Bahhh.....Humbug! (long whiney post, so if you ain't interested, don't read it!)

[Busted Knuckle]

I had my own business.  I sold it 9 years ago and now have a 40 hour a week job.  I work 20 to 40 hours a week less now with a real job and get paid more than I ever was owning my own business.

When you own certain types of businesses you end up being on-call 24x7 just like Bryce is in the bus business.  A broekn down bus full of passengers isn't going to wait until morning.

Trust me Brian it ain't the $ that keeps us in this business! But rather our enjoyment of traveling (driving) & people!
If it were the $ I'd be driving for someone else, and probably a big truck again at that!
 BK  

Ok BK you win the battle of "I didn't have the best week of my life" .  I thought I was having a tough week getting my arms around refitting the Series 60 engine and getting it ready to install.  My week pales in comparison to yours.

And I really feel bad about giving you a hard time on the other thread (NOT ).

In all seriousness, I hope you don't have any more weeks like this one.  Given the thread about health(http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=14066.0), I hope you are checking your blood pressure during these times of stress.  That thread was a real eye opener!

Jim

As a matter of fact, I did go and get my DOT physical renewed on Thursday afternoon!
Only concern the Dr. had was the fact that my weight has steadily increased every 2 yrs. from the first time he saw me 11 yrs ago! (time to get a new Dr. ) Oh well I 2 more yrs before I have to worry about that!
 BK  

I was very impressed with the resourcefulness of BK and his family, a hurdle in the road wasn't something that needed to be jumped over, it also works to calmly walk around it lol.  This isn't a family that is blindly charging forward, bumping into walls and then charging off in a different direction, the goals are clearly established and the vision of what is to be done is understood by everyone involved and from what I've seen they work closely to accomplish those goals.  Too have so many things go wrong in a weeks time is unusual but can be expected by any business from time to time, I'm sure nick can support that statement, as can anyone else in business. (I would have liked to have seen BK's face when Jeff called about backing into the wall lol) to truely appreciate this you have to spend time talking to jeff lol. All businesses have growing pains, just wait until the international operations start and maybe even the overseas division kicking in, then you'll have a whole new set of headaches lol.

Cody,
I was very calm when I talked to Jeff! However I did have to stop him and tell him to rephrase the part about "it wasn't my fault, this lady started backing up in front of me and I cut it harder to mis her" to "yes I screwed up, and it was my hands on the wheel, but I can't undue what is done!"
Growing pains? Ah, did I forget to mention 4 nice "older buses" 2 Setra's & 2 MCI's for sale; all have been extensively road tested, all in nice condition for age, as is where is and priced according to degree of amount required make them drivable again.
 BK  

So, would you like to have a regular job, working for someone else?  40 hours a week? guaranteed regular payday?  Yeah, I thought not.

Your absolutely correct! I just wish once in a while I was the dog, instead of the fire hydrant!
 BK  

Somehow this is grossly inapropriate but now you can sit and tell your grandchildren that you remember pushing your bus to school 6 miles uphill in a blinding snowstorm, both ways.

Cody,
I can sell you a bus to make that true!    BK  

And I was going to post that I broke a toenail this week!

Jack,
I have a cure for that too! Place a your hand flat on a table or work bench and slam it with a rubber mallet! Won't take anytime at all to forget that broken toenail!
 BK  

They say "Stress Builds Character" sooooo, you should be a real character LOL.  Bryce,
sorry to hear of your week from hell, hopefully next week will be better.  Jack

Jack so true, and it must be really working fast. I'm always being told what a character I am!
 BK  

I guess there is a reason you all wanted to own a bus company...but I will be darned if I know why lol. Hope it all gets on the right track soon!

Shoot I'll be darned too! I still ain't figured it out. But if I do, I'll pass it on. If you figure it out before I do, please let me know!
 BK  

So now I see why when we pulled up in that eagle; and the ducks swam by; you said "she's sweet just drive it to Minnesota here's some grease for your U Joints.
FRED

LOL! Something like that! But hey she did come in and leave under her own power! And plenty of it to! And this is the honest truth, as I told you and Troy both. "That is the first bus I ever seen IDLE up my ramps with an automatic trans!"
Come to think of it, the only stick shift that did it was not running but being pulled up the ramp by the starter! LOL!
And by the way the ducks were wearing rain slickers and rowing a boat if you remember!
 BK  

What is it with this month and engines goin south, now you too? I feel ya brother, it only makes us tougher

Yeah but I still sometime bury my head in my hands and cry!
 BK  

WOW !!!!!!!!!! Dude, Thank God You Kept Your COOL Through All That.

55 Gallons Of Water !!!!  WOW. Had No Idea.

After Reading Your Post I Can Say..."Not Much Happening Here"

Happy Thanks Giving

JOHN

Trust me, those who know me know it wasn't easy for me!
And that is 55 gallons of "coolant". If you run straight water the "energy station" (as that is what Setra calls the complex heating & air system) will freeze it in no time as it pulls it down to 0* and runs it thru the same "heat exchangers" as the heat goes thru to cool it!
They have many problems with operators in the south not understanding that that "don't think they need antifreeze because we don't run in cold climates!" Oh yeah Happy Turkey day too!
 BK  

Good grief BK I thought I had a bad week . O the joys of ownning your own outfit. It can only get better bud you have had the week from Hell . Best of luck .

It has to, it truely does! And thank you!
 BK  

Not a good week for sure, hang in there and it'll get better, I think, maybe.  Some of the stuff we talked about on the phone is probably a viable idea, if not at least its a diversion, tell your family happy thanksgiving from us. You know the next call is on you lol.

Ah yes what a welcome new problems will be!
 BK  

Wheeww, BK. All I can say, is, I am ready for bed after reading that. Sorry for your troubles, buddy. Hope things get better for you soon!!!

God bless,

John

Me too! Oh wait a minute I just got up! And thank you.
 BK  

[gumpy]

Bailin wire!  You just needs more bailin wire!!   

I'm gonna raise a toast to you at dinner today, BK!

[Busted Knuckle]

Bailin wire!  You just needs more bailin wire!!   

I'm gonna raise a toast to you at dinner today, BK!

Craig we tried bailin wire, but couldn't figure out how to make the tranny fluid flow thru it!

Toast? Ah gee thanks, but no thanks I'm cutting back on my bread intake as per the Dr.'s orders (DOT physical last week!). But now some good Punk'n wine or somethin' like that, now I could go for some good home made wine, to go along with all the cheese sent to me over my other whine! LOL!

[gumpy]

No punk'n wine. Having a bit of Rhusberry wine right now. Gonna pop the cork on some Apricot port for dinner.

[Jriddle]

Might have to get up there to enjoy next year?

John

[gumpy]

Might have to get up there to enjoy next year?

John

Of course, you're welcome to come to MN. We have scheduled gatherings in July and late Sept, or we'll make one up when you come.

And you know you've been invited to join us in the mountains of Wyoming in August. It's not that far from you.  The offer still stands.

[roadrunnertex]

Well B.K.
What you need in the fleet is some of them non- electronic buses you know what kind I mean a PD-3751 Silverside,PD-4103 Henry "J".
PD-4104 or a PD-4106,4107 or a later model Buffalo 4900 series coaches built by GMC.
And a MCI 5A,7,8, or a early non DEDEC 9.
Also perhaps a 01 or a 05 Silver Eagle or two.
Then when you go out on a long range charter away from home with the above buses they will always go out and come back with out any road failures.
And be ready the next day for some more work with just preventable maintenance non of that high dollar kind that's on the new computer electronic control stuff that they have in this modern age buses.
Oh for the good old days when they had real buses.
jlv

[Jriddle]

Sorry Craig I haven't been back to this post for awhile. I'm having a bit of a battle at work if I tell them where to go I might have lots of time for traveling.
John