was on a podcast yesterday with progressive pat jansen.  he asked some good questions and really seemed to have a grasp on exactly what a cmg is and how it functions.  kinda refreshing to field questions from someone that actually gets it.

dave nolan finally made his way back into the garage, today.  so good to see that guy.  all he wanted to do today was help around the garage.  he was in a great mood.  stank the place up with his cigars and made me laugh all day.

tim came in and we cut a hole in the roof to vent out one of the reznor heaters that dave so graciously donated.  what a fuckin project...  i knew i was putting it off for a reason.  thank zeus tim was around to see the task through.  now i just gotta wire it up and run gas to it.

we started to do the same to the other reznor, and tim smelled gas.  he found a tiny leak.  this is one of the pipes that jim and i wrestled with for an hour or two trying to eliminate the many leaks.  fact is...i just suck at running pipe.  can't wait to take that damned thing all apart again and get pipe dope all over my clothes and hands.  it washes off SO easily!

trying to plan more welding classes for 2018.  hope to have one a month on a solid schedule.

marc bouchet left for chicago today.  he took his 71 bmw with him.  this is the 2nd or 3rd time he's left cleveland for home.  hope he comes back to at least visit.  hopefully he shows up on his bike this summer.  that thing needs to run.  it's just too cool.

jordan continues to plug away at his ims show bike.  he's made some parts with the english wheel, welded a bunch of stuff, powder coated and painted a bunch of things...  i'm excited to see what it'll look like when he's all done.

kevin dunworth, of loaded gun customs, had a gnarly flat track wreck recently.  -not as bad as greg boyd's crash, but bad none-the-less.  he's apparently needing some help with making ends meet cuz he's selling his builds and rides and trying his damnedest to keep his head up.  not much i can do for the guy but offer kind words.  i'd like to go visit him, though.  maybe i'll see him at mama tried or something.

al came in today to fuck around with his wing a little and dropped off 6 haynes manuals and a clock with the skidmark garage script on it!  what a guy.  fucking love that kind of spirit in here.

so thrilled with how the culture of this garage has grown.  it's EXACTLY as i always hoped it'd be.  everyone contributes, everyone is kind to one another, everyone is accepted, nobody is douchey...  i love to hear about members contacting each other outside the garage to hang out or ride together.  i wish the success of the culture had a direct and immediate relationship with being able to pay the bills, though.  that's a continual challenge.  if it wasn't for bear at old bike barn and his corporate sponsorship, i don't know how i'd be making ends meet.  he stepped in at the 12th hour and saved my ass.

i gotta start spending time putting parts on ebay.  it's gonna bring in that extra one or two hundred bucks a month that will REALLY help, right now.  short of gaining another few members super fast, it's the fastest way to get a few bucks.  but there's still so much infrastructure to deal with, that i just can't dedicate the time.  will the upgrades and building maintenance ever fucking stop?