Hello friends, 

Hope your enjoying your Monday wherever you call home. I just arrived from a long day's work here in the beautiful city of Charleston. As last I posted, on Saturday, things were looking gloomy for me. Oh what a difference a few hours make! So this is how I end up here in Charleston.

After spending a full day in both the cities of Columbia and Greenville, I was losing hope really fast. I spent all day Friday in Columbia searching and waiting for something to pop up on the CL. Nothing. I decided to bolt for Greenville, since it seemed more logical, being closer to my next planned stop, Charlotte  N.C. I arrived at five o'clock and rented a campsite to begin with my normal routine of checking the latest ads. Nothing.

By morning I was determined to stick it out. There is no coming back this way I reminded myself. I went to two of the local Home Depots, and I had no success latching on for the day with someone. By noon the temperature was already heading to the triple digits as I sat in my truck under a tree at the local supermarket. Meanwhile, still checking my phone every hour for that elusive gig to appear. NOTHING!

By two pm. I gave myself until four o'clock, or else I was heading back to Columbia. I figured it's located more central to both Greenville and Charleston, and if bad came to worsee, I would have to spend a third day looking. I stopped at a local park and sat under a large ramada with a few other folks, watching the kids play. I wrote a few pages in my personal dairie and took some pictures of the park. At four o'clock  I checked once again. Nothing new.

I decided to wait another hour. At five o'clock in decided to head back to Columbia before it got too dark. I was bumming and sweating! For some reason I decided to check out the CL in Charleston, more than two hundred miles away. The reason I hadn't previous was because it was far out of the way in the wrong direction. To my surprise there were plenty of postings! I noticed a particular ad looking for help with a paver floor. Right up my alley!

The rest of the story you'll have to wait until I post it on my gigs page tomorrow, or Wednesday! I'm learning to be more patient and trusting with this project as it continues forward. From gloomy to sunny in a matter of minutes! My hair will completely gray if not fall out by the time I get to Hawaii!

I will leave you now and will have a final post about my time here in this beautiful state of South Carolina on Wednesday. Take care friends and be safe. Thanks for your support.

Juanjohn 

Good morning Friends, 

Just checking in from the local coffee shop here in Greenville, South Carolina. I left Columbia yesterday after not seeing too much activity there on my first day in the state. I drove up the seventy-two miles to Greenville, hoping for greener pastures! Unfortunately the scene here is not much better as I write you. Some of the problems I think is weather related. A series of thunderstorms have moved in the area the last few days, and that surely puts a damper on peoples plans. Also the heatwave is still relentless and no end is in sight. It rained all night and I awoke to a soggy and muddy campsite. Im hoping something pops up this morning, in the meantime I plan to head out to the local Home Depot and see if I can latch on to someone for the day. On top of my struggle for work, I seemed to have developed an eye infection with my left eye, which leaves me looking like I was up all night or in a fist fight! It's not a pleasant way to show up to work a gig or to beg for work at the H.D. I don't have any antibiotics to take, so I hope it clears up soon.

I wanted to express my recent  mood so you can get a idea of what I've been dealing with in my head. I noticed that I have developed a pattern with my emotional disposition every time I struggle to find work. I won't say that it's depression, but I seem to get a bit down every time I enter these smaller, less populated states.

Already sensing that I will have a rough time scoring a gig in these areas, like I did in Mississippi and Alabama, I'm finding it difficult to shake off the gloomy feelings I get as I scan the CL lists. Coming out of the work rich states like Texas and Florida, I'm riding on a cloud, only to then hit a emotional wall once I arrive in states like this.

Don't get me wrong, there is posting in every community, but the bigger the population, the better my chances. Another issue I failed to consider is my unique situation. In other words, even posting that might otherwise suit me under normal circumstances, fall to others simply because of my time frame. If I were a local I would obviously score many more gigs. But because I only have a day or two to commit to a project, I exclude myself out of many opportunities. From my financial stand point it's not feasible for me to extend my stay when I am only making enough money to camp and gas up. I don't have unlimited resources to be able to wait for something better  to materialize.

I also realize that my normal routine has been altered since I began my journey. I knew it would, and now its affecting me physically and mentally. I haven't worked out much,  after years of regular training. I just can't afford the twenty plus dollars they charge for daily use at the local gyms. That money needs to be used for gas and lodging right now. 

My diet has also been disrupted drastically. Outside the healthier meals I shared with my hostesses, Vanessa, Cathy and Yolie, my on the road diet is not what my body is used to. High protein meats and plenty of vegetables are missing. I fallen into the fast food trap. Too much fried and processed junk. My muscle tissue is disappearing and my energy level is at an all time low. My sleep and rest periods are not complete or satisfying, especially the camping and truckstop parking lots. Still I'm enjoying the good aspects of this adventure and will press forward.

Well thats my mood today. I hope you all have a great weekend. Stay safe and I'll stay positive. I promise! Thank you for your precious time and support. 

Juanjohn