Good morning friends,

I am writing to you this morning from the Sunshine state of Florida. I hope you all had a great week wherever you call home. Here is the latest news.

After arriving here in St Petersburg on Tuesday night, to my friends Yolie's home, I was excited about the job prospects here in Florida. I am fortunate to have a good friend here in the area to help me out. She and I went to school together many moons ago and hadn't seen each other since our tenth reunion back in 1990. Along with finding a gig here in the bay area, I will also be spending a few days helping her out with some home repairs. Which in turn helps me out with some much needed funds. Her kindly given me use of her home feels like a oasis, a relief from the heat and campgrounds. Unfortunately for me, she is the last person I know on this tour as I move forward. So many more nights in a tent await me!

The first thing I did when I awoke was to hit the CL list and boy what a difference one state to another makes. The jobs and gigs posted here in the Tampa Bay area are plentiful. I sent out a few inquiries, of my preference, since there are a lot to choose from, and someone responded within a couple hours. The gig was a backyard paver job that someone had began but didn't finish, so they needed someone like me to complete it. After a few exchanges via email and pictures proving my credentials, we came to an agreement over the price. 

I agreed to do the job for less than my normal rate, but I had to consider my situation and the fact that the materials were already in place. No out of pocket expenses on my part and less work for me in the long run. The heat is still intense, but a lot of the patio is in the shade. I plan to complete the job by this afternoon and have my Florida gig in the books! I might stick around for another gig next week, but I plan to enjoy the weekend with Yolie, who's going to show me around the town!

Have a good day, and thanks foryour support!

Juanjohn 

Good morning friends,

I hope all are well and dealing with the heat wave. I arrived in Florida late last night after a long drive from Moblie, Alabama.

After leaving Louisiana on Saturday afternoon I spent the last three and a half days in Mississippi and Alabama looking for gigs. From my last post in Hattiesburg, I moved on to Moblie on Monday after finding very little to work with in both states. I aready expected the situation to be difficult in these smaller, less populated areas. I came again to the point where I had to make a move. Looking at the map, I decided to press forward to greener pastures here in St. Petersburg. I figured I can swing by the northen parts of these two states as I came through Tennessee and Arkansas later on. I hope to have better success the second time around.

The area was stll beautiful and the very much how I imangined it would look like from all the pictures and movies I had seen about the south. Of course I only got a small view and Im sure there is so much more to see and do. Stll I already could see and feel the uniqueness of each state once I crossed those invisible borders. Even if from the outside everything seems the same, I could sense the difference between New Orleans, Biloxi and Moblie. Althought there is some similarities with the food, music and climates. There is no end to the endless resturants and churches that seem to be on every road and street corner. The paces is also slower and the folks keep a bit more to themselves. I was befriended by a very nice, older man named Frank, at the Meaher State campground, who just walked up to me and chatted a while about his trip and mine. I love just being able to meet new people everyday wheather at work or just when Im just hanging out. I local, he said he had never been to the west coast in all of his seventy-five years of life, but was looking forward to a planned trip to California next year. He though I was a former military man, based on my set up and efficiency. He was impressed with my operation and logistical approach to my tour. I also found my first gator in Moblie bay, not far from my tent sight! But the ants in my tent proved to be a greater problem than the gator.

So I will now spend a few days here with my old friend from school, Yolanda. Helping her out with some home repairs as I look for a gig on the CL. There are plenty of ads posted daily, so a gig here should be easy. Knock on wood!

Have a good day and thanks for checking in!

Juanjohn