Where is Ben?

Heading to Chicago

I just finished spending a week with about 60 other bus owners. We learned how to do everything from change a windshield to upgrade the safety of my bus. It was a great time. I mistakenly won "The Wide Turn Award" which is usually given to a new bus owner who has scraped the hell out of the side of their bus while learning how to drive it. It turns out that I swapped parking spots with the people who really deserved the award (Bill & Jody) and they went by who's name was registered for the parking spot that had the damaged bus.

I also finished my Photoshop CS3: Up to Speed book, which is now at the printers and should be heading to bookstores near you rather soon.

Today, I drove from Kerrville, TX to Fort Worth, TX. I'll be flying to Chicago tomorrow to speak at the Pixel Conference.

Jennings, LA to Houston, TX

After staying overnight at Wal-Mart (my grocery store), I drove for three hours to Houston, TX where I've joined up with about a dozen other bus owners for a pre-rally BBQ. My next stop is Kerrville, TX where I'll get together with over 60 bus owners for a weeks worth of seminars and bus talk.

I made it from Stuart, FL to Houston on a single tank of fuel and the tank wasn't even full when I left.

FYI: Those dark specks in the photo are not dust spots on my camera sensor... those are splattered bugs on my windshield.

Houston to Kerrville, TX

Today, I drove in a convoy of 11 coaches from Houston to Kerrville where the group met up with 53 other buses for a rally. I'll be here all week.

Chattahoochee, FL to Jennings, LA

Today I finished the last chapter of my Photoshop CS3: Up to Speed book (I'll be sending it to my publisher on the 24th) and drove from Chattahoochee, FL to Jennings, LA which is approximately 498.1 miles.  I'll be happy to make it to Houston tomorrow because I'll spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying a barbecue with a few fellow bus owners.

Jacksonville to Chattahoochee, FL

Yesterday I had a few leaky suspension airbags replaced on the bus (which Liberty coach was nice enough to pay for). That should help to keep the bus more consistently level both when driving and while parked.

Once the repairs were complete, I drove from Jacksonville to Chattahoochee, FL. I'm parked at a rest stop for the night. I don't really like sleeping at a rest stop since trucks like to pull in late at night and idle their engines all night long. I went to bed at around 10pm and was awake by 3am due to the noise from all the idling trucks. I'll stay up and work on my Up to Speed book for 4-5 hours and then take a nap before continuing my journey West.

On the Road Again!

I had a great time in Russia and am now back in Florida. I'll post more info (and some photos) of my experiences in Russia later, but must first put the finishing touches on my Up to Speed book (deadline is next week). Today, I drove from the spot where I originally bought the bus (Stuart, FL) to a Prevost Service Center (the brand of bus I own) in Jacksonville, FL. I'm going to have a few repairs done before I start heading West.

I've already changed my plans for where I plan to explore this year. I'll be heading to Texas and then North West and should be going through Santa Fe, NM, Sedona, AZ,  Salt Lake City, UT and then into Idaho, Montana and then into Canada.

Interviewed On Your Mac Life

I was interviewed by Shawn King at Your Mac Life during Photoshop World. He had some great questions and concentrated on the details of my bus adventure... but we do get to Photoshop at the end. I come in after the halfway point of the show.

Heading to Moscow

I'm heading to Moscow for a week. I'll be teaching for one day and exploring for 4-5. I'm writing this from the plane and they're asking to shut down electronic devices, so I'll keep it short.

Heading to Boston

I'm on my way to Boston to speak at Photoshop World. The event is sold out and it should be a good time. I can't wait to start teaching with Photoshop CS3 (although I don't have any CS3 specific classes this time around). Be sure to spot by and say "hi" if you'll be attending the event. My sessions include:

Tuesday, April 3rd, 1pm-5pm: Advanced Photoshop Pre-conference Session.

Wednesday, April 4th, 10:45-11:45am: As Easy As 1, 2, 3

Thursday, April 5th, 2:30-3:30pm: Alternative Photo Processes

Thursday, April 6th, 4:00-5:00pm: Speaking in Peachpit Press book in trade show.

Friday, April 7th, 8:15-9:15am: Mastering Curves

April Photoshop Seminars

I'll be speaking at the following events in April:

• April 3-6-Photoshop World in Boston, MA: I have one session per day including a half day pre-conference session on advanced Photoshop.
• April 13th-Photo Forum in Moscow, Russia: I'll be spending an all day session in English that will be translated to Russian in real-time. I'll also have three days off to explore and photograph the city.
• April 30-May1st-Pixels/Vectors Conference, Chicago, IL: I'll be presenting a full day "Getting the Most Out of Photoshop CS2 and CS3" session along with three short sessions during the conference.
  

FYI: The bus will remain in Florida during the first two events and then I might start heading up the East coast to explore many areas that are new to me.