Hello friends, 

I hope everyones enjoying their Sunday and Fathers day. I write you now from a McDonald's in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. After spending a day and a half along the coastal towns of Gulfport and Biloxi, I headed up the inland after not finding much work there locally. But first I wanted to close out my experience in Louisiana.

First one, it was on my list of places I've always wanted to see. It is a world of its own. The scenery changed immediately as I drove out of Houstonowhere and east Texas. The green grass, thick forest and swaplands didn't disappoint. Once I got off my truck of course, I could feel the heavy, humid air fill my lungs! I headed to New Orleans and rented a campground site to start my gig search. 

As I drove around the city it is a good blend of old and new, kept and unkept. Just an observation. Being a contractor myself, I loved the architecture, layout and building technics used in that old city. The huge trees and mom and pop food joints are everywhere! I ate at a place called Dot's diner and the breakfast was great. Folks were all friendly and the pace of the city seemed slower than most big cities I've been to. I went down to the French Quarter my last day and just walked around for a while. No time for partying on this tour, but I will return someday with more time and money! Still the climate was for me the only drawback. The more I venture into the southland, the more I appreciate the dry heat! It was a short and sweet visit, but I was glad it worked out in the end.

On the other hand, things here in Mississippi started out rough! Yesterday I walked along the shoreline in Gulfport and Biloxi after not securing any work. I found a group of people casting nets into the bay for shrimp. I was fascinated as my own uncle back in Mexico use to support his family the same way. I befriended a family who let me take pictures and they even let me take a shot with the Net! It was a good memory for the tour. 

But as I got to the campsite nearby and set myself up for the night, I felt that old familiar pain of my kidney stones acting up again! As you may remember from my preparation blog, it  is a concern for me. Actually I had felt the onset back a couple days ago and tried to do the necessary things to try to offset them, like plenty of water and electrolytes. But to no avail.

I already know the routine and it's not fun. If you are familiar with these star shaped rocks that trickle down the most unpleasant way possible, then you can relate to my situation. I loaded up with pain relief and huddled in my tent the rest of the afternoon and evening and did my best to bear the pain without having to go to the nearby emergency room. On top of that, a pretty strong storm hit the area overnight with heavy rains and kept me in the tent till the morning. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep and thankle  God for the thunder that downed out my own wails! 

I guess it can be a combination of the road, the heavy jobs I've been doing, the stress and mostly the intense heat I've been exposed to that can all affect my condition. I woke up better, just a bit sore and drained from the shock to the body. I hope I can continue to endure the physical aspects of the journey as a go forward with my tour. 

Well back to my water bottle and my job hunt. Thanks for your support and have a great day.

Juanjohn 

Good morning Friends,

I hope all are are well and you are coping with the climate. I've been here in New Orleans now for two days and the job situation is bleak. The weather has been hot and muggy, even through the night. Plus the mosquitos have eaten me alive at the campsite. Thank God I'm not expecting!

I wasn’t too concerned yesterday, since it seemed like I secured a gig with a guy for today. But at eight this morning the job fell through and now I'm back on the CL waiting for something to pop up again. For a city this size, the postings are few. I'm not sure if the CL is the preferred method of obtaining or posting for help with the folks in this part of the country, but looking ahead, the southern states seem to follow the same pattern. I since figured out that the bigger the city, the better my chances of getting a gig will be. Unfortunately Atlanta is still three states away. 

I haven't even been to the world famous Bourbon Street yet, since money is tight and the rest of the southern states will be challenging. So I will try to endure the weather and job situation another day, hoping something materializes soon! I have faith.

Have a good day everyone and thanks for checking in 😊

Juanjohn 

Hello friends, 

I hope all is well wherever you call home. I know it's been a tough week for all, even  I was a bit distracted by the sad events in the FLA.

I finally write you from east of the mighty Mississippi River. I just set up camp here in New Orleans, LA. and I'm already dying from the humidity as I search for a gig for tomorrowork.

First of all I want to send a shout out to my daughter Vanessa in Dallas and my good friend Cathy in San Antonio, for making my Texas experience such a memorable one! I ate and drank in some pretty good places and enjoyed sleeping in a nice bed for a change. There was so much more to do and see in the Lone star state, but time and money are in short supply theses days. After all, this is a working tour!

The job I picked up in San Antonio paid well, but it took me longer than I expected and boy was the heat and humidity something from another world. I'm not used to this kind of climate. Even the locals said it was extreme and unusual. I don't believe I've sweated like that in my entire life! I felt like and looked like someone doused me with a ice bucket challenge, minus the Ice! Not even 30 minutes into each day, I was soaked from every inch of my body, right down to my choneees and socks! I drank gallons and gallons of water and Powerades, but to no avail.

Now as you well know by now I'm from the land of extreme temperatures  in Arizona. But this is far worse for me than the dry heat. So now I have to sucked it up and prepare for possibly worse conditions as I cover the costal southern states the rest of the month. Also the mosquitos and heat exhaustion are a concern. So on with the survival aspects of my journey.

I'm still having problems downloading more pics and videos to this site, but I will hopefully get my technical issues solved asap.I will check in soon, hopefully from Mississippi with some good news.

Stay cool, I know the heat wave is everywhere, and thanks for your support and interest with my journey!

Juanjohn