It sounds like it's time to remind everyone where the priority MAW Build currently fits in the context of my non-internet "real life"
The Blazer was purchased in 2001. I was a single guy living in CA, and had lots of time to spend on it. That's not my life any more. I've moved 3 different times since then, and lived in two different states... bought homes, remodeled homes, got married 11 years ago and started a family. This build thread doesn't spend much time explaining all of that, because I keep things technically focused here... there are plenty of other build threads that are more chit-chatty, but that's not how this thread operates. It is fair to assume that when you don't see me posting all over CK5 (which I don't ) and there are large gaps in time between updates on the MAW thread, it's because there truly isn't time in my life to do it.
My family comes first these days... and I make no apologies for that. Sunday's are occasionally "garage days" but most other times they are spent entertaining an 8-year old boy at the driving range, rock climbing events or riding bikes, etc.
Saturdays are a solid 10 - 12 hours of work around the house. Mowing the yard, or doing maintenance, or finishing up on the kitchen remodeling project that started last July.
My weekday job demands 60 hours a week from me on a consistent basis. If I'm home in time, it's dinner with the family... knock out a few small chores and read to Charlie for a while before his bedtime.
Do the math, and that basically only leaves the time period at the end of each weekday (8pm - midnight) to "relax" and to spend time on a hobby. After a long workday it's not easy to find that energy, and it would be easy to just grab a beer and sit on the couch watching TV. But 90% of the time, I grab a diet-Coke for some caffeine and get to work.
Initially, I'd just be staring at a garage-full of moving boxes, tools piled to the ceiling and nowhere to actually set up to work. The past 18-months were a conscious and strategic decision to spend any available "free time" clearing out the mess BEFORE any attempt was made to restart the MAW Build. I can't stand working in temporary, ad-hoc workspaces. The prerequisite is a clean, well-lit and comfortable workspace where tools are easy to find so that the creative design/build process can occur. At this point in my life, I refuse to work any other way and wouldn't get any enjoyment from my "hobby" even if I did.
With that all in mind, it should come as no surprise that a guy working alone for a few short hours each night on a massive garage remodeling project isn't going to have dramatic, instant progress to share. It's exhausting work that never seems to end... and made even more miserable by subscribers who can only complain that they are not seeing "truck stuff". Keep that in mind the next time you are tempted to post up a stale joke about my lack of "progress".... my level of commitment and dedication to this MAW project is beyond reproach. After all these years it should be obvious to anyone watching that I will see it through to the very end.
I'm out there every night working to get the garage finished as quickly as possible, to get back to the actual "relaxing" part of my hobby that I enjoy so much.
Trying hard to hit a July 4th target date for the launch of the Texas-Sized MAW Build Reintroduction... you are welcome to follow along if it interests you.
-G