So fun in South Florida ...

I disagree with the views of Poppa Blog that my correspondence here has been "light". I will say, however, that I am having a lot of fun here in South Florida with Murfuoso and The Jeweller's parents, King and Queen of The Porch, who have put me up in Hollywood's newest but as yet unnamed hostel. I have enjoyed their lodgings, their hospitality and their very friendly neighbours. And the beer always tastes better when it comes out of a vintage Coke fridge but can be hazardrous when given no choice but to drink it from Murfuoso's Collingwood stubbie holder, as pictured. More pictures of the whole gang, "living on the porch", on the next post. Like me, Murfuoso arrived from Austin, Texas, on Tuesday. He doesn't have a blog, but when you basically get paid to hang out with musicians and then write about it, who needs one?

I ditched grandiose (and some would say short-sighted) plans to drive to Key West yesterday, opting to sleep in then kicking back and relaxing after a whirlwind week in Hawaii. K-Beezer asked me via text message whether I liked the place. My answer would be an overwhelming yes. I am also amazed that Poppa Blog, after more than five years of owning a mobile phone, has magically managed to discover the advantages of text messaging since I've been away. That deserves public applause.

I said mahalo to Hawaii on Monday with a further look around the Big Island. Firstly, I escorted Jo, a lovely journo from England, who I met at the hostel in Hilo on Sunday night. She was hesitant to rent a car, so I offered to show her around and we talked shop and I saw some more lava flows. I said farewell to my best Big Island friend, Barry Buick alias Hilo Silver, and to English Jo before catching a rickety old bus to Kona. The three-hour ride was pretty much free, save for my generous $US5 tip, but to travel the 7 miles to the airport from the closest drop-off point cost me $US25. I still haven't figured that one out.

Despite having a great time, I thought I had missed the real Hawaii experience - traditional music, dancing and, of course, a lei. But then, as if by some devine intervention at Honolulu International Airport, I saw those same musicians and dancers who offered me a lei (not a lay, get your minds out of the gutter if it's there) after swinging my hips to the sweet tropical tunes in front of the many arriving and departing passengers. I'll do anything for a lei - or a picture opportunity - and the boys here were happy to oblige. I was just hanging loose, before visiting Captain Morgan at Parrot Bay and then boarding the second of four flights.

I managed to sleep most of the way from Honolulu to Oakland, but the trip from that latter city to Nashville wasn't much fun. With little leg room and being unable to get any sleep, my body clock was rocked as I travelled through North America's various time zones before touching down in the country music capital of the world and getting a picture to show for it. Now if I can only work on my guitar skills and/or yodelling. A fashion overhaul may also be required as these stinky yellow socks from my native Australia are just not going to cut it apparently.

I had a local favourite of barbequed pork, collared greens and potato salad - washed down with a local beer known as Yazoo - at the airport with a couple of paramedics from the Pacific Northwest. They had attended a conference and were returning to Seattle and my beloved Portland respectively. A defibrillator was on standby in the case of an emergency. Before I saw them, I met another guy at the bar who, with his business partner, owned 83 Subway stores in North Florida. He was also attending a conference for the fast food giant where their "mascot", the sub hungry Jared Fogle, was in attendance. Apparently he was at the airport but having lost all that weight from those delicious sandwiches, I didn't see him. A few hours later I was greeted at nearby Fort Lauderdale by Murfuoso and King Porch, the newest subscriber to this here blog. I hope he likes his moniker.

So it's around noon here in Hollywood, Florida, and the Murf Man and I will see what we can get up to this afternoon. There's no shortage of activities happening in the Miami area - the CA Championship golf tournament, the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament, the Miami Heat basketball team minus Dwayne Wade, the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino where Anna Nicole Smith breathed her last air. We'll just see where it takes us.