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As a parent, you probably dread the repeated “Are we there yet?” mantra. And if you’re going hundreds or thousands of miles, you’ll probably hear that phrase hundreds of times. But there are some things you can do to foolproof your family’s road trip and ensure everybody has a good time. Follow these suggestions and hopefully your kids won’t be so bored.

Bring some travel games. You can find some great travel games at your local discount store or make some up along the way. You can find travel versions of many of their favorite games, including Connect 4, Battleship and others. Or you can make games up along the way. Make a game out of finding license plates from different states or anything else that occupies their time.

Let them bring a goody bag. Before you leave for your trip, allow your kids to bring some stuff to do along the way. They can bring their favorite toys, books or anything else that keeps them entertained. Limit it to one backpack, though. When I was a kid, I wanted to bring everything in my room. That just won’t work.

Bring some road trip music. You won’t have the same taste in music as your kids, but you can compromise and allow each person in the car to pick a CD. This will keep everybody entertained.

Plan stops along the way. Kids can’t sit for long periods of time without getting cranky or needing to go to the bathroom. Prepare to stop every couple hours so everybody can get out and stretch and get fresh air.

Bring a portable DVD player. Nothing keeps kids entertained better than popping in their favorite movie. You might even find a few new models at your local GMC dealer with DVD players installed in them. Pick one out before your trip and you’ll be driving in comfort and style the entire way.

Ask any hearse enthusiast if they’ve seen the 1971 cult classic “Harold and Maude” and they’ll probably tell you how many times they’ve watched it instead of giving you a simple “yes.” That’s because this movie did the same thing for hearse enthusiasts that “The Godfather” did for mob enthusiasts.

The movie focuses on a young man – Harold – who owns a 1959 Cadillac Superior funeral hearse. As a hobby, he enjoys staging mock-suicides. He does this so much that his mother doesn’t even get upset anymore except for the times when he makes a mess with his fake blood. He also enjoys attending the funerals of strangers. This is where he meets 80-year-old Maude – an energetic and impulsive senior citizen. They form a friendship where they both learn from each other.

After a long friendship, the two sleep together. Harold plans on asking Maude to marry him, but he finds out she swallowed a fatal dosage of pills on the day he planned on asking her. In case you haven’t seen it, this is where I’m going to stop the summary so I don’t ruin anything for you.

The film, directed by Hal Ashby, is #45 on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 Year – 100 Laughs. It’s also one of the top 100 American comedies of all time on a list released in 2000. Also, after polling more than 1,500 film lovers, AFI named it as the #9 movie in the romantic comedy genre in June 2008.

So if you’re a hearse limousine enthusiast or if you just enjoy classic dark comedies and film history, check out Harold and Maude. It makes for a fun (and morbid) Friday night.

In the days before funeral limousines, hearses and funeral homes, our ancestors were dying off and being buried in cemeteries. These cemeteries are either older parts of existing cemeteries or they are old cemeteries that no longer take internments. But if you’ve seen the tombstones from these older burials, you can barely read them.

That’s where The Tombstone Transcription Project comes in. This is a unique project in which a group of volunteers “work together to create a lasting tribute to our ancestors.” They do this by transcribing the tombstone inscriptions and archiving them for future generations when the weather and time make those old tombstones unreadable.

Unfortunately, many of these old tombstones are already so worn and withered that they are impossible to read. Since record-keeping wasn’t as common or efficient as it is today, the story of people buried beneath those “impossible to read” stones is virtually indecipherable and gone. By working on this project now, we can all help preserve these stories and memorials of the people who lived before us and made the world what it was and is.

What’s even more interesting about this project is that you can help, too! Regardless of where you live, you can visit a local cemetery where stones are beginning to fade and record those inscriptions. You can even make a fun outing with your local church or even your family. It’s a great way to learn about the past and appreciating the artifacts and people that arose out of our history. You can find more information about registering your transcriptions here.

Why not help become a part of history? Join The Tombstone Transcription Project today!

Monday, we gave you five tips for preparing for your road trip. Today we’re giving you five more tips so you can be fully prepared and have a great vacation.

6. Double check your car. Make sure the trunk has an inflated spare tire and the tools needed to change a tire. Have a trusted mechanic give it a quick inspection to see if any belts or hoses need to be replaced. Nothing makes a trip worse than breaking down in the middle of a small town and being at the mercy of the mechanics.

7. Bring a First Aid kit. Include some gauze, bandages, antiseptic and other items you may need in case of emergency. Bring blankets and plenty of water in case of a breakdown, too.

8. Bring a cell phone. If you don’t already have a cell phone, get one for emergencies. You can get a prepaid cell phone very cheap and you don’t have to worry about a contract.

9. Pack plenty of snacks. You’d be surprised how many more miles you can go each day if you’re not stopping every couple hours for snacks and water.

10. Plan the route before you leave and bring the maps. You might think you know where you’re going, but bring the maps in case you take a wrong turn or take a small side trip. You’ll save time and gas along the way.

While you’re at it, why not get a new car or SUV at your local GMC dealer and make your trip perfect? There’s nothing better than taking a new car on a trip and enjoying the style and comfort that they have to offer.
Tags: gmc dealer, road trips, used, cars, pa
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Here are some more interesting facts from the Top Gear interview with the president and members of the Phantom Hearse Coach Club.

Funeral Hearses are Sensitive Purchases: If you’re in the market for a hearse, you may need to go 70 or 80 miles or more to a town to buy one. Many funeral home owners won’t sell their hearses to somebody local. The reason is because they don’t want someone who has just buried a loved one to see people drinking and having a good time in the hearse that drove them to the grave.

Splinter Groups: The Phantom Coaches Hearse Club is actually a splinter group from the LA Hearse Society that was run by a lady named Catrina Coffin (probably not her real name). Members defected and formed their own group because Coffin’s personality and club was too “gothic,” according to them.

Ticket-Free: “The police never touch us,” said one member of the club. “You can go about any speed you want, especially if it’s got a casket in it.”

Breaking Records: Rock Griffith, one member of the club, has a black 1964 Pontiac Bonneville consort that his parents used to haul concert equipment. It now has an entry in The Guinness Book of Records because it was the fastest hearse at one of the club’s annual drag races. The club itself also has a record for having the most hearses: 53.

Building Up a Collection Is Easy: Robert van Doren, one of the club’s members, is a paperboy for a living. With the low prices of hearses, though, he’s been able to afford seven of them. His favorite is a 1962 Eureka Landau that is exactly like the one that transported Marilyn Monroe.

Are you intrigued? Why not visit your local funeral hearse dealer and get one of these iconic vehicles to own?

The Phantom Hearse Coach Club is one of the more popular clubs in the nation that celebrates the fascination and love of funeral limousines and hearses. It was formed in the spring of 1994 and continues to be a social club in southern California. As a result of its popularity, the magazine Top Gear did an interview with the club a few years ago, but it’s still relevant today. Here are some highlights from that interview.

The Wrong Kind of Attention: The President of the local Los Angeles branch of the Phantom Hearse Coach Club owns a 23-foot Cadillac that bellows as it goes down street. He loves it, but doesn’t love some of the negative attention it sometimes brings. One neighbor even complained to one of his friends that Perrin threatened to kill her and he had a coffin ready for her. Perrin, however, said he never even talked to that particular neighbor.

Terminology: Jeff Perrin is also knows as the Chairman of the Morgue as president of the local branch. Club members also have several names for their hearses, including “stiff shifter,” “terminal taxis,” “check-out chariots” and “coffin carriages.”

International Appeal: The Phantom Hearse Coach Club has chapters in several states and internationally, including Las Vegas, New Orleans and even Australia.

Why Hearse Clubs are so Popular in California: According to member Mark Villarino, hears clubs are more popular in the Golden State because Californians are a “lot less conservative than people from other states.” He also said that hearses in California are in better condition because they don’t go through the extreme weather differences that other states do.

That’s just some of the interesting findings from page one of the interview. We’ll have more fascinating excerpts from the interview in tomorrow’s post.

If you own a hearse that you like to drive around town, you’ve probably noticed some extra attention. Unfortunately, a funeral hearse can often draw attention from the wrong types of people who will try to damage it or take it for themselves. But there are some precautions you can take to ensure that your hearse stays safe and sound. Following are some tips for protecting your hearse from the people who don’t understand the concept of “personal property.”

Keep your hearse inside. If you have a garage, keep your hearse parked inside. Few things deter a would-be thief more than keeping it indoors.

Park in lighted areas. If you must leave your hearse at night, try to find a lighted area in which to park. Thieves are less likely to try anything wit a vehicle that is parked in a lighted area.

Get an alarm. Most people don’t pay any attention to car alarms anymore, but they are a deterrent to thieves. If it’s sensitive enough, the alarm will scare the thieves away before they have a chance to do anything.

Cover your hearse at night. With a car cover, you hearse will be less noticeable and it won’t draw as much attention from passersby.

Make sure you have a good insurance policy. It’s impossible to prevent anything from happening to your hearse or any car for that matter. But with a comprehensive insurance policy, you can mitigate any out-of-pocket expenses if something does happen.

Road trips are one of the best ways to enjoy the American countryside. Every time I get plan a long drive, that pioneering spirit gets me all excited and just makes me want to buy an RV and travel all the time. Unfortunately, my wife won’t allow that. So I try to make the most of our annual road trips. I’ve learned some things in the years I’ve been traveling, too. I’m taking the time to list some of those for the benefit of your next road trip.

1. Pack only the clothes you’re going to need. Know what the weather will be like while you’re there and pack accordingly. I used to make the mistake of packing my whole wardrobe so I’d have a choice, but about two-thirds of my clothes just became a burden.

2. Get your toiletries at the Dollar Store. Why lug around the huge tube of toothpaste and gallon jug of shampoo when you can get just enough for your trip at a local dollar store. The best part is that you can get many of the same brands and everything will fit nicely in one little bag.

3. Bring some stomach and headache medicine. Nothing can ruin a day faster than a splitting headache or needing to stop every three miles to go to the bathroom. You can get travel-sized packets of your favorite name brand medication, too.

4. Make a list in the weeks leading up to your road trip. Every time something comes to your mind, write it down. A few days before the trip, organize it and take care of each thing on the list before you leave. That way, you’ll be almost sure that you don’t forget anything.

5. Visit you local GMC dealer and get a new or used vehicle from their inventory for the best enjoyment of your road trip. I got a GMC HHR for my road trip and I couldn’t be more excited!

Come back tomorrow for five more ways to help you prepare for your next road trip.

If you’ve ever been on a road trip, you know how fun and exciting they can be. You also know how bad they can be if you don’t have the right vehicle. But how do you choose the best vehicle for driving across the country? Here are some suggestions on picking the right one so you can enjoy the drive almost as much as the vacation itself.

Don’t discount the SUV simply because of gas prices. If you’re the type of person that packs three suitcases for a week-long trip, you’re going to want all the room you can get. SUVs are the perfect option if you like tons of room, the chance to be separated from your trip companions and if you like the safe feeling you get from sitting “above” the traffic. Sometimes, the extra money you spend for gas on an SUV is totally worth it.

Factor in the seats. With leather seats, you can change positions easier than in cloth seats. Cloth seats are good in the heat because they won’t burn your skin upon contact. It’s more or less a trade-off. Also, try to find a car with seats that adjust. Sitting in the same position for hours can cause you to be tired and cranky. That’s something that nobody needs on a long road trip.

Consider the “tuneage.” What road trip is complete without road trip music. Make sure the car you choose has a good sound system and a CD player or, at the very least, a tape player. If not, you’ll go insane after a couple hours.

Your local GMC dealer has a huge inventory full of cars and SUVs that meet these needs. What better way to enjoy a road trip than in a new car?

Have you ever wondered how hearses are made? I’m not sure if the TV show How It’s Made ever did an episode about it, but it’s much simpler than you might think.

The leading company that customizes funeral coaches – Accubuilt – builds and customizes about 70 percent of the unmistakable vehicles on the road today. The company has more than 200 production workers and it makes at least 1,500 hearses and funeral limousines each year. The Accubuilt factory is based in Lima, Ohio.

But they don’t typically build funeral coaches and limousines from scratch. Usually, they start with a Cadillac DeVille or a Lincoln Town Car. Their next step is to cut it in half. That’s right – they cut it in half. With the two halves, they rebuild the cars. The body and chassis aren’t the only differences on funeral coaches, though. The funeral industry requires several more modifications, including upgraded shocks, better wheels and tires and more than 30 structural reinforcements to the frame.

Cadillac has certified Accubuilt as a Master Coachbuilder and the Ford Motor Company has certified the company as a Qualified Vehicle Manufacturer. As a result, Accubuilt has a direct link with the two automakers so the engineers get a copy of the CAD and CAM drawings as well as technical information so they can modify the parts quickly and make the funeral coaches the best that they can.

I guess you could say that Accubuilt makes funeral coaches that you could die for.