Captainkirk's Duster project

Well, I dropped by to see Tony tonight, unsure if I was going to be dragging my parts home after an angry exchange, or moving forward. I guess we 'patched it up' of sorts, and I gave him the go-ahead to bore the .030 over for the new Speed Pro's.
Projects are full of peaks and valleys, and I have just bottomed out. Having just dropped almost 4 bills on new pistons and rings, I'm now looking at almost 4 bills to create holes to stuff them into. Growing up, hot-rodding used to be a poor kid's hobby; using your hands and wits to turn your grocery-getter into a WMD (weapon of mass destruction). Today, it feels like a big Hoover stuck into my back pocket. There are so many more worthy things to use that kind of cash on, seriously. Things around the house that are in sore need of repair or replacement, building my savings up....it wouldn't be so bad if this was the end, but as I am noting with much despair, there appears to be no end in sight. Several times on the way home from Tony's tonight I actually asked myself aloud; "Captain; what in the hell are you DOING?!!! Eight hundred bucks? Are you SERIOUS?"
I guess I am, because I told him to go ahead with the boring. But I'm beginning to wonder if my skimpy resources can match my enthusiasm, or if they ever will. The sands of time continue to fall, and I think back to The Duke's words the last time he dropped in on me;
"Cappy, you and I rode the range together. Those were good years, and I'm looking forward to ridin' with you some more. A LOT more. But it's up to YOU to decide if it's gonna be you or someone else sittin' in that saddle."
I hope I can live up to those words; I hope we can ride the range together again......