I have come to the conclusion today that my project will never get done. It like an asymptote, it will never reach the intended point.

Here is my Sunday:

-Got home from church. I took the kids, let the wife sleep in. I scarf down some lunch and proceed to the garage.
-Spent about 30 minutes moving things out of the way (cars, bikes, tools, junk) so I can get the Chevelle where I need it to be.
-Spent the next hour sanding, scraping, stripping the left fender on a couple sawhorses.
-Spent the next 20 minutes arguing with my 6-year old daughter about not going across the street to her firends because she started the request with "I want to..." Rules are rules, we all gotta stick to them.
-Spent 10 minutes explaining to my wife why said daughter went running in the house crying. This time was spent trying to keep everyone quiet as to not wake up the 1-year old, who was napping.
-Where was I? Stood in the garage for about 10 minutes watching the Cavaliers game and getting my thoughts back on my work.
-Scraped and sanded on the fender for a while longer, then took it to the end of the driveway to clean off the paint stripper.
-Spent 20 more minutes finding stuff my daughter can use to wash her bike because she sees the hose is out. She forgot all about going to her friend's already.
-Dig out the compressor, DA, sanding discs and try to finish a task from last week: getting rid of the glue residue from the vinyl top the was removed.
-My daughter now notices her kite in the Chevelle because the door is open. Spent 20 minutes showing how to fly it and instructing her not to go by the tree.
-Sand for 5 more minutes.
-Walk out in the yard with the tree pruner pole to remove said kite from said tree.
-Neighbor walks over to talk. At least he tells me about a place he found locally that supplies trim clips that I will need. God tip.
-Begin sanding to roof by hand so I can at least work and talk at the same time without having to yell over the compressor. We discuss the best way for me to remove the front and rear glass. He says he has a spool of piano wire that I am welcome to. Sweet.
-Chase kite down and put back in the Chevelle because it blew in the street.
-Neighbor finally leaves to get piano wire for the windshield, uncle shows up 20 seconds later.
-Decide that work is just about impossible to continue today, hose down the car, spend 30 minutes cleaning up. Replaced the cars, bikes, tools, junk from above so the garage will close. My garage is like a puzzle. Everything has to be put back in a certain order or it won't function.
-Back inside for some dinner and to type my frustrations out on Team Chevelle. The kids are fighting and I am SO ready to go back to work tomorrow.

Am I all alone here?

Sounds like a typical day around here!!!!

About 12 years ago, when I was working on my frame off 69, I lived exactly what you describe here.....it's universal.

I can go out to the garage and work for hours on my 67.......my little girl grew up and married and moved to another state......damn how i miss not flying a kite with her.......or shooting basketball with her.....or just sitting around talking with her about dreams........She has given us beautiful grand twins....very very thankful, but i still miss those times when she was young....can't bring those times back, but let me tell you, those were the best of times, and they passed so quickly....cherish those kids.........................................they grow up way too fast........ask me how i know:sad:

Seems about right to me, thats how my days go.

Yup, I feel your pain.

Would you rather have your gravestone say "Beloved Dad" or "He owned a really slick Chevelle"? Enjoy your family, like the Deejay said, they grow up way too quickly.

Now you know why my project didn't start until 5 years ago, both kids out of high school.

pretty much, except no bikes are allowed in my garage!

My wife passed away, kid has his own life, I have all the time in the world to work on my car. Sure is lonely coming home to an empty house and no supper unless I fix it. I'll trade places with you.

My oldest is finally becoming a car nut now and loves to go to shows and swap meets. All of the work and time I put into the cars repays itself in the time we spend together. Trust me, the kids will appreciate Dad's projects because the car is part of what makes you, you.

It's a juggling act for sure. Haven't driven the El Camino in 14 1/2 years. My oldest daughter was about 4 months old when I tore it down. Took the wife and girls hiking yesterday up in the mountains. First time for the 7y.o., she complained about it most of the way due to slipping and falling less than 1/4 mile in on the 4.5 mile loop. Still admitted it was fun after we got done, though. :D Enjoy them while you can. I still managed to squeeze in time on my buddy's Dodge truck between that and other business that kept me out 'til 10pm. I do feel like takin' a nap today, though. I'm flat wore out from these past couple weeks, or maybe that should be months. ;)

My oldest is finally becoming a car nut now and loves to go to shows and swap meets. All of the work and time I put into the cars repays itself in the time we spend together. Trust me, the kids will appreciate Dad's projects because the car is part of what makes you, you.

Funny thing is, my boy is finally coming around too. He's been keeping his eye out for a nice early Nova, but they're all either too rich for his blood, 4 doors, or poor excuses for parts cars. He has been coming to the cruise nights with me lately, and staying in instead of hangin' with the import crowd. He does own a Scion TC with some wheels and a few other things, nothing to make the car fast, though. He's comin' around. ;)

Hang in there John...believe me, I know it can get frustrating when things don't move very fast (four years and two back surgeries for me) but just keep at it! One thing that I did was to break my project up into fifty some odd mini-projects so that I could at least enjoy some minor accomlishments over that time...made it bearable when I couldn't even do much more than open the garage door at look my Chevelle.

By the way...I enjoyed Friday's NBA game in Orlando a whole bunch...:D

Would you rather have your gravestone say "Beloved Dad" or "He owned a really slick Chevelle"? Enjoy your family, like the Deejay said, they grow up way too quickly.

Oh, hey, don't get me wrong. I love my family and I dearly love doing things with my kids and watching them grow up. I love doing "dad type stuff" with them. It is way cool. My first wife wasn't as into the family thing as much as she thought she would be, and I nearly lost out on all this. Lucky for me, I ended up in a way better situation and have been rewarded with two beautiful children with my second - and last - wife.

I just want one day to work on my Chevelle so my gravestone doesn't say "Beloved dad who owned a box of Chevelle parts". I know I'll get there, I'm just trying to make up for the year-plus that this project got shelved while we had our son. I want to be able to take the whole family out cruising in a sweet machine that I resurected. Maybe the kids don't appreciate it now, but they will when it gets sold so they can go to college.

By the way...I enjoyed Friday's NBA game in Orlando a whole bunch...:D

Okay, enough of that. I don't know what happened there. That was a butt-whoopin' for sure. I guess the Cavaliers needed one of those to remind them they are human, too bad they one of those in DC, too. Today was much better, though. :hurray:

Reading this thread made me smile,big time. I wish I could relive those days with my daughter.Enjoy the moment John,it goes too fast.I'm one of the lucky ones who could make time for their kid,and it paid off for us!

Wow dows this sound failiar!!! But I also have the family laughing that my project car,that was supposed to be done when my son turned 16 (Is 18 next week) will never be done. Now I hear things like; WHy don't you just sell it, It will never be done, Maybe when Erica turnes 16 (She is 7 now). Can't understand how I can spend 12 hours with it and not accomplish anything. Oh well, I know it will be done.......someday.

i never had kids. my problem is i built my shop with my dad and had to move 30 minutes away when i married 8 yrs ago. i stop by 5 days a week after work but i only get 2 hrs a day usually and my wife is always mad. i say lets move closer but she doesnt like that either

i only get 2 hrs a day usually and my wife is always mad.

sounds familiar :(

better then my day..... I got up yesterday wanting to get some yard work done, then clean the garage so I can bring my car home from storage.....

Well, it went more like start yardwork, HURT back pulling out a small tree, lay on couch in pain watching the cavs game... Still on the couch today, and now the fugging snow is falling further pushing back bringing the car home.....

My wife passed away, kid has his own life, I have all the time in the world to work on my car. Sure is lonely coming home to an empty house and no supper unless I fix it. I'll trade places with you.

Dang. Sorry to hear that Don.

If you're ever in Memphis, the door is always open and the beer is always cold.

^^ Yeah, no doubt!! SO SORRY to hear this, same goes for me, if your'e ever in the Cleveland area I always have a cold beverage waiting for you!!

Reading this thread made me smile,big time. I wish I could relive those days with my daughter.Enjoy the moment John,it goes too fast.I'm one of the lucky ones who could make time for their kid,and it paid off for us!

I miss those times with my daughter too. She is going to go with me and her step Mom and a friend to do a bicycle tour in New Mexico. I think it's real important to keep your relationship with your children such that when they grow up they will go on vacation with you.
It's more important then the Chevelle.
Ron

Have the same thoughts....I'll never finish the Chevelle. Have time since both kids left for college but with them the funds went also. It does get frustrating but my wife reminds me that "it's supposed to be a project". Just hope I can finish before I'm too old to get it done...and/or can eventually get caught up on the debt to afford to finish also.

better then my day..... I got up yesterday wanting to get some yard work done, then clean the garage so I can bring my car home from storage.....

Well, it went more like start yardwork, HURT back pulling out a small tree, lay on couch in pain watching the cavs game... Still on the couch today, and now the fugging snow is falling further pushing back bringing the car home.....

Sorry to hear that Scott, take care of that back. Never had back problems, fingers crossed, but I know enough people that do that it is the worst. We got smacked with the wet heavy snow too. I could hear trees cracking and snapping all day. I think we only have one smaller branch that broke. Take care.

So true. I have 4 children and go through the same stuff over here. The part I don't like is that my kids are growing up too fast right in front of my eyes. Enjoy them now since they are only this young once. As they get older drag them into the garage with you. Once we are gone, all we leave behind to our kids are the memories we made with them. Make the memories unforgettable. Memories that put a smile on their face when they think of their Dad are the best ones.