On Saturday night we drove across State lines to Georgia to celebrate Jaime's friend Crystal's birthday. She was turning 30 and unfortunately her mum had a stroke just days before but Jaime, Matty and me tried our best to cheer her up despite the unfortunate circumstances. After a stop at Target department store we got there in about 45 minutes and were welcomed into the home with a friendly greeting and some superb barbeque food. After the grub, I relaxed as I had eaten far too much and monged out for a bit before the hosts put on Guitar Hero. Having never played it before I got a crappy 47% on easy - I heard Slash can't play it either so I'm in good company! Ha ha!

After this we played on an air hockey table in which I retired undefeated after 3 games and then Crystal put on Singstar - like Guitar Hero but you have to sing the notes accurately. After a few Sangrias that were now nicely flowing around my system, I stepped up and gave it a go. I chose a song close to my heart that would fit this occasion - MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" Ha ha. Much like Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" I still remember all the words so nailed the rap show and mine and Crystal's performance was capped with some tandem parachute pant shuffles in the oh-oh music interlude bit.

After staying on for a few more goes, I didn't get beat until someone chose a song I'd never heard of and failed miserably at that. After doing Weezer's "Buddy Holly" with Jaime, I was next challenged to the Weather Girls hit "It's Raining Men" by Matty. Doing my rock band image no good whatsoever I beat Matty (for shame) but regained some cred with The Rolling Stones but was pipped at the post by Crystal's husband Dean who nailed the outro to "Sympathy For the Devil".

With drinks flowing and Crystal/Jaime's Britney Spears' "Toxic" rendition still ringing in our ears (it still haunts my dreams - http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=37319504) it hit 2am and it was time to head home. We thanked our hosts and wished Crystal all the best as we went back to Florida.

The next day was a staff outing for the ladies at the Salon to the movies. Only Jaime and Ashley showed up much to their anger and we went to see Wall*E , the new Pixar film. Best animated film I'd seen in ages, we loved the lack of dialogue - making it almost Chaplin-esque - but was shocked when Nancy (Jaime's step-mum) showed up in an orange romper suit and biker's bandana that made her look like a mechanic from Guantanamo Bay!

The following day I went to work with Jaime at her beach job and after some food I decided to walk down the road - something no one does here. Managed to keep the sweat at bay as I entered into George's Guitar Shop about 500 metres down the road. This large discount guitar and music shop was very friendly and I asked the nearest shop assistant what their cheapest guitar and bag was. For just $100 I managed to pick up a cheap acoustic guitar - I had been having withdrawal symptoms and I asked the assistant (Rob) about any upcoming gigs. He directed me towards a free events newspaper but also said his band were playing on July 5th so I arranged to go down and see them. Asking if my Motley Crue t-shirt was real I informed him I didn't buy it at a gig of theirs but bought it a year ago when I was last in Jacksonville! Also in the store was a bald guy with a goatee who was from Oxford and had moved here after being in the Navy. A quick discussion about the UK and I said my goodbyes before going back to Jaime's work to show her my new purchase!

As I'm writing this about a week late I forget the exact order of the next events but I manage to squeeze in a drink with Jaime's dad at a local bar one bored afternoon and we put the world to rights on a number of political issues although his proud proclamation as a lifelong member of the NRA (National Rifle Association) put me a bit on edge given that I'm staying with his two youngest daughters for this part of the trip. When we return to the salon I meet a nice girl called Ashley (not Jaime's sister but another one) and we have a chat and she tells me she got breast implants for her high school graduation present! I think her boyfriend appreciated it and I congratulate her on her decision! :D

Later that week me, Shaun and Jaime see the new James Macavoy and Angelina Jolie film called Wanted. It was pretty good and had some great directorial flourishes but had a ridiculous baddie in the fact that it was a fate-loom! Yes, the medieval sewing machine is in fact a world conquering killer! WTF??? On the plus side though the cinema in the USA is cheap, empty, air conditioned and has much bigger seats over here - for the American fatties! Sorry guys and gals but it's a factoid! ;)

The following evening we go to an Italian restaurant with Dana (Jaime's other flat mate). Jaime has her first alcoholic drink of the holiday and she gets wrecked after just two buds and a shot (albeit a huge one i.e. a cup full) of Tequila! After that we come back home where she passes out and me, Dana and Ashley carry on the drinking of Sailor Jerry's, beers and more until the early hours.

By Wednesday, Jaime had arranged for me, Sean and her to go the Jacksonville Suns stadium and watch a minor league baseball game. I did this last time and it was great again as we saw some classic American sports as well as get the obligatory beer and hot dogs from nearby stands. It's great as you can drink on the terraces unlike in the UK. The strangest event was the between-innings "entertainment". First off was a race involving kids chasing after someone dressed as a giant taco whilst later the taco was joined by people dressed as an egg, a ketchup bottle, a mustard container and more for a two lap race around the baseball diamond. Furthermore was a Sumo wrestling match and then a lucky fan had to throw a ball into a bucket for a prize. Not bad I thought until Jaime told me the prize was a $3 sandwich - about the equivalent of winning a Ginster's pasty in the UK I reckon! The night ended with a great firework display as we got ready for more drinks the next day! 

The following evening was a trip to a place called Rack 'Em Up which was supposed to be a quiet drinking tavern with some pool tables about 20 minutes away. When we got there though, we struggled to find parking as the place was full of fraternity boys and girls playing beer pong. Never heard of it myself but here are the rules:

"Basically cups are formed in a pyramid at either end of the table and players attempt to toss or bounce ping pong balls into the cups which are filled with alcohol. When you make a shot into a cup of the opposing team, a player from the opposing team drinks the contents and removes it from the table. The game continues with both players from one team taking a shot, followed by both players from the other team. The team able to clear all of the opposing cups first is the winner, with the losing team splitting the contents of the winning team's remaining cups!" Phew!

After a game on a golfing arcade game, we grab some pitchers of beer and play some table football (soccer!) and watch as the bar gets louder and louder with drunken college students! Like a Kinder Surprise (horrible chocolate, nasty little toy) we get a double whammy of disillusionment as me and Jaime get nicely drunk and we feel it's time to head back as tomorrow was THE national holiday.

Yep, by Friday it was the nation's Independence Day - with my red coat presence being a particular bone of contention - I prepare myself for a barrage of "We've got your country now" nonsense but couldn't have been further from the truth. A beautiful sunny day began with getting rid of the hangovers with a trip to Jaime's folks and some swimming in their pool. As I get some sun I hear a buzzing near my ear. What was that? I look around just in time to see the largest wasp I've ever seen dunk itself in the pool, fly near my inner tube, buzz me one more time then fly away! After the bat incident last time I couldn't believe it and Jaime explained that this too is a regular occurrence! Damn nature!

After this we refresh back home and head to Jacksonville beach to go to Jaime's older sister's house who were throwing a party. As we arrive, huge American trucks and cars were outside and I suddenly felt like I was in King of the Hill as we were offered a cooler/fridge full of beer (see pics) and we sat at the side of the road drinking them before the BBQ started and we tucked into some burgers, sausages, potato salad and more awaiting the fireworks that were due around 9.30pm. Dana was downing drinks like no tomorrow and at 20 wasn't legally allowed to do so but as the countdown soon came around, Ashley turned up after having to work at a place called Firehouse Subs (like Subway) and we headed to the beach after the show where there were many bars and we split into two groups as Dana (not 21) couldn't get in. So we have a few drinks in an Irish pub - how typically tourist-y - and I get to see my first proper pint glass since leaving the UK! Meeting up back at the house, Dana crashes off the front porch and spends the next day nursing her sore body and throbbing head - lightweight!

Well, I have just a few more weeks here in Florida but have Jessica AND Jaime's birthday coming up and saw a great gig on Sat night which I'll tell more about next time I write. Hope all is well and keep on rocking.