are you still going to be at the same hotel?"

I answered that yes, I would be in the same place and that I was headed there as we spoke to change my underwear. They were clean until he started the conversation that way. Bastard.

I just got a call from one of my Los Angeles customers freaking out because I'm leaving the company. Same guy offered me a job earlier in the year. These peeps are moving their facility and require a full re-cert from me to get their FAA license reinstated. They want me to talk to my new company to see if they can contract me for a few weeks. Sheesh!

Here's a story:

I'm a freshly minted cal tech and I report to Camp Pendlton full of piss and vinegar, and just a touch of nervousness. I check in and commence to learning how the shop is run. I don't know jack crap about how the shop runs and barely know how to do my job. I get asked by an imposing Corporal telling me that he needs my assistance in getting a piece of gear from another shop in order to calibrate it. He hands me a workorder and tells me to go to the next shop over to recover the gear. I walk into the next shop over, ask a Sergeant if he's familiar with the equipment and this helpful Sergeant forwards me on to the Gunny.

I hand the Gunny a request for a MIL-SPEC E-8 Hot Air Generator.

I walked back into the Corporal's office with a pissed off Gunnery Sergeant in tow.

I never got screwed with again. The Corporal is my boss. He still hasn't gotten me back for that......

(*edit*  E-8 is the pay grade for a USMC Gunnery Sergeant. That's why it's funny- Gunny Blowhard, get it?  Sheesh!)