Hello friends, 

I hope everyones enjoying their Sunday morning. I write you this morning from a less than admirable motel room just outside of Charlotte. As always in my attempt to save a couple of bucks, I ended up in a motel even most roaches and bed bugs would pass on! I finally scored a gig yesterday, but I wasn't able to get done due to the weather. I just have a couple hours of work remaining before I head north to Virginia. I will tell you all about my North Carolina experience tonight after I complete the gig and setup camp for the night. I will say that this time my patients paid off and I was once again blessed with a great client.

As it turns out, I have a couple of cousins from back home in Arizona living here in my next stop, Virginia. One who is in the middle of purchasing a new home in Newport news. She is excited about the timing for both of us, and is gracious enough to allow me to stay with her and her family, and to help them with some upgrades to their new home! Of course I still have to score my official state gig and then I can help them with their project. For me, I can get a chance to earn some extra money to be able to get my laptop fixed or replaced. I am in desperate need of it to be able to write my blogs and to download pictures and videos to the site. All these post that I have written have been from my phone, all the way back to Oklahoma city,  where a storm fried my computer screen. I'm at least happy that I'm still able to post, but very limited and with a lot of struggle.

So stay tuned for my next gig post tonight and I will write my final thoughts about my time here in North Carolina.

Have a great day everyone! #Yo-Ga-Fla.

Juanjohn 

Hello friends,

I pray that all of you are well and safe, wherever you call home. I'm having a rest day in Charlotte, NC. Now that I have completed my South Carolina gig, I am now focused on the next one as I sit in my motel waiting for a few inquiries that I have already sent out. There is plenty of work here in NC, so I'm optimistic about my chances.

I do have to admit that in South Carolina, I experienced both the highs and the lows of my journey. Work related of course. As far as the state is concerned, it is probably the most impressive state I've visited. The people, food and scenic beauty were everywhere! I really fell in love with the city of Charleston to be sure. I would  love to return someday as a tourist and enjoy the cities rich history and points of interest. I will make sure that the climate is more agreeable.I spent in total six days in the state and pretty much covered most of it. I was impressed, despite the initial struggle to find work. 

I realize that it's probably not enough time to get a true picture of the entire area, but I really felt like I got a glimpse of the true southern style that I had read and seen on the television. The hospitality and charm of the south is alive and well here in the Carolinas. Having grown up in Arizona, I was only exposed to the mostly Anglo and Hispanic culture. I at times feel out of place in the mix of people that make up the majority of races here. There are few Latinos around, and even fewer who speak fluent English. I am constantly surprising folks when we converse, as they seem thrown aback by my speaking ability. I don't get offended by their reaction. It only natural when you are out of your element.

My way has always been to try to be friendly and positive with people, but especially strangers. I love to greet and talk to everyone I encounter at every opportunity. Wheather the clerk at the store or the man in line or the woman at the beach. A 'Hello' or a wave to a complete strangers usually gets me a pleasant conversation, if only for a few minutes. All of us humans just want to be acknowledged and treated kindly at times, and for me, it doesn't cost me a thing to be friendly.

Well as you can tell, if you follow my Blog, I am feeling better these days. I hope your day is a good and positive one also. Thanks for taking a few minutes of your precious time to indulge me with my adventure. It is well appreciated.

Thanks you kindly, Juanjohn