 jungle trek was amazing, so much fun – and incredibly tiring! Did you do the Inca Trail?
what a brilliant year you’ve had – so – what IS next?
LOTS! This month I’m in The Netherlands until 21st. then I have Brussels, Athens, TBEX, a press trip in Ibiza, my best friend’s wedding, *possibly* a trip to NYC, more UK housesitting, and anything else I can squeeze in – all before May. Who knows what I’ll do after that!!
Happy New Year! What are your plans for 2015?
Wow! What an amazing year! I hope 2015 proves to be as great! I spent Christmas day on a Beach in New Zealand, and I totally agree with the strangeness of it when everyone back home in the UK was having a grey Christmas as usual. Swimming in the sea on Christmas day was awesome!
Wow, that sounds amazing! What a way to finish the year! I couldn’t feel at all Christmassy when we were in Vietnam, it’s too weird when it’s hot and tropical – that’s just not Christmas at all!!
What are your plans for 2015? Happy new year!
What a wonderful year you’ve had and all because you were courageous to take the leap. I wish I had even realized there were similar options when I climbed aboard the lifestyle treadmill years ago. Good for you! And for me? Better late than never! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year – and best wished for 2015!
Looks like a wonderful year of travel. Can’t wait to see where you end up in 2015. Question, were you ever scared in Colombia? We go to Panama a lot and I’d like to have some girlfriends there join me in Colombia but I’ve read so many dangerous stories about it.
Thank you, it was an absolutely amazing year!
Interesting question. I can honestly say I never once felt unsafe in Colombia. The locals there were absolutely lovely and frequently went out of their way to help us and look after us. I never encountered anything dangerous, and I rarely met anyone who’d had any problems other than very occasional thefts (which happen with the same frequency across South America and can be generally avoided).
Honestly, Colombia is perfectly safe, as long as you’re sensible and avoid any areas which are thought of as dangerous – your best bet is to check the UK government travel site for safety information as they are usually well informed and level headed! But I whole heartedly recommend visiting Colombia, it’s a wonderful country and certainly not scary!
If you wouldn’t mind, I’d love to be able to use your question on my other blog, backpacksouthamerica.com, where I have a Your Questions Answered section. If you’re happy please send me an email at |||EMAIL_ADDRESS||| – you’d be doing me a huge favour!
You most definitely had an inspiring year! Congratulations on making your dreams a reality! We are at the stage of sorting everything out so we can save up for 12 months and then quit our jobs this time next year and not look back. Thank you for giving us the belief that we can do it too! Look forward to following your amazing travels in 2015! Happy New Year!
Thank you! Quitting my job was the best thing I ever did – and you definitely can do it too! Good luck with the saving. My tip is to stick a photo of your dream location in your wallet, and any time you go to buy something you can ask yourself if it’s really worth it compared with that!
Wow! You definitely took 2014 by the horns! More power to you and all the very best for a 2015 that tops it!
Thank you! I had no idea back when I started this whole adventure in February that I was about to get so much out of the year, or that I’d still be travelling now! So worth quitting my job!
Thank you! It was a huge change, and now I couldn’t be happier that I took that huge scary step at the beginning of last year. How was your 2014?
What an awesome year you’ve had. I don’t think I would handle the death road very well either. Best of luck in 2015 – Onwards and Upwards!
Thank you! Death Road was very scary – I would never say don’t do it, but just make sure you know what to expect. Any if you’re a whimp like me just take some other whimps with you so you’re not trailing along on your own at the back!
What a great year. May you have countless more memories and enjoyable experiences in 2015.
Congratulations on quitting your job and making it as a full-time writer! That’s so cool. :D I’m looking forward to following your adventures in 2015 as well.
Awesome! Congrats for all the firsts you did last year and all the best for an even better year ahead.
HomeArt, Books and Articles“Combat on the Dark Side of the...
Charlie Nesbitt was raised in Phoenix, Arizona and served nearly 4 years with the United States Navy before his honorable discharge in 1969. He spent the majority of his working career in guest service and law enforcement. He has been happily married for 41 years with 2 sons and 3 grandchildren. He waited 46 years to write his book about Vietnam simply because he did not think anybody would be interested in the story. The main purpose for writing the book now is to honor his high school friend Doug Morton who was killed in Vietnam only 10 weeks into their tour. Charlie hopes that his book will shine a light on the sailors and soldiers of the Mobile Riverine Force for their courage and sacrifices in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam.
Combat on the Dark Side of the Moon blends history and experience virtually unknown to the majority, even the military enthusiast. Written in a unique (almost blog) manner, the book is fast paced and captivating in its vivid description of a boy becoming a man during the throes of the Vietnam War. The author spares no detail in his personal battles regarding everything from virginity, religious self-persecution, and drug abuse, to the sobering reality of war and its impact on youth. As a retired U.S. Air Force Veteran, I can only relate to perhaps five percent of the issues faced by those who survived the idiosyncrasies of the Brown Water Navy. The book brings to mind a more personalized experience of a Hamburger Hill or Full Metal Jacket scenario vs. a Rambo type story. It is most intriguing in its stark reality of life and death and a few incredible things a young man could experience in-between.
- **Death Vigil #6** - This is one of favorite books right now, everything about it is great. The delay for this issue was disappointing but got softened by the announcement of another miniseries + an ongoing later this year

- **The Dying and the Dead #1** - New Hickman who in my opinion is the best writer based on books currently publishing

- **Gotham By Midnight #3** - Only DC book I pull monthly and so far don't regret a thing (not because I have anything against DC I just try to save money by buying DC in trades only)

- **Inhuman #11** - I think AXIS waned my interest in this but hopefully this brings it back to the pre AXIS days

- **New Avengers #29** - Time Runs Out continues, can't wait to see the fallout from Avengers #40

- **Uncanny Avengers #1** - Gonna pick this up digitally to check it out. 

- **Uncanny X-Men #30** - Dear god this arc is just dragging on, this whole thing started in Original Sin in like issue 22 or something.Jesus you queens can go from self-pitying victims to shallow, narcissistic cunts in an instant.

First, I don’t think the OP needs lectures about how he’s actually “obese not stocky”.  Nor does he need reminded that his fat has accumulated in “the worst possible spot for his health”-as if that is somehow useful information.

He was clearly asking if his body type worked for us, not whether he met our definition of “stocky”.  The polite answer to these questions is “yes” or stfu.

I almost wonder if this was some weird social experiment to see how shitty the gay victim class can be to one another.

A Fatherless Fathers Day77
Is it still Father's Day if your father is dead? What if the closest paternal surrogates -- father-in-law and favorite uncles -- are also deceased?
This will be my first year minus a real-live father figure. It's probably gonna feel weird. My first thought was to simply ignore the holiday and let it roll on by unacknowledged.
But the more I think about it, the more my stance begins to soften. Do I really want to be the Grinch Who Stole Father's Day ("I must stop June 21st from coming...but how???).
No, of course not. I definitely want to remember my dad and father-in-law (and Uncles Kevin and Jim) on Father's Day. Just because they're no longer here doesn't mean I shouldn't honor them on this day. It's not like there isn't a precedent for this. Christmas. Easter. Memorial Day. St. Patrick's Day.These holidays work just fine without a living honoree. Why not Fathers Day?
I'll just have to