An Explanation for My Ongoing Absence
Hi there. It’s me, Fatty. You know, the guy who used to write here from time to time.
No, seriously, you really don’t remember who I am? Look, I wrote here — on average — four times per week for eleven years. You’d think that would buy me some earned vacation days.
OK, fine. You’re right, I should at least tell you what’s going on.
Basically, it turns out that having a new job requires a lot of mental energy. And new projects take mental energy. And being part of a family takes mental energy.
I’ve kind of overdrawn on my mental energy account.
However.
Tomorrow I am headed to Moab, to race the Rockwell Relay. This year my team’s a little different. Our team’s name is “The Fatty Family,” and that tells you pretty much everything you need to know: every member of the team is also in my family.
However, this does not mean we are going to just be toodling along: I’ve got some pretty fast family members. You won’t have to dig too deep into my blog to know who I’m talking about.
We are aware that there’s a bit of a target on our back after last year. We are aware that after last year’s race (and story), that the team that went after us is hungry for a rematch. And that they’re doubling — or possibly tripling — down on the multiple team strategy.
We, on the other hand, will be racing as one single coed team. It keeps things simple.
Here’s My Point
Why am I telling you this? Because it’s a promise: while I will actually be leaving the country for a week (for work) the day after the race, I will spend my evenings and early mornings writing up the story.
And also, I’ll be using my mornings to get caught up on podcasts. I’ve got so many great conversations to post. So many.
So. Hang tight. The dry spell’s about to end. Promise.
Comment by Brad | 06.15.2016 | 7:50 am
Good luck this weekend, Fatty! Glad to hear you’ll be back posting again soon. I was beginning to have withdrawals!
Comment by Scott D Gilbert | 06.15.2016 | 8:31 am
It’s always worth the wait Fatty for your posts! Good luck at the race and “rip their legs off”
Comment by Tom in Albany | 06.15.2016 | 8:43 am
Fatty, It’s a great idea to plan your not-sleeping time this way. I can tell you, though, from years of international travel, that it you may have issues with the jet-lag and sleeping pattern and, when you are awake, you’ll have the mental energy to flip the remote two or three times and then sit back and get stuck watching cricket or ballroom dancing.
My advice is to direct your energy to your new job. I want to read the posts. I love them. But, you gotta take care!
If, by chance, you do swing it, I’m looking forward to reading about the 32 part Rockwell Relay write-up!
Comment by Lin | 06.15.2016 | 8:53 am
Take care of Fatty and the Fatty Family. We’ll wait. Possibly impatiently. But we’ll wait.
Comment by BostonCarlos | 06.15.2016 | 9:09 am
Wooo! Good luck at rockwell. I swear I’ll have some guest post content for you soon about Africa. I just need to get my mental energy diverted from “house project” to “wbr projects”.
Comment by Corrine | 06.15.2016 | 9:25 am
I love the Rockwell Relay Race Reports. Can’t wait to hear all about this year’s race. Please don’t make it a 32 part write up. The suspense kills me and then I have to go to the site and look up the results before the end of the story.
Comment by Evan | 06.15.2016 | 10:11 am
Excited that I’m actually making it out this year!
Look for teams Alpine Apparel 1 & 2. We won’t be the fastest, but we will be having a blast. Maybe we can help give you a pull for the 2 seconds before you pass us. Add that to your strategy book! :)
Comment by ClydeinKS | 06.15.2016 | 11:27 am
Great racing and excellent race reports is verified by your ability to increase the anticipation for a multi-cliffhanger before the race has even begun! Good luck to the Fatty Family!!
Comment by AKChick | 06.15.2016 | 12:41 pm
No worries! Have fun at Rockwell!!!!
Comment by leroy | 06.15.2016 | 2:17 pm
Fatty? Fatty?
That name sounds familiar.
Isn’t he the guy doing that extreme relay thing in Utah with his family?
My dog said something about heading out there for a low key vacation because to anyone riding for hours in the middle of the night on an empty highway, a group of dogs ringing cowbells and cheering “allez, allez” won’t seem strange at all.
If you see him and his buddies, just smile and nod.
No need to wave. Probably best to keep your hands on the bars.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.15.2016 | 3:38 pm
Go! Team Griswold
Comment by Deborah Bowling | 06.15.2016 | 4:45 pm
Would love to host your family at the Hoodoo 500 in August. Please contact me for a great discount! :-)
Comment by Unnamed fatty family team member | 06.15.2016 | 7:47 pm
I’m not sure what Elden is talking about because I totally plan on “toodling” around. Can’t wait for rest stops and Pringles.
Comment by Tom in Albany | 06.16.2016 | 5:26 am
DavidH wins the internet!
Comment by Brian in VA | 06.16.2016 | 6:57 am
You have to take care of you first, Fatty! Have a great family “ride!”
Comment by Steve in VA | 06.16.2016 | 8:24 am
Too busy to write? It’s all good. I’ve been too busy to read.
We are all trying to find that work/life/family/ride/race/write/read balance.
Comment by leroy | 06.16.2016 | 2:30 pm
Ditto DavidH wins the internet.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.16.2016 | 3:01 pm
Thanks Tom and Leroy but I’ll have to demur. I don’t know have anyplace to keep it.
Comment by Tom in Albany | 06.17.2016 | 4:49 am
DavidH. It’s an honorary prize. You don’t get to keep it. It is up for grabs constantly!
Comment by Jeff Dieffenbach | 06.17.2016 | 1:28 pm
I’m reminded of a commercial years back for some fast web service or another. A man walks out of his office into the kitchen, looking both exhausted and ecstatic. His wife asks, “I thought you were using the Internet.”
“I was,” he replied, “I finished it.”
Comment by Carl | 06.18.2016 | 12:33 pm
Happy Birthday Fatty!
Comment by rb | 06.18.2016 | 3:07 pm
DavidH. That is fantastic
Comment by Yannb | 06.20.2016 | 2:07 pm
I’ll just say that it was another good race for our team.
You’ll have to wait for Elden’s write up to know how it played out for them.
I know how it ends and I’m keeping my mouth shut
Comment by PNP | 06.20.2016 | 4:52 pm
I looked for the results on the Rockwell Relay site, but they’re not there. Guess I’ll have to wait for the 32 part write up!