It's been a long run, but two weeks before my seventh blogiversary I'm hanging it up. I actually don't expect this will be a big surprise for most of you - I havent been posting much lately and it certainly hasn't been high quality.
Quite frankly, it's been a chore. The Muse doesn't hang out at Camp Borepatch anymore, and that makes it work. There's been too much turmoil in my life over the last few years, and that's taken it's toll. I don't have the mental energy to post anymore.
And so it's time to sign off.
I've made some very close friends from this, and that means more than I can say. I'll still be around, but just not posting much. Unless the Muse comes back.
Thanks to everyone who comes here regularly. You've left almost 40,000 comments here (!!!!!) which is nothing short of mind blowing. I feel a bit like I'm letting you down, but I'm just out of gas.
So it's time to get back on the motorcycle and put some miles under the tires. Screw it - let's ride.
69 comments:
I am sorry to hear this. But, I will be in touch.
Ride safely.
Fair winds and safe seas, Blogson. Don't be a stranger, and we need to get together on the bikes...
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.
Been there, understand completely. Best of luck to you.
Why not just phase back for a while and wait for the muse to reappear. Sometimes a little rest and change is all you need.
What Gary said, of course.
But you owe it to yourself to do the right thing as you see it.
You don't owe us anything.
And if there were some accounting between you and your faithful readers, the debt would be ours to repay, not yours.
As this might be my last chance to say it officially...
Do you really have to get back on the bike?
Tacitus
Officially, Thank you for writing this blog, I've enjoyed your take on life tremendously.
As I am and have always been a civilian, I've no military or LEO sign off for you.
Just, Thanks for sharing your life in writing with us here in blogland.
Rich in NC
Fair winds blog brother. It's not easy to maintain the muse on a daily basis.
My guess is that for days, weeks, months, and perhaps even for years, many will be be checking in over here just in case you happen by.
Take care.
Bye, Borepatch! It's been a good run, and I learned a lot from what you said. Have a good life Away--and bike safe!
I have read your blog every day since I found it.
It is part of my morning ritual.
You will be sorely missed.
Screw it - let's ride.
That's the inscription on my gremlin bell. I dig the sentiment...
...but you'll be back. I tried to give up blogging and it just didn't happen for me, no matter how much I tried to just let it go.
You don't know the power of the Dark Side...
Sorry to hear it, but I understand, too. Thanks for everything and stay safe.
I've only been reading for about four years, but I enjoyed it. Thanks for the entertainment. Peace, and long life.
Outrage fatigue buddy.
I can relate to where you are coming from though.
I have been blogging since 2006 at one place or another. Apparently my muse lived in a whiskey bottle and when I put the cork in the last one a few years ago and set it down, she went with it.
Fickle bitch anyway.
You couldn't possibly know this but I have actually been reading your stuff off and on for over five years now.
I always liked your take on things.
Take a break my man, life is just too damn short as you have probably been made keenly aware of here the last few months.
Do us all one big favor though and try to keep the shiny side up, eh?
I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Phil
(Bustednuckles)
Stay safe and stay frosty. And if you're ever out Washington DC way, two dogs and a guy here want to buy you a beer.
No not another one so many of my favorite blogs have shut down given up,i used to have about 50 blogs i read every day now down to about half that number think i shall quit soon before you all give up dont think i can take much more loss.AJD
Ted,
Your posts have always been at times funny, informative, evocative and profound. You have kept a high standard of content and decorum. I , for one, will miss my Sunday morning music class where I learned so much in so many ways. I hope we can keep the communication going and get together in real space again soon.
Your Dad would be proud of the impact you made on the lives of so many others, especially this one.
So, I am sure you have heard Schooner Fare do this Stan Rogers favorite, so I will quote it here, and send my best thoughts and wishes along with my gratitude:
And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.
Rise again, rise again - though your heart it be broken
And life about to end
No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend.
Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.
Fair winds and following seas, my friend. Thanks for all the free ice cream, and best of luck to you. Go Cardinals!
Fair winds and following seas, my friend. I'll keep in touch...
Thanks for all the ice cream. I have enjoyed reading you each day, and it was an honor and a pleasure meeting you at those early, heady Northeast Blogshoots and Dinners.
::scotaku
I'm going to miss you, your thoughts, your humor and most of all, your kindness. May any road you take be filled with awe and adventure. Thank you Borepatch, for taking us along on your journey.
Do what is right for you just know that you're commentary will be greatly missed.
I do hope you check in on other blogs; we will be planning another blogshoot and the originator of DAB really should attend another one.
Sincerely, your friend
Bob S.
Thanks for all the great content, Ted. Best wishes.
I can't say I'm not disappointed, but that's okay. Charlie Mike, Brother.
Go forth and prosper.
Damn. Sorry to see you go.
Came for the Guns, stayed for the IT. Taking your advice to swerve into Network security. If I could get around to finishing the training.
So long, and thanks.
Fight the good fight my friend.
You've been on my daily read list since I found you years ago. I don't always comment because you do such a good job, there's usually not much for me to add.
Thanks for all the posts!
You might post your travel destinations and paths occasionally - I'll bet you'd get a lot of beers and dinners on the way. We'd have a chance to return some good for all the good we've gotten over the years.
Have fun!
ASM, Will you resume your blog? I like your posts, too, but I've only really followed your writing here.
Of course, am so sorry to hear this!
But, I understand.
Enjoy the road, and be safe.
(And, if you are ever out this way, there's that whole beer thing we've discussed.)
Thank you, my friend.
gfa
Thanks. You made me think more than once.
Enjoy whatever is next Sir. And thanks for all the free ice cream.
Your input will be missed! I get it though. Fair winds and following seas. Safe riding and check your six!
I'm only about three steps behind you. Go with God and be at peace, my friend.
Sorry to see the blog ending, but you have been letting miles pile up in front of the new bike. Long past time to start moving them behind it. Stay safe and enjoy.
Enjoy the ride and hurry back!
Happy trails, my friend!
Hope to see you around, sometime...
Best 'o luck.
We will miss your unvarnished reviews on tech issues and warnings about particularly nasty viruses, malware, and security breaches.
Have fun riding the new motorcycle, and please don't spill again.
Long Time Lurker/Daily Reader here to say thank you, and wish you the best. I hope that the Muse finds you and prompts you to write a book of your travels some time. I'll buy it and it will sit on my shelf next to BOB, NFO's books, and so many other authors I've discovered here in the blogosphere. A Borepatch diary would be wonderful, once you've lived it and have some time to look back in wonder.
Best, and thank you for many entertaining, thoughtful, and informative years,
Maureen
You'll be missed, but enjoy the ride! And don't let the bike beat you up again, either...
For as long as I can remember, this has been the first blog I check each day. Thanks for sharing. Good luck and Godspeed!
Understand fully.
Thanks for all the information and insights.
Look me up if you ever get out here to the Left Coast.
Dang, the blogosphere will be the poorer for your blog not being a part of it.
Thanks for all the good posts and all the best to you, and if you happen to ride up to Michigan, the first beer is on me.
As others have said, I've read you every day since I found this place; usually several times a day. I've learned much here.
But I can understand.
For some reason, it feels right to say, "live long and prosper". If you're in Central Florida, my turn to buy the beer.
Another reader here that will miss you, but I can understand battle fatigue.
I (and I'm sure many others)will check in from time to time - but take your time and use it for your own well-being; we'll see you if and when you choose to post again.
Ride safe, stay well.
Bryn, Isle of Anglesey,UK.
Sorry to see you go, but a man's gotta do etc.
You leaving the Blogosphere - that sucks is all I can say.
Hope you enjoy whatever you endeavor to do beyond this.
All the best,
Glenn B
Awwwh man! Good luck and maybe after while you'll get the urge again.
Thank you, you have been a part of my daily reading for quite a while and I am sorry to see you go.
I understand burnout.
I enjoyed your site. It is a regular stop for me every day.
Have a GREAT ride!
Just found you. Sorry to see you go.
Rubber side down!! Shiny side up!!
Thanks for all the blogtime. Enjoyed your writing. Be safe.
You've been on my daily read list for years. I understand; every blogger has had "the Muse" leave, and days go by without posting. Live intercedes.
Thanks for all your posts, and may God bless you wherever your two wheels take you.
I truly feel very sorry for all of you out there in the blogosphere. I have known Borepatch for five decades or so. As you have come to realize, Borepatch has never been short of opinions or the desire to share them. Why do I feel sorry? Because I am sure he will continue to share them with me, albeit on a bilateral basis. I am enriched thereby. So I feel very sorry for you. However, if I may offer a glimmer of hope based upon my decades of association with Borepatch, I have never known him to keep his opinions to himself for very long. If and when the muse returns, or he is irratated by a particular burr under the saddle, he will return...
Best wishes my friend. And thanks for all the posts!
Go do what you need to do brother. We'll be here when you get back.
The blogosphere will be a lesser place without you.
Hate to see you go, 'patch, but I take comfort in knowing you're out there somewhere.
FWIW, I let my own blog lapse in 2012 for reasons you may find marginally familiar:
(1) Went through a period of deep professional upheaval (bad enough that I almost walked away from a 30+ year career).
(2) A few months later, injured myself bad enough to be immobilized, and require surgery.
Sound familiar at all?
Those, coupled with too narrow a blog focus, pretty much beat my muse into submission. I've been thinking about picking it back up, but I'm not sure what or how just yet, or if I have anything truly meaningful to say. That, more than anything, is the most obstructive thought.
Ride awhile, find your center, then find your peace. Once you do, you may find the words fighting to get out once again. If you do, we'll be here. If not, you'll always be amongst silent friends.
I don't post much on the blog anymore, either and have considered doing the same thing. But thanks for all your post and the efforts. And enjoy your ride... just don't smile too much. It's a bitch to clean all those squashed bugs off the teeth.
So long, and thanks for all the free ice cream.
This has been one of the blogs I read on a fairly regular basis for a dose of outside-the-bubble perspective. All too many have gone dark, for one reason or another.
But, if you're going off to pursue life, that's a nice positive reason. And I'll check in every so often, in case your muse does return.
Damn. You should know that you've enhanced my life and that you will be very much missed. Even when I've disagreed with you, your viewpoint, your logic and your erudition have given me much to think about.
So long, and thanks for all the free ice cream.
If the road under the bike's tires happens to run this way, let me know. I owe you a lunch at least in return for all the ice cream.
Thank you sir, your blog has been a fount of knowledge, some wonderfully useful, but always interesting. And thank you for putting up with my tangential comments.
I understand - but your posts will be missed. Securing your friendship out of it, little blog brother, has meant more than you know and I look forward to our little phone chats every so often, as always.
hugs - B.
As someone said when I signed off my former blog several years ago because I had mostly said what I had felt I needed to say and was beginning to bore myself...
"Meh...remember where your browser button is and when things are slow, check back in."
I haven't yet, but it was pretty good advice and I might some day. You might, too.
If you scoot down Fla way, watch the Q-tips, they will run your ass down.
Be well BP.
This is the end of a Blog Era.
Without your time here I would not have had the fortune to make your acquaintance.
Don't be a stranger if you find yourself back in Texas. Belle and I will be here.
Thanks for your time writing this blog and have fun.Good luck!
Sorry to see you go, it was fun while it lasted.
Sorry to see you go but glad you'll be having fun in the sun. Enjoy the ride.
I understand well my friend. Thanks for everything and have a blast on the road.
Post a Comment