Over the almost year of trying to reach out and have the good ol' dream come true, during the last few weeks, I've REALLY felt like I've been on the ropes with people taking shot after shot...

Let's just say, many of the e-mails I receive about the bus and our goal have been BEYOND negative... and despite the counters both through the blog software and the servers saying well over a thousand visitors per day even when Blogmad, BlogExplosion, and BlogSoldiers were running on fumes, only 14 people have bothered to click on the poll I set up on the ol' side bar. (Granted, ten very positive responses, one "kinda" positive, one "kinda" negative, and one absolutely negative.)

Now, don't get me wrong, it does seem that there are more people willing to publicly express support... but I continually get e-mails, message board postings, and side-comments about me being a "lousy cyber begger" or eluding to this being a "Get Rich Quick" scam. (If you really think this, please see the FAQ...)

To be honest, it CAN be rather disheartening... but I persevere... and the more nasty the comments/mailings, the more it actually spurs me to try harder and improve... because I do believe in what we're trying to do here... and I can think of no better (I hate to use this term, but...) revenge than to be able to change this ol' blog into a blog about our success in getting the bus... and our trials in getting it running again.

Still, it's pretty easy to lose faith when it seems about fifteen people are pulling for you... and dozens are telling you how you'll fail and accusing me of pretty much everything under the sun... and hundreds more are seemingly apathetic.

That said...

Response from my entry to BlogVillage's Blog Carnival (click here to read that) has been REALLY good! People seem to really like what we've done here!

Top that off with a few people through the Carnival giving me ideas, suggestions, and genuine help in getting the word out!

Even cooler is looking at the "Search Engine" key phrases and words that lead people to this blog... Matthew Dream Bus, Didier Family Bus, Progress With Family Dream Bus... it goes on. People from literally ALL OVER THE WORLD are SEARCHING GENUINELY FOR THIS BLOG AND IT'S RELATED SITES!

...and they're reading it too!

Now, this MIGHT make some of the more cynical say, "Big deal, it's not like you've succeeded! People are reading your blog! So what?" Well, that's the point... if they LIKE what they see and they're actually TRYING to find it... then they might tell a friend... who tells a friend... who IS in a position to help!

In other words, yes, I really feel we're making progress in the fact that, indeed, people LIKE (or at least are amused) by what we're doing...

Realistically, over the last five days, (LEGIT stats,) about 200 to 600 people PER DAY are now searching for and FINDING this blog and it's sites!

Now, I know that people love the comedy... loads of people seem to enjoy the commentary... and the dream is something that some folks really seem to be enjoying... in fact, I received THREE e-mails in the last seven days from people saying that "our" dream is something they're looking to as they have their OWN dreams and are considering how to make things happen!

Now, you can ask for a lot of things in life... but to be "inspirational" is about as good as it gets. I know, that sounds terribly egotistical, but it's what these three people told me... and I've had two or three different folks over the year we've been working on this say the same...

...but...

Over the last five days, interest AND positive stuff has really picked up!

Will this translate into success? We will see... but let's just say, my optimism is VERY high right now... and I have you guys to thank for it!

THANK YOU!!!

I'll keep pounding out HOPEFULLY entertaining, amusing, and thought-provoking posts... and I'm sure the folks that REALLY dislike this will continue to bombard me with rotten stuff... but it's pretty obvious, we're doing something okay... and the majority seems to feel this way... so perhaps, indeed, like it says on the top of this blog...

2007 WILL be the Year of the Bus!

Man, will it feel good to tell you guys that the bus is safe and en route to it's new loving home!

Speaking of friends and supporters of the dream, MsDemmie of Life At The Edge has put one of my posts up for her award for best blog post...

Ironically, it's my post ranting about "Blog Awards"...

Hmm... well, no one can say she don't have a sense of humour.

I don't have a chance, however, because my significant other, Sue, has a post up for the award too which blows mine away... click here to read that one.

The standard last note on the old blog... PLEASE SUPPORT THE DREAM!

This blog is here to help promote a dream that an entire family shares... that dream is to rescue an old London Double-Decker bus.

Please, if you have a few minutes, take some time to find out more about this bus and the kooky dream by clicking here.

This bus is VERY special to myself and the whole family, and any help any person can lend us would be most gratefully accepted.

If you or someone you know might be interested, there's our tiny banner site, HelpCoverTheBus.Com and a PayPal donation button (see the upper-right hand side of the blog) and, of course, a Cafe Press shop for T-Shirts and shtuff!
(...and who doesn't need some shtuff!)

Please help us make this dream a reality and save a piece of history!

We thank you for your support!

Please Note: We are also hoping for help from a public relations/marketing standpoint... If you might be able to assist OR know someone who might be willing to, please click here and read this entry...