In the last 48 hours, I’ve received text messages from friends in 10 different countries — Iraq, Turkey, France, Netherlands, Denmark, India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Fiji.
And that’s not a flex.
But it is a justification for some of my recent behavior.
Over these past few weeks — for the first time in well over a year — I’ve been posting on Facebook.
But these haven’t been the usual heart-stirring, feel-good travel tales.
These have been blunt-force, no-filter posts — calling out the lies, hypocrisy, and senselessness of what’s been happening in Iran.
I won’t lie… some of my words — and some of the interactions in the comments — haven’t been pretty.
And for that, I’d like to apologize to absolutely no one.
I am, and always will be, staunchly against the killing of innocent people. Yet somehow, in 2026, that’s considered triggering… and politically controversial.
Not for me.
This isn’t political.
This is human.
And people ask how, or why, I can be so tenacious with my words?
Look back up at those 10 countries.
It’s because of the people who sent those messages.
For me, those places — and the friends I have in them — aren’t “over there.”
They’re in here… in my head & heart.
That’s one of the uncontrollable things travel does to you.
Once you’ve spent time in a country, and once you’ve connected with its people… they become part of you.
And when something bad happens to them, or their country… it hurts you too.
I have many Persian friends — some of whom I’ve known and loved for 30 years.
And just a few months ago, I was wandering the streets of Iraq — shaking hands, exchanging smiles, and connecting with locals who warmly welcomed me like one of their own.
To see the damage and destruction both of those countries are now experiencing… at the hands of my own?
It breaks my heart — and it boils my fucking blood.
But while this may not be political to me… I understand that, for many, it is.
And that’s why I chose to take those more aggressive, angst-filled thoughts over to Facebook.
Because, while I can’t promise I’ll never touch on anything that leans political here at With Gusto, I’m also highly aware that that’s not what you’re here for.
You’re here for the good (and Goose) stuff.
And I assure you — I’ll always have plenty of that.
So, without further ado… let’s get into this week’s Notes & A Nugget:
The Ukrainian At My Door
Brushing Up On My Bernese
Shit Or Get Off The Pot
One Hard To Admit Birthday Wish
The Nugget:
Because of our recent loss of Ozzie, a lot of this week’s focus has been on Goose. It won’t always be that way, but for these past several days, it’s exactly what both he and I needed.
As seen above, last week was his birthday — so I recorded a little ritual we go through almost every morning before he gets his grub on.
Is he the goodest of good boys or what?
With Gusto,
Adrian
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