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I just want to give a mini update here on what’s been going on during the past few weeks. As I may have mentioned before, Ben and I were parked with the bus in Mira Loma, CA, at a bus service shop. Ben wanted to get something checked out in the front wheel/chassis and as the service dudes checked it out, they found a multitude of other problems. Not a good week for the bus. Anyway, while we were parked there, Ben got word that his vintage bus (he’s restoring a 1963 Flxible Starliner) was finished with its engine/tranny work and was ready to move on to the place where it would get its new interior. His plan was to fly to Ft. Worth, TX and drive the bus up to Nova Scotia (where the guy we planned to have do the interior lives). Since that would take him a good amount of time, I decided to fly to New Jersey and stay with my family while he was away.

Leaving the current bus in Mira Loma, we both caught our flights to Texas and New Jersey. My time away went as planned. Ben’s did not.  During his drive north, he encountered no fewer than three breakdowns, which weren’t a huge deal considering it’s the first time the bus has been on the road with its new engine/tranny/etc. He did get a frustrating (that’s putting it lightly) call from the person we intended to do the interior, which changed his plans dramatically. I would tell the whole story, but it’s all written up on Ben’s blog, so you can check it out HERE. To make a long story short, the bus is currently in Chattanooga getting some minor work done… the kind of work that we originally planned to have done after the interior was in place.

In other news, while Ben was dealing with bus issues, I was having a great time relaxing with my family in Jersey. I felt guilty that I was having fun while he was having… well, something far from fun. While I was there, I spent a lot of time at the house, working and plain old hanging out. I spent some time at Heritage Vineyards, which you’ve heard me mention before if you regularly read this blog. My good friend Carl is the “Wine Wizard” there, and it was great to be able to catch up with him.

I joined my parents at a winery event.

My friend Carl gives a vineyard tour one lovely Saturday.

I also got to watch the transformation of my parents’ basement, as they had it completely gutted and redone from scratch. I took a lot of pics and the difference is absolutely amazing. I’ll post a fun before and after slideshow on here at some point. I’m thinking of calling it “From gross to great.”

Anyway, I just wanted to give an update on what’s been going on before I move on to the good (as in photographic) stuff. Lots of beautiful photos from the Southwest U.S. in the next post. More to come…

A snapshot of me and my angel, Nyah.

Sunday happy hour with the family. Even Grandma has got a beer!