Beating the Dead Horse

[1chiban]

Good Evening 8er Community:


I understand that most everyone who I did not get a chance to personally speak to has very ill feelings towards me and the events of the HVAC Group Buy. I fully understand and accept responsibility for the very poor timing of many events that transpired during this transaction. There were many things that I did not handle well, including my personal issues that came up. When I first took the task on I had imagined it would be done within the first couple of months so I made sure that I would have ample time to prep packing, shipping, payments and correspondence. I did not understand that this forum was very much abuzz during my absence and that by me not being around I had damaged the image I had built over the last couple of years, and disrepected the trust given to me. To answer many questions as best as I can with a story I'll try to start from the beginning of my absence.

I had just received the first shipment of kits from Martin when my health began to decline, a lot more than I knew. I had left my personal email open to anyone wishing to contact me because this was something I could check on my mobile as I do travel a lot.

In my business there is a very firm and general rule to "never assume anything" if you do not 100% know an answer to a question, do not give one.

My first mistake was that I assumed I would be receiving a majority of the correspondence thru this email tkanesaki@occu-med/com. I never once ignored an email or a phone call. I admit poor forum communication was my biggest mistake. I did not have a lot of free time or time conscious. I spent the better part of a month in and out of the hospital, sleeping 20 hours or so a day. I saw many specialists regarding a problem that I was not getting any answers to. Yes, I am more or less completely recovered as of the last two weeks. I do not mean to be vague but there are personal things that are difficult for me to convey online. The extent of the illness was an exotic parasite in combination of a bile duct irregularity, which again was a more or less inconclusive answer.

I understand that people are most often remembered for their biggest successes and failures in life. I admit I was very cheeky in envisioning this group buy that I believed I could facilitate. Barring life changing events and natural disasters I was the person capable of it. I realize the frienships I made online and people I grew to know and admire have since been disappointed, to say the least. I've kept constant email communication with many people but I believe that to be a poor substitute for forum interaction. I truly am sorry for those of you that were and were not involved and had to fear the worst and believe the worst of me and what was truly going on. When things hit critical mass I admit I paniced and was fearful of the outcome and consequences, yet was incapable of action.

Infact, it was a phone call from my office informing me that someone had been trying to contact me while I was taking near a month sick leave. This person was Harold. Harold was very upset for having to go so far to contact me when I should have been but a private message away, I realize that this board relies very heavily on communication in the most immediate of ways and that email was not the best choice, in hindsight. I spoke with Harold for about a half hour about what was going on in my life and how I was going to make this right to the forum, talking things thru. Hopefully, I did not disappoint him. During this specific period in my life I was conscious for maybe 4-6 hours a day, trying to help manage a department from home and keep personal priorities in life. This in no way excuses my commitment made to this group, to my friends, and strangers who entrusted me with this task. I am not here to salvage my image or change your mind, I'm simply trying to express how difficult much of this has been on me and that I truly meant for no ill to come of it.

I've said it many times and I will keep saying it so long as I own my 8, but this community is absolutely invaluable. Not only speaking to the wealth of knowledge but to the different levels of leadership, the feeling of a close-knit family, and overall the friendships of people we may never get the pleasure of meeting in real life.

It is difficult to sit here writing to a forum that for the most part is uninterested in what I have to say, that I left bitter and scorned over something that I was in control of, whether life permitted or not. I have remained absent from the boards simply because I believed that is what was people wanted. I believe in redemption but in something as fragile as an online persona I do not expect it. I simply wish you all to know that I meant well, I hope you enjoy your kits and that the amount of good that came from it will slightly outweigh my incompetence and atrosity.

I appreciate those who've kept contact with me thru email and all the wellwishing that was received.

I sit before this screen humbled and embarrassed, but never-the-less a better person for it.

Thank you for your time,
Thomas

[Chillax]

You still cool with me Thomas

[cartoonz]

Thomas,

Nobody wanted you to disappear from the board, we just wanted you to follow through on your commitment. That is exactly what I told you on the phone. And, to your credit, you did exactly what you committed to me in our phone call and got everything shipped. Thanks for that, BTW.

As long as you do what you say, nobody will fault you for that. Just make sure that it gets done. Being dodgy on committing to "when" something will get done for whatever reason is likely to foster distrust as well, so watch out for that too.

I have no ill will towards you at all, you seem like a good guy that had some bad things happen. I don't think anyone else here thinks badly of you either. I'd like to believe that if this all happened all over again that you would probably handle it differently now after the last time.

I guess we will see what happens.

[ethanw]

Thomas no worries mate. Move on and trust me, you're a bigger man than some of the lala land folks.....

[1chiban]

Thank you for your kinds remarks, it means more than you know. I promise not to be such a stranger, having free time once again is truly exhilerating!

[thelostmachine]

I say get back to doing what you were doing and that is the best remedy...

[TxGR8White]

Thomas,
As others have said, move on and consider the previous "hiccup" as your one and only "gimme". The folks here are very forgiving, but in light of all the shady stuff that has happened to alot of people here, I am sure you can understand the initial hesitance. I for one consider the HVAC thing water under the bridge and hope (actually hoped when you sent me the note) that you would be a valuable presence here again.
I hope you do stay, and with that : welcome back!

[8eights]

Originally Posted by Chillax

You still cool with me Thomas

Ditto!
Take care of yourself Thomas, Good to hear from you!

[Bankswood]

Thomas, great to have you back in the forum. Gone way to long. Your writing skills are impressive. Maybe you could write a letter for Koizumi to GEICO and help him get his windshield paid for. Some little adjuster has been kicking his butt all over Cali.

Installed the HVAC mod and it works great.

Thanks

[1chiban]

I could not have hoped for such a warm welcome-back...


Steffen, your emails kept me going. A small personal note was the least I could do.

Thanks, Marv! Missed you bro.

Banks, thank you for your compliments and words. I'd be happy to write a legally defensible letter of whoop ass for Koizumi... I know I'm a bit out of the loop but windshield?

[rick higgins]

Anyone who can't except that letter of apology just are'nt worth knowing..

[Bankswood]

Thomas, read through Koizumi's thread on Windshield Leak / Gasket Question and you will understand.

[Mark850]

Originally Posted by rick higgins

Anyone who can't except that letter of apology just are'nt worth knowing..

^^^^^...What Rick said.. Welcome back! I wasn't involved with the HVAC mod, but never the less, things happen in life. Glad you're better now,and don't be a stranger here anymore or you could get banned for it...

[TxGR8White]

Originally Posted by mark850

^^^^^...what rick said.. Welcome back! I wasn't involved with the hvac mod, but never the less, things happen in life. Glad you're better now,and don't be a stranger here anymore or you could get banned for it...

frankin' a!!

[Koizumi]

Welcome back!

[Ladislav]

Glad the doctors finally zeroed in on what ailed you and that it got all sorted out.

Kudos to Harold for going the extra mile.

Welcome back.

[LouM]

Good to see you're back.
LouM...

[smokum]

Theres always 2 sides to every story sometimes ish happens.Were all older getalman here if a couple limbs fall off we will totally understand.
Just shoot us a message with whatever you got left....
dicktation works.

[8eights]

Originally Posted by smokum

Theres always 2 sides to every story sometimes ish happens.Were all older getalman here if a couple limbs fall off we will totally understand.
Just shoot us a message with whatever you got left....
dicktation works.

Hey Smokester, I'm no getalman!-)

[GimmieSumMo72]

Tom!

glad to see you back and to hear that you are feeling better!

[TTTXGreg]

Originally Posted by rick higgins

Anyone who can't except that letter of apology just are'nt worth knowing..

Ditto- all good here Thomas.

[Neuance]

Glad to hear your back and doing better, thanks for the kit. I think most people on hear were just as woried about you and your health as we were about the kit and it's status. So thanks again and welcome back.

[Imndeep]

Wow Thomas, what a letter! What you went through sounds like a House episode! Sheesh, I think I'll pass on world travel for a company! Glad your better and the mod is just Bitchin'. I can actually read my dials at night! Thanks for all that you did.

[Auraraptor]

Glad your back! Missed you man!

[rogbmw]

Glad you are back in the driver's seat, and thanks for the note sent along with the lights.