How are the 2008 resolutions hanging in there?

Mine are rock solid so far – but of course, that might be because I didn’t make any! I may have been having too much fun that night to experience a life changing epiphany, although I will admit, the shot of wormwood laden, toxic green, less-than-legal Absinthe smuggled in from London that night might have given me a vision. It was the favorite beverage of Poe, Hemingway, and Oscar Wilde so I was hoping it would give my writing skills a boost. Instead, I only got to meet Elvis walking around the party sometime after midnight – or maybe it was Jim Morrison, I forget.

So, although I am 10 days late, I have decided that it is time for a 2008 resolution. Better late than never. I have determined to narrow the focus of my writing, make it natural, to make it fun again. All writers and bloggers know what I am talking about. Sometimes when you sit down to write something, it flows out of your fingertips like electricity and your knuckles are cracking in exertion as your poor fingers can barely keep up. At other times, you sit staring dumbly at the screen like a cow that just got slugged in the face and a gun to your head wouldn’t render a single typed word.

Since I began Startbackpacking.com, I have uncovered scores of travel sites and blogs in my search for friends and associates. There are some excellent sites to be found, but the main tone out there seems to be all the same. Backpacking sites have turned so touchy-feely, heartfelt, and green that sometimes I just long for something new, something fresher. If I hear one more story about orphanages in Cambodia, or someone spending one life changing week at a Buddhist temple, or see one more picture of a farang or laowei surrounded by local kids who are covered in flies, my gag reflex is going to kick in. Not that those things are bad, but if I add one more blog or travel site to that bandwagon the wheels are going to snap off.

Oh…and sorry for mentioning “green” among my list of complaints. I 100% support the environment and am willing to trade my gas slirping 1997 V8 Explorer for anything that anyone wants to offer right now. I would like to be able to pass a petrol station without having to stop for once. It was one of those purchases (10 years ago) that seemed a good idea at the time for camping, winter driving, etc…but now unfortunately the only green thing about it are the obnoxious fumes coming out of the tailpipe.

Every time I start the thing I think an iceberg melts and a baby seal dies somewhere. The good news is I only drive it while I am home, and that is not so often.

So here is to a new year of writing opportunities, a new year of travel, and a new year of keeping the Corporate Cubicle Monster away.

Cheers!