Shortly = 100 Days?
Monday 17th November 2008
at 02:05am
Morning all,
I can say that ‘cause it’s past midnight here but before midday (noon) there so it works out quite well in fact!
I’m going to do my best to keep this short ‘cause it’s already quite late.
First things first, I must apologise for not posting for the best part of the last 100 days. I really was quite serious when I said I’d post again shortly. Things just happened to keep getting in the way and time, as they say, continued to elude me. Like I said yesterday, I started writing quite regularly but I never seemed to finish any of them, particularly with the whole Brett thing…
Second things second. I think by now you all know that I’m a fairly open sort of guy, very happy to give when asked and always ready to open the door into our lives as was the case last year. That being said, I cannot possibly stand for any suggestion that our intentions last year were anything less than honourable and that what we did was in any way directly linked to some magnificent book deal or any other ulterior motive. Put quite simply, Kelly and I sacrificed so much to do what we did last year. I worked harder than I ever have to maintain this website and Kelly supported me in more ways than either of us could have ever considered possible. All for the sake of making this a reality. We didn’t ask for a cent whilst we there, nor were we ever offered a cent in return for anything we agreed to do. This trip was never about making money (did I tell you how much we spent yet?), it was about the experience and any suggestion that it was simply book fodder is ridiculous. Sure, it’s going to end up in a book, a self published* one at that but that’s only because I want it to, not because I have been asked to do so or thought first about the book before I did about the Packers.
*(I have chosen to self publish by the way because, ironically, I don’t wish to commercialise what I believe is a very pure thing. Giving it to either of the publishers that were interested only means that this will in fact turn into a money spinner. Quite frankly, these are my words and I’m representing my family here. I’m writing what I want to write, not what somebody is telling me to.)
My lack of posts this season isn’t because I don’t want to. Believe me, find me regular income and I’ll do it. It really is a case of not having the time to do so. As it stands at the moment it’s after 230am Monday morning. I start work, 40 minutes from where I live at 730am and won’t finish until 4 or 5pm depending on the workload. That’ll give me enough time to get home, eat and shower all before my night shift starts at 7pm and goes through till 11pm. Repeat that for 6 days and 4 nights of the week and you can begin to get a feel for how different life is this year versus last. A year when dedicating 3 days to a You Tube movie was nothing and posting comments every single day was like a walk in the park.
All in all, this year there’s no Lambeau Field down the road, no Mike McCarthy Show, no Green Bay Press Gazette and no Drew Smith on my TV every day and night. Yep, I’m back to NFL.com I’m afraid. This year we don’t have a lot of money in the bank and this year I have to worry about the little things in life. Like maintaining my jobs, increasing my income, paying the bills and buying a new home for my family and I to live in. Before any of you get too cynical and jump on the “we hate Wayne” bandwagon, please remember that at kick off this afternoon when I’ll be asleep and you’ll be watching the game from the comfort of that nice cosy arm chair in your living room. The Bears still suck by the way right?
Anywho, that being said I must run ‘cause I’m totally beat. I am commiting a little time each Monday night here to stay in touch with you all, even if it’s a single paragraph just saying hello. That’ll mean that by Monday morning your time there should be something new for you to see.
I’ve tried re-reading this but my eyes are closing so please excuse any mistakes you may have come across.
Until then, I hope you all stay well.
Posted byComments
Mon 17th Nov 08
at 10:20am
Glad you wrote a long blog to let everyone know that when you take a year off work and use all your resources to follow a dream and provide for your family, that you will eventually have to make up those spent resources. And with today’s economy(I;m guessing it isn’t much better in Oz)that is not eay. Good luck and take care of yourself. Your family won’t be much good if you run/work yourself into the ground. And YES, the Bears still suck...BIG time. We creamed them!!!
Mon 17th Nov 08
at 11:03pm
Thanks for the post, Wayne. We missed you. Thanks for being gracious. Back to reality in Oz. Now that your book will be self published I feel more inclined to buy one.
Would Kelly be able or willing to give an update on your lives now?
Tue 18th Nov 08
at 01:11am
Good Day!!!
I am so glad you posted this post.
Hopefully everyone will understand that when you leave your life for a year!
It is not that easy to get it back under control in a short time.
That being said…
I hope the Book goes well for you to do it on your own..
And sign me up for a copy of it!
you have a sale here!*smiles*
I will look forward to your post on Monday!!
Please say Hi to Kelly and the kids..
We Miss you in Wisconsin!!!!!
Cheers!
Tue 18th Nov 08
at 04:44am
Thank you for any time you can give us but take care of that family first.it was good to hear how you are doing etc.
Tue 18th Nov 08
at 10:25am
Hi Wayne!
I never gave up on you! I checked for you everyday and knew someday you would return to us! Bears deffinatly suck as the score of yesterdays game prove! I am so glad you are back and you and your family are well. Take care and hope to hear from you soon!
GO PACKERS!!
Wed 19th Nov 08
at 04:27am
So I am surfing the internet today and as usual I stop by, and I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED I tell you, to see that our lost Aussie has left us with something to read.
Wayne, so glad to hear everyone is OK. Sorry to hear about the work load, and I pray everything will work out.
Wed 19th Nov 08
at 10:28am
So glad to hear from you again. I hope you have more free time soon so we can hear your personal opinions about the Packers and Brett. I am forever a Brett fan so now cheer on the Jets too. Packers are having a tough time losing games they should have won! Wish they would have let Brett come back this year; I am still looking forward to that book! Thanks again.
Fri 21st Nov 08
at 02:58am
What a surprise! Check your site all the time. It was even more of a surprise that your post was on my birthday! Neat gift! Looking forward to more posts in the future.
Fri 21st Nov 08
at 03:15am
I’ve been following your story since day 1 and have been checking all summer for a post. It’s so great to hear from you and that you’re doing well. Family is most definitely 1st! Don’t assume that your true friends and followers would believe anything other than the sacrifices you made to follow your dream. Not all of us are bad people and think you had alterior motives, so it upsets me that your post sounds a little like you’re assuming that. In my opinion you SHOULD try to get some money out of the book and not publish it yourself. As long as the publisher lets you stay true to the words on the pages then why not make a few bucks to recover some of the expenses of the journey?
Take care and we look forward to whatever time you have to drop us a quick note.
Fri 21st Nov 08
at 02:37pm
Wayne,
Good to hear from you. No need to apologize, you dont owe anybody anything. I hope you dont have to keep 2 jobs for long,,kids grow up fast. Stay safe and sane; and enjoy the warm weather...gettin cold here.
take care.
Fri 21st Nov 08
at 04:55pm
Hey “Cheesehead in New Mexico” anyone who follows Brett Favre before The Green Bay Packers is a loser. Get over it already. I don’t see you crying in your beer because Ryan Longwell plays for the Vikings? Now that I think about it, Vince Lombardi did leave the Packers to coach the Redskins, maybe you should cheer for them too you loser.
Sun 23rd Nov 08
at 08:49am
Glad to see you are posting again. I too checked daily and was concerned as to if you were okay. I guess that is what we were all concerned about.
Tue 25th Nov 08
at 03:20am
To PackerFan Let’s not call anyone a loser here. This is a very friendly place.
Tue 25th Nov 08
at 09:10am
Wayne-
It was so wonderful to hear that you and your family are doing ok! I hope that you don’t have to pull two jobs for long. The boys will grow so fast and I know how much they mean to you! We all know that your heart and the hearts of your family was in the right place when you took that leap of faith. Continue to listen to those wonderful inner voices that you and Kelly seem to have,and all that you touch will be golden!
And GO PACK GO!!!! (and Brett too!)
Thu 27th Nov 08
at 02:26am
Hi Wayne-
I am glad you came back! I have to agree with SMP about your book. Don’t let a few sour grapes sway your decision on whether to self publish or go with a book deal from a publisher. In the end, do what you feel is right for you and your family. As for working two jobs… I’ve been there and done that. I know how hard it is. Hang in there! The financial stuff has a way of working it’s own way out. There is light at the end of the tunnel! 
Mon 01st Dec 08
at 07:42am
Good to see you again
Mouse Curser
Sun 11th Jan 09
at 11:04pm
hey Wayne, I’ve been popping into this site every now and then and it’s unfortunate to see that you don’t have as much time as you used to to dedicate to this blog. I can totally relate as I’ve also left my web interests collecting dust for the best part of 6 months.
Anyway, I felt like leaving my 2 cents in saying that you should not let the minority affect you. Every one who has some sort of popularity will always find themselves at the blunt end of criticism… especially when you are running a blog on the net! You should not let these people affect your decision to pursue any ventures that may arise out of what you’ve done last year. These people are just jealous.
Regardless of whether or not you intended to try to make money out of this, the truth is you took a massive risk and sacrifice and deserve everything that comes your way.
I too agree with the previous commenters in that you should go with the publisher as long as you can negotiate the freedom you need to say what you want. A bit of spin to help sell the book is not just about making money but also about making the book an interesting read.
Sun 25th Jan 09
at 04:06am
Wait Elizabeth, what if I want to call the Packer Fan a loser? I cannot believe that he actually took the time to come to Waynes site just to make a comment like that.
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at 04:24pm
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