Welcome to Sunday...

First off, no new news on RLH 3... I'm still hoping, but the lottery Gods did not smile upon me and the family, so no bus for me this week.

I do remind folks that I am DESPERATELY trying to think of ways to expedite the purchase/transport of the bus... As stated in the FAQ, of course any help is appreciated, but If you have any ideas (save the one I've already had about selling the adspace while in transport... click here for those details...) I would be VERY grateful for help!

Remember: Bank loans, trying to get a museum or the like to purchase it, borrowing money from friends/family is NOT an option.

Any ideas, please e-mail me at matthew@doubledeckerbuses.org

...anyway...

My wife and I walked through Bloor West Village (our fave neighbourhood in Toronto) and saw a WONDERFUL house for rent... yup, a whole house... It's a wee bungalow on Colbeck near Windemere. It needs love, but it's PERFECT for us.

We scoped around (it's currently empty) and peeked through the windows... and went down the driveway... and bumped into the neighbours who were AWFULLY kind and let us know a bit about the place... it's perfect and the price-point (if they were right) is only $300.00 per month more than our two-bedroom closet...

Ah, to use bikes again! To be able to garden! To have parking for RLH 3 (YES! There was PARKING!) and to be able to let the puppy have his own back yard... well, to share with the gardeners (myself and Sue) and his ten-year old girl!

Sadly, with things the way they are, it's a pipe dream... I still owe two months rent here AND I'd have to save well over $2k for first and last at this house... then the hook-ups... then moving...

So, about $5,000.00 short to make it happen.

Oh well... I hope it finds a good tenant.

...anyway...

I was surfing "random blogs" this morning using "BlogMad" and saw something, that although egocentric, looked like fun... and on "rough draft", is more difficult than one would think to be able to do...

Six Weird Things About Me...

The woman's blog that had this listed that she was thirty-one years old and had been married four times... and widowed twice!

Call me weird, and no disrespect to the blogger, but if I was dating her, I'd be... well... concerned.

Anyway, here's my weak attempt...

Now, one should remember that these are ON TOP of me being a paranormal investigator, having an unusual obsession with double-decker buses (RLH 3 in particular), and being a War of 1812 re-enactor... although the latter I cannot claim wholeheartedly thanks to having to sell my Baker Rifle to pay rent and therefore only having uniform(s... four different ones in total) and some kit... and not having a car which is really a requirement for that hobby... oh, and I love pro-wrestling...

SO, that said...

#1: I live with my wife, my stepling, and TWELVE pets. Three cats, one dog, one guinea pig, one dwarf rabbit, three hamsters, one mouse, and two budgies.
Cat's are Mary, Elizabeth, and Annie. Dog is Max. Guinea Pig is Carlito. Mouse is Gallileio (although "Mouseshkin" is his common name). Hamsters are Phil, Nick (for Copernicus), and Merlin. Budgies are Pauly and Tweety... although they are usually called "Sam and Stella"... don't ask. Rabbit is Baby (but is normally called "Bunchkin".)

#2: Unlike many, I hate being on TV or having my picture in the paper. Thanks to my paranormal exploits, I've been involved with several TV and newspaper things (mostly news and documentaries on ghosts) and I've even been in the paper with the "bus thing" once, and I REALLY, REALLY dislike it. I love radio... In fact, my dream job WOULD be to be on radio... but the whole "I want to be famous and be on TV and in the paper." does NOT apply to me in the slightest! "Media", for me, is a means to an end... it gets my groups public attention and spurs reports to us, but beyond that, I've never yearned to be "a star"... and I have never assumed that I would ever come close to being compensated for my efforts vis-a-vis the paranormal.

#3: I have sat on the coronation throne in Wesminster Cathedral... by accident. As a young boy, the throne was in a weird space while work was being done (I think?) and was simply cordoned off with a red belt. Well, I was tired... and footsore... and very young... and all I saw was a chair with a rock underneath it behind ropes... so I hopped under and plunked my butt down. Quickly, I was "whisked off" by two men in rather bland copes (I assume they were clerics or lay persons) who were more embarrassed than I was I can assure you. Sadly, during my moment of regal glory, no crown was slipped onto my head.

#4: Although I will happily traipse through a reportedly haunted location at odd hours and really am not afraid, I hate being upside down... I hate thrill rides. Wooden coasters ROCK, but spin me around or make me go upside down and I am NOT enjoying myself. What delights others scares me... and what scares others delights me.

#5: Despite being "bombastic" and considered a "good ol' boy" by many, I'm actually a bit of a teetotaller. The last drink I has was a solo beer before Christmas... and the last time I would consider myself to have become "tipsy" was a wedding last year. The last time I was "blasted", I was in my twenties. (I'm thirty-eight right now.) I'm not fond of drinking... especially in excess. I don't "poop" on friends and whatnot that like drinking, it's just not for me.

#6: My real hero as a kid (and as an adult) was my Grandpere (Grandfather). He was a very important chef in his day at Toronto's most famous hotel, The Royal York (now The Fairmont Royal York) and cooked for many famed people including her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

My family PROUDLY traces back it's lineage to early Canada (U.E.L.) and Toronto, especially, is Didier and St. Claire-Hughs territory.

At one point, I could say that...

My Grandpere (dad's side) served during the war on HMCS Haida which was dry-docked at Ontario Place (on Toronto's lake shore) for many years... it's now in Hamilton, but that was a recent move.

My uncle Frank (mom's side) was the architect who designed the "walkways" over the lake at Ontario Place.

My Great Grandfather was an illiterate sign-painter who was also Toronto's only public "Lamp Lighter" in his day... he would light the gas lamps at dusk in the streets and put them out in the daytime. He also painted the words "GOODERHAM AND WORTS" on the side of the old distillery (still visible) by copying from a scrap of paper.

Top that off when I was young with my dad working at the TD Centre (one of the tallest tower complexes in Toronto), my uncle Gord being a Toronto Fire Fighter, and the Fairmont Royal York connection... and boy was Toronto home... and still is.

...geez, and what do these guys get for their progeny? The poor ghost guy with a bus fixation. Seems hardly fair.

So, there we go...

Okay, not great and highly egotistical... and little to do with the bus... but what the heck! Now you know a little more about me.

So, other than this, not much else to report... but who knows what the 'morrow brings! Perhaps I'll get RLH 3... perhaps I'll get a job on radio... perhaps $5k will drop into our lap and I'll be moving into the cute house on Colback... or, perhaps, I'll still struggle with low pay, unanswered dreams, and it'll be SSDD (same stuff, different day) again.

Smart money's on the latter!

Dream Home

Is it a "compound" or a "lair"?

http://www.aristonrealty.com/properties/propertyview.asp?file=/properties/files/260.html
http://www.torontomls.net/PublicWeb/CL_CF.asp?link_no=11140187.044500&t=l&fm=F

I won't say which (my wife Sue or myself) thinks it is (who thinks "compound" and who thinks "lair",) but what a COOL and WHACKY home and property!

My goodness, I see labs, offices, perfect surroundings for experiments AND a cool home...

...and at least a couple of buses!

Hey, I mean, if you have the 1 and 1/4 million to buy this, and the probably $16k to look after it every year, you can do a couple of buses and whatnot!

Can't you see RLH 3 parked outside???

Ahhh... the elusive lottery win!

...and I much prefer "heritage homes" and classic/older designs... normally...

BUT...

It is a little more altruistic... I would use the place for PSICAN shtuff for sure!

PSICAN's new offices?

...a man can dream!

I think I have to give up on many things...

Let me sum up a brief history of myself...

I worked for a company called Teletech for seven (and a bit) years and was laid off when the company relocated to another city.

I made a good wage at Teletech, and with it, had a good lifestyle and managed (after becoming single for a long while) to improve my credit rating and managed to get a couple of credit cards. Being wise, I made sure EVERY one of them was insured...

During those seven years, life was very good... then it stopped.

I wasn't worried at the time... I was fully confident in my skills and my abilities to get right back on my feet. In fact, I had a couple of nagging medical issues finally resolved while I lived on my severance pay.

...then it ran dry...

No problem, I will be employed any time! My credit cards are insured! There's no worries!

Then EVERY one of the credit cards declined my insurance. The reason? The company I worked for was U.S. based and wasn't willing(?) able(?) whatever(?) to send the documents to them explaining my employment status.

No problem! I'd be re-employed soon! Heck, I turned down dozens of jobs to be loyal to my old company!

...then a year past...

...then I called a lawyer to discuss bankruptcy.

"Don't worry!", he said, "Until you're permanently re-employed, the credit card companies can't touch you! Once you get a job, considering your debts (under $7,000 Canadian), you can go through credit counciling or bankruptcy. Don't worry! You're untouchable!"

...and I didn't worry.

...and I am still a temp awaiting my company to hopefully hire me on full time...

...and then, today, this happened...

Some of you may have read my post of two days ago... where I discussed the "Working Poor" and the homeless woman in a car... and explained I was a "missed paycheque" from being homeless due to my rent being in arrears... and that I was up cuddling my stepling who couldn't sleep because of a toothache and trying to "budget" around and get her a dentist who might take post-dated cheques... and how, as I was cuddling her, I felt like a bag of dirt for not being able to provide for her?

Well, last night she woke up crying and calling for her mom and me... with the tooth... but I wasn't worried...

You see, I'd juggle my rent issues, and daycare bills, and get her to a dentist with this paycheque. With my wife losing her job on May 18th, her pays are needed to maintain what we have until she's now re-employed... but still, no problem.

...thanks to TD Visa "seizing" my assets, I have a problem.

Oh, I wasn't "served notice"... I didn't go to court... Heck, they didn't even leave me a message saying, "Dear Mr. Didier, we're taking everything you have... even though it's not much! Good luck living on nothing!"

Nope. They just took.

I'm sure I can fight it... I know I can... but by the time I do, would it help?

Would they give me back my money without a struggle?

Right now, I don't even have bus fare to get to work... nor groceries for next week... nor does my wife have bus fare... nor my family have groceries. That is up to me this week... next week, we'd TRY to combine my wife's second-last paycheque and my own to get everything... but I'm sure TD Visa doesn't care about my kids teeth or whether we eat or can work...

Better to bankrupt us completely, make us homeless, drive us from employment... That way they can have the immense satisfaction of saying, "Mr. Didier! You promised us money when you had it and now that you don't, we're taking it anyway! This is ALL YOUR FAULT!"

...in many ways, it is... I wish I didn't have the debt, but I honestly believed, in my heart-of-hearts that I would be employed and paying it down. I didn't run up my debts thinking, "Boy, I bet my company is going to lay me off shortly! I hope I become VERY poor again! Hee hee hee! Take that, Visa/Master Card/American Express!"

I ran them up as an upwardly moving person in what he THOUGHT was a secure job and a secure future...

...and now, I'm a crappy provider who will most likely be homeless who's starving his family and unable to care for them properly... But boy, TD Visa sure showed me, eh?

I'm sure there's someone quite proud that they "showed up that deadbeat!"

I'll let my kid know that this person is proud... while she asks me again why I still cannot afford the dentist.

Addendum: 3:41pm... I work with THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD! Hearing of what happened, two temps who also get paid peanuts "leant" me $50.00 and a weeks worth of bus fare!

Also, I broke the news to my wife... who took it EXTREMELY WELL and said, "It's only $300.00... we'll be okay." and we're going to do what we can to make things happen. She's the best!

If I ever think otherwise, I'm the LUCKIEST man in the world...

Feels kinda weird to say "God Bless George Clooney!" (amongst others... granted, I've always admired and liked Clooney for his humour and genuine personality when interviewed or hearing of his practical jokes...) but PLEASE let me SHOUT this from the mountaintops!

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/27/darfur.clooney/index.html

Yes, many thanks to George Clooney... and Angelina Jolie... and Brad Pitt... and even the oft mocked and personally not-liked-very-much Oprah Winfrey... and many others TRYING to get us to notice this crisis.

I can kvetch, whine, generally bitch all I want... but the truest horror on this planet that is going "unnoticed" is Darfur.

http://www.feduja.org/2006/darfur/

PLEASE consider taking a few minutes to educate yourself and possibly act.

People can say "So-and-So" is/are the greatest monster/terrorist/problem in the world... but they've not bothered to learn about what's going on in Africa.

It's genocide... and it's horrible...

"We" (my wife and I... and probably the kid...) WILL be doing what we can including attending the rally in Toronto.

Here's a list of things that consistently happen on the mass transit that annoy me... and my suggested penalties for these infractions...

Wearing a backpack in a crowded bus, streetcar, or subway.

For those morons that haven't figured out that wearing their backpack effectively doubles the amount of space they take up standing, they should be introduced to a neat little thing they used way back when called The Little Ease and once in there, jostled every three minutes.

'Larger' people attempting to sit in a single seat between/beside other folks thus squishing them.

One word... diet... and three full days locked in a room with Richard Simmons.

Folks with no sense of personal hygiene.

They should be forced to work at the local sewage treatment facilities and to sleep in the nastier section of a pig farm for three weeks.

Door blockers.

Those that INSIST on being "first in/first out" by blocking other people's exit/entrance onto a vehicle should simply be made to eat several pounds of Taco Bell food... and then, half-an-hour later, put in a room where they must remove dozens of heavy objects from the door in order to get to a bathroom. The room they are in should also contain an attractive member of the opposite sex whom they might wish to impress.

Those that feel that their bags are more important than the elderly and infirmed or even the tired and give their items a seat.

Simple. They should pay five-and-a-half times more than standard fare... just for being annoying.

These are just some of my suggestions/ideas... realistically, I believe that a cattle-prod up the wahzoo would also do for all of the above, but that's just me.

...and to think, after all the venom I have for SOME (not all) transit riders, I desperately want to own a bus!

Four Canadian soldiers died in Afghanistan.

Their bodies were brought home for burial this week.

A call went out to Ottawa to lower the country's flags to half-mast to honour these soldiers.

Ottawa said "No".

Now, here's the thing... On November 11th every year, we have Rememberance Day. A day to remember those who died serving in our armed forces. It used to be specific to the "Great Wars", but was adjusted to include all the soldiers who died in service.

Ottawa's argument was, on November 11th, we will lower our flags to half mast to remember these four soldiers... and all the soldiers who paid the ultimate price in every theatre that Canadian's have served in.

Many are upset... even in the House of Commons...

Now, PLEASE REMEMBER, I don't practice partisanship... I don't believe that the "Left" is *better* than the "Right" nor vice-versa... I strongly believe that partisanship is not only a bad curse, but it's affect does not serve the people who elect the "parties".

...but I do believe in the honour and dignity of ANYONE who dies in the service of the Canadian people... be that soldiers, police officers, fire fighters, or anyone.

...and I agree with NOT lowering the flags right now... and honouring these men's memories on the day set aside for them... set aside for all of them... and most soldiers carry with pride that they're memories are honoured with those valiant men who came before them.

I do believe the flag should be lowered to half-mast at their home base. I believe that the flags should be lowered in their home town. I don't believe that all of the country should lower the flags... not yet...

In war, men die. There's no other way to say it... and if during the course of Korea, WWII, or WWI (as main examples) the Canadian governments had lowered the flags to half-mast with every death of a soldier, we'd never have raised them.

...and sometimes, the best way to honour someone is to show pride in what they really were fighting for.

That pride ALSO allows for that one day... November 11th... and we will remember, mourn, and be proud of all those men and woman in the Armed Forces who gave up their lives in all the conflicts that Canada has been in.

So, be damned those who feel this topic is a "political" topic and that my stance paints me into a side... it isn't. It has nothing to do with politics... and the memory of soldier's lives should never be.

On an additional note, I believe in wearing a poppy on my chest. I wear it with pride. I wear it with reverence...

...and by the morning of November 12th, I remove it.

It's not that I'm disrespecting the memory of the brave people who gave their last... as explained to me when I was young, these people GAVE their last so I could enjoy the life I have... and most likely didn't want us to mourn forever... just remember.

So, for a few weeks before, but not one minute after Nov. 11th, I mourn and remember... but come Nov. 12th, I simply remember and I don't need any symbol to let me do that. That symbol, which I wear with pride, is for that day of national remembrance and yes, mourning for those who should have been with us much longer...

Lest we forget... what these people gave their lives for.

Sometimes, I hate the CBC... Well, most of the time I hate the CBC.

It's not that they don't try, but I'm a radio person... I much prefer the medium of radio to television... and the CBC often has people on who don't know their poop from Shinola.

Case in point...

A while back, I heard this languishing woman lamenting the poor and horror-ridden world with the following words...

"Did you know that there are actually people who when they get a toothache can't even afford to see a dentist?"

Yes, this woman was ASTONISHED that some people can't afford the $200 to $500 for a simple dentist's appointment. In her tiny cranium filled with the weeping and wailing of the lost souls who's dental health suffers, she had never come across this and couldn't fathom it. You see, you had to be UNEMPLOYED and HOMELESS to be in this situation... and she felt this was the epitome of HORROR! A bad tooth ache... and no dentist.

Um...

Let's see... I work. I'm paid HORRIBLY as a temp file clerk. It's all I could find, but it's honest work.

My wife works. She's paid not-so-great as a customer service person. Better than me, but not too great again.

Last night, our ten-year old was up and weeping... why? A bad tooth... and no, we don't have two pennies to rub together.

Oh, we have food... the rent's only a little behind... our bills are somewhat up to date... we scrape by... but no money for the dentist without a little budgeting.

We will, out of this coming paycheque, find a way to budget... but I can tell you NOTHING makes you feel like a complete dirtbag and lousy provider more than telling your kid you can't afford the dentist right now for the toothache that has her crying.

And shock of shocks, with all this sad state of affairs, WE STILL WORK AND HAVE A HOME!

Also, when I was completely screwed and yes, homeless and hungry, I can tell you now that HAD a van pulled up and someone offered me a "Free Dental Visit" or the like, I'd have said, "Great! Got anything to eat?"

Realistically, dental hygiene don't mean much when you're hoping there's a half a cheeseburger discarded in the MacDonald's garbage can.

Sadly, the priorities for MOST people without a lot of money are food and shelter. Transportation to and from work is next... Daycare is vital if needed... THEN and ONLY THEN can things like eyeglasses and dental visits be considered.

I mean, there's no point in having braces and good glasses when you're literally on the street looking for food.

Those things help... they are important... but they're far from the main priority in life.

To hear this woman who, most likely, has only ever suffered the depravation of not being able to buy her gourmet vanilla-roast coffee beans and had to *gasp* settle for some mainstream, name-brand, Vanilla-Hazzlenut bean FROM A BAG *SHOCKING!* was enough to really boil my blood.

Don't speak for the poor... unless you have been or currently are poor.

I don't consider myself poor... although in many aspects, I am. My family eats, we have a phone, we have the Internet at home... we may not have cable or satellite TV and have to do special budgets for those secondary priorities like glasses and the dentist, but we somehow get by...

...but this woman was about as good a spokesman for poverty as Paris Hilton is for The Humane Society or SPCA.

When this woman doesn't get a full night's sleep because she's cradling a kid who's "tummy is hungry" or, in my case, has a tooth-ache, THEN and ONLY THEN can she talk... and perhaps understand where "those people's" priorities REALLY are.

We are (I hope,) good parents... We will look after our little one's tooth (we've promised Monday... or we'll try to find a dentist to help sooner who takes post-dated cheques...) and we'll eat and have a warm bed...

...oh, and yes, I still want to get the bus.

Why would I be begging for the bus and NOT "Money for Life" in general when things are "so bad"?

Firstly, I do believe my family's current poverty is a "blip" and that because both my wife and myself are intelligent and gently ambitious, we will move back up the fiscal ladder... we will eventually dig our way out of the fixes we're in... and then, yes, I'll be able to fix up the ol' bus.

Secondly because we (my wife and I) ARE both currently working... and working hard... and more-or-less making ends meet.

Thirdly, RLH 3 *will* be scrapped or worse sooner than I can afford to purchase/ship her... so it's kinda a rush-job on that front.

Lastly, "Money for Life" is earned... no doubt... and we do earn that!

I admit, often my love of buses is an escape from "reality" and allows me to "dream"... and take my mind momentarily off the nasty things... but it's important to do that for everyone... Dreams are necessary.

Anyway, yes, some people who work and aren't homeless STILL have to do without an immediate trip to the dentists AND YET WE CARRY ON and don't feel too sorry for ourselves... Maybe we don't feel sorry for ourselves because this woman feels sorry enough for us all... but I doubt it.

She's just another case of a "silver spooned person" trying to show their common touch... without bothering to do their homework.

Hey folks...

Aside from modifying the FAQ, and changing the links/main link page, I've added the "Category" of "Pictures/Photos"... because a picture is worth a thousand words... or at least 50k of memory for a decent one.

I've also signed up to a couple of "Blog Listers" to increase traffic (the more people that read this, perhaps the greater chance of seeing the dream come true.)

I have more to write today... but it'll have to wait until my lunch time... Thanks for reading...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4923488.stm
http://wanderingscribe.blogspot.com/

It's difficult to say if this is real...

If it is, it's damned scary... and rather thought provoking.

I can't compare, but I was "homeless" once... but thankfully, just for a week or two... but after my mother kicked me out of the house at 18, (long story... basically, my father had recently passed and I was a "troubled teen" if you will... and yeah, in my mother's own words upon my forced departure, she'd "done kids.",) I was sleeping in parks and on subways and living rather hand-to-mouth and nothing else. I can attest to the helplessness and the feeling that, somehow, something just went wrong, but not knowing how to fix it.

That said, this was a hard thing to read because even if it is a "hoax", it's not for MANY people... and had it not been for a sister of mine, it could have been me... without the car, mind you.

Still, it's something to read and ponder...

I had a "boo" through the web to find out whether it's legitimate... and so far, nada...

I'm ACTUALLY inclined to believe it's real... and if it is, it makes the question of obtaining the bus both seem stupid... and incredibly bright.

Call it "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"... which sounds LIKE a joke... but parts of me know it isn't.

While watching the throws of Hurricane Katrina, I mentioned to my wife that had WE been in that situation, I wished we'd had the bus... because we'd have piled into it (pets and all) and made for the hills on the first warning...

Homelessness, for me, is a storm and even a "missed paycheque" away...

...and that's scary.

Trust me on this one, NO ONE WANTS TO BE HOMESLESS. It's not fun... regardless of the "how" they got to be that way.

Realistically, it does make me feel VERY non-altruistic... which is a difficult place for me to be in.

(1) As some of you may or may not know, I'm the founder/director of The Toronto Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society and a co-chair of PSICAN with my wife...

http://www.torontoghosts.org/
http://www.psican.org/

(2) What some may not also know about me is that I'm a CIL qualified marksman with a rifle and have some training with NATO weapons to boot... and as a re-enactor, I've fired (and owned) black powder muzzle-loader weapons.

Now, how do (1) and (2) marry each other besides being about me?

Well, they SHOULDN'T!

You see, I'm a FIRM believer in gun control (NOT BANNING, just tighter controls) and that fully-automatic weapons and handguns should NEVER be in the hands of anyone without a DAMNED good reason and license, or a badge, or if they are wearing a uniform.

BUT LO AND BEHOLD!

There's a site "South of the 49th" that ADVOCATES packing a hand gun ON A GHOST INVESTIGATION for protection. There's a nice photo of a Glock on their "Equipment" page to go with this wisdom.

Dear God...

Imagine this... several armed idiots ('cuz in my mind, you'd have to be an idiot to do this,) wandering around a "scary" place... already somewhat freaked out and extremely tense...

Oh yeah, there's a good idea.

Imagine the one person who snaps a flash photograph without telling people the flash is coming... or the person that broke away from the group and "pops" up around a blind corner.

*BANG!*

Granted, this could be God's way of natural selection... weeding out the lame and stupid.

FOR THE RECORD: You are statistically FAR more likely to win a LARGE lotto jackpot than be physically hurt by a ghost.

...but this is NOT what this person recommends packing heat for...

...oh no...

You see, they said it's for protection because you don't know who you'd meet in an abandoned building and may need protection.

You know, all those homeless people who have .38 specials...

Aside from this, let's make another point...

ABANDONED PLACES ARE NOT BASTIONS OF GHOSTS AND HAUNTINGS!

Many idiots (and again, you'd have to be an idiot to assume this,) assume that ALL abandoned buildings are haunted... or even were abandoned BECAUSE they're haunted. This is utter poppycock.

Most buildings/houses are abandoned because they are either unsafe OR the upkeep of them was/is not an economic possibility for the current owners... and, of course, some are abandoned awaiting demolition for a NEW building.

...yet, you almost always hear about the "Horrible Murder" or "Satanic Rites" that happen/happened in them.

Again, nonsense.

Most "suspected" Satanic rites are just teenagers mucking about (if that) about the POSSIBILITY and not the actual act. To draw a pentangle is not only NOT Satanic, but is common amongst the hard-rock/heavy metal crowd amongst others... and this was probably done without sacrificing a baby.

Horrible murders WOULD HAVE MADE THE PAPERS and should be easy to source out for information... which is rarely done by "would-be" ghost hunters...

Nope, they confuse "Urban Exploration" (which is kinda cool) with "Paranormal Investigation". These are mutually exclusive pursuits... and neither should involve pistol-packing morons.

AND SHOULD anyone be contemplating going on ANY sort of investigation (urban exploration or other) that involves feeling the need for a WEAPON, then DON'T DO IT!

Now, interestingly enough, this "ghost hunter" already has a body count... you see, this fellow also recommends dressing all in black or dark clothes... which is silly.

The reason I've often heard for this is that "It won't affect (read: scare) off the ghosts." or the like.

This is so silly, it doesn't bear thought.

Wearing black is simply "cool" to these idiots who simply wish to explain away a fashion choice as a "necessity".

Wearing colours is actually a VERY GOOD idea not only because it's easy to pick out a team member in a photo, it's VERY useful for safety so you can be SEEN at night (if you're out then.)

The body count is based on this stupid advice... a poor young man was on a "hunt" with this twit and was struck and killed by a drunk driver on a country road near a cemetery. The driver, who although was drunk, didn't see the young man thanks to his dark clothes.

So, this fellow is already one-up on the body count... reading the advocacy of guns (and knives) for protection on a "hunt" with him will no doubt add to that count shortly.

Gee... I wonder why no one takes those of us who look into the paranormal seriously and, for the most part, don't want us around their sites?

Oh yeah, to cover off a couple of other thoughts...

#1: Cemeteries are not historically or statistically HAUNTED AT ALL. Most "ghosts" are reported where the person they represent worked, played, or died... not where they're interred. Go on, go to your local bookstore or library. Grab THREE ghost books... count the amount of stories about "other places" vs. cemeteries and you'll notice that burial grounds are NOT well represented.

#2: Why ghost hunt at night? Do ghosts only come out at night? NO! Some of the BEST reports are actually "daylight" reports... but at night, "human traffic" and sounds/sights are less likely to interfere with data collection. Think of it this way... Would you notice a disembodied set of footsteps in a busy train station at 5pm? Would you notice them at 1am?

...last myth this post...

#3: Apparitions that are reported by people are statistically reported to look "solid" and "break light" and are often mistaken for a "real person". They are not transparent nor are they wearing sheets. The fact this "person" or whatever was not "flesh-and-blood" is only usually clicked in by either the "ghost's" dress (period fashion) or by them doing something "impossible" like going through a wall, closed door, or disappearing.

ANYWAY, summing up...

PLEASE, don't pack your Smith and Wesson (or any firearm) when investigating a haunted location... if you feel that you need this "protection", then don't visit it.

My rant for the day... Hey, I re-did the BUS FAQ (below) so this is just one of my rants...

Addendum: To those who believe/whatever that this is an "Anti-Gun" rant above... it really isn't. It's a safety rant... Although I am an advocate of very strict gun control, this is an item that even the most avid "gun collector" or "shooter" has to agree on... bringing a firearm into a "tense" situation with people who are frightened is bad. Period. SO PLEASE, no "You're a gun hater!" e-mail... thanks.

WTF (What the freak) is this blog about?

Well, the blog is about my attempts (weak and strong) to get hold of a particular double-decker bus which is in Santa Rosa, California. It's a Regent Low Height (RLH) and it's number is 3... RLH 3... it's only one of 76 built way back in 1950 and is very important to me (and luckily, my family) to rescue from possible scrapping or being carved up to accommodate a coffee shop or restaurant making it impossible to eventually restore.

That, and my occasional ramblings and rantings.
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So, you ARE cyber begging, you weenie!

No... not really. I mean, if the question was, "Would you turn down the bus if someone offered it to you?" or, "Would you say no if someone offered you enough cash to make it happen?"... the answer is OF COURSE I WOULD SAY YES! (...and thank you.)

...but I live in the real world... and don't believe in "something for nothing".

So, what I'm doing REALLY is throwing it out there... seeing if anyone has any ideas of how I could make the dream happen? What could I do to try and make this a reality?

The one idea I've had is sell advertising space as it's shipped (from California to Toronto)... but that's about it so far. Perhaps someone has any other ideas. (Go to the main site and click on "Bus Advertising Idea..." for information on the ad idea...)

OF COURSE, before you write... YES, I am working at saving up enough bones to make it happen through my own sweat and labour... but with my (lack of) pay as a temp file clerk and looking after a family, it's a given the buses will be dust-of-rust or sold off to either be scrapped or carved up to become pseudo-trendy coffee shops before I would be able to afford one... and yes, of course, I'm trying to improve my own financial/income situation and perhaps it will get better... but for now, I know that the dreams won't happen for a LONG, long time without some sort of help or ideas.

...and yes, I spend $11.00 per week on lottery tickets... some call this a "Tax on Stupidity", but I've always preferred the BBC's version of this calling it a "Tax on Dreams"... far more euphemistic! ...and yes, I do know that SAVING $11.00 per week would pay for the buses over a LONG time... but again, dust-of-rust or...

...and no, I won't do anything illegal.

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I know where you can buy a bus!

Thanks, but there's a specific bus I'm looking at for excellent reasons. Although there are always buses for sale somewhere (rarely cheaper), this bus is "in my sights" for a reason. (See below...)
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So, what's so special about THAT bus?

Okay... there's a LONG story about RLH 3 in Santa Rosa, California... it's got a MAJOR connection to me personally... it's owner(s) will PROBABLY part with the bus for $8,000.00 USD and it will require about $12,000.00 to ship the bus to Toronto. Here's a picture of that bus...

The short version is that THIS bus has a fascinating story... and shares a lot with it's life and mine... and has been "adopted" as a favourite bus by my whole family... There's more details about it on the "Advertising" page on the main site.

She's not running, but that MIGHT be fixable without too much pain... and for me, it would be a pleasure and dream to work on her.
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Wasn't this stupidity in the Toronto Star where they called you a cyber-panhandler and more-or-less mocked two groups you work with?

Sorta and ARRGH!

The Star hatcheted me... they skewed and mocked... and I'm really unhappy. They made the two groups (IMUC/MRSC and PSICAN) sound like fictional groups (they are not) and myself sound like a beggar looking for money only.

I believe they referred to my site as "A Website Where You Can Throw Away Your Money".

Nonsense and I'm really upset about it and trashed my original site due to the volume of legitimate hate mail I got because of it.
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So what are you going to do with the bus?

After a bit of discussion, the decision has been made (by my wife and myself) to do the best of both worlds.

Right now, we'd repair it to running order and very gently (without major "renovations" or carving the bus up, convert it into a day trip vehicle for family and friends...

THEN...

As a personal "retirement" project, or when it was no longer practical to "run", we would completely restore it to it's original "London Transport" look and feel... as best we can at least... and hope it's either taken up by...

#1: Someone who's an enthusiast/preservationist who'd keep it running.
#2: A local museum that will keep it running.

Either way, we believe that it should remain running, useful, and (for lack of a better term,) loved.
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So, you want to sell ads on the bus?

No... I'd like to keep the project (once it's obtained) as non-commercial as possible... I am, however, trying to sell "pixel ads" to gain the money needed to obtain the bus... and even an extra $7k for refurbishments.

See HelpCoverTheBus.Com for details...
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Are you going to run tours and charters with the bus?

No... it's not going to be a real money-maker... and tours and whatnot are not economically viable for us due to insurance and other issues.

...and honestly, we don't want to do that until it's completely restored later on down the road... and by that point, we hope someone (some group/some organisation) will do that.
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Hey! You can't move/drive something that tall! Your ad scheme won't work because of this!

Actually, the bus is below the "maximum height" limits in Ontario and most of North America... with few exceptions. The bus was moved to where it is now the same way I intend to move it here... it's do-able and even been done before... mind you, going East to West rather than back, but hey, it can be done legally!

The bus is NOT considered "over height" or "oversized" for Ontario, Canada... and taller/larger buses (Routemasters for example) have been successfully shipped on trains/trucks across North America without issue.
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You're a geek and the bus is weird.

Yes? Your point?

Hey, if nothing else... pity my wife and kid!

Granted, they've been extremely helpful and do take my passion with élan! My little one even named RLH 3 "Chitty-Chitty-Wump-Wump" for the sound she thinks the engine might make.
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Do you REALLY think you'll be successful?

Well, there's two possibilities...

If I don't try, I will definitely not succeed.

I can try (as I'm doing) and perhaps I might succeed.

The latter sounds more appealing.

Realistically, I don't know... but I do know if I give up, I won't succeed.

My mother always told me, "Ask. The worst anyone can say to you if you ask is no." and I kinda live by that credo.

So if I do fail, at least I can look in the mirror and say, "Hey, you tried!" which is better than looking in the mirror saying, "Wow! You gave up!"

I'm prepared for failure... and don't lose sleep over the prospect... but I keep on tryin' 'cuz if I succeed, a dream will actually come true!

Okay, it's sloppy sentiment, but it's true!
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Okay, you got me and I want to help! What can I do?

Please e-mail me at matthew@doubledeckerbuses.org and tell me your ideas or let me know what you can do to help me out. I appreciate all input!

...or you can comment on this blog...

Either works!
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If you get this bus, will you stop the blog/site?

Yes and no...

*IF* RLH 3 was to "fall into my lap", I've stated that I would help one person (giving over some blog space?) try to get their dream vehicle... perhaps that's what this blog is all about?

I'll also maintain a blog/site with the progress of the bus...

Other than that, I'll stop DESPERATELY trying to draw attention to the bus and site/blog... and do my best to only continue to bother those who are interested ONLY...

...and probably continue to rant, rave, and ramble on the blog about everything else that gets my attention.
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What the heck is an FMS?

Frequently made suggestion... Hopefully, these will be suggestions on how to get buses and not "other" suggestions.
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Why do you make so many mistakes in spelling?

I do my best... and the ones most people see are the following...

sceptic - sKeptic with a "K" is the American spelling... and I'm in Canada.

realise - RealiZe with a "Z" is, again, the American spelling.

organise - OrganiZe... same thing.

colour - Yup, add the "U" and it's the British/Canadian spelling. This is also true for odour, neighbour, and several others.
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What the heck is the deal with the paranormal category???

My full-time, hair-pulling, stress-inducing hobby is being a paranormal investigator and researcher.

I'm the founder/director of The Toronto Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society (active since 1997).

I'm the co-founder/co-chair of PSICAN (Paranormal Studies and Investigations Canada) with my wife.

Oh, and before you think either one of us was "dragged" into a study by the other, nope... we met THROUGH the study!

Anyway, the groups are more-or-less highly respected... and loathed and hated... for the same reasons. We're TRUE sceptics... meaning we "doubt" and demand better evidence before marrying ourselves to any faith or belief in the paranormal... or marrying ourselves to any non-faith or non-belief in the paranormal.

The word "sceptic" has been usurped by non-believers to "soften" their image... but blind faith AND blind lack-of-faith based in zero study and zero facts is equally as bad.

Anyway, because of this hobby, I'm apt to rant about my pet topic a few times...
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All Your Bus Are Belong To Us!

Wow! Is it Y2K or 2001 again? How come I'm not at my old office? If this was true, considering my OLD pay, I'll have the bus in about three months!

I've done it.

I've listened, and worked, and have "shortened" the main theme of this blog to the ONE bus... my real dream of saving and owning RLH 3 (see the pic on the top right).

I've listened and shortened and made things a lot smaller and easier... I hope...

Oh sure, I could shrink more... but I do want to convey the right idea.

I'll be adjusting the FAQ and whatnot soonly!

THANKSTHANKSTHANKS for the suggestions, help, and ideas!

For those interested...

The PSICAN bus project is at http://www.doubledeckerbuses.org/psican/
The RLH 3 Personal Project is at http://www.doubledeckerbuses.org/oldgreenbus/

KEEP THE SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS COMING!

...except for the non-constructive ones... and those that involve nudity.

Oh, and yeah... this is still my ONLY blog, so I will still be spouting off about shtuff in general as I move on. Expect more rants about science, education, LIGHT politics, society in general, and all the good stuff!

...now, after reading that entry title, please back up as lightning strikes me down.

Interestingly enough, and a happy thing for me, I received a letter from Kyle MacDonalad of the "One Red Paper Clip" fame... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4918184.stm for the new item at BBC and http://www.oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/ for his blog...

I sent him a "fan letter" of sorts telling him I admired his acumen and asked him, if he had time, to look over the site and blog.

He sent me some good advice... but the advice I suck at taking (and admit freely that I do,) is to KEEP IT SHORT!

Yup, too wordy and too busy.

I'd agree.

My problem is I really DON'T KNOW how to "sum it up".

Here's the whole kit-and-kaboodle of what's REALLY all here...

I want RLH 3. Pretty easy.

BUT...

I also would like to see the THREE RLHs in the hands of the two groups and myself as an "other" option. Okay.

BUT...

I'm not asking people to throw money at me. Gotcha!

BUT...

I wouldn't be stupid enough to say "No Thank You" if money was offered. Right.

BUT...

I also have ideas on how to EARN the money for the bus or buses. Un-hunh...

BUT...

I also want people to send ME ideas to try and make this happen. Dude, too much info!

So, the problem is this...

How do I condense all these thoughts into an easy-to-digest, SHORT thing???

I know limiting myself to ONE vision (say RLH 3 which is the overriding thing) would be wise... but then I feel EXTREMELY selfish... and like the whole affair is ONLY about me and my family... and the three RLHs in California are a good deal AND would serve all the purposes mentioned.

You gotta remember, I'm already wrestling with my conscious about this in some ways... I'm not real good (believe it or not) at being selfish... and I do honestly feel that my efforts and energy MIGHT have better outlets that could be more useful to the "Greater Good"...

....but none-the-less, here I am... shilling for ANYTHING to help me get old Regent Low Height Three.

So, I toss it out there... for anyone to help...

WHAT CAN I DO THAT WOULD CONSERVE SPACE, BE LESS WORDY, AND CONVEY WHAT I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH?

You can comment on the post below or feel free to e-mail me at matthew@doubledeckerbuses.org

I *do* want to achieve this dream... and I am willing to work for it... and, apparently, I do need help.

Two entries for the price of one... as usual...

PARTAY ON, DUDE!

You know you're not TOO old when people expect you to act like a teenager!

Got an e-mail today... asking if when we get RLH 3, will it be a "party bus".

Well... at 39 years old (Sue and I are the same age) and with a kid and a menagerie of pets, not likely... I do see us using it as a "clever day tripper" as in short jaunts to Niagara especially for War of 1812 reenactments... and occasional trips "out of town", but I have no plans, much to the chagrin of Sue, to put in a disco ball, light system, bar, and upholster it with faux fur.

Actually, it will not be used as a "commercial" or real passenger (save family and friends) vehicle until such time as (and we have decided this WILL be done by our own hands now,) we re-set it up as a complete museum-like restoration to it's former glory.

Hence (if you read the old posts,) why I'm so excited about the old 1930's ice box that's being "donated" by my building.

Oh yeah, guess I should mention that too...

Although I've never seen myself as a pure preservationist, I always said that I'd maintain the bus so that, in the future, someone COULD restore RLH 3 to it's former London Transport glory...

Well...

My wife thinks that when we're done using it for our purposes, we should make that our "retirement project" and restore her completely.

I think it's a fine idea and blends the best of all worlds... My plans keep her up and running for people to enjoy (both our selected passengers and those who see her trundling down the street) and then (with our love of history) we get to restore her to her total former glory...

We're looking forward to BOTH uses!

We're hoping that WHEN the day comes, a Toronto or Ontario museum might take her, restored, and operate her as she was meant to be used...

Anyway, no party bus, I'm afraid...
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Dude? Where's my stone mason?

I was listening to the radio today (640 AM Toronto) and heard an interview with designer/decorator/renovator Debbie Travis about her new show, "From The Ground Up". http://www.canada.com/globaltv/globalshows/fromthegroundup/debbie/index.html

The show was based on the lack of any young folks going into the trades... and the severe lack of qualified people for things like carpentry, landscaping, plumbing, etc.

Now, I admit... I took marketing in college... and tried to get into University for physics... and worked hard in the I.T. sector for over a dozen years... and now work for a mortgage company in the file room... but one thing I've now learned...

DESPITE feeling very "educated" and rather with-it and enjoying conversations with educators and scientists, I've learned that I *was* a snob.

Yup, thanks to parents who, every time I was fouling up at school, made it an epithet that working with one's hands and doing "manual labour" which was the poor and uneducated way of making a living, I was a HORRIBLE snob through to probably my late twenties.

I guaged my version of success based on one's office size and how many people one managed... and I was very, very wrong...

You see, my kid's birth-dad (who is a great guy whom his ex-wife, my current wife, get along with great... they make good friends/acquaintances and a lousy couple... and I genuinely like him and I do believe it goes both ways) is a counter-top installer. He makes VERY good money and is expanding his business.

I also know a brick-layer who drives a new BMW...

A drywaller who just bought (outright) a nice condo...

A house painter who owns two cottages...

A plumber who has a thirty-five foot yacht... who asked for my help hooking his PC into his enormous new flat-screen LCD television...

...and me? The one with the post secondary education in marketing and a half-education in physics? The one who's put in dozens of years in banks, tech centres, and various offices, the one who cavorts with scientists, historians, and the supposedly "well educated echelon"... what do I have?

$10 per hour as a temp slinging files.

Now, it's honest work I do... and I don't TRULY begrudge it... but I think of how I used to think, thanks to the parent's comments of, "You'll be lucky to be painting houses!", how I used to believe that working in a "trade" was a step down. After all, my dad was an insurance executive!

I was totally wrong.

I'd be PROUD to be cutting stone or putting together roofing timber. Heck, I'm sorry I fought so hard to get my "white collar" in I.T. when I honestly could have been doing more real and honest work!

...and then I read/heard about this show and how, yes, I'm not alone... MANY young people have a sense of entitlement that makes them think they MUST become a junior executive out of the gate.

Heck, even my I.T. career consisted of doing five years in computer stores and a full year as "tech support" before becoming an in-house technician.

Even then, I didn't mind lifting, placing, cabling, assembling... the real "grunt" work of I.T., but I was still okay and "white collar", right?

All I'm saying is that it's a sad day that young people (especially) who have a chance to learn and apprentice with a craftsman usually don't and instead turn to the almighty university for their degree... which in the long run might NOT be the way to fulfillment... but we are led to believe that this is.

I'm 39 now... a bit too long in the tooth to apprentice and have a wife and family and need every dollar I get, but I do begrudge that snobbishness I had and a possible path to a future I never was allowed to even contemplate. After all, it was "beneath me".

So, if anyone's reading this and is young enough to take a hint, DON'T assume the road to success is a corner office and a secretary. The TRUE road to success is fulfillment in your path, security, and confidence.

...and yes, I'd love to know the art of carpentry or stone masonry... who knows, if the lottery Gods are TRULY good to us in the future, you may yet see me carving stone! I have a feeling I'd enjoy it... and it's a lucrative existence to boot!

Oh, before I sign out on this, I'd like to quote something from the radio interview...

Apparently, one of the young folk confronted Ms. Travis and blamed her (or "our") generation for their woes... They said that from a very early age, they were told they were "special" and "chosen" and were "great". They went through school being told they were able to do ANYTHING because they were so darned significant. The entered/completed university being told the world would be their oyster... and then hit the "real world" and guess what? Yup, they were just like everybody else... no "leg up", no super-jumps into spectacular employment... they had to work hard and earn it all... The concept of "Entry Level Positions" was almost an anathema to them.

Well, guess what? We ALL must do it... I'm doing it now a SECOND time 'round... Oh yeah, I'm flinging files, but I know I have a brain and a desire... and the ONLY thing that will progress me in my career will be diligence and hard work. I will advance and succeed and be allowed to show what's in my cranium and it's capabilities.

The only trick is, balancing all that with a proper and good family life...

At some point, if you want to see utter joy, come by and watch this formerly snobbish twit who was hoping for the executive office and Armani suit elbow-deep in oil and whatever getting his bus ready... I may curse and occasionally be overwhelmed by the work, but it will be honest work... and I'll be learning... and I'll be in my own little bit of heaven.

THANK YOU Ms. Travis for a BRILLIANT show idea! I will be watching it with the utmost of smug glee when those young whipper-snappers learn that REAL work is not lowly work... but true craft and hopefully, they will learn the pride in that craft!

Here's some images of my beloved (and still $20k USD away) RLH 3...

This first one below is the one that started it all... I saw this an, to quote a famed TV chef, "BAM!" I was hooked...

Thanks to the AEC Southall Website for the above...
http://www.aecsouthall.co.uk/
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The photo below is RLH 3 with it's crew from "back in the day" in 1950 or thereabouts...

Special thanks to Ewen Pring, fellow RLH enthusiast (and owner) for this image which he's unsure about who the photographer is...
http://www.timebus.co.uk/rlh/index.htm

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The image below is what she looked like "IN COLOUR!" while operating...

The above is with apologies to Omnicolour which does AMAZING slides of the older buses...
http://www.busslides.co.uk/

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...and below is her fate... before now being moved into a barn.

Another thanks to Ewen Pring of the RLH Information Centre...
http://www.timebus.co.uk/rlh/index.htm

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What can I say, other than these are the pictures of the "dream" that I have.

I was informed via an e-mail nicely, that the reason my "blog" isn't a "success" is that it's about a commercial thing and people see the link as "spam".

Egads!

Well, I suppose this thing COULD be seen as such... but it really isn't commercial... and I'd like to think it's got a bunch of possibilities... and already has yielded some ramblings that MIGHT be useful to some...

For example, there's already been postings about...

#1: Defending myself on message boards (NOT RELATED TO BUSES AND THINGS BUSLY OR ABOUT THIS BLOG) as I'm not a true right-wing Christian American upstanding guy. (I'm kind of a centre-right, Judeo-Christian Ethic Living Canadian.)

#2: My standard rant about "so-called" sceptics.

...and you can bet there's more to come... I mean, I haven't addressed my disgust for the destruction of historic sites, buildings, and yes, vehicles.

...then of course there's my disdain for certain bits of scientific peer review.

...then there's my problems with...

Well, you get the picture.

Although, "officially", this blog is SUPPOSED to be about us getting RLH 3, I do LOVE to go "off topic" and, in many ways, I am prevented from TRULY venting/commenting in many of the other forums I frequent (EVEN MY OWN!), this blog SHOULD act as a wee bit of a sounding board.

So, DON'T BE FOOLED! Although there's an "official" reason for this blog, you'll probably see paranormal stuff, historical stuff, and Gosh know's what else... and yeah, I welcome comments, critiques, and kudos... provided that they're constructive and based on the topics at hand... not on my personality or lack thereof as it's seen.

So, how do I get more people to read this blog? How do I prompt comments? How do I perhaps EVEN get help/information in acquiring the buses???

Time will tell... and the offers of help have ALL been gratefully acknowledged... who knows, perhaps sooner than later, the blog will be to help the one person I've corresponded to get her hearse... and about our trials and tribulations, joyful though they will be, trying to fix-up RLH 3!

...and no, naked pictures of me or nude celebs are NOT in the cards...
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One man's trash...

Now you might not-so-mistakenly think this is about RLH 3 and her possibly fate being scrapped to "pay" for her storage fees with her aluminum, but you'd be wrong...

I live in a VERY old building... it's well over 80 years old in fact... and all the apartments have old ice boxes. We have one in our place and use it for storage.

Well, the building management, in a vein attempt to look "modern" are renovating all the kitchens here as the apartments become available... and removing the ice boxes.

Seeing opportunity in what is being tossed in the garbage, the super has told me that the next box to be pitched is mine and into storage here which is GREAT as I want something in the RLH to act as a cooler, but don't wish to carve/cut/permanently damage the bus to allow it... and wiring would be problematic... and to simply jam a Colman Cooler looks... well... tacky. Besides, an "ice box" is period proper to the bus really and gives us counter space WHEN the time comes.

Granted, I checked my Super Seven (big Ontario lottery) tickets and... well, perhaps another time.

Either way, one building's trash will hopefully be our treasure... and a great addition for the cunning plans!

Man, I do love the support I've gotten... so far, I've only received FIVE e-mails of... well... questionable content as far as my bus thing.

...and literally DOZENS of support e-mails!

Now, if anyone can shoot me $13k with one of those support mails... or buy the ad space mentioned at http://www.doubledeckerbuses.org/psican/personalkookyscheme.htm )

...kidding... sorta.

Well, yeah, actually, I am kidding because I REALLY appreciate the support even if it is moral support only! (Thanks guys!)

That said, the number on NICE thing BUT MISGUIDED that people do is tell me about other double-deckers... especially one's for sale that they feel I might want to try and purchase.

This is great, but to quote my own FAQ...

I know where you can buy a bus!

Thanks, but there's specific buses I'm looking at for excellent reasons. Although there are always buses for sale somewhere (rarely cheaper), these buses are "in my sights" for a reason.

So, although I appreciate the effort and knowledge of these buses whereabouts, I'm kinda hung up on "The One" (RLH 3) or the three (RLH 53, 69, and 71) with "The One" being VERY special to me.

Honestly, it's not like I'm just a guy looking for a double-decker bus to call his own, I'm trying to get a specific bus... and really, the specific one is RLH 3.

See http://doubledeckerbuses.org/blog/index.php?cat=18 for details... (Scroll down to the bit about: "So, what's so special about THOSE buses?"

...or, in answer to a couple of other e-mails, see http://doubledeckerbuses.org/blog/index.php?cat=19 and scroll down to 04/17/06's entry labeled "What's the fascination with RLH 3?"

Either way, PLEASE keep the encouragement coming in! It's appreciated.

LAST THING FOR TODAY: If I get either RLH 3 or the other three, this blog/site will NOT disappear, but will help a new friend get THEIR dream vehicle... they want a hearse! (I kid you not...)

Why should me and the family get a bus?

Because HE needs one!

(Yup, that's my dog!)

Now, don't make me break out the "cute kid" photo!

Okay, I've had a few new mails THANKFULLY not about this blog...

Actually, I've had two that effectively asked me why so much energy towards the buses... well, more along the lines of "Why so much energy about the one bus?" based on the "much weirdness" in accordance with RLH 3 that I mention often...

Okay, let me explain BRIEFLY...

• The picture of RLH 3 is the one that "snapped" me into bus enthusiasm. I saw it an BAM! Since then, I admit borderline obsession with the vehicles.

• It's future is very much in doubt... it's likely to be scrapped or cut-up which would be a HUGE shame.

• It's current "owners" don't seem to be very concerned with much of anything except recouping their storage money.

• It's one of only 80 of it's type ever built so to have it carved up to allow for "restaurant equipment" or cut-up into scrap metal would be a borderline crime.

• It shares a birthday with me... it rolled off the line on May 31st, 1950... I rolled off the line on May 31st seventeen years later.

• It has a REALLY great story having, amongst other things, connections to a travelling circus and as a bonus, it has an owner past/present from Roswell, New Mexico... and since my wife is a Ufologist and I also have an interest, it intrigues us just for that!

• It's current owner(s) would probably part with it for $8,000.00... maybe less... more than I have or will have for a while, but not an astronomical sum.

• Ever since I was a kid, I've had a HUGE love of double-deckers... and gravitated to them whenever I was in London.

Now, although some see this as a "looney" thing, I'd point out that many men drool over cars and obsess about them... they have a thing for Chargers, Mustangs, Corvettes... that list goes WAY on...

Me, I've got a thing for these buses.

Will I find the $6k to purchase, $7k to ship? Maybe... honestly probably not... but I do and will dream.

On a different note, I did receive one other e-mail telling me that $20,000.00 is not a lot of money so what's the hold up... to which I say that this is true PROVIDED I made my old salary... or had a little bit of scratch capital to play with... which I don't.

We're currently scraping out after me being unemployed for almost two years solid... My old company laid off everyone and moved to another province.

Now, I am working... but for 1/3 of my old pay... and I am using every penny to get my family back on track. In fairness, my wife Sue DID keep us in home, clothing, and food... but we weren't fiscally healthy. Now, we're VERY close to being out of debt... but saving $13k USD would take years...

So, to be honest, right now RLH 3 might as well be $1billion... when you don't have it, there's not much you can do.

So, to the person who made that point, I do understand your point and don't think negatively about it, but that's why... I simply don't have the money... and won't without help or a miracle for some time.

Anyway, that's kinda where things stand... I have hope... and desire... and passion... but it'll take time and effort... and a little... okay, a LOT of luck!

In Addendum: Actually, remember... I am asking for ideas and have one of my own posted... if you're on the "main page", click on "Personal Dream" on the navigation bar up top. If you're just on the blog page, surf to http://www.doubledeckerbuses.org/psican/personalkookyscheme.htm

Uh... yeah. It was... and is.

Granted, I did say I might rant here too... and I have... and I'm done... and I'm sorry...

ANYWAY, that said, I do have something to unload blogwise here...

I was just on "another message board" posting about finances... and talking about how I wish to be ever so altruistic... and I do... but this nagging thought kept running through my mind...

IF you're so altruistic and such, what's the deal with all the energy on a personal fixation like RLH 3??? Why not channel that energy into something more meaningful???

Uh... yeah. I agree... I should... but...

Sadly, I'm human. Apparently, all too human and much like when folks like CSICOP/CFI and their ilk decry the waste of energy on my first love of studying the paranormal, I still feel the strong need to express my own things... and, in the case of "the study", improve my own knowledge.

Can I say I think about RLH 3 all the time? No...
Can I say I think about RLH 3 every day? Yes. Multiple times.

It's scary, really... and a little unnerving.

Not to mention a WHOLE LOTTA WEIRDNESS that goes along with her.

But first, and foremost, my life is as follows in order...

#1: A step-father and husband.
#2: A companion and friend to a spectacular woman (YES, it's Sue!)
#3: A provider and caregiver.

...then...

#4: An investigator/researcher/explorer/scientist/historian/folklorist.
#5: A friend and colleague.

..and then...

#6: A bus enthusiast.

Numbers one through three override everything else... literally.

Number six, on occasion, overrides numbers four and five... and it's my "happy escape", if you will.

...and occasionally, I need one.

Don't we all?

Some people like to sit in the sun and tan... other's build cars... other's collect stamps... and many have a passion for whatever it is.

Well, mine's a rather overwhelming passion... and yeah, it's a little scary... but it's my dream... and in some ways, a dream that has a chance, albeit a slim one, to come true.

So, I admit moral defeat! I could be helping build sites for food banks and homeless shelters... but I'm pounding away here hoping, beyond hope, that a silly dream is realised and knowing, in an odd sort of way, that dream would be one of the things that will complete my life... personally.

BUT...

My life, realistically, is my little one and Sue... and I am happy there... bus or no bus.

Happy Easter! (Easter isn