We bought it, oh YES WE DID.

Hi. I know, two days in a row.  I'm a crazy blogger.

So, back to my mid life crisis.

So "the purchase" is something I've never known anyone to do.  It's where daydreams and reality meet, except this time the daydream won.  And the kids are ecstatic.

I see it as it's either now or never.  So we did it.  Last weekend when we were on a work/anniversary trip to Sun Valley and we brought it home with us.  Who knew on our 19th anniversary we would buy a...






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BUS?

1992 GMC, 59,000 miles, gas, dual wheels, has AC

If you are questioning my sanity, don't worry, I am, too.

I'm anticipating the follow up questions, so here is the Q and A:

WHY?  Well, first off, our trip to Nauvoo.  Really not sure the 160,000+ miles on the suburban are going to get us there.  Plus with the suburban there are some major space issues with all eight of us filling every spot with lots of big bodies. Space issues where people are touching each other.  And breathing each other's air.  Did I ever tell you how we bought machine shop earmuffs for everyone in the car?  Yeah. So, this will give us more space.  AND IT'S A BUS, how cool is that memory?

WILL YOU USE IT AS AN EVERYDAY VEHICLE?  Heck no, the gas would kill us.  Unless of course I can figure out how to find someone who wants to do a wrap on the bus and pay us to drive it around.  Depending on how long my crisis lasts, we'll use it only for special occasions like trips and moving Aubrey's harp.  We also like to tell the kids we'll someday turn it into an RV and drive it around to visit our grandkids.

AREN'T THE KIDS GOING TO BE EMBARRASSED?  So far, they think it's coolio.  As long as we don't make it embarrassing like put "Rice-Mobile" on the sides.  I'm pretty sure it'll be the new Prom Wagon once we finish making it awesome.  Think: disco ball.

ARE YOU GOING TO PAINT IT?  Well, right now it looks like a Utah Corrections bus, so I think it's cheaper to get the kids some orange jumpsuits.  My dream is to paint flames ripping from the hood down the sides, but we'll have to wait on that dream for the next mid life crisis. Either we paint it ourselves (yikes, Partridge Family bus) or it costs a chunk of change.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT HOLD AND WHAT'S THE MPG? Well, it has seat belts for 22 plus the driver.  The benches are sized for elementary school sized bums, three across.  We are probably replacing the benches with some tour bus seats that actually recline, which will make seating for 12 plus the driver plus luggage room space in the back.  So far, before replacing the fuel pump it's getting 12 mpg.  Not great, but it certainly could be worse.

WHERE WILL YOU PARK IT? On the grass on the side of our house, of course, like anyone who owns a white trash bus. If I can't stand it's beauty it would add to the neighborhood, I will find somewhere else to store it. Like at my parent's house.

DOES IT ACTUALLY HAVE THAT REALLY COOL STOP SIGN THAT POPS OUT?  Yes. But I might have to put something more clever on it than "stop".  Maybe "I KNOW YOU DI'IN'T".  Something to thoroughly embarrass the kids when I pull up at the junior high. It also has the accordion doors that have a big arm that you use to pull them open... now that's power right there.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NAME IT? Since every bus needs a name, hello, we are working on that.  "Hippopotobus" was ruled out.  I personally like "BUS DA MOVE" (busta move) and I've got an ebay guy standing at the ready to make me some vinyl signage for the sides once we commit.  Any ideas??  We could always resort to putting something from Revelations on the side.  KIDDING.

WHAT MODIFICATIONS WILL YOU MAKE?  We want to turn some benches backwards and put in tables.  I might make some magnetized curtains. We'll put in a TV and a radio (it has speakers already).  I'm looking for a PA system so I can make announcements about the emergency exits and the snack cart coming up the aisle, you know, that kind of stuff.  Oh yeah, and maybe a horn that says "AAOOOOOOGA!!" or the Dukes of Hazard "Dixie".  What have I not thought of??

DO YOU NEED A SPECIAL LICENSE TO DRIVE IT? No, nothing more than a regular license since it's under 15,000 lbs. and will carry fewer than 15 passengers.

DO YOU REALIZE IT'S A SHORT BUS? Yes, already we have heard the taunts coming in. Isn't that politically incorrect these days?? Even the mechanic over the phone wanted a description of our vehicle and I tried every way to say it until I finally said "short bus" which I knew would start the teasing.  My sister who is a therapist said we'll never live it down.  I think she is anticipating us as clients soon.

WHO DID YOU BUY IT FROM?  A white water raft company in Idaho.  They used it for passengers and to tow rafts.  They are upgrading to a bigger bus.  It was purchased 6 years ago from a church group in Texas, so it has AC (can you imagine Nauvoo with no AC??)

TELL ME AGAIN, WHY DID YOU DO THIS?  I want our kids to someday say, "Do you remember the summer WE BOUGHT A BUS?" (Think of the awesome movie, "We Bought A Zoo").  I also see it as an exercise for myself and as an example to our kids that if you want to do something a little bit crazy, then who cares what people think?  Life is short, have fun along the way. 


This quite possible might be the worst decision we've ever made or the best decision we've ever made.  But let's go find out.  Together.  As a family.

And for $1800, you just can't buy this kind of entertainment.


Life is Good- especially on a road trip in your very own bus.

Are you jealous yet?

*WARNING, INAPPROPRIATE HUMOR AHEAD*

P.S.  My dad suggested getting a wrap sponsored by Hooters and putting on the slogan, "Nauvoo or Bust".  Nice.