Hello friends,

At long last I write you! I want to wish you a happy Easter, if you celebrate such occasions. I hope that you are well and enjoying the day off wherever you call home. It was a beautiful day here in Arizona as I ended the day cooking out for a few of my relatives. 

 I actually work today for a few hours, helping a friend of a friend move into her new home. It was the 14th day in a row I work, something I don't want to get used to doing. This is the busiest I have been in a very long time, and it has brought me to the point of exhaustion. As you know I much rather be sitting down in my office writing, what bills need to get paid and sometimes I just have trouble saying no to people. So these past couple of weeks that I work Non-Stop, I just get home with enough time to eat something and crash on the couch exhausted. Kalani is not too happy that she's not getting the normal attention as well. In this contracting world that I survive in, it is either feast or famine. It seems to be busy everywhere I hear, as the economy improves all over the country, and they're obviously is a high demand for handyman\ tradesman like myself. So with that in mind, I need to cash in on the bonanza while the getting is good, because we never know when things take a turn for the worse. I also wanted to work as much as I can since I expect my kids from California to visit me later on this week, and I wanted to take a few days off with them. So staying busy working while my manuscript continues to be worked on is good medicine for the mind I suppose. It certainly helps time fly by.

 Speaking of time flying by, it was exactly one year ago this week I was in Hawaii completing my 50th stop on my tour. Hosted by my good friend Yohana in the North Shore of Oahu, it brought an end to the most exciting and journey of my life! I tell you that adventure tested my will and endurance to the limit, but now this publishing process is coming in a close second! I truly enjoyed the great majority of my stops, but my time on the island was special and very relaxing to say the least. I had planned it that way from the beginning, and it sure turned out to be the best thing for me at the time. If you have never been to Hawaii, you will never regret trying it at least once in your life. I still feel I feel I will end up there someday for good once again, making it my permanent residence again. Who knows when that will be, but I sure miss the warm waters, friendly people, and especially the food. I guess I should stop looking at all the pictures of my time there and focus on the here and now.

 Well my friends I leave you on till next week once again. Please have a safe and pleasant work week, and for those of you still getting snow and ice, haha! Just kidding of course, and thank you for your support as always. Adios amigos

Juanjohn

Hello friends,

 Happy Saint Patrick's day, plus one! I hope all are doing well this lovely Saturday evening. I know it's still winter for many of you east of the Mississippi, but here in Arizona it's just been another boring rainless, snowless winter. I suppose I should not complain, but I still do!

I had another busy work week, but I made time to go last week to the annual Book Fair here in Tucson. It is a huge event here, and one of the largest in the country.  I wanted to go and speak to specific publishers I saw on the list of attendees. I have been bombarded by countless publishing companies since I first inquired years ago. Although they have been more persistent since my cross-country tour, I now know which companies are just after people's money. Many of those companies also set up booths at fairs like these, but have no interest in people's writing or stories other then to take their money. I have spoken to many of these via email or on the phone, and when all is said and done, it becomes apparent that the only writing they're interested in his a check made payable to them! I spoke to a few reputable publishers, and explained that my manuscript was still being cleaned up at the moment. They seemed interested and asked me to send them excerpts of the book, and I can't wait to get that part of my story rolling. Unfortunately as you know, my book is held up at the current moment as the proofreader deals with a personal tragedy in her family. I will be sure to give you the latest update as things develop.

I also spent last Wednesday evening celebrating a special event with my son Jonathan and the family. His mother and I planned a surprise dinner at a local pizzeria to celebrate his new career as a blackjack dealer at the local casino. I suppose it might not be the ideal career path a parent would want for his child, but Johnny has always been a whiz at math and I am please to see him get out of the trades as a fitter and go into something vastly different. It's not easy for people of any age to change their course in life, especially once people are settled and feel trapped in their career choices. But since he is young and single, it is the best time to make a change. Whether or not this turns out to be a long-term career or just an adventure for a 25 year old remains to be seen, but he has always been a good son and has made great choices his entire young life. He was totally surprised by the gathering, and humbly thanked everybody for thinking of him. I'm sure he will excel and his new job, as he always has his entire life.

Thank you once again for checking in, and continuing to support my efforts to finally see this journey to its completion. I think I could see the the light at the end of the tunnel now, I'm just hoping it's not the train coming in the opposite direction! Until next week my friends, stay safe and enjoy the first day of spring wherever you call home.

Juanjohn