Demolition Day

And the destruction begins! First we peeled off all of the numbers and emergency exit stickers, although we left behind the "Don't Lose Your Riding Privileges" bus rules sticker because it's just funny. Rule #2: No cursing allowed (we broke that rule the first day in the parking lot of the rest stop in Jersey when we couldn't figure how to shut off the alarm). 

Then we ripped off the pop-out stop sign. We technically could have left it on as long as it didn't say stop. Someone suggested having a pop-out quote of the day, which we considered, but ultimately decided on simplicity and just tore the thing right off. We did, however, use it to stop Zach's mom once on her way to work. She took it pretty well. We also tore off the crossing arm that swung out from the front of the bus, and pulled out the wiring for the mechanism. We are still deciding what to do with the passenger door. Really, it would make more sense to replace the double door with an actual door that could be locked and that could be opened from the passenger side of the vehicle, but we get such a sense of satisfaction from using the lever to pop open that door from the driver's seat that we are feeling a bit conflicted. And then we ripped out our first two seats! 

It took two grinding blades, and my deluxe ratchet set that is kept in the trunk of my car (thanks Dad!) and a whole lot of brute strength (Zach's and Cory's, my brute strength really didn't do a damn thing), but we finally got the two back seats out, and in less than an hour. Then we admired the beautiful space where the seat used to be, and Zach demonstrated where our kitchen cabinet and refrigerator will go.