yard sale

So I am wrapping up the purging of worldly possesions - whoever would have guessed we had so many?  And still another 6 days left, which will all be utilizied in the removal of 'things'.  Here's a link.

Find <a href="http://www.yardsalesearch.com/%22%3Egarage sales</a>
 in <a href="http://www.yardsalesearch.com/garage-sales-elizabethton-tn.html%22%3EElizabethton, TN</a>.

What a beautiful thing - a fire, an epic trip to the recycling bins, three trash cans full, a big ol' moving sale. . .
well, if you're in the area, please stop by, even if you'll only scold me for being foolish - I welcome all.  I also have a bunch of cilantro and Jerusalem artichokes to share, plus Mercury is open for business selling lemonade. 

heroes on common grounds

here's my newest lovely inspiration.  looking at profits possible from a yard sale and auction, the real question of funding comes into play.  I am thrilled to see some creative financing by Theron, and look out for my own variations soon...

www.thiswildidea.com

what's the deal with tires?

I had a blow out on my civic last month, drove to work on a flat and ruined a new tire Saturday night, Anon mentioned changing a bus tire, now I was told yesterday that the front tires that are retreads need to go or be moved to the back, and the back tires have some dry rotting, and should be replaced.

Good news?  Well, soon I'll have a new tire on the car and I am aware of the other issues.  Also, Barry and Tina Worley from Bristol came out and Barry checked out the bus - I thought I had it on video, but I don't - at the end of the inspection, Barry said something to the effect that he was going to tell me this was a terribly foolish idea, BUT, the bus is in great shape and it should be good to go for a year across the country!  This comes from a CDL tester and mechanic - his father in law, the Morrel's of Bristol, own the Holston Bus Company (shout out!) so I am going to trust this gift of opinion with all my heart!  There is the tire issue, and also the rear brakes are going to need to be replaced as soon as I can figure out how that will happen (they are about half-way now).

We got it started up with some starting fluid (note to self - purchase a can) and after I put on the license plate finally, we hauled it out for a drive down the highway.  Kids sliding around on blankets and waving at the passerby - quite a few 'cause it's a much slower ride then even an old Civic!  It was a little nerve-racking trying to back it back into my driveway, and after a few attempts and some impatience, I just pulled straight in.  It'll be fun getting it out in a few days as I've committed to taking Sirius out twice a week to recharge the battery and keep it in shape.  It was good to realize little things like I need some new mirrors and getting the feel of driving this beast...it's going to be a much more brave conquest then I have allowed myself to indulge in - I am consistently called 'brave' but I think naive is a much more comfortable adjective for me to accept - though I still like brave... and I don't mind naive, either - it's not a bad word, just a word that describes innocent trust to me...

So today?  I have a new list of things I need, for the bus and the year - another wish list of necessities if anyone feels compelled to donate -

full-size futon mattress
TIRES
wood for bunks
panelling
wood stove or DSL space heater
sleeping bag for me
RV sized sink
water tank
passports
national park year pass
artists to show up June 24 and paint something tastefully on the back of the bus
some nice words of support...
alot of people to show up June 4 for my moving sale and support me by buying all my stuff
AND alot of people showing up to my photography auction and over-paying for some good photos (just kidding, you won't overpay)

As soon as I figure out how to get these videos uploaded I'll be posting.  Back to a sick kid and more eliminating for now.

One more thing - Mark is coming up here from North Carolina and we'll finally get that sweet insulation put in, then the rest of the bunks, loft, bathroom, kitchen, and book shelves go in the first week of June with Jay here.  Another shout out to my brother and sister-in-law for donating a bundle of good stuff for the moving sale - Gabe and Christina Zimmer - thanks!!  Looking forward to an amazing summer with old and new friends and a beautiful (yet not proximinal enough) community!!

shout out!!

it's been a few days.  a few days of some crazy downsizing.  ever move into your hoarding grandma's home with three kids and then have to whittle down your belongings to fit into a school bus tactfully?  me neither, not until now.
wow

the house is upsidedown and i love it.  the entire huge living room is a stockpile of clothes and toys and games and furniture - yard sale june 4 - looking forward to that!  me and st. germaine are contemplating the details right now. . .

then!  June 24 is the Bus Party - everyone is invited, no holes barred - or is it no holds barred?  whatever the case, there will be music and fire and the bus of course.  wish you ALL could be there.  July will bring the details being wrapped up and an auction of my photography for Sirius's benefit in Johnson City, more details to come.

As for the actual conversion, well, it'll come and I'm not worried - Jay will be coming down in June to help out with the woodwork and Mark is spraying in the insulation next week 'cause I'm too chicken to mess it up.  The ever-elusive Brad was supposed to come by to school me on the engine conversion today, but I was lame and didn't follow up with a phone call, so of course he forgot - I'll get him next week.

In the meantime, I've written the Ellen Show (whom showed interest months ago thanks to my post-producer Tom Ford) and waiting to hear back from some other prospectives.  It'll take me actually getting out there for any substantial bites, I've concluded.

And a HUGE thanks to the Worley's from Holston Bus Co who have agreed to come check out the engine and get Sirius ready to go!  Soon now... And for those who question my ability to maintain such a machine, well, I'm going to be schooled quite a bit by this community I've roused - THANKS!

Going to bed happy and less cluttered - I'll see you late June, faithful plenty.  Check out my Facebook for more info - Sabrina Bertsch

peace

getting personal

thought I'd give my ex-husband and the kids' dad some love and send this out.  He's up north in Philly/NJ doing his thing, gonna collaborate a bit for our time up there.  Yeah, it's about forgiveness, too.

here's the love

got a text from a dear friend about someone interested in helping with the bus, the mechanical side.  yeah man, here's the love - of course right now I'm relying on the help of the community, but it's for the community, at large and next door.  I'll be giving back some righteous kids raised to see both sides of the coin - the charity and us giving back - I was blessed this week as we went through the boys' room and the kids gave up so much stuff, stuff even I stalled on, toys that are dear and hold some sentimental meaning - they just piled them all up in the living room and said good bye!  They agreed on who to give specific things to - clothes to so and so, this toy to so and so, and on and on.  Sure, it's not building a house or sending someone to college, but it's community in a micro-sense - to give give give.  It's not hippie BS, it's not taking off and continually living off the backs of others, and yes, dangit, it's about living off the land.  After all, we ALL live off the land - duh - we rely on fossil fuels every step of the way - the LAND, and food grown on commercial (or hopefully organic commercial, better yet, local organic) farms, meat grown off the land - whew - didn't mean to get back into that last comment, but geez, if you really read the blog, you'd know this stuff.

If I went back to school for my MSN (master of science in nursing) like I plan to one day when it's wise (ie, the kids are older or I have someone to help raise them so the public school system and welfare system isn't responsible for their rearing), I'd be forsaking my influence and replacing it with un-controllable situations, then dealing with the repercussions once they are teenagers and think welfare will foot all the bills.  Or they'll think I can have kids now and go back to school in my mid-thirties and it'll be ok, that's what mom did.  Well, momma went to school and graduated with a BA at 20 years old, taught for awhile, and kept the kid I had when I was 22, got it 'together' for a few years, then divorce and health problems kinda blew things up.  Up until this point, this completely 'insane' and 'foolish' idea has become nothing short of completely and incredibly phenomenal to me.  Poignant and wise, in a scary sense.  Why not?  WHY not?  Because I'll get a flat?  Because I'm alone?  HA!  I'm not alone, but in this country we have that sense - we are alone in all this - we fight so hard for our sense of individuality that we shut out everyone and everything else.  Call it pride, ego, false strength - but for all it's worth, it's not worth alot to realize in the end, in your mid-life crisis amongst your nice middle class house and office job, or career, failing marriage, secret addictions - that the friends you have are just really buddies you hang out with because you're in the same social circle, same financial class and when you change your vision no one will walk alongside you.  It's best to start young, to raise our kids in a different way, different from the 50's and 60's, the suburbs and replace-able goods, let's move on back a couple centuries when LIFE was good - technology wasn't present, but life was good.  Let's take the good and toss out the bad.  It's pretty simple, but sometimes we need some brave and crazy examples to prove it's not all that crazy.  History says alot about crazy folks - crazy to the masses, but in the end, wow, what's anything new and revealing, any revolution without some crazy folks at the front of the line?

No, no no, I'm not gonna conform, not gonna teach my kids that.  I'm already labeled 'criminal' for some of my philosophies, but we've managed - no immunizations, vegetarian diet, alternative medicine, homeschooling, long-haired boys - but well, next up I'm gonna let some video talk for me and mine, maybe also brag on the accomplishments of mine even.  Heck, even me.  And why not?

Antidisestablishmentarianism - gotta love the haters

A friend alerted me to this comment before I saw it.  While much could be said in retort, they would be defensive words falling on deaf ears.  As I'm not bound and determined to sway anyone's opinion right now (I'll let the present state of things always speak for me), I'll remain humble and give shout outs to those that my life angers.  Maybe if I was still 20, I'd take this comment much differently, but I've had much too much experience in defense for the sake of ego to not have learned that's pointless.  Anon is right about the bus breaking down - it's bound to happen, and right about me probably not being able to lift a tire, but just one slip of vernacular caught my eye - I'm not insane - insanity, by definition, is trying the same thing over and over again expecting different results.  I can assure you, this is the first time I'm volunteering to be homeless, trust God completely despite man's words, and believe in people - even you, dear Anon - my children will be better people for your children's earth, that's a promise.  

Anonymous said...

Well, I've been following your blog since seeing the article in the paper a while back. I have to finally say you're either insane or immature to the point it's almost criminal to your children.

This 60's hippie bullshit of "Me 'n You 'n A Dog named Boo, traveling 'n aliving off the land" in your old school bus is just that....immature bullshit. Fine if you're 20, no kids and no responsibility.....go do it....but you don't HAVE that luxury. You need to flat GROW UP and provide a stable home for the kids you brought into this world, not trying to take an old worn out school bus on the road in some romantic adventure.

Have you EVEN considered the amount of fuel it will take to do this fool route you have laid ? You think you're gonna stop and collect veggie oil and do this ? Insane.

How about tires. Let's assume they are brand freaking new....You have a flat in the middle of nowhere, can you even LIFT a tire that weighs more than you, much less break the lug nuts or jack up the bus ?

What happens if you throw a rod in the engine in North Dakota ? You have bus fare tucked away for 4 of you and prepared to spend 40hrs on a bus back to here ?? Crap....you don't have money enough for a motel when you run off to PA for a few days, much less bus fare money when you have to abandon your bus ( maybe you'll be lucky enough to break down right next to a scrap yard.....other wise the tow truck operator will get it all.)

Insane, I tell you. And IF it was just you....fine....but to drag 3 kids along on your ill fated foolishness is bordering on criminally insane.

You need to have that bus hauled down to Omnisource scrap yard, have it crushed, and put a few bucks in savings.....then get the hell OFF the internet and quit wasting your time blogging, and GET TO WORK building you and your kids a decent, stable life instead of acting like you're still a freaking teenager with 3 puppies.

I assume you'll delete this, as it isn't the lovey-dovey BS most people post, but if I were your parent, this is EXACTLY what I would tell you.

May 12, 2011 8:02 AM