Internal ConBUStion

How's the bus going?  I knew you'd ask.  Well, it's going.

Climb aboard for your midfinished tour!

We experienced a couple of setbacks right out the shoot with how the bus was running.  Better now than later, right, but initially discouraging.  Apparently we thought it only needed a new fuel pump, but soon afterward it was experiencing a few strange symptoms that eventually led us to replacing the onboard computer.  I drove it to Magna and it ran like a champ. I'm going to take it for a longer drive, just so I can feel either better or worse about everything.  Wanna come? :-)


OK, so the new seats are on their way in, while the old seats are on their way out.

old seats, not great condition

new seats, they recline!

The last of the old seats was pulled out last night, and two of the new seats are IN!! There will be seating for 12 plus the driver.

I'm almost done making some cute black-out curtains with my friend.  They are totally magnetic which works like a charm in a bus. That way we can keep out some heat and make it dark for movies and have privacy at night.

The radio and TV are just waiting for brackets to be installed.
We've cleaned off  rust on the side mirrors and painted them with a rubber coating.
I've done a little painting and a lot of unscrewing.


We tried hosing down the floor and since it is a rubber floor, it is a dream. Who hasn't dreamed of just hosing out the car?


Today it's getting freon for the AC.

AC unit in back

 We've had some stories already with driving it around, mostly short bus jokes. Like the one at the DMV.  A man was yelling something at me while I was backing up, and since it's a beast... I stopped, worried that I was going to back into something.  No.  He's yelling at me that I forgot a passenger, his wife.  "YOU LOST A PASSENGER!!  HEY HONEY YOUR BUS IS HERE!!  YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT, SHAROL!!"   They were clearly in some kind of a fight.  Gee whiz!



I also had a guy at AutoZone get made fun of while helping me.  His boss came out and said "I always knew you got off the short bus, Tom." You should have seen the glare he shot back, complete with finger gesture.  Wow.  I mean, wow.


Aside from the jokes, it's really turning out awesome.  The inside is going to be the coolest ever!


Now for the outside:  what do you think about a Herbie the Love Bug look?  Michael is pushing for it.

vw bus herbie example

I kind of like a "Bustache" look.  Besides, it's Nauvoo. Except Jackson wants to use real hair.  *ew*

Or some other painting thoughts (which won't happen in the near future):

here's where the flames idea came from.

now that i think about it, this is FREE AC for the kids

 Of course, there's the Partridge Family bus, which we get the most requests for:

I could totally sport a poncho, too.

It's been a lot of work so far, and we are nearing the deadline!
(not to mention we have an eagle project to do tonight and a harp recital to put on this week.  Oh, and don't miss the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Pioneer Day Concert that is all week this week!!)


My biggest concern now is to keep some balance in our preparation.  Yes, we have music to practice and a bus to finish and meals to figure out and scout papers to complete.  But are we prepared to be the best missionaries we can be?  We were set apart last night as missionaries for Nauvoo by our bishop and it was such a beautiful experience, reminding me of how important our purpose is in the next few weeks.


Finish lines.  Start lines.  I have both in front of me and they look awfully alike, youknowwhatimean?