Hello friends,

greeting and happy Monday to you all from my soggy, desert southwest city of Tucson! I hope you enjoyed your weekend, wherever you call home. We Arizonans always pray for rain, but especially this time of year, when it's terribly hot and dry. After weeks of failed predictions, the good Lord  saw it fit to finally release the water shed in the heavens, and give us our share of mositure for a change.

 If you're familar with desert living anywhere in the southwestern part of the country, then you can relate the joy and freshness a cool summer monsoon rain can feel on the people, plants and animals, who decide to dwell in this type of climate. Southern Arizona is especially fortunate to have the unique weather pattern called the Monsoon season, in July and August, which account for more than half of our yearly rain totals. But it can also be a dangeruos experiance for some, due to flashfloodings, high winds and spectacular lighting strikes. It also makes the desert bloom, dry washes run and creates plenty of oppurtunities for guys like me, with storm damage and landscape work.

 I need the work just as much as the next guy, but as you know, my focus has been the writing of my Gigs story. I have been contracting in this town for many years and have built up a large  base of regular clients to keep me busy all year long. Aside from that, I have been fortunate to have garnered a few more new folks who contacted me from my website and newspaper articles that I was featured in upon my return. I'm thrilled to blessed with such great people, who not only support me financially, but many of whom also followed me and showed their support the year I was on the road. 

 I suppose if I wanted to build my business up again, where it was years ago, I could certinately do so, especially now that the economy is on an upswing. But as you know, if you have been following my blog from the start, my tour was designed to lay to rest my skills at some point and transition into a full time writing career. As busy as I am at the present moment, most days I would prefer to stay in my cave and write the day away, with my faithful puppy, Kalani, by my side. But for now, I need to continue to juggle what I need to do, with what I want to do, as most people do in this world.

 I survived my journey by staying focused on the 50 state goal, but mostly by being driven with the desire not to quit. I learned the difference between motivation and drive. Although both are needed to succeed with any you take on, motivation relies too much on emotions, which can wain at times, depending on our moods. Being driven, I believe, comes from a strong mental dispostion, that only we can control and use to feed our desire to succeed at any cost. My desire to become a successful writer, no matter how long it takes or what I have to go through, is driven by my deep belief that I have a gift to share with my follow humans. I now feel empowered to accomplish anyting I put my mind to, something that was not fostered, or encouraged in me as a child. It has taken me a half a century to realize my full potential, and now I have the drive to set my lifes course to anything that I wish to do.

 With that being said friends, sorry for the lecture, I tend to talk too much at times. Now I have to put my money where my mouth is and say good bye for anothe week, and get back to my book! Thanks for checking in as always, and have a safe and enjoyable week!

Juanjohn

Hello friends,

thanks for checking on this Monday evening and I hope all are doing fine. I myself am resting after a long day of working on a remodel. I've started my third week there, in an Oro Valley home, doing an assortment of trades. The job is a good size gig that will go along way to help pay for my publishing cost in a few weeks.

I also worked a few hours at the home of Mary Ann and John Jacobs, working off a debt I owe Ann, who is a professional proof reader here in Tucson. She contacted me after my newspapaer article in May, and we met a few days later at a local coffee shop. She was thrilled about my story and offered to proof read my gigs book once I complete it, in exchange for some home improvement work. In the meantime, I asked her to P.R. my two other completed manuscripts, 'The Crossing' and 'The Crossword', to make ready for publication later this year! She found both my writing interesting and can't wait to start on the, 'Gigs Acrossamerica: first 25' edition. Mary Ann is a wonderful person, and I'm so glad I got to meet her. She has already given me a few pointers reguarding my wrting skills and is happy to be part of my continued journey to get published.

I also recieved good news from my accident with the Gigs moblie from my carrier Geico. After nine days of being in limbo concerning the status of the vehicle, the adjuster ordered my beloved truck to be repaired. I was hoping they wouldn't deem it a total and tow it away to the local junk yard, after it had preformed so valiantly for fifty plus states. It will take a few days to complete the repairs, so in the meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy the free rental the little green lizard set me up with for the duration!

As for other new, I continue to hold fast to my meatless diet. I started my third week today, and so far I have only lost 6 lbs, but I feel better each day I lay down to sleep. I really haven't missed the cow, chicken and pig meals I've been skipping, and my digestive system feels so much better after each meal. I don't know how long I will continue to follow this diet, but I'll decide once I lose 19 more pounds and my target goal of 25 big ones. People I originally told about my plan have already noticed the difference, although most of them thought I was crazy to even try it. Coincidentally, they are same people who thought my crosscountry tour was just a crazy idea too! I'll keep you posted.

The rain finally started to fall here in Southern Arizona today. This is our summer rain season, and after only an inch and a half of rain all year, we were due a good soaking. Even the desert needs water every once in a while, especially the plants and critters.

I continue to write my story every evening and enjoy the memories it brings to mind. Sometimes I miss being on the road, but the excitment of completing the story and being able to share it with many more people keeps me driven and focused on this, the third stage of my project. I'm ready to send my book cover ideas to my friend Yolie, the artist, so she can start to design the cover and have it ready for when the editing is complete in September.

Until next week friends, stay safe and positive wherever you call home. Thanks for your loyal support and encouragement.

Juanjohn

Hello firends,

Happy 4th of July to you, wherever you call home this holiday weekend. I hope all are well and resting for a few days at least. I am busy as ever now that most all of my freinds and old clients know I'm back home.

Last week I wrote you and said my old Ford work truck caugth fire and left me stranded. Luckly I still had the always reliable Gigs mobile to utilize for work and getting me around. Well, I regret to inform you that my luck ran out last Tuesday morning, as I was heading to work with my faithful assistant, cousin Mike. What I didn't suffer through almost 12 months on the road, came crashing to a grinding halt, thanks to a seventeen year old road hog in nearby Oro Valley,who I rear ended after he intentionally stopped in the middle of the road.

The good news is all persons involved were safe and free from injuries, except for my beloved Chevy Avalanche, the Gigs mobile! The damage was not as severve as the impact we experianced, but now it's up to the Gieco claims adjuster to determine the fate of the truck. It saddens me deeply to think that I might lose my partner, home and helper, if they rule the truck totaled. It may sound silly I suppose, but I had grown very attached to the vehicle that had been to and seen so much of this great country, thanks to my tour.

I asked alot of this 12 year old truck, and it came through for me in so many different ways. For twelve months and over 34k miles. I ran it, as you know, through extreem heat, humidity and cold. Snow and ice covered highways as well as mountains and valley roads. I slept in it for over 189 nights, ate, and even used it as a restroom, when it was well below freezing on many a nights on my advennture. If it could talk, the tales it would tell. Listening to me sing along to my playlist at the top of my lungs, endlessly talking to myself in times of stress, joy and boredom. Hearing me snoring in the back seat or screaming at the radio when I could'nt find a station in the middle of nowhere. My plans for truck were to retire it as it is, and keep it forever as a reminder of my journey, as tangible evidence of a trek I took by myself for one year of my life. Something I could show my kids and grandkids long after I would retire from this planet. I'm still waiting for the final outcome at any hour, so I'll keep you posted!

As far as my diet goes, my processed meat free diet, I have just begun my second week and I have thus far lost 5 lbs. I actually feel better after every meal and even my sleep is more sound. It's still early on to get too excited, but this is the first time in my life that I can remember going a week with out beef pork or chicken. Lots of veggies, fruits and nuts have filled my week so far, and I hope it doesn't get old, before I lose my targeted 25 pounds. I'll keep you posted on that project as it progresses.

Well friends, now I have to get back to my other writing, so once again I thank you for your interest and support. Be careful this holiday and enjoy the benifits of living in this country!

Juanjohn