Justin here, writing to you for Baghram airforce base in Afghanistan. It's about 4:55 in the morning here and all is well. To say that it's been an amazing trip thus far, is to severely undervalue the experience. I've traveled to many places all over the world, but never to the Middle East. It's a truly beautiful place, even though it's a war zone. There are so many amazing experiences that I can't really fit them here. So I'll make you a deal. If you give me a day or two. I'll post the pictures I have, and even give you a little taste of the stories and experiences that we all are having here. I'm going to ask the other Idols with me to sit down and share their experience with me on tape, then I'll put it up on blogtalk, or my site. Cool?

My head is a little foggy this morning, so I don't think I could write too clearly any way. Besides, I like to talk my time with my writing. Would you believe it took 4 hours to write some of my Fancast blogs about Idol? Especially in the beginning when I was trying to describe (as richly and vividly as possible) my experience as an Idol.



I will tell you this though. I am up at this hour for a very good, albeit sad, reason. At around 2:50 this morning, there was a service known as a "Fallen Comrade Ceremony". An American soldier wsa killed in action and his body was due to be transported from the base back to the States.



Instead of just letting him go in the middle of the night, the soldiers here line the street the body is driven down. With practiced precision they stand rigidly at attention and salute as the casket, resting on the back of a modified HumV and draped in an American Flag goes by. It was a beautiful sight. The street was lined, on both sides with soldiers from the Army, Air Force, Marines, and even soldiers from other countries that are here supporting the fight. With guns slung across chests (almost everyone here lugs around automatic rifles at all times) and in perfect silence they wished their comrade in arms farewell. I'm not a soldier, so like the other civilians at the ceremony I stood along side the soldiers and placed my hand over my heart as the coffin drove by.

I was reminded of my own mortality, as well as where I was, and what our men and women (most of them younger than me) are going through and risking every day to preserve our way of life.



This trip has completely and irrevocably altered my perception of the armed forces...for the good.



More to come.



Justin

I'm in salt lake, have had 1.5 hrs sleep and about to get on a plane.
I'm postponing the show till Saturday. I'm bushed from a month of non-
stop work. My voice is shot and I need a few days to recover. I hope
you're all doing well. Just wanted to get the word out. Sorry I
couldn't make tonight, will get back on the horse Sat. Check the blog
site for updates.

Love,

Justin



P.S. Hope everyone's good in CA.

Thanks D-Town (the Other D-TOwn)

Monday, June 30, 2008


Just a quick shout out to all the people who came out and saw the Detroit show this weekend.

I had a blast doing it, even though it was only 3 songs. I have to say I'm amazed (nothing new) by the ladies who came out to visit me. Thank you so much for driving 4 hours to get to me. You did say that all I had to do was ask...but I wasn't expecting that. "Above and beyond the call of duty" I believe is how the military would put such an effort.


Thanks for the great wishes, and all the goodies too. I'm trying my best not to eat all the good sugary snacks first...thank god for the fruit bars and passion Tazo tea (my fav tea ever btw). A question though. What inspired the lobsters?? I though that they were hilarious, and I fully plan to put the "growing" ones in a pool or some other large body of water to see how big they actually get.


Thanks again for making the joyous experience of singing and performing, that much more joyous for having you there. I hope that those of you who weren't able to come enjoy the video. Thank you for video taping my shows by the way. If I'm not mistaken, I think I saw two cameras in the hands of the peeps! Multiple angles of me acting like a goof on stage!!! Whoo Hoo!!


You don't know what it means to me to see familiar faces at these events, and to recieve all the wonderful words of encouragement on the sites. Thank you for sticking with me through thick and thin...you're amazing!


Jg




http://web.mac.com/jguarini/The_New_Guarini/Blog/Entries/2008/6/30_Thanks_D-Town_(the_Other_D-TOwn).html

Sunday, June 22, 2008


I thought I saw Norskie...video camera in hand. I saw a lot of people in MO. I was very pleasently surprised by the turnout (it had rained like mad just an hour before). Why didn't you stay to say hi?? I'm not offended (that's just not my style) but next time just stop in to say hi, I always love seeing familiar faces.


Thanks to those of you who came out to see Greg and I hack through an hour long set of music. I did most of the "hacking", actually all of the "hacking" :-) ... I love performing, but an hour worth of music is a huge load for a two piece band. I don't care who you are. 14 songs in total. I felt like I was running a marathon, but the task was made easier by the fact that the people attending were so attentive and genuinely happy to be there. I've never performed in front of a moat before, or on a fountain....two firsts. The other first was feeling like a rube for hacking through a bunch of sing-along songs on my guitar. I love a good sing along, but whew...I've never had to play that much guitar before...and it was interesting to say the least. I'm a novice, learning for sure, but still a novice. Thank goodness people were forgiving. I hacked through a bunch of tunes that were fun, but nerve-wracking for me. Is that spelled right? Ah well it's 2:10 and I've got a 5:30 call time flight for my next stop...who cares if it's spelled right, you know what I mean. I'll keep practicing for you and some day I'll burn like a 80's hairband guitarist....but for now, you'll have to settle with my very visible (and audible) evolution. :-)


Anyway, I'm happy to have performed a live gig again, and I'm looking forward to some more live dates that I've got up my sleeve. In the meantime I'm going to spend some time on the Right coast having meetings, and visiting family. Next week I'll be in Detroit for a little gig that I hope I see some of you at (no pressure, only if it's convenient). I miss seeing your faces and getting to talk to you. So if you're in the area, come out and say hi to me.


Wow, I'm tired, but it's well worth it. I'm climbing a mountain after all, and it's a pretty nice scenic mountain if you ask me. Thank you all for everything that you do. I'm so fortunate to be singing and following my passion, wherever it leads me, and I have you to thank. No matter what happens it's nice to know that I have a great group of friends (lets face it, you've moved beyond the "fan" stage at this point...you've been here for me through thick and thin) that I can always count on.


Sleep...


With love,


Jg



http://web.mac.com/jguarini/The_New_Guarini/Blog/Entries/2008/6/22_I_saw_you.....html

By Justin Guarini
Fancast American Idol Correspondent
Host of Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight, TV Guide Channel

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By Justin Guarini
Fancast American Idol Correspondent
Host of Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight, TV Guide Channel

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There. I said it.

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wost picture ever...

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